Fun with Gimp

Tom Cat’s Two Faces

I’ve been working on Gimp a free source ”Photoshop” program.  If you’ve been following you know that I have a slight aversion to software for photography.  Ok so honestly a large portion of that is my personal issue with the fact that I feel like my grandmother when it comes to computer technology.  Every time I look up everything that I’ve managed to teach myself has become obsolete, but I’ve decided like a writer would need ‘word’ I need to accept a photography imaging program.

I’ve been using it for simple adjustments: contrast (being my favorite control), lighting, red-eye removal, and levels.  This is my first piece pulling images and transferring them to a blank canvas.  It was time-consuming to trace the images with my shaky hands, but I enjoyed it (shh don’t tell Ms. G).

I choose these images because Tom Cat had been wanting a photo where both of his/her personalities were in the same space, so it seemed the right choice.

Looking at the image I’m pretty proud.  I know there is work to be done and with time I will get better.  I’ve seen work done by photographers where sometimes they seem more like computer software individuals than photographers.  I would like to be a photographer that has mastered computer software, like one photographer I have seen.  His work is beautiful whether it is a straight photo or one that seems to have been created straight out of a computer.  That is my hope for the future and that I will not lose my love for the darkroom.  That it will be something that is still a part of me, even if the computer helps to push it past the limits of my own self.  Bringing two specialities to one space, creating beautiful images.

So, let me know what you think: good, bad, or indifferent.  Until next time…

Photo Blog

I’m trying to work on a schedule to make time for photography everyday.  Part of this is to keep up with my daily photo blog melissaharmonphoto@aminus3.com.  It may seem a bit eclectic, but no more than I am so enjoy and remember to swing in often to see what I’ve been up to.

I’ve also started reading Guerrilla Marketing: On the Internet by Levinson, Meyerson, and Scarborough.

What’s Been Happening

Since school I’ve been trying to stay up with my photography.  I just posted a few new pictures to my photoblog http://melissaharmonphoto.aminus3.com/, with more to come.

I’m also trying to figure out how to market myself.  The one continuing thought I have is to market myself to the GLBTQ community.  I would like to do a few more photo shoots to add to my portfolio, then set up a table at SC Pride.

I need to get kickstart started, I’ve added it to my list of things to do tomorrow.  I would like any input of something you as a fan would like to recieve as encouragement to donate.

These are just a few of the things happening.  I will be updating you more often as to what is going on to help keep me accountable for my continued work with my photography.

Until next time…

My First Big Sale

The Program for the Study of Gender and Women at Columbia College is purchasing ‘Together Yet so Far Apart’ for The Diversity Resource Center.  I can’t even express how excited and honored I am to have my work purchased for this space. 

One End Means Another Beginning

Tomorrow is the last day I have work due for school!  I’m so excited, because the last piece of school work is the beginning of my art career out of school.  I must say though that finishing The Pecha Kucha was difficult to finish, but once I present it tomorrow it will all be worth it!  So watch out world here I come…

The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions…

I met this morning with Dean Kelly.  First I preface this with the fact that Dean Kelly is one of the nicest woman I’ve met, it’s hard to be upset with her in the room.  She started by letting me know that she was glad that I had chosen to come by and speak with her.  So she started at the beginning.

She said that when she came in the office last Fri. morning she had emails from Mr. Nevitt.  She found out that the students had set up in the gallery and erected a curtain wall behind their sign in table to block the view of my art work.  The students had not been given permission to use Goodall Gallery, though they were not aware that they needed it.  The curtain wall they had set up not only blocked my work but was set out blocking another artist work.  It was set up to look as a back drop to the table they had set up.

The issue apparently had started earlier in the week.  At a Mon. bible study the issue of the ‘nudity’ was brought up.  The three students that were running the Thurs. event started the ball rolling.  They spoke with Dean Kelly to see if the art work could be removed for the event.  Apparently there was concern, that there was a possibility that individuals attending the event would be offended.  Dean Kelly approached Mr. Nevitt to see if it was a possibility.  She felt in hindsight that she should have just flatly said no.  When Mr. Nevitt advised her that it would not be ok to censor my art work Dean Kelly approached the students.  She let them know that it would not be possible to take down the art work and gave them two alternatives.  One she said in passing that they could get another space.  Once again she feels in hind sight that if this was an offer she should have double checked with them.  The event had been rescheduled several times and there was concern that the sound man would not be able to set-up else where.  In hind sight they could have set-up in the cafeteria.  Another option was a side entrance to the space they were using.  Dean Kelly stated that this was not the best of ideas.  The side stairs ar steep and the light is out in the area.  They would have needed to prop the doors open and possibly have someone with a flashlight.  The students knowing these options, consulted with their advisor from the USC campus.  This individual found an answer that everyone thought worked.  The wall behind their table.

I’ve told you the story in between already.  Dean Kelly on Wed. sat down with the students that were involved in the incident.  They talked about what happened.  The students stated that they thought they had found the path of least resistance.  When Dean Kelly once again stated the options they had been given they had already developed the reasons they thought those options would not have worked.  The Dean brought up the fact that they could have made the art work a non issue by giving everyone a chance to sit down and let them know if any of the art work had bothered them that there was a side entrance.  They could have explained that at Columbia College we acknowledge and respect the right of all individuals to express their opinions.  The students appeared to feel bad about the whole incident, but I’ll get back to that.  When the mention of the media was brought up they truly acted surprised and Dean Kelly did not believe that they had participated with that aspect of this situation.

I listened to what Dean Kelly had to say carefully.  She showed me photos of the set-up and an email from one of the girls who had apparently read my blog.  In the email she expressed the fact that she was troubled if their actions had been seen as malice towards my art work and/or especially myself.  That they would like to meet with Dean Kelly and myself to address the issue.  I expressed that I would like that opportunity and we will be meeting next week.

For my concerns that I addressed with Dean Kelly after I finished listening to what had happened from their side.  First to answer the question of whether there was a Columbia College faculty or staff member involved with the issue.  I found out that the group is a satellite off of the USC group and uses their paid advisor.  The idea that it would be a good idea to have a faculty/staff member from Columbia College to oversee the group, would be a good idea and not leave issue’s like this leading in an off campus direction.  Two that the advisor from USC should be spoken with about the issue.  I let Dean Kelly know that I felt this was more than just the way this should be handled at Columbia College but that the advisor had led the students in the direction of censoring my freedom of expression, blocked my 1st Amendment rights, and that this is part of what that individual is paid to do, to advice students.

We also discussed why I thought that this incident was homophobic.  I know now that the students involved felt that their concerns were of the nudity in my photos, but I believe that whether they are aware of it or not there is a deeper issue here.  There were other images in the gallery that contained more nudity than my images and they were not singled out.  I’m just saying that I believe there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

I was also concerned that the college had not jumped on this as a teaching moment.  There are so many things that can be addressed: freedom of expression around art work, 1st Amendment rights, homophobia, and even just sexuality in the sense of being comfortable with our bodies.

In conclusion after talking with Dean Kelly I do not believe that the students involved were knowingly being malice.  I am looking forward to the chance to sit down and speak with them.  I await the fate of the advisor on USC’s campus, hoping that some kind of resolution will happen before I walk across the stage.  I look forward to seeing if the campus embraces this moment to educate their students, about things outside of the classroom.

The one thing that I realize is that sometimes people do not realize the reach of their actions and that what they intended took them down a different road than they had planned.  The lesson being, that it does not mater what you intend, but what happens because of your actions.

Someone once said “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”, I would say the saying is perfect in this moment…

I have a feeling that this is not the end, so check back or subscribe to keep up with what is happening…

Once again I would like to know what you think of the situation feel free to leave your comments

Controversial? Pornography? I don’t think so

Sometimes I don’t know where to start, but I guess I’ll start at the very beginning.  Bare with me though, because I got many of the pieces a bit at a time.

When I was waiting in the hallway for my Thurs morning class to start, last week, another student asked me how I would feel if a group took my art work down for their meeting.  Apparently a group had scheduled a meeting in the Goodall Gallery and had taken issue with my work.  I said that I would be more than upset, especially if the school went along with it.  So, when Ms. G got to class I pulled her aside and asked her if she had heard anything about the issue.  She said that she hadn’t but that I had nothing to worry about.  Mr. Nevitt did not believe in censorship in any shape or form.  So I left class that day not really giving it a second thought and by the end of that night the only thing I had on my mind was Mamma Mia! (which on a side note was Amazing).  Not realizing that a storm had started to brew.  I attended Senior Show on sat and went about my life.

When I came to school for my Tues morning class Ms. G pulled me aside to tell me what had happened.  The group had requested that my art be removed for their meeting on that Thurs night and as she thought Mr. Nevitt had turned them down.  Later that night, Thurs, Mr. Nevitt apparently had to return to school for some work he had left behind to find the group in the gallery.  They had erected a black curtain wall to block my work from view.  Ms. G said that from there Mr. Nevitt got on the phone and started to get the school involved.  That in that moment no one knew what would happen, but the Art Department was standing behind me 100%.  She then let me know that the group had contacted the press.  In this moment I’m slightly stunned that someone could even think to do something like this, but I try to remember that these moments happen all the time.  The activist side of me kicked in and I even thought well “I’ll take the free press, it’ll be great for all of us”.

A few hours later I’m on the phone with the PR department from campus.  They have contacted me to let me know that yes the press was contacted.  The person who contacted the press told them that my work was very controversial on campus (I had heard some rumblings) and that my work was pornographic.  At this I just balk, I mean the Supreme Court has ruled that to be pornographic an image has to be devoid of any artistic value.  Now I’m not saying that my work is ready for museums, but it is defiantly art.  I’m very put off that they would describe my photography in this context.  PR lets me know that they feel my artist statement clearly defines my work and that they invited the press to come see the show, if they like, but that there was nothing pornographic about my work whatsoever.  I tell them that if the press does pick up the story I would like a chance to speak with them.  By this point I’m realizing that this has very little to do with the two nipples that you can see in my art work but that there are two girls in intimate poses.

By wed I’m all over the place.  I’m furious as an artist that someone would censor my work, but I’m hurt and extremely furious as a member of the GLBTQ community that the homophobia is so blatant.  When I go to my Senior Show class I expect that we’ll talk about it as a class, but instead Mr. Nevitt and I speak about the issue before and Ms. G swings by to insure us that the press did not pick up the story.  This is when I learned that the group had been given the option to meet somewhere else on campus and turned it down.  I’m told that Dean Kelly is going to speak with the group.  The issue is not brought up in class, which I found strange, because it’s everyone’s work in that gallery and the event happened there.

I begin to since that the school would like everything to quietly and neatly go away.  I’m not saying that I thought that they wanted to sweep it under the rug.  It just seemed as if it was something they didn’t feel was as big of a deal as I did.

By this morning, Thurs, I had my legs under me.  I realized that this was a bigger issue than just them censoring my art work.  One it was extremely homophobic, two the group had intruded on my first amendment rights, and three they had offended me as an artist and an individual.  I spoke with one of my friends and he told me that what was to stop a group like this from doing this to another GLBTQ individual and if they did who was to know if that person would be strong enough.  He reminded me how thick my skin is and that this is what I’ve been trained for.  The truth being that I’m activist and I’ve just been tired and taking care of myself.  I’ve noticed the homophobia.  It has been very thick this semester, no one screaming names, but defiantly there.  I had even heard the rumblings from staff and faculty about my art work, though as far as I know not a one thought that it would be appropriate to take it down.  I had even seen the way some fellow artist had looked at it, in disapproval.  All of that is one thing, but this stepped not just on my toes, but everyone that comes after me as an artist or GLBTQ individual.

I told Ms. G that if we let this moment pass us by what would be getting out of it?  She said that Dr. Tate, the head of the Art Department, had made suggestion of a forum in the gallery about artist expression and freedom of speech.  I told Ms. G that if it was just about my art work that, that may be ok.  The truth being that there is more here than that.  Though I believe that is an amazing place to start.

So I started the ball rolling speaking with professors I have come to trust.  Neither of these professors had heard that this had even happened on campus.  So my next stop after getting their advise was to make an appointment with Dean Kelly.  I will meet with her tomorrow morning, before I take another step.  I’m not running forward trying to scream fire, before I see it.  I have things I need to know: does the group have a faculty/staff advisor, was the advisor aware or present for the event, was there a specific person who made the decision, or was the group aware (I lean towards this, since a student asked me about it before it happened), what is going to happen to the group or individual, did they give full reason as to why they choose to do this, I’m also curious how the school plans to address the issue?  Personally I don’t think wagging a finger at them and telling them they were bad is enough.  Just as I think getting them to apologize would be pointless if they don’t mean it.

As a human being I demand to be treated with respect and dignity.  If someone does not plan on treating me with those things I expect them to look me in the eyes and tell me I don’t deserve it.

If you haven’t seen the work from my senior show you can find it here http://melissaharmonphoto.wordpress.com/serendipitously-evolving-senior-show-photography/

There will be more to come.  I would like your imput, so feel free to let me know what you think…

Senior Show: Offbeat

Senior Show was on Saturday April 10 and it was amazing.  Let me introduce you to the artists: starting from the left you have me, Melanie, Kayla, Sandrina, Lindsay, Sabrina, and Caroline who I call “The Lucky Seven”. 

I started the day relaxing with Elisha and then it was off to my friend Melissa’s, new salon, Sheer Indulgence. I went in for a trim and maybe a little styling and walked out with a complete updo and a bit more. When she finished up my hair she asked what I was doing for make-up and I was all proud that I actually had put some on, she said there is no way. She pulled out her make-up case. She transformed my eyes. When I walked out I felt like a funky, beautiful, artist. It set my mood for the rest of the night.

The show had over 150 people in attendance. Friends, family, teachers, and hopefully the random art lover made their way through the gallery.

I had the chance to talk with several people about my work including people I had never met. My work is very personal, so having the opportunity to talk with different people, gives me a chance to let them know what I see when I look at my work. It let’s them see another layer of the story. Giving them a chance to connect with my art in ways that I could only dream of.

I don’t remember the last time I felt so accomplished. This is defiantly going to be one of those moments that I remember. I want it to be one of those moments that catapults me forward.

I remember looking around at all the other girls and how excited they looked. Their friends and families beaming.
One of the amazing things about the show was that there was so much art work. You could walk through the gallery several times and catch something new; so no one was in danger of being bored. Not to mention that all of our work was a bit different.

I would like to thank my friends and family that made it out to the reception. It meant the world to me that they were there. It just wouldn’t have been the same without them.

On one last note the show is still running through May 1st in the Goodall Gallery at Columbia College.

A one of a kind moment…

I love those moments, when I realize that something is one of a kind.  When you look around and see things that are so similar that if you didn’t take that moment to take a second glance you wouldn’t even notice.  These are the things that I love to capture, those little things and moments that are one of a kind…

A Customized Project

If you have ever seen the vehicles around town that have ben customized, you may have een the change that I have.  Many of the vehicles have become advertisements, but not with that purpose just with the idea of being original.

I would like to photograph them and their owners.  To stop them in time, for a longer glimpse than through your driver side window.