May 5th, 2011

Jonathan Crary "observed that the new constructed 'virtual' visual spaces of computer-generated imagery which were then emerging, were radically different from the 'mimetic capacities of film, photography etc.'"(319).
His theory that digital photography is radically different in my eyes if off base. The photographic process still, in my eyes, follows the same path as it always has. The tools for the trade are still the same, but they are now applied in a different fashion then they were 100 years ago.

William J. Mitchell said "the dawning of a 'post-photographic' era in which the emerging new image technologies would unsettle our older, established beliefs in the status of photographs"(318).
While this theory makes sense its not altogether true.  Change in it self can be unsettling for some, but for others it is something to look forward too. In my opinion photography has always been destined to change, it has been in its roots since it was created oh so long ago. The ultimate goal was to capture what the eye sees, we have finally gotten to the point were our images are more true to life then they have ever been before.

The book quotes one critic by saying "digital technology does not subvert 'normal' photography because 'normal' photography never existed"(321).
This I can complete agree with, we can not begin to define the term normal when it is applied to photography let alone the world around us. As I said before, photography stems from a technical place were its future has always lead to being the best it can be. It's not an ancient art of mixing your own paint or sculpting a block of marble, but it is a art that is based on technological advancement.

Gregory Crewdson again shows traits that I can relate to in his work. His ability to stage and entire scene, to create a world that is fictious and lit with the same fantastic fantasy fashion. Crewdson often uses underlining tones in American culture to give a message in his works that people can read into, sometimes even from past events of history.

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled (North by Northwest), 2004.
whitney.org

Jason Rhoades has a similar style as well. Rhoades however is a installation artist working with neon and other flamboyant objects of the 21st century. Rhoades still carries with him a childish manner to his works, working with legos and colors that tantalize the senses.

Jason Rhoades,  Lego Mecca Kaaba, 2003.
www.davidzwirner.com

Marcel Dzama uses a similar style in the sense he works with miniatures, his work and fictious characters that often lend to that of childhood. His works, whether they are installations in a particular manner or dioramas of sorts lend themselves to the space they are in. The work well as a childhood fantasy or even a nightmare. Anyway you look at it, it is a world of fantasy he is creating for everyone who views his work.

Marcel Dzama, On the banks of the red river, 2008.
www.davidzwirner.com

My own current work as applied to my final assignment is that of a comic strip, broken down to its simplest components while having text lead the viewer through the journey.
To use some of my latest works I will break down a few elements of the comic strip, allowing the individuals images to work by themselves and then together as a complete work of art.

This image deals with simple composition and lighting, which then applies some foreign photoshop technics. The subject matter is that of adolescence in not just the image, but in my own mind. It plays on the ideas of childhood, by using miniature figurines and the teenage state of the conversation.

Ty Giebel, Trooper Comic single frame #4, April 2011.

The use of scale is always a challenge in these works, often manipulating the viewers view of the image by the way it is shot. It adds a challenge to myself that I personally am very fond of.

Ty Giebel, Trooper Comic single frame #8, April 2011.

The final product of my final assignment, all the images coming together to create a somewhat cohesive story line. working as a somewhat pop art work with a twist of the original.
Ty Giebel, Trooper, April 2011.

April 28th 2011

Gregory Crewdson and his creation of elaborate sets and his creation of the unreal closely embodies my ideas with photography. Crewdsons ability to create surreal environments while still maintaining a grasp of proper photographic technique really catches my eye. Conceptually Crewdson deals with elaborate story lines, sometimes only a single page from a story and other times in bodying a photojournalistic ideal to his elaborate sets.

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled (Beneath the Roses), 2004
www.whitecube.com

For the comparison between my work and Gregory Crewdson's, I chose some works that I did last fall that Embodied a similar spirit of Crewdson. With a somewhat journalistic approach, but more so based on the staging of events.

This particular photograph intrudes on a private moment in a private residence, although 100 percent staged, similar to that of Mr. Crewdson.

Ty Giebel, Doing Business. November 2010.

For this photo I approached it with a clean and simple lighting setup. I decided not to use a more dramitic lighting setup which I feel seperates me from Gregory Crewdson and his style.

Ty Giebel, Having a Wee, November 2010.

For this image I used a more dramatic lighting setup to construe a depth to the image, while still maintaining focus on the subject matter. The subject is that of concern and worry, never mind that they are toys standing on a pile of sand in my house.

Ty Giebel, Break Down, November 2010.

While Gregory Crewdson is not a landscape photography persay he does have aspects similar to Jeff Wall and his technique of staged scenarios. About landscape the text says " landscape can be defined as vistas which encompass both nature and the changes which humans have effected in the natural"(304).

April 21st 2011

James Casebere Embodies similar themes to my style. His work is of miniatures, mostly, devote of human life. This particular piece was depicted based on the foreclosure epidemic that hit, this was one community that was subject to very hard times. This is one of James most detailed miniatures. jamescasebere.net

James Casebere, Landscape with houses (Dutchess county NY.) #1, 2009. Digital Chromogenic print, size varies.

The concept of this image is capturing a moment in time. Something that takes but a blink of an eye is now immortalized forever, frozen in time at what some consider a spectacular moment.

Ty Giebel, TTC6494, April 2011.

Another idea I am playing with for the time being. Based on childhood fantasy and something of boyishness. The interaction of toys and what we consider our world, no longer to do only live in their world of fantasy but have crossed over as toys to our own.
Ty Giebel, "Where are the droids?" April 2011.

Another image from a recent event. getting up close and personal has always been something I have liked to do, allowing the subject to spill out of the frame always letting the viewer want a little more, and affecting the scale. Just as James does I like the audience to wonder if its real or not, letting the eye wonder around the image looking for details that will lead to the answer of real or not.

Ty Giebel, TTC5892, April 2011.

April 14th 2011

Ty Giebel, 5528Yo, April 2011.

Ty Giebel, 5596Yo, April 2011.

Ty Giebel, 5566Yo, April 2011.

April 7th 2011

Ty Giebel, 5035, April 2011.

I shot this image of a recent creation of mine set up in my "home studio" I chose this image based on the simple composition, and the way the light plays on the white on white imagery. 

Ty Giebel, Tim's abduction, March 2011.
This series of UFOs was fun, creating a reaction from nothing at all is a task in itself, but the playful element it adds to the photo shoot was well worth it. There was no shortage of laughter, which is apparent in some of the outtake photos from each shoot.

Ty Giebel, 4042, March 2011.

A recent event held locally allowed me to brush up and some camera technique working with composition, aperture, shutter speed and over all lightning. Its always fun and a challenge at the same time working on the basics again.

I chose this quote not based on any significants to one image myself or anyone has ever shot, but rather to a point of view that is not only part of my own philosophy of the arts, but something that makes perfect sense. Its the perfect thing to say whether someone loves an image or not. In relation to the image directly above, I may see a fully custom built radio control vehicle, whereas someone else may see  "some truck in some water" or just some toy and so on. Its been said in many different ways; "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", "perception of reality occurs in ones own mind" and so on. However I believe the book says it best.

"All photographs will be viewed by different people in different ways."

March 31st 2011.

Daikichi Amano, Personal photographer's portfolio, 2009.
www.daikichiamano.com
While not my typical subject matter Daikichi Amano has peaked my interest in his subject matter, lighting and use of elements of the sea to convey his interesting message. Daikichi images play strongly on mood emphasized by light, a strong theme I like to use in my own imagery.

I started a new project based on my playful nature as a photographer. Capturing different elements then I commonly do, I emphasized lighting my subject in almost a unnatural way. These images are a work in progress, with other elements being added as the project continues, but I feel they are worth showing before the process is complete.
Ty Giebel, Sonia's Curiosity, March 2011.
I chose this image based on what I envision as the final product. The strong use of light also adds to my interest.

Ty Giebel, Jordan's intrigue, March 2011.
Mixing up the monotony of the images I plan to have 12 different people reacting in different ways while still adding fluidity to the overall series.

Ty Giebel Tim's Shock, March 2011.
Following the theme I set for myself this plays into the interests and curiosity of the human race.

March 17th 2011

I have been shooting Radio Control vehicles almost every weekend for the last few months and this week was no exception. I had a couple guys approach me about shooting some of there custom creations a few days ago. This is some of what I got.

Ty Giebel, 3188, March 2011.
I chose this image because of the interesting background.

Ty Giebel, 3599, March 2011.

I chose this image based on the strong composition and the realism on this 1:10th size fire truck.

Ty Giebel, 2972 , March 2011.

Shooting this "go fast" toy was a challenge in itself, Even the ability to have a shot that is compositionally pleasing was something of luck.