Final Portfolio Images

As I said in my prior post, this is the final week of the Fall Quarter at The Art Institute of Charlotte and the last week of my Photojournalism class.  The video below will show you my strongest feature photograph which is the child enjoying a ride at the Balloon Festival.  It will show you my strongest environmental portrait which is chef Tyler Williams from the Baker's Rack in Concord.  It will show you my strongest news image which is from the Concord Christmas Parade and finally you will see three of my strongest images from the Photo Story taken at Kitty City in downtown Concord.  Enjoy!  

Photostory - Kitty City; Will you lend a hand?

This is the final week of the fall quarter at The Art Institute of Charlotte and I have created two videos in a program called Lightroom which will be used for my final grades.  The one video that I will be adding to this post is for my Photo Story entitled: Kitty City, Will you lend a hand? I thoroughly enjoyed taking the pictures and putting them together in this slideshow presentation.  I have learned so much from this class!  I think I have finally decided, with the help of Ms. Baron, that I am a portrait photographer.  That's what I do!  I make portraits of people and animals!  Thank you Sarah! I hope that all of you will enjoy these videos. 

84th Annual Concord Christmas Parade

Christmas Parade and 5K Race

In 1928 the Concord Merchants Association presented the first Concord Christmas Parade.  At that time and well into the sixties, the parade was held on Wednesday afternoons when Concord's downtown businesses were closed.  Parade marshals were chosen from the local business community and for their leadership and contributions to the city.  The parade traveled north from Corban Avenue to Church Street and was viewed by thousands.  Change is inevitable but some traditions still remain to this day.  Although the Concord Parade is now held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, parade marshals are still chosen for their contributions to the community. The parade is now viewed by tens of thousands as it winds it way along the parade route.  (http://cabarrusevents.org) There is also a 5K run, The Santa Scramble, that is held in conjunction with the Christmas Parade.  The runners lead the parade as it makes it way to downtown where the floats are judged.  Last year 699  runners participated in the event, the largest crowd in it's 10 year history.  

 ©Matthew Cummings, Santa finishing the 5K, 11.17.2012

©Matthew Cummings, Dance Troop Performing, 11.17.2012

©Matthew Cummings, beauty pageant winners, 11.17.2012

Ethics in Photography

This week in class we also learned about ethics in photojournalism and what that looks like.  Sometimes photographers are faced with the challenge of whether or not to capture an image and show it to the public or to others.  These images can be very controversial but I feel they are necessary to capture real events. The photograph below shows the body of  15-year-old Fabienne Cherisma, who was shot and killed by police after stealing two plastic chairs and three framed pictures during the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.  Some people would say that the photographers are like vultures - each one attempting to get the best version of the image and exploiting this horrible crime. Others who view this image would argue that this is a necessary part of covering such a story.  How do you feel about this image?  

© Nathan Weber @ http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/04/is-this-photo-ethical/

Spot News/General News in Photography

This week we learned about three different aspects of Photojournalism.  We learned about spot news, general news and ethics in photojournalism.  First,  I would define spot news as news that happens unexpectedly or the latest news that is reported immediately. Secondly, I would define General News as news that might appear on the front page of a newspaper or publication and appeal emotionally to a large number of viewers.  Below are examples of spot news and general news:  The car accident is an example of spot news.  I chose the image because it would definitely be something that happens unexpectedly and may appear on your local news channel.  The second image of the man weeping is an example of general news and could easily appear in a newspaper or national publication.  I feel that this image would appeal to many emotionally. 

"Untitled" © Karen Longwell @ http://karenlongwell.com/spot_news

"You Took my Heart"  ©  http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/news-nets-32-2010-nyppa-year-pictures-awards-gallery-1.49731?pmSlide=0

Environmental Portrait Session

This week in class we were assigned the task of finding a subject and photographing them in their work environment.  I chose to photograph a chef who specializes in cupcakes in a bakery in Concord, NC.  The subject of this photo shoot is Tyler Williams and his cupcakes are wonderful, especially the "Arnold Palmer".  I had a great time working with him and trying to capture a true representation of his work.  I hope you enjoy viewing the photographs as much as I did eating the cupcakes when we were finished. 

My favorite posed portrait.
©Matthew Cummings

Tyler placing cupcakes on a tray for serving.
©Matthew Cummings

My second favorite posed portrait from the shoot. 
©Matthew Cummings

Photojournalistic Environmental Portraits

This week in class we are focusing on environmental portraits.  An environmental portrait is a portrait executed in the subject's usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject's life and surroundings. The term is most frequently used as a genre of photography. By photographing a person in their natural surroundings, it is thought that a photographer would be able to better illuminate their character, and therefore portray the essence of their personality, rather than merely a likeness of their physical features. It is also thought that by photographing a person in their natural surroundings, the person will be more at ease, and so be more conducive to expressing themselves, as opposed to in a studio, which can be a rather intimidating and artificial experience.  Here are a few examples below that I have found in my study of these types or portraits:

 

© William Bragg 

When creating an environmental portrait of an artist, the obvious choice is to photograph them in their studio.   Robert Hess (the subject) is shown here in his studio surrounded by finished and unfinished work.  I chose this image because it speaks to me about the subject and the type of work that they do.

© Chris Hamilton 

 In this example of an environmental portrait we have a picture of an Industrial worker.  The subject is shown in their work environment and tells a different story than the one above.  I chose this image because of the leading lines which I found very interesting.  

 

©Brett Benham

In this example of an environmental portrait we have a very interesting subject who fills the frame in a very nice way.  We can see the age and apparent life experiences in his face.  The color choices are very nice and what appears to be a chain-link fence in the background makes for a very nice contrast in this portrait. This type of portrait  gives the viewer some insight into the person who is being photographed and their life experiences.  I chose this image because of the eyes of the subject.  The eyes seem to pull you into the image. 

Sources:
http://pluphotoj.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/environmental-portrait-of-robert-hess/
http://www.hamphoto.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=20&p=1&a=0&at=0
http://ferenc.biz/photography/brett-benham

Carolina BalloonFest 2012

 This week we were given the assignment of finding and photographing a feature story.  I chose the Carolina Balloon Festival which has taken place in Statesville,  North Carolina,  for the past 39years.  The festival attracts thousands of people from across the country.   

  "The Flying Purple People Eater" was one of many featured balloons at this year's 39th annual Carolina Balloon Festival in Statesville, NC.    ©Matthew Cummings

Kids of all ages came out to see the beautiful balloons and to enjoy the rides.  ©Matthew Cummings

 The balloons ascending into the Carolina blue sky above Statesville Saturday evening.
  ©Matthew Cummings

                                                                  

The Unseen Beauty of AI Charlotte

This week in class we were  asked to photograph the campus in a way that had not been done before.
I chose to focus on the natural beauty of the surrounding area. How could one miss the beauty of this boulder with fall leaves and a beautiful blue sky overhead? ©Matthew Cummings

Feature Photography

"Untitled" by Todd Heisler for The Rocky Mountain News 2006

This week in class we are learning about Feature Photography and what that looks like.   Feature Photography records the commonplace, an everyday happening, or a slice of life.  This photograph is from a series by Todd Heisler.  This is a caption that appeared with the story; "The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of "Cat," and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."  This photograph evokes  a reaction in the viewer and that to me is what feature photography is all about.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/06/04/books/20080605_SALUTE_SLIDESHOW_16.html 

A Photojournalist from our history...

by James Nachtwey for TIME

 In 1994 TIME photographer James Nachtwey witnessed the devastating effects of the Rwandan genocide. James Nachtwey is one of the many photojournalists who's work I admire.  Mr. Nachtwey has the ability to capture the human condition through the viewfinder of his camera.  The photograph above speaks volumes to me about the genocide that took place in Rwanda.  This image makes we wonder what type of person could chop another across the face with a machete; not once but several times?  What amount of hatred must this person have had in their heart? This image just makes me FEEL.  James Nachtwey is the type of photojournalist who runs towards the action as other people are running away and that makes for a great story!

http://lightbox.time.com/2011/04/06/when-the-world-turned-its-back-james-nachtweys-reflections-on-the-rwandan-genocide/?iid=lb-gal-viewagn#1