Winners Gallery: 2010 :: Best of Photography » Finalists » Matthew LaVere
Check it out! I was chosen as a finalist for the Photography Forum: Best of Photography Magazine. It will be published and available in December.
The title of this photograph is Orpheus & Eurydice from the series Mythology: Chaos & Creation from my Senior Thesis work at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in 2009.
Here is the artist statement that went along with my work
"One of the functions of myth is to make sense of the world. Whether a culture uses myths to uphold social institutions or to provide a religious experience, they all offer similar themes. The myths across diverse cultures and writings from Joseph Campbell inspire my iamges.
These dramatic compositions incorporate several metaphors from ancient myths. The controlled events create a surrealistic realm within our modern world. While photographing in darkness, I mediate how serendipitous events reflect my life experiences. Discover the power of myth in your life."
Check back in the next couple days for a write up of this image.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
New Chatper, New Projects
It has been far too long since I posted an entry on my blog. Since my senior thesis which ended this past December, I have completed my Bachelors of Arts Degree in Photography from Grand Valley State University and have become a Photo Technician for a painter in Saugatuck, MI. Graduation seems surreal. There is still a plethora if information to hear and learn about.
Instead of going to bed before midnight, my time consists of researching future photography equpiment (i.e. lenses, camera bodies, flashes, photoshop techniques, light techniques, etc.). Most time and effort is spent on strobe lighting techniques.
Recently, I built a lightbox out of the following materials.
Strobist Blog
After spending less than $8 at Meijer and fifteen minutes later this was the final product
In this image the set up consists of two Canon 430EXII Flashes set manually at 1/8 power triggeredby Paul C. Buff Cybersyncs. The two cardboard flaps can act as gobos to block out light/lens flare into the camera lens.
Also you can use a mirror or granite tile to place your object on to get a nice reflection of the object.
Here is a sample image I photographed with the lightbox
Overall I am satisfied with the results of this inexpensive studio accessory. I plan on producing another lightbox that is much bigger to use. The box I used was 12x16x12. When I go grocery shopping next, I will ask for a box that is roughly twice the size of the one which is currently being used.
My next project in the next few weeks...a digital pinhole camera...yep! For now, it's back to enjoying the good life
Instead of going to bed before midnight, my time consists of researching future photography equpiment (i.e. lenses, camera bodies, flashes, photoshop techniques, light techniques, etc.). Most time and effort is spent on strobe lighting techniques.
Recently, I built a lightbox out of the following materials.
- Cardboard
- posterboard
- tissue paper
- packaging and painter's tape
- scissors
Strobist Blog
After spending less than $8 at Meijer and fifteen minutes later this was the final product
In this image the set up consists of two Canon 430EXII Flashes set manually at 1/8 power triggeredby Paul C. Buff Cybersyncs. The two cardboard flaps can act as gobos to block out light/lens flare into the camera lens.
Also you can use a mirror or granite tile to place your object on to get a nice reflection of the object.
Here is a sample image I photographed with the lightbox
Overall I am satisfied with the results of this inexpensive studio accessory. I plan on producing another lightbox that is much bigger to use. The box I used was 12x16x12. When I go grocery shopping next, I will ask for a box that is roughly twice the size of the one which is currently being used.
My next project in the next few weeks...a digital pinhole camera...yep! For now, it's back to enjoying the good life
Monday, October 26, 2009
Less than a month until the show goes up...
And i'm stressing out about the show going up. My work has been progressing better ( I think) and working 20 hours still is not being stressful. The paychecks I receive bi-weekly are quite nice and so is having assistants to help me photograph. If you are around the Grand Rapids area and would possibly like to help me photograph at night. let me know... Usually I photograph after 9-10PM and have photographed late into the night...sometimes getting no sleep.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sept 21
Photographing for my "mythology" based thesis has been difficult in terms of time. Currently I am working at least 20 hours on campus. Maintenance and TAing for photo are not stressful jobs, but at least I am able to get homework done for COM 495, finance, and management done for the most part. It's just whenever I come home from Allendale, I am exhausted because my day usually begins at 8:00AM and ends around 8:00pm with little free-time in between.
I am confident with myself though. Luckily I am not enrolled for 16 credits along with my jobs. If I did take MKT 350, I would really be struggling with the workload and how much time it consumes throughout the semester. At least with my jobs I am able to make income to afford some supplies and pay my utilities.
Monday (Sept 28th) is Quarter Review with all of the Photo professors there to help critique our progress in our thesis. My thesis idea is well developed, but now I have to photograph new work that is inspiried from the desert.
To narrow my thesis, I want to set a frame for my night exposures based on mythology. While enrolled in ENG 204 World Mythology, we learned about Joseph Campbell who is famous for mythologies and analysis of them. More specifically, we learned all mythologies generally tell the same story through different characters/contexts. The hero of the myth MUST go through a journey, and that's what I will focus my thesis on. I am borrowing from my friend a book called "The Power of the Myth" which is an interview of Campbell with Bill Moyers. This program was aired on PBS back in the late 1980's for a few weeks.......more later
I am confident with myself though. Luckily I am not enrolled for 16 credits along with my jobs. If I did take MKT 350, I would really be struggling with the workload and how much time it consumes throughout the semester. At least with my jobs I am able to make income to afford some supplies and pay my utilities.
Monday (Sept 28th) is Quarter Review with all of the Photo professors there to help critique our progress in our thesis. My thesis idea is well developed, but now I have to photograph new work that is inspiried from the desert.
To narrow my thesis, I want to set a frame for my night exposures based on mythology. While enrolled in ENG 204 World Mythology, we learned about Joseph Campbell who is famous for mythologies and analysis of them. More specifically, we learned all mythologies generally tell the same story through different characters/contexts. The hero of the myth MUST go through a journey, and that's what I will focus my thesis on. I am borrowing from my friend a book called "The Power of the Myth" which is an interview of Campbell with Bill Moyers. This program was aired on PBS back in the late 1980's for a few weeks.......more later
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
late night...only the beginning though
Right now its 1:37pm and I need to take a short break from my MGT 331 (Concepts in Management assignment) paper that is due tomorrow. I have FIN 320 and MGT 331 back to back from 8:30am -11:15am TR.
Afterwards I am starting my new job. I will be working maintenance on campus for about 12 hours/week along with my two TA shifts 6 hours/week. With 18 hours at minimum wage, this will hopefully help offset some expenses for my senior thesis project. I plan on purchasing some Alien Bee Cyber Sync flash triggers and receivers and afterwards a Canon 580 EX hot shoe flash.
http://www.alienbees.com/remotes.html - Flash triggers
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486706-USA/Canon_1946B002_580EX_II_Flash.html - Canon 580 flash
Both of these purchases will be useful even after my senior thesis project of course. Before I left for out west I purchased 2 light stands, 2 umbrellas, and 2 hot shoe flash brackets for under $100 at BH Photo Video.
I was planning on purchasing the Canon 16-35mm L series lens for about $1500+ but I think it would be best to hold off on a lens until next semester. As of now I have a 50mm 1.4, a 28-135mm 3.5, and I can borrow the Canon 15 and 20mm 2.8 from GVSU. With all of those lenses I will still be able to photograph my thesis the way I want to. I am more concerned with the flash equipment.
Tonight I was going to photograph but I put off my MGT 331 assignment so that is taking my time. Once I get a full week of school in with work, I will have a better idea of organizing my schedule for the semester. Tomorrow night I will be photographing towards my senior thesis
Afterwards I am starting my new job. I will be working maintenance on campus for about 12 hours/week along with my two TA shifts 6 hours/week. With 18 hours at minimum wage, this will hopefully help offset some expenses for my senior thesis project. I plan on purchasing some Alien Bee Cyber Sync flash triggers and receivers and afterwards a Canon 580 EX hot shoe flash.
http://www.alienbees.com/remotes.html - Flash triggers
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486706-USA/Canon_1946B002_580EX_II_Flash.html - Canon 580 flash
Both of these purchases will be useful even after my senior thesis project of course. Before I left for out west I purchased 2 light stands, 2 umbrellas, and 2 hot shoe flash brackets for under $100 at BH Photo Video.
I was planning on purchasing the Canon 16-35mm L series lens for about $1500+ but I think it would be best to hold off on a lens until next semester. As of now I have a 50mm 1.4, a 28-135mm 3.5, and I can borrow the Canon 15 and 20mm 2.8 from GVSU. With all of those lenses I will still be able to photograph my thesis the way I want to. I am more concerned with the flash equipment.
Tonight I was going to photograph but I put off my MGT 331 assignment so that is taking my time. Once I get a full week of school in with work, I will have a better idea of organizing my schedule for the semester. Tomorrow night I will be photographing towards my senior thesis
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Starting Thesis.
The above image was a test shot with 3 hot shoe flashes, a pocket-sized maglite, and 2 color gels (blue and yellow). It was photographed at ISO 100, f/5.6 @ 76 seconds (or 1 minute and 16 second exposure). One important thing to mention is the distance of the flash from the camera and the subject. The blue flash was fired off at full power from about 15 feet away from the black footstool at least 5 times. The yellow gel (fired from camera left) was about 8-10 feet away and was fired off only 3 times because it is closer to the camera/subject.The pocketsized maglite I use for detailing or light drawings. For about 20 seconds I drew some "flames" above the black footstoolto add another color to the scene. I "painted" around the footstool to provide more specular highlights.
I really enjoyed making this image more interesting to look at. The repetition of shapes and the selected colors add something more to this image.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
London Day 2
August 1st
After browsing some of the tourists shops across Baker St. Karen and I met up along with others to go see Abbey Rd. She showed me how to use the tube and it is easy/idiot proof in my opinion. We got on at the Bakerloo line from Baker St to Maide Vale and walked for about 5 minutes up to Abbey Rd. Once we got there they were confused if it was actually the famous crosswalk and I said yes.
So by this point I'm ready to freak out because c'mon...it's Abbey Rd we're talking about. My one and only goal was to take a photo of me walking across with no shoes on Just like Paul McCartney did on the famous Abbey Rd. Cover.
After that I had to write my name on the Abbey Rd. Studios Wall outside. Unfortunately the public is not allowed inside the studios. For artists to go in there it costs about 2000 pounds a day and you could probably go inside the studios if you paid 4000 haha.
A few blocks away there was a Beatles Coffee Shop Karen mentioned. It was at St Johns Underground Station. The shop itself was a small shop but they had a lot of stuff to offer. I only bought a Beatles wallet and an Abbey Rd. pen because Karen said there is a Beatles Store right by Regent's Park. Once I was satisfied, we left and I went with Karen to Euston to pick up her older sister Elizabeth who flew in from DTW. However on the way Karen was a bit concerned because there is Euston Square and Euston Station and was confused which one her sis would be at. Luckily we found each other at Euston. After seeing where her sister was staying we took the Tram back to Regent's Park College where Karen treated us to lunch since she had money left over int the cafeteria. Once we finished eating, Karen had to pack up her things. Her and Elizabeth were going to Scotland for a week. We said our goodbyes and then I was off by myself. It was very nice that Karen showed me how to use the tube- the rest was a cake walk. If i was in another country I would most likely be screwed.
So when i was done I ended up going out to a Korean restauruant right outside of Paddington Station. It was very good and ended up talking with an old english couple throughout the meal.
The following day I woke up and went on a Beatle's Walking Tour that met up at ___. The guide, Richard, was quite humurous and has met Paul McCartney numerous times since the 1980s...(continued in part 3)
After browsing some of the tourists shops across Baker St. Karen and I met up along with others to go see Abbey Rd. She showed me how to use the tube and it is easy/idiot proof in my opinion. We got on at the Bakerloo line from Baker St to Maide Vale and walked for about 5 minutes up to Abbey Rd. Once we got there they were confused if it was actually the famous crosswalk and I said yes.
So by this point I'm ready to freak out because c'mon...it's Abbey Rd we're talking about. My one and only goal was to take a photo of me walking across with no shoes on Just like Paul McCartney did on the famous Abbey Rd. Cover.
After that I had to write my name on the Abbey Rd. Studios Wall outside. Unfortunately the public is not allowed inside the studios. For artists to go in there it costs about 2000 pounds a day and you could probably go inside the studios if you paid 4000 haha.
A few blocks away there was a Beatles Coffee Shop Karen mentioned. It was at St Johns Underground Station. The shop itself was a small shop but they had a lot of stuff to offer. I only bought a Beatles wallet and an Abbey Rd. pen because Karen said there is a Beatles Store right by Regent's Park. Once I was satisfied, we left and I went with Karen to Euston to pick up her older sister Elizabeth who flew in from DTW. However on the way Karen was a bit concerned because there is Euston Square and Euston Station and was confused which one her sis would be at. Luckily we found each other at Euston. After seeing where her sister was staying we took the Tram back to Regent's Park College where Karen treated us to lunch since she had money left over int the cafeteria. Once we finished eating, Karen had to pack up her things. Her and Elizabeth were going to Scotland for a week. We said our goodbyes and then I was off by myself. It was very nice that Karen showed me how to use the tube- the rest was a cake walk. If i was in another country I would most likely be screwed.
So when i was done I ended up going out to a Korean restauruant right outside of Paddington Station. It was very good and ended up talking with an old english couple throughout the meal.
The following day I woke up and went on a Beatle's Walking Tour that met up at ___. The guide, Richard, was quite humurous and has met Paul McCartney numerous times since the 1980s...(continued in part 3)
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