Rhesi A, Esmeralda à la Cameron

This picture was taken inspired by a photographer named Julia Margaret Cameron. The picture was a self- portrait of Julia Jackson, 1867. The famous picture of Julia Jackson, was Cameron favorite subject, she was Cameron’s niece. Who once wrote the biography of Cameron. Unlike any other photographers, Cameron used her own relatives as her model. My partner name is Esmeralda Aguayo. The reason she chose this pose-like Julia Jackson because it gives a natural beauty, real and exposes vibe. The way she took her picture, she used a good lightning sources and all natural without any make-up. This means that she was trying to express the real beauty of a woman in a close-up picture. Esmeralda Aguayo is a senior student at University of California, Merced. She is majoring in Biological Science. She came from a small city in Modesto, California. Reading is one of her favorite things to do, she preferred to read “Guns, Germs, and Steal,” by Jared Diamond. She enjoys watching action and comedy movies. On her spare time, she liked to run to stay healthy. Her favorite style of photography was contrast, with bright colors. She dreams to become a professor at some college after she graduated from UC Merced. Also she wants to grow to be a scientist and do lot of experiments. During the interviewed, I knew that she was different than any other college students. She seemed like a smart grown up independent female that already plan all her goals in life and will have a bright future. The reason she is taking this class is to exercising her humanity outside the brain.

Esmeralda A, Rhesi à la Carjat

“At a glance”
Serious, dark, and formal are the words that come to mind when you first see this photograph. The plain repeating pattern in the background leaves the view no choice but to focus on the subject. The position of the light source creates a slight shadow over his face, but it is not enough to erase the intense stare from his eyes. As if he knew the wrong doing that you had done earlier that day. After a quick scouting of his face, you can’t help but to be pulled in by his bow tie; look at it. The arrogance of formality is stamp all over it. However, its unfixed presentation provides a hint with the subjects own struggle with formality or life.

“Inside the book”
If the viewer were to know Rhesi, this photograph would look different. His face and stare would appear to have a playful hint of the joke he will say about you in the next second. The shadow upon his face keeps you in even more doubt of what he will say. This is probably a look practiced from years of being the youngest in his family. His attire of 1863 does no justice to his better sense of style. The fact that he likes basketball hints at you the contrast of what his is wearing to his everyday clothing; maybe that why his bow tie remained unfixed. A personal statement of his dislike for the attire his wears in the photograph. This is a photograph were knowing the subject allows you see more than what it presents.

Denise A, Cesar à la Cameron

For my first visual essay, I decided to pose my partner, Cesar, in a school setting simply to show the mere fact that he is a student. I decided to imitate Julia Margaret Cameron’s style of photography, for in her pictures it is noticeable, once being analyzed, how she posed her clients a certain way to capture something so simple such as “who they are.” It is a fact she mainly photographed women, but there are a few pictures where she also photographed men, and this is the reason I decided to imitate her style. After knowing Cesar for a few days, he gave me a sense of being laid back but alert. I tried to capture this in my picture by having him look straight onto the camera.
High contrast is also is part of my technique for imitation. My type of contrast may not seem similar to that of Cameron’s but the reason I used contrast was to portray light coming from the school itself, symbolizing the bright future education will bring him. His grabbing onto the staircase wires is his dedication to succeed in school by trying hard in school to do the best of his ability. The fact that he is behind, is my interpretation of being somewhat confined to the limited resources presented here at UCM. Whether that is true or not, he still manages to stay here and do the best of his ability with is carefree but laid back and dedicated sense of being

Cesar Campos, Denise à la Nadar

Denise is a very interesting person. She is thoughful and observative. She likes to think of plans of action while observing her surroundings. This is why I chose to display her in the pose that she is in. It show a little bit of her inner thoughtful self. In the photograph she is looking up at the sky, thinking, considering, deciding. I chose the place because I wanted to show a little more insight to Denise's character. I wanted to show the kind of attitude that characterizes Denise. She is a person who likes to be on top of things. Because I photographed her in the second floor with the background being the lower earth, the photograph shows how Denise is high above the ground in expectations and dreams. She is also sitting on the floor of the second floor showing that even though she has high goals she still manages to keep a firm grip to the ground. I chose to part the background in different segments by the wire to represent the different outlooks that Denise has on the world. I like to think that every segment surrounded by wire is a dream of Denise's. Something that she will try really hard to reach. She will follow the path of the wire balancing on it, from goal to goal, from destination to destination. This is the way I perceive Denise and this is how I tried to portray her.

Scott A, Martin à la Nadar

Martin Macleod is a senior her at UC Merced and is serious about school and sports. For sports he has played on various teams since high school such as the golf and baseball teams. These are both represented in the picture by the use of the golf club and baseball cap. He would have continued through college except for UC Merced’s lack of sports teams. Still he manages to practice golf at the local driving range and the one in his garage. Outside of sports Martin spends a lot of time working on school work though this semester he has a relatively light load with 12 units. Martin also gives off a sense of being confident in what he does through his style of dress and through the way he caries himself. These elements combine to show a smart, self confident, and athletic individual.

Martin M, Scott à la Julia Margaret Cameron

In this photograph of Scotty, there are many similarities to Cameron’s photos. In all of Cameron’s pictures, her subjects are looking away from the camera and often have a distinct look. Scotty’s look is one that depicts him as a hard-working, determined student. His gaze into the distant is one that shows he is determined. He does not look tired or confused. He has a small grin that depicts his attitude. It is one that portrays that he is content with where he is at this point in his life. The photograph consists of mostly black and white with very few grays, which helps keep the setting more serious. The subject also has very dark features that complement the setting as well. Overall, I feel that this photograph is very similar in style, structure, and expression as was done in Julia Margaret Cameron photographs.

Ann-Alecia B, Alfredo à la Gardner

Lost In Translation

Upon my first meeting with Alfredo I thought I could sum him up in one word: INTENSE. He was definitely more than I expected, and maybe more than I could handle. I could tell early on he was someone who took his work seriously, and meant business. Little did I know he would continually catch me off guard during the process of this assignment.

I chose to model my photo of Alfredo after the works of Alexander Gardner because I like how he was able to capture sides of people that could have otherwise remained hidden. Gardner photographed a man who had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln, and I hoped to capture a photo that would intrigue the viewer as I had been intrigued. While Alfredo is not so much a prisoner as he is a willing participant with a love for photography and science, he is striving to be successful not only for himself but for those he keeps close to his heart.

While getting to know Alfredo I realized he has a subtle sensitivity about him due to the close bond he has come to share with his mother and sisters. As someone who has found light through adversities, he receives every day as one more day to be alive and for that he is happy. I think this photo shows a soft, light-hearted side of Alfredo. Don’t get me wrong; he is just as intense as ever, but he is funny and smart, serious and wise, and most of all genuine. As an English as a second language learner, Alfredo told me that sometimes it’s hard to find the words that express what he wants to say, but I think that even though he may get “lost in translation” this picture will be worth a thousand words.

Alfredo VB, Ann- Alicia à la Cameron

A TIME FOR MYSELF

A time for myself is a perfect phrase to produce a perfect representation of Ann-Alicia image. This picture fallows the characteristics of Julia Margaret Cameron style of photography by creating an essence of softness and tranquility, which some how reflect the personality of Ann-Alicia. The transition of light between black and white signifies the need of protection against the outside society by only showing what is completely necessary and nothing more. In this picture one can see the reflection of a young woman taking her time to explore and question what is that she wants in life. The need of knowing what pathway to take is not an easy task and in many occasions it requires for as hold back in the dark. At some specific moment in our lives everyone passes through this moment where you are by yourself in a dark place trying to understand who you are and how is that every one sees you. The need of knowing if there is some one out there in the darkness that can understand the reason of the mysterious why. A time for myself is a phrase that many of as can relay on and in a way understand who my partner really is. Ann-Alicia is just like you and me and every one in the world. She is that person that observes carefully and waits for the perfect moment to emerge from the dark. One can see the expectation of her future trough the gesture of her eyes being compress as her thinking intensifies. Who is she? She is just a girl looking to get out of the dark.

Guadalupe C, Darwin à la Nadar

Gaspard Félix Tournachon Nadar, a French photographer, communicated the spirit of their creators. In a lot of his images, he illustrates the power that a character could attribute. In his images he conveys the seriousness and pensiveness of a person. Consequently, the character has strength and self power. For that reason, this photographer inspired me for this assignment. Darwin Castro’s character is similar to what Sir Nadar illustrates in his photos. Darwin is a serious and reserved person. Furthermore, Darwin’s character is very studious and very organized. Darwin being an engineer major requires him to be knowledgeable and very organized in his life. The picture that I portrayed resembles Darwin in a way that in a near future after he has completed with his career, he is going to be a very successful engineer by what he has to offer. This character is very similar to the personalities that Sir Nadar portrays in his photos. Although Darwin dominates the character of being successful including self power, he also portrays this image of secreting another personality. Darwin enjoys Japanese anime, which indicates that he has a mind of a child. In other words he is a child in an adult body. Similar to the saying, “There is always a kid in us regardless to our age.” This personality matches the persona in a lot of Nadar’s pictures. They tend to have an up tight strong image but deep down they hide another side of their lives by not looking at the camera in a lot of these images. In conclusion, this dramatic illustration also has a great impact in the usage of contrast. This is how Gaspard Félix Tournachon Nadar is a very good candidate for my picture.

Darwin C, Guadalupe à la Nadar

Mistress Guadalupe is dashing young woman in her prime. With nothing to lose she raises one angry hand at the clothes, books and other random assortments in her busy lifestyle. Preferably, she likes things in her life to be simple, and organized. She is the kind of person deeply rooted in reality and all its demands. There are no illusions of fairy tales or what may be a prince at her door. She works hard and is determined to plow her own path in life, though occasionally she has doubts what that path may be.

There is a slight tragedy in that she seldom has time for herself, putting her own needs and enjoyment aside to work on her studies. It’s the kind of self-sacrifice that has made her an uncertain what to do with her free time, when she has some. Subconsciously, she wants to have fun with her life and to be free of life’s demands.

Kindness is her close companion, making itself known in the small acts that usually go unnoticed. She places the opinions of others before herself and because of that she often doesn’t explicitly let anyone know when she is unhappy or uncomfortable. Anger isn’t second nature and she has trouble dealing with the emotion when it occasionally arises. She has a natural affinity to children and to her children represent simplicity, which means she has a bit more faith in them then her peers. In all she presents herself as a mature woman who enjoys a little bit of fun every now and then.