Eunice C, Paul à la Rejlander

My partner Paul Diaz has a passion for music. He loves playing, listening, and dancing to music. When he plays music, he becomes expressive and just plays whatever his heart tells him. Music inspires him and brings out the creativity in him. It helps him be expressive about his feelings. Music consistently moves him and it also seems to relate to which ever mood he is in at that time. He loves to play the guitar because it is one of his hobbies and also a stress remedy at the same time. Since his sophomore year of high school, he has been playing the guitar on and off but would like to pursue it even more when he has time.

The photograph that was taken was inspired by one of Oscar Gustav Rejlander’s photo. It was where a little girl has a hand on her chin and seemed to be daydreaming. Browsing through some of his photos, I realized that some of the people in his photographs seemed to be either thinking or dreaming.I wanted to capture that same emotion in my photograph. When Paul plays the guitar, he is in his own world and doesn’t let anything bother him or get in the way. This photograph makes it look like someone is spying in on him but Paul is unaware of it. He is so captured and drawn to the melody of his guitar that his surroundings don’t matter to him. It is as if, he is daydreaming by playing the guitar. It looks as if he has completely surrendered himself to the music and devoted himself to the guitar. Music is Paul’s way of life and a very crucial aspect of it as well. Music will always be with him no matter where he goes.

Paul D, Eunice à la Cameron

I tried to attempt to imitate the style of Julia Margaret Cameron. The pictures of the photographers we had to imitate were not as appealing to me in terms of composition, but I really liked her fantastic style. Specifically, Whisper of the Muse and Pablo Casals are the most interesting pictures to me. Whisper of the Muse really had a mystical aspect to it, and I really liked how the composition was similar to the paintings of the time. Pablo Casals intrigued me mostly because we do not even see the subject’s face. Her emotionally provoking style is what I tried to convey through the photos I took with Eunice.
I learned a lot from my interview with Eunice, my partner for this project. When I found out that she had a particular interest in music I immediately thought of the mural of artists in Merced on the corner of K and Main Street. I saw, though it was subtle, the happy, goofy, and artistically appreciative side to her when I finally past her shyness. In the photo I tried to illustrate her upbeat personality as well as her appreciation for music. In the photo, Eunice is smiling thoughtfully, while the mural in the back is meant to illustrate her musical imagination.
Cameron’s style invokes a more nostalgic feeling to many of her photos. I initially tried to imitate her nostalgic style, but as I took more pictures I realized that I was contradicting her personality immensely. Instead, I decided that I would try to invoke emotions in similar ways as Cameron, through background, lighting, and composition, but invoke Eunice’s happy personality as opposed to nostalgia.

Emily D, Joe à la Cameron

This photograph serves as a stark contrast to the character of Joe. While here he is depicted as serious and pensive, in everyday life he is the complete opposite. Fun, gregarious, and charming Joe makes friends and drinking buddies faster than anyone else I have seen. Goofy would probably serve as the best word to sum up Joe, and it took much frustration and effort to capture him not being that way. When asked to look serious, he gave me a stare of death that was more comical than anything else. He seemed to take the most enjoyment in making me laugh at his expense. To every comedian and lover of life there is another side. Though fleeting, there are times of seriousness in which one must reflect and learn from life. They seem to be far and few between, but when they come it is a bleak disruption of character; especially for Joe. It felt quite unnatural and almost disturbing to see him with such a facial expression, but in the end I realized it was just another side of life. Even the most childish at heart have to grow up sometimes and face the harsh realities of life. After taking this photo and seeing it on the computer screen, I wondered what it was he was thinking about that caused such a somber expression. I asked him this later, and his answer was simply “I was hungover and thinking about breakfast,” and I couldn’t get a more serious explanation than that. In the end, I assumed that at the time a headache and hunger were his harshest realities of life. Such is the character of Joe.

Adrienne E, Gladys à la Hill

After talking with my partner, Gladys, I got to know her better and began to understand who she is. In the photograph I took of her, my goal was to capture the type of person she is. We can tell a lot from photographs. Just by facial expressions and the background we can begin to draw conclusions. In this photograph, imitated in the style of photographer David Octavius Hill, I took a picture of Gladys in the library pausing to look at a book as she browses through a section. She also is listening to her iPod while doing so. I found out that Gladys enjoys reading books and also collects them. She also spends some of her free time in the library on campus in between her classes. Although it is not very evident in this photograph, but the section of the library this photograph was taken in is one of Gladys’ favorite sections. It has the type of books she is interested in and she enjoys browsing for books in this section to read when she has free time from her classes.
I also learned that Gladys enjoys listening to her iPod when she has time to herself. She listens to it when she is walking to and from classes, as she browses for books to read, and when she needs to relax. Since we can tell a lot from photographs, I think this photograph shows who Gladys is and what she enjoys. I think having Gladys listen to her iPod as she browses for books in the library fits very well in capturing who she is.

Gladys H, Adrienne à la Nadar

Like Nadar’s work, Adrienne is featured in front of a plain backdrop instead of a natural scene or setting. This way, instead of focusing on the surrounding elements, the subject is the main object featured in the photograph. Adrienne is the type of person to be simple and not high-maintenance like this photo taken in the Kolligian Library at UC Merced where she attends school. This is her last semester at UC Merced and she plans to take some time off before returning to a University to begin graduate school. Throughout her career here at UC Merced, Adrienne has maintained high grades, attendance, and is involved in extra-curricular activities. She is punctual to her classes as well as attentive and appropriate during class sessions and lectures.

Appearing in her Softball attire, Adrienne appears relaxed and at ease sitting among colleagues. She usually keeps to herself rather than being loud and outgoing, but she has made many friends and is helpful even to those she does not know well. It is important to Adrienne to eat healthy; She drinks tea instead of coffee and carries snacks with her to maintain her metabolism. Before this picture was taken, she would have been found working out at UC Merced’s local gym establishment.

Even when she is dressed for working out at the gym, Adrienne keeps a feminine posture and appearance sitting with her legs crossed and wearing makeup. Her hair is held in a simple braid and her smile fits her quiet feminine demeanor. Adrienne gazes off like a true dreamer as she imagines working hard to meet all the goals she has set up for herself.

Vita H, Emily à la Julia Margaret Camron


Emily is a character. She is a crazy, fun, wild person who is not afraid to tell you what she thinks. Simply by coincidence we were chosen for partners, when, even though I didn’t know her that well, I had asked her to be my partner before class. I don’t know Emily all that well, but I wanted to work with her; because I know she is a really fun girl.

Emily and I decided that we would we both choose the photos that we wanted to imitate for the assignment. After browsing for a while, she remembered the photo that had been shown in class by Julia Margaret Cameron, of the woman whose face was half caught in the shadows. Emily asked “Where is that one picture where the lady is strait muggin’?” So we searched for it, and she decided that that was the picture she wanted to try and personify.

In my opinion the photo that Emily chose is a perfect match to her personality. On the outside Emily may seem intimidating and harsh. She tells you the truth without thinking about the repercussions until after the fact. But once you get past that, underneath she is (in her words, which couldn’t be better) “actually a kind, generous, loving person at heart.”

Emily deeply cares about her friends and family, and “loves spending time with those [she] loves, and who love [her].” She goes home every weekend to help her parents and to work at her family’s two stores, a doughnut shop, and Chinese restaurant. She is completely dedicated to her family, and they depend on the help that she wants to provide them. Emily knows what she wants, and isn’t’ afraid to tell you.

Emily H, Vita à la Hill

Meet Vita Hemphill. This classy, yet fashionably, lovely woman was born and raised in San Francisco by her adoptive parents. She is a mixture of Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, and Czechoslovakian. She describes herself as very Mediterranean, with a temper to match. She has a strong passion for drawing, painting, and photography, but her main passion is fashion. She currently attends UCMerced with a major in Business Management, where her future goal is to be in the fashion industry, even though she wanted to be a Forensic Scientist. She is a vibrant and independent woman who dresses up to her own beat and does not like to follow trends. Her style is very urban-outfitted and a mixture of an American apparel appearance and her collection of earrings are countless. She keeps her wardrobe up to date, and always ahead of her style.
We both decided on imitating our own image. Her image focuses on the angle of her face. Her face is slightly turned to the side, outlining her jaw, with an expression in her face that seems mysterious and curious about what lies ahead. The light frames most of her face, revealing that she loves to shine, but the side glance makes her seem mysterious, yet charming. Her eyes, not looking directly at the camera, makes the viewer’s assume that you do not know who she is directly. Her frame is leaning towards the camera, inviting you in to get to know her better, but with cautious. Her passion for fashion truly is amazing. I dare you to go up to her and just say hello or a simple smile, she might even inspire you.

Xeng H, Markie à la Cameron

A NEW PLACE

As the days go by, she stays at school waiting for her time. A place far from home, she has come with her big hopes and dream to make it out there in the world. As she sits and watches outside at the new school she has come too. What wonders and new dream will she make and leave here at UC Merced? What will she find in Merced now that she is here?

My partner is Markie Johnson. She grew up in a small town name Taft, California south of Merced. Markie Johnson is a transfer junior attending UC Merced. She is at school to get her major in Cognitive Science. She is a kind, nice, shy, and a caring person. She likes to eat a lot of junk food and traveling around. But most of all she likes hanging out with her friends and spending her days Santa Cruz. One of the things she likes to do is writing because she feels that writing is her strength. Markie as a writer, I felt that I have captured her as a woman that is shy, and always wondering and thinking about the world. When I saw the many photographers pictures posted in the professor power point I knew what kind of photograph I wanted for my partner that could describe her and show who she is. The artist I choose to imitate was Julia Margaret Cameron because I think her picture of elegant women describes who Markie is.

Markie J, Xeng à la Nadar

Many times, in large families, it is harder to stand out and make your mark with so much competition. But not always, because it’s also true that actions speak louder than words; this rings true for Xeng Her, a decidedly shy guy. He speaks quietly and his answers are short, but somehow he still seems very open and friendly.

Born in Merced, but raised in Sacramento, Xeng comes from a large family; four brothers and three sisters. This makes his passivity somewhat of a surprise. However, his introversion gives way to his artistic side; that is self-expression in non-verbal forms. He especially enjoys drawing and painting, and says he has some talent in “everything but photography.”

When he returns to Sacramento, he says he cooks for his family because he likes grilling and eating. Not only is he a master on the grill, Xeng has interests in just about every other area as well. Xeng began attending UC Merced as a freshmen and is now a sophomore. He is a dedicated student; undeclared but thinking he would like to major in mechanical engineering. But it’s safe to say Xeng would rather be outside than inside studying. Working out is one of his favorite hobbies, and though he is no longer on any sports teams he still likes to play when he can. He likes travel, and though he doesn’t have a license he still enjoys driving every once in a while. Xeng is a man of few words and many hobbies.

Aaron H, Evonne à la Hill

I was drawn to the artistic style of David Octavius Hill initially because of his name (as it is similar to mine), but came to enjoy his ability to capture common people in a formal setting. Looking at the majority of photographs by Hill, I was able to see that many of his subjects were put into rigid poses, and rarely looked at the camera. This created a distinct atmosphere of timelessness within the photographs. As a viewer, one is not able to completely understand the emotions behind the subject that is captured in the photograph.

I also chose to emulate the styling of Mr. Hill because I believe that I have captured the intent that many of Mr. Hill’s pictures display: a reverence for the privacy of the subject. My subject’s emotions are masked, and she is placed at an angle that does not face the camera directly; there is an air of mystery behind her. The setting is non distinct and the coloration is de-saturated. This adds to the overall effect of distance from the viewer to the subject. This helps to create a timeless photograph, which captures the subject as if viewed from a distance.

In my interview, I found that this photograph is probably not the best representation of Evonne. She does not emanate the distance and coldness that this picture tries to convey. Rather, this photograph can be viewed as a window to a staged setting, that tried to capture the styles and technological restraints that Mr. Hill faced in the mid 1800’s.