Portrait Choice

Photos by Melissa Cantanese
Exhibited at the Chelsea Gallery in NY.

I found these images at the Chelsea Gallery in NY. These three photos were scattered among other photographs of nature and architecture. I have been exploring the way different photographers photograph portraits amd I was really intrigued by the point of view she took with these ones. All the portraits she displayed showed no faces. I enjoyed that, I felt like I could put myself into this photo and make it about me. I didn't have to make up a life scenario for someone I didn't know, I could be me in these photographs and that drew me into reading what was around the figure and what surrounding they/I encountered.

Baby Marcus
Learning to Walk

Caden
Learning to Pose For The Camera

Alysha
Helping Stephanie Learn How to Be a Better Photographer

These are all recent portraits I took. Two were random and the third was an attempt at shooting in the business of downtown, trying to work on my shooting style and create something of my own. It amazes me how differently we see people and who thinks what is most important in a photograph.

G. Gibson Gallery
I found these images at the G.Gibson Gallery in Seattle. They are by Richard Marsh. The images were not titled with word or elegant phrases, just the times of day they were taken. I liked that. I appreciated these images because they let me wander in and out of them without any titles telling me where to go.

It's funny to me how I choose to spend my time. I love photography but it seems I spent more time performing domestic duties than shooting my camera... caring for kids, playing chauffeur, doing laundry. What does that mean?

Windows Open Simultaneously (First Part, Third Motif) 1912
Robert Delaunay

Restaurant Commission: James Aldridge, Cold Mouth Prayer

Mark Rothko Mural for End Wall

(Untitled) [Seagram Mural] 1959

National Gallery of Art, Washington Gift of the Mark Rothko Foundation Inc.

These three images interested me because of their vibrance in color. They vary in complexity and chaos, but they all have this bright color that brings me and makes me want the study every inch.

If you only knew...

Ted, me and Mica before homecomming.

Ted was actually Mica's date...I went solo after being dumped by Ted's older brother a week prior to the dance.

Ted and I before Prom.

Ted and I went to prom as friends. I had no one to go with and so he said he would. He was and hour late picking me up because he was fishing with his soon to be Best Man, so we missed our limo. To add to the evening, the strap broke on my dress and I stepped on the tule that lined the underneath of my dress and ripped it out in the bathroom. Then he got lost on the way to the dance from dinner, and once we hit after prom we weren't seen together again.

Ted and I at our wedding.

Something crazy must have changed and now Ted and I are married. Happier than ever, but how we came this far still baffles me.

Stefano Cagol
'Un-Secret Signals' light, sound, Morse code,
Petrin Tower, Prague, 2008
Courtesy of Priska C. Juschka Fine Art, New York.

I enjoyed this photo for it's parallel lights. I liked he way the light interacted with the darkness of the image.

Marc Quinn
"Template for My future Plastic Surgery"
1992
MoMA, NY

I chose this image because I am interested in the human body and how our looks consume our thoughts. Self image is a constant battle in today's society and many people focus on it, myself included, causing pain and low self esteem. I hate that. But I can't seem to escape it.





Ernest Wilhelm Nay
"White Spring"
1963
Tate Modern

This image interested me because of it's use of simplicity in color, but emphasis in texture. I think I would like to explore that in photography...using not black and white, but limited color and further expressing the texture.

Stephanie Hummel

Stephanie Hummel


Stephanie Hummel

These are all random snapshots. I took all these photos on a whim, I never do that and I wanted to explore that option. I like the keyboard shot to most. I think it's because it isn't immediately recognizable. I also really enjoy the color. I liked the guitar for the angle, it's not a standard shot you see. As for the music, I just enjoy written notes because they mesmerize me; no matter how hard I try I can never read them perfectly. The complexity frustrates me, but the beauty of the music overcomes that frustration when I hear it played by someone who can play it for real.