Hello Everyone,
My name is Luke Shimpeno and like some of you in this class I am graduated and taking photography to finish up those last remaining credits before complete freedom. I have been a film student for the past four years and have been an animal enthusiast all my life. I have a beautiful, all white pit bull named Bubbins Curmudgeons who I rescued 6 years ago from the SPCA. The things I love in life are Movies, my dog, and the outdoors, but am interested in many different things (photography) My family's okay too :). If i'm not working on Main Campus, I am looking for jobs, exploring Philly, or with my dog. Horror is one of my favorite genre's of film, but I like almost everything. I am open minded and want to travel more. I dream of one day being rich and having a boat. This assignment was a good starter and I came to a realization that in everyday life, we almost always see ourselves in reflections of who we are (mirrors, windows, cars, pictures,etc.).
Hey Luke, nice to meet you! I have a dog I rescued and actually a kitten (currently sitting on me) whom I picked up on the streets of Fairmont six months ago, so if that does not give it away I love animals too! Having a boat would be so cool, and who knows after this class I am sure you will know how to take some amazing pictures of the sea from your boat!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely grasp from your image that you wanted to play with reflection, and the confusing nature that comes with, for the viewer, trying to discern where you actually stand in this image because there are so many different versions of you, which might be a point you are trying to make. It almost makes a sort of ring of reflections around the corner of the wall (if that makes sense). For me the knife shows your interest in horror films and I can see from your screen shot that you took your time trying to find different ways to incorporate the knife. I am trying to figure out the photo on the right, maybe that relates to the reflection of you that you want to see in the future, of someone rich with a house and a boat. The reflection of you in the mirror is you where you stand now and out of all of them the least amount of focus is given to your face. In addition you choose to go shirtless which is interesting because clothes can tell a lot about a person, so without them the viewer is left to search for meaning in other elements of the photo.
I wonder, because you said you like horror films, what would have happened if you happened if you had tried to take this in the dark with a flash as your only source of light as well as what might have happened if the image had been in black and white. That might had added more spookiness and contrast to the image. Personally, I can be a little OCD, but because you used so many objects that have straight lines and edges I would have preferred that the photo have been straightened, but that choice is your creative expression!
Overall, great job, excellent use of reflection and that's awesome about the realization you came to. Just if I were to change anything I would have taken this in the dark in black and white and made the photo straight, but I think this image satisfies the assignment and gives the viewer an interesting look into your life through yourself but also other details in the image.
Hi Luke,
ReplyDeleteexcellent critique by the way- you hit the nail on the head with the message I wanted to rely.
your film background, views of reflections, and love of horror are carefully shown in this self portrait. Tilting the camera was an interesting choice, I partly agree with Clarke and not sure if it enhanced your image or message. You definitely played with reflection and it was certainly I nice exploration. I also agree making the image black and white would have enhanced the spookiness of the situation, although you being shirtless adds enough elements of spooky in its own way. formally I would have liked to seen you hold the knife with more intention, as it is clearly a focal point in your picture. your exposure is also very yellow, and Im not sure if that color scheme fits the mood you are trying to bring across. But over all great play with reflection and composition I also really liked a lot of your explorations with reflection and light. Looking forward to seeing more solutions!
Good day Luke! This is a great photo. I love the fact that i can see you in three different spots in one photo. You also give me a sense of Norman Bates in the photo, especially with your reflection in the knife. Your photo might be the most creative of the whole class. I am a movie fan as well, but not that much into horror as you are. Congratulations on graduating from Temple. I know it is a hard grind, and i wish you nothing but success in your upcoming future. Hopefully there is an Oscar in your future! If this photo is any indication, you are well on your way. I also like how you used the photo on the wall. The house in the background, like that is your destination to start putting in work with your kitchen knife.The kitchen knife is the number one prop in a good horror movie, and i guess that's why you used it. Much success in your future!
ReplyDeleteHey Luke, good to meet you! I laughed for a good minute trying to pronounce your dog's name... I love it! Your photo sure does portray the interest you mentioned in horror (that knife, though...) It's really intriguing to see the various reflective objects in the shot, such as the knife, the mirror, and even the picture frame beside the mirror. All three have a different level of reflection, and give off a different image of yourself. It's interesting how the image is not shot straight on, but at a wonky angle, which gives off that horror/edgy vibe. You could either be cutting some vegetables for a nice stew in the bathroom, or carrying out a murder, the ambiguity leaves the viewer to make their own story, which is a cool, (maybe unintentional) element. Cool stuff, can't wait to see more
ReplyDeleteHi Luke,
ReplyDeleteI feel that you did an excellent job in fulfilling this assignment. After reading your introduction, I could easily see an interest in horror within the picture. My reaction to first looking at this portrait before reading the intro actually was that I was looking at a thriller/horror inspired photo.
The use of multiple reflections was very creative, especially how the clarity of each reflection varies on the separate surfaces. With the mirror, your reflection is obviously clear. I feel like this could represent how your persona sees himself. The reflection on the painting (I'm assuming is a little village) is clear but a little obscure because of the light reflections and the painting behind it. This can be viewed as the worlds view of the persona, clear but not really seeing the full picture of who your persona is. Then, finally, the reflection of the knife is the most opaque. Going with the theme of horror, this could be viewed as how the world can't really see the possible killer behind the persona; the intentions of the persona can only be assumed and the world cannot ever truly see what it is.
I think the tilt to the camera plays into this idea. The viewer can see more of the worlds view (the reflection in the painting and the knife) than the views that would show the persona's true self. It plays into how the persona may want to control how much the viewer can see of who it really is. One critique I have is that this would have probably had a stronger affect without so much lighting; maybe have given the presence of the persona a little more intensity. Other than that, this was a great self portrait with obvious signs of creativity. I look forward to seeing the rest of your works during this semester.