TEXTURE SCREEN PRINTS

This photo is a texture screen print, done in the darkroom with black and white film. Just like sandwiching negatives, this time I used a photo of tree bark and placed it on top of a portrait of Journey. Though she didn't ram right through the tree and get stuck there - it kinda looks like she did!


For this second one, I used a photo of a hosta plant, and I love love love how her eye looks like it is just part of the plant itself! She looks like a little woodland fairy! This was a lot of fun, and I have soooo many other texture photos I would like to try out as well. Before I wasn't too keen on the darkroom, and now I wish I could have more time in there - go figure!!

BLACK AND WHITE PORTFOLIO

Portrait with natural window light.
Little Journey was my awesome model for the day. She's a natural I would say!
There is just something special about black and white portraits like this.....

PARTS MAKE A WHOLE

"Motorcycle"
Image Copyright 2008
Rebecca Bridges

I loved all the different colors cause by reflections in this one. Made for an interesting piece I thought! The folks in the welding department put this bike together - just amazing. Funny how so many different things are art, even if most people don't see them as such...

WATER....

Mmmm hmmm..... Tell me who wouldn't want to grab a couple of pool floats and go for a lazy in the school fountain?? I would but I'm to close to graduation to get knocked out for being retarded. Still looks like fun though.... I was actually attempting to get a good stop motion photo for my class, but I don't think this one will cut it. I am probably going to end up going down to the skate park to see if any of those kids will let me take pictures of them. They usually get way up in the air while doing all of their fancy tricks and suck. Let's just hope the weather holds!!

GOLDEN YELLOW TONER

I know - it looks a little like I might need a heavy stock of incontinence supplies, but it's really just some groovy golden yellow toner we got to try out. Again, this was taken on black and white film. Initially I made a regular print in the darkroom, and then set it into a pan of the toner. I really liked the color, although it did bleach out a lot of the details. The photo itself was of my friend holding her little gecko lizard. Pretty cool I think!

SANDWICHED NEGATIVES

Sandwiched result using film negatives (Top)
and sandwiched result using photoshop and two digital images as overlay. (Bottom)

Though I like to complain about having to use film in school still, I can see why it is a necessary procedure. Digital images and photoshop techniques are easier and quicker, but using the negatives in the darkroom gives a better hands on experience. I have to say I had a lot more fun in the darkroom than I did on the computer this time. What we did was find two of our negatives with some decent contrast, and taped them together on top of one another. Then we exposed the photo paper as usual, increasing the time by a few seconds. Viola! Sandwiched negatives!

I think I did pretty good for a first attempt, but some more interesting images could make a killer print! I have been out and about searching for the nature photos for the top layer, and now my allergies are killing me. I don't have a sleep wedge for my bed, so I am forced to roll up a couple blankets and stuff them up under my pillows so I can breathe. Trees don't grow in the house though, so I guess if I want to get some good texture shots I will have to continue my trips out in to the great outdoors!

PHOTOGRAM PHUN

Images Copyright 2008
Rebecca Bridges

We have been doing some fun projects in my photo class! These are called photograms, and instead of exposing a negative on paper, we used objects directly on top of the paper, then exposed it. Again I have found something that is insanely addictive. I have more ideas packed into my brain than I have time to get them printed!
On another note - I seriously wish they would install stair lifts at school. My class is in the basement, and after running up and down the stairs 15 times a day, my legs get tired. It's good exercise and all, but soon I will have big ol' leg muscles that won't match the rest of me.....

CHOSEN FOR PUBLICATION!!

I am so excited about yet another round of good news! I got an email from school letting me know that my work was accepted for publication in this years edition of.......

"The Tulgey Wood"
This is an annual volume devoted to the literary and visual arts and is sponsored by the English area. Students authored poems, essays, short stories and short plays, as well as student photography and visual arts, make up the contents.

I submitted the picture above, as well as a poem (NOT this one) I wrote. I don't know for sure yet if just one or both got accepted. Exciting!! The copies come out on May 5th, so if ya want one let me know!

Boys get your golf bags
the wind has died down,
balls nice and shiny
don't let them drown.
The course ever green
calling your name,
forget your appointments
and go play the game!

SYMBOLIC COLOR

For this assignment, we were to choose a cause/thing ect., that we felt strongly for or against, and use symbolic color to create a poster. The topics were wide open and we got everything from anti abortion, greed, pro and anti war, anti wrinkle cream, weight loss pills, pharmaceutical companies, birth control and mine - anti irradiated foods. This one is just a first draft, with many more ideas coming to light after a brainstorming session. I think I will be eliminating the color purple and just sticking with green, yellow, red, and black for the final draft. Yellow is the standard color for the warning against radiation, but in some cultures it was also symbolic of the devil. That seems very fitting in my opinion.....

I SOLD A PRINT AT THE ART SHOW!!!

Not in this frame, but yeeeeeehaw I sold this print!! An 8x10 in a standard black gallery frame for $75!!! I'm sooo excited I could pee! Hell - I was happy just having pieces accepted into the show, and then having one printed in the newspaper - but this it totally the icing on the cake! Of course I forgot to sign it, and I will need to make a card for the back, but that's nuthin! Yay!
Can ya tell I am easily excitable?

FIRST ATTEMPT AT PANNING

I attended our school's track meet yesterday and tried my hand at the panning technique. Not to bad for a first, but needs a little work I think. I would have liked to have gotten her entire body in the shot, as well as a bit better lighting on her face. I did not use a flash because I didn't want to distract the runners. The last time I attended a track meet I think I was 11. Talk about a major weight loss program - these guys run their butts off!

IT WAS ALL A BLUR

Image Copyright 2008
Rebecca Bridges

OOpsy! Someone wasn't paying attention were they? No one was injured, thankfully.

"TOO MUCH MEDICINE"

Image Copyright 2008 Rebecca Bridges

At this rate, you would think I was ready for some medicare part d or something. Not yet, but it makes for some funky art work I suppose! The art show at school opens tomorrow. Three of my pieces were juried in, and I am really excited about it. You are all invited of course! Today we also got the final magazines from the printer. We have a lot of talent in that class - actually in the whole school. I think art lives inside everyone of us if we just give it a chance to come out!