Famous Photographer #18

Gordan Parks

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Born 1912 and died 2006

He was more then just a photographer, he was also a musician, writer and a film director.

With his photography he photographed fashion as well as photojournalism, focusing on how African Americans lived during the 40’s-70’s. He also worked with vogue as a photographer.

Being one of the first African American’s to produce and direct a major movie called Blaxpoitiantion.

While being a writer he wrote essays for LIFE as well as being an author to poems and writing music. Also writing a few books such as his biography ( A Hungry Heart).

One of his photography jobs was to document life in diffrent situations for the FSA (Farm Security Administration)

Why #11

What are those little dots for and about on some of your photos?

That is called grain or noise. its where the camera sensor is reacting more sensitive to the light. it mostly happens when its dark places. When you see a clean photograph with not little dots then the camera is less sensitive to the light. in camera terms its called ISO. A lot of photographers dont really like it but to me it gives the photograph a film feel to it a bit like when they are in BW. 

If someone came up to you and offered you $5k to do a service or personal project?

I would pick personal projects because of the fact I would have full creative control. I am not sure exactly what kind of project I would do right off the top of my head. But it would definitely be a big project and definitely would focus on a single projects and not break it up.  

 What makes you like documenting events and doing sessions?

I enjoy doing sessions because I have stories to share and experiences to learn and grow from. Also its a chance to meet new people and try new things out. Its also a way to add things to my portfolio and to show people what I have done and can do. Over the past 5+ years of doing photography I have done a lot and have many stories and lessons I have learned/experienced.

If someone asked you why you took a photo you took could you?

Some of my photos I could tell you all about it, the why and the backstory. To me I feel like art is up to the viewer to take what they want from what they are looking at. A lot of who I am and my creative doings are in my head and it can be hard at times to explain things. I know what I am doing but putting it into words is the hard part for me. I just use the line “ I am an artist” which can mean many things.

Hike #20

Bash Bish Falls is on the NY & MA boarder but when you look it up it says MA. I have never been before and always told to go. It was not that long of a hike and its a flat rocky trail up to the falls. It was very cold walking up because of the air off the water. I just did the hike straight to the falls but there are hiking trails there besides the trail to the falls.

There are a lot of cool shots to take photos of the water fall and also to take photos of mini water falls. There are a few paths near the falls they you cant go on for safety reasons, as well as no swimming and jumping signs.

Hike #19

Went to Monument Mountain in Great Barrington MA to hike it. When I got there I noticed that you had to pay $5 to park which is not normal from the parks I have been to before, besides the 1 sculpture park. I don’t recommend going here if it just rained or the snow is melting since you have to climb rocks. There are big boulders as well as rock walls and smaller rocks. These are some cool looking rock and tree formations on the way up and off path. I would not be surprised if there are foxes that live in the rocks.

Take the left path from the parking lot. There will be a rocky path then smooth and then rocky. Near the top you will have to climb some rocks to be able to get up theres a few tricky parts as well as some rock steps. there are 2 main look out points the top and then a few steps down theres another look out point. I recommend being careful since its a far drop and there are a lot of rocks. Also when I was coming down to my car I noticed a pile of hiking sticks ( wood branches) next to the main sign. The paths are very well kept up, there looked to be a few fallen trees that were cut up and moved out of the path. the trail markers are blue and red that I saw, I just did the main hike there may be other color markers on the tree which were very easy to see.