Film vs. Digital

In the photographic community, the argument over film camera work vs. digital camera work is a big and very defensive one. Filmers, those who seriously and almost exclusively support film (i made up that term), will turn their noses up at anything digital, claiming that the artwork is lost in it. Digital folks, those who enjoy shooting digitally, express the convenience of digital, the cheaper processing, the ever-expanding options...then there are those, like me, which think that digital and film photography are two completely different mediums entirely.

in Provence, I'm expected to have limited to no contact with the internet except for exclusive school work. I'm supposed to abandon the phone in favor of old-fashioned letters, and have very little contact with family and friends back home. this is what the program says.

because the program is supposed to be language immersion, i understand this way of thinking. however, i also don't understand this way of thinking. right now, i feel like even though an abroad program is supposed to give you a different perspective, allow you to completely immerse yourself in a different culture...but how is one supposed to do that unless they also remain in touch with where there from so one can compare and reflect. Like film and digital photography...one can appreciate the ever growing options in digital, but only because film existed first. and because now they're both so different, it's possible to truly appreciate both.

moral of this story: i'm going to keep as close in contact as i can. so as to better appreciate the differences in my experiences.

Reviewing Past Work

When a photographer reviews some of his or her past work, he or she might feel a variety of emotions. nostalgia, embarrassment, or slight amusement for what he or she once considered quality work. Because one is always learning new things, this opportunity to go back and review comes up quite often.

(^old photo)
In my own work, I review shoots I did from fall semester 2007. I can hardly even begin to appreciate my work as art (now) until about halfway through spring semester 2008. And now, I only see myself getting better and learning and growing with my tools. It's pretty cool. for me, at least.

(^new photo)
at the same time, as i reflect (once again) on my chicago experience, i notice that I've grown quite substantially from the end of spring semester. This, is also cool. At least I think so. I've grown more comfortable with myself. I prefer walking to places close by as opposed to driving. things have gotten easier to deal with in terms of money management. my parents seem more content to allow me to plan my life and work with me instead of trying to monitor me.

also, i seem to have developed some kind of the somewhat feirce loyalty to chicago that chicagoans have. not quite as strong, but i do notice myself saying "our" or "we" when referring to Chicago. while maybe this isn't cool, i find it pretty funny.

anyway, so if you havn't gathered by now I'm home. the drive back was great fun (only a few bursts of rain and traffic) and i've been seeing folks and getting my life back in order, only to soon be uprooted. scary.

Photos on the Web

As a photographer, it's really important to monitor your work if it's online. In this day and age, in the short years that i've been doing photography, i've heard of numerous outrageous cases of larger corporations and smaller ones alike (as well as bands and other groups and individuals) stealing art to use for their own purposes.

this is really worrying to me. it's so easy to steal art and use it and deny ever having stolen it. there's so much work out there, so much beautiful work, and yet it's regarded as "worthless." meaning no one is willing to pay for it.

to an artist that's a big insult. basically it's saying that "while i enjoy your work, i'm not willing to pay for it, because i don't think that i should have to when i can take it for no money at all."

where are the ethics here?

anyway, i'm thinking about all of this cause i'm in the process of uploading my website to the internet (all annoying problems with it aside) and i'm worried about people stealing my art. while it's certainly not as up to par as i consider some of my contemporaries work is, it is a worry to me. without the internet it's hard to book jobs to make money, but it also costs in more ways than one. it's a concern.

anyway, life in chi-town (chicago!) is closing out pretty well. my boss talked to me the other day and complimented me (a lot) in giving me a small verbal evaluation (writen evaluations to be seen in a few weeks) and i only have one day left. projects are finished out, been having a great time this past week just doing some shoots and having fun!

I'll be coming in on sunday night (hopefully) and i'm looking forward to the ren faire on the 17th. looking WAY forward to it actually.

other news - the belly dancing lessons this summer have gone super well - i love being challenged by the style, and using hip hop skills in new ways. the people are fantastic, and i wish i could continue with them, but unfortunately, chicago is a little far to travel from pennsylvania every week for class.

also - the kemper scholars made award certificates for each other. Mine reads:

"The citizens of kemperville enthusiastically award Liora K with the honor of MOST LIKELY TO PHOTOGRAPH THE PRESIDENT - UPON REQUEST" (the president, of course, being a fellow female scholar...it's her back up plan. her first plan is to be Supreme Court Justice.)

I also think my photography has improved a WHOLE lot over the past semester and summer...i'm happy with so much more of my work. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE CAMERA. by the way.

i'm curious...what do you guys think of this online epidemic of stealing art? where do you think the line is drawn between appreciation and theft?

NEWS NEWS NEWS

...this does NOT have a photography theme

UPDATES ON MY SUMMER GOALS: VISA AND WEBSITE

VISA: OBTAINED! FRANCE IS WILLING TO LET ME IN!!!

WEBSITE: FINISHED! IN THE PROCESS OF UPLOADING IT TO THE INTERNETS!!!!