Fall at UD

I haven't updated in quite some time.

I have a few hundred photos from another Montauk trip I went on. We, again, drove at 1am to catch the sunrise. This time... no clouds! Not only that, there were so many bright, clear, stars when we initially got there -the only other time I've seen a night sky so beautiful was in Arizona. I didn't get any photos of the stars, and I didn't get a chance to go through and pick out the decent photos from that trip, either. Just be prepared for when I eventually get them on here. I do have pictures I took today though...

I didn't really feel comfortable taking photos on campus. I love natural beauty for the most part, and it feels as if nothing on campus is really new to me anymore visually. Plus, all the damn buildings, kids, electric wires etc. tend to ruin a shot for me. But I went to a small garden outside my dorm and got a few shots in. Not sure if it's my usual style, but eh, here they are anyway:

A Bit More...

The last picture-post had photos I took in Montauk. I had another memory card with me, and had taken a couple on there. My friends and I also wound up going to another "reserve" in a different town and wandered around. The same night we saw 2 rainbows. The second one is really light and hard to see, but there should be two streaks there.

- Ali

"The shutter is clicked. The flash goes off and they've stopped time, as if just for the blink of an eye."

A new site of mine!

http://www.photographers.com/profile/aliiovino

It's pretty much the same photographs, it just may be easier to view.

Title Quote: Sy Parrish (Robin Williams) in One Hour Photo.

"And if these pictures have anything important to say to future generations, it's this: I was here. I existed. I was young, I was happy, and someone cared enough about me in this world to take my picture." - Sy Parrish

- Ali

"Sand is overrated. It's just tiny, little rocks."

One of my last few nights in Oceanside, I decided to leave my house... or wherever I was... at 2am and drive out to Montauk to watch the sunrise. I figured, from that point I can watch the sun come up directly over the horizon and I would be able to get great shots and even better memories.

After 3 hours of driving and several stops for coffee or energy drinks, we arrive only to find... clouds. I was disappointed, but the water still had its blue with hints of gold and silver streaking through it. Walking through the grass and pebbles it was like someone put a blue filter over my eyes. It was beautiful. My friends and I sat on the rocks, talking, or not speaking at all, just watching and taking in everything. Luckily, the barrier of clouds broke up in the middle of the sky enough for the sun to peak through. So, naturally, I took some pictures. There are more from the day, perhaps I'll post more another time.

- Ali

PS- Title Quote:

"Sand is overrated. It's just tiny, little rocks." - Joel (Jim Carey) in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind... which partially took place in Montauk. (And my hometown!)

Disappointing Update

I went on my road trip. On the way, lost my 4G memory card which held amazing pictures I was excited to upload and share. I'm left with next to nothing. It kills me and is extremely painful to think about me going on a trip like that and having no pictures to show for it. I guess I really do have to just stick with the memories... as a "photographer" it still is just brutal. I'm just going to have to get over it. 800+ pictures are now floating somewhere in the Midwest and there is nothing I can do about it.

On the flip side, I have a few pictures to post from this week. First was from an abandoned water tower a few towns away I scoped out with a few friends a while ago. We went back this week, I brought my camera, and the next day I brought my dad when we went on hunts for photo-spots. Here's a few from those two days:



















- The Ali

In Response...

In response to padre's blog, the entry about Annie Leibovitz' photograph of Miley Cryus. I know it's months after the post. But it's not so much political as it is about the photography itself:



I won't disagree that the style she used, seeing how Miley is 15, was pushing it. I would have to say there are other creative ways to express what she had wanted to - "beauty". But I wouldn't just flat out call her a pornographer. I don't think the picture was that controversial.

If you really want to read into it, having a 15 year old-children's pop icon (nothing exposed, mind you), in a sheet, with the smeared lipstick, suggesting something of a sexual nature, is purely, directly symbolizing what the media and society has done to itself. It corrupts the innocent and it destroys morals and priorities. You have children mindlessly falling in love with and idolizing someone who revolves their career around fraud. Now, I don't think that's what Leibovitz had that expression or idea in mind (exposing the downfall of humanity), but art - including photography - means something different and expressing something different to every pair of eyes. Some saw that photo as disgusting and pornographic while I see it as an accurate representation of the media and what this country supports and produces.

Putting that aside, so many harsh words were said to or against Leibovitz and I don't think it's exactly fair, not only for what I just wrote, but because people seemed to disregard all of her past work.

Dad, do me a favor: Put the Miley Cyrus photo aside and look at these...

http://www.nytimes.com/library/photos/leibovitz/bourgeois.html

Also, for those who argue that a bare back is pornographic: Even in classic/modern art nudity was used as a way to express natural beauty. Now because we flash forward years later that is no longer acceptable? (Of course, obviously, context is a HUGE part of it... keeping it strictly art-related here.)


-The Ali

Update!

So, I think I established that high school killed ... or severely damaged my passion for art and photography. At this point, I don't even want to double major at college, I want to keep my growing interest independent. It may make a future career that much harder... but I really don't want to risk losing something that's been important to me for over 15 years especially when it's via the education system.

This Sunday I leave for a road trip. I'm hoping new scenery and knowing that right now I'm not tied down to any school* or system or life altering responsibility or obligation, will let me "fix" what high school beat down. It will be the road, two good friends of mine, and my baby: A Nikon D80 (thanks, insurance!).

*Dad, if you're reading this: I KNOW I'm technically enrolled in Dayton, but I haven't started my first year so it's much different than being between years.

Anyway, I have another band to post! The group consists of someone I went to elementary school and beyond with, a guy I met and actually liked my Junior year of high school (that's a major compliment - there weren't many of those), and an awesome drummer I've only recently been introduced to. I'd like to say they're a beautiful mix between Three Days Grace and Nirvana with better lyrics and, obviously, their own unique touch. I had a photography dry-spell the past bundle of months and I guess you can say that these guys helped rekindle my interest. (Thank you for that, by the way guys.) Check them out!

www.onetontomatoes.com
www.myspace.com/onetontomatoes

I have a couple of pictures to post. I apologize, because these were taken in the "getting back into it" process. My eye's kind of rusty. That, and I have no access to photo-shop. Even though I only use it for colour corrections or red eye, it DOES make a difference. The quality also took a hit to it when I resized them in Paint, but you can click on them to make it larger... it helps a bit. Now that I've lowered expectations, here's a few from their show in Jersey this summer:

(Guys there are more - I made each of you a CD. Next time I see you I'll give em to you.)

As always, criticism/opinions are always awesome. I'll have more to post when I get back from my trip!

-The Ali

I'm Back

I was rummaging around folders, found a few from a Crash Romeo show in town. It isn't even all of them, just a handful. More to come! I took a mini-break from photography these past months. I think I re-found motivation/inspiration to get back into it. (AND, like all of the photos on my blog, click to enlarge the image.)





-Ali