EOC Week 4 : Camera Store

This week, I plan on going to Casey’s Camera shop for an assignment in my Business of Photography class. I have only visited or known about one actual camera store in the Southern part of Nevada and that is Casey’s Camera. My idea for the photograph am I required to do is to talk with the workers at the store and ask if I can take a quick photograph of me peeking out of the equipment. I wanted something cute and funny rather then boring and uncreative. The location of Casey’s Camera is: 1550 E. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. The telephone number is (702) 736-0890.

EOC Week Two : La Dolce Vita

"La Dolce Vita"is a classic film from Federico Fellini that will forever be remembered in film. Mick LaSalle, a writer for the San Fransisco Chronicle wrote, "In this one masterpiece, Federico Fellini achieved the ideal balance -- between social observation and unconscious imagery, between artistic discipline and freedom, and between the neo-realism of 1950s Italian cinema and the orgiastic flights of his later work." LaSalle's description of the movie could not have been said any better. It is true that Federico Fellini achieved an ideal balance between all of the above as well as entertained millions of people over the years. However, when the film was first released it had many issues with the Catholic Church banning it for its sex scenes and they called it a dirty film. Again, Mick LaSalle gives us a great quote saying, "It's not simply that we've become jaded or desensitized, but that the passage of time and the changing of styles have dimmed the glamor of the cafe society Fellini depicted. It no longer looks seductive, just tawdry, and consequently poignant and quite human." Today people may get lost in the film, however, they don't turn it off because it is taboo for it's nudity and sex. Regardless of the slightly desensitized day in age, they story does tell a story about something very human. It is common to see these types of things now and deal with the issues the movie star had to deal with. Over all I would rate this movie ahead of it's time and enjoyable to watch.

Weekly Photo Challenge : Self Portrait

Ansel Adams is a favorite photographer of mine which is why I chose to use his photograph as my background for my self portrait. I chose this particular photograph because I believe that it is more realistic then some of his monumental photographs of Yosemite. I have always had a love for Ansel Adams photography because when I was a young child I loved nature and the beauty of it. Ansel Adams brought that beauty to life in his photographs of Yosemite National Park in California. Recently I got the chance to visit Yosemite and took photographs similar to his which made me feel proud that I got to travel and shoot on the same locations as Ansel Adams. In creating this self portrait I simply grabbed my photograph and carefully took myself out of the picture and pasted it onto Ansel Adams photograph of the road and clouds. Cutting out my hair was the most difficult to accomplish, however I have a good background in Photoshop and finished the project with a slight ease.

EOC Week One : Stallions not Unicorns

My ideal business plan involves me finishing up school at the Art Institute of Las Vegas and moving to the Bay Area, California. Once I get settled in California I would get a basic job and mingle with the local photographers and do side jobs of fashion or portraiture. By getting myself known to the photographers and businesses I then become a prime candidate for photography jobs in local magazines or advertisements. After I get a few of these jobs I then move my business to other locations like Los Angeles and then, hopefully, New York.  The process for making myself known is repeating and will do it over and over. I eventually would like to land a job working for a national magazine, runway photographer or advertisements in movies and television shows. The whole process getting from where I am now to being a main photographer for a national magazine could take anywhere from a few years to a few decades, however, I have the motivation to get there. Another business plan starts out similar to the fashion career but leads towards a different type of photography. Once I get to the Bay Area, I would mingle with people who deal with nature and foreign affairs. By mingling with these people, I would hope to achieve a place to take photos for a newspaper or some type of nature publication. Once I get my name known to the locals in that business I would expand my horizons and go to other places with lots of nature or plenty of news worthy locations and then get my name known there as a good photographer. Eventually I would like to land a job working for National Geographic as a main photographer.

Week One : About Me

My name is Brenda Wilson and I am a photographer who specializes in fashion and portraiture. I believe that to succeed in this business, you must have the talent and the motivation that leads you to your ultimate goal for your career. Talent is something I have gained, not only through natural means but through my education at the Art Institute of Las Vegas as well. My motivation derives from my natural competitive edge where I see advertisements or portraiture and I know I create something better. My photographs are known for their extreme contrast and vibrant colors, or lack thereof. I feel as though, the colors and contrast in my photography helps to grab the attention of any specific type of audience. I am not focused on any one type of photography, however I find myself having more photo shoots for fashion and basic portraits than anything else. If I had the chance, I would welcome the opportunity to complete a food photography or still life photography photo shoot. Regardless of the type of photography, I have a love for capturing beautiful moments that stems from my love for the arts. All I want to create is a beautiful photograph that people can look at and be mesmerized.