Cinemagraph Workshop

A few weeks ago I got to teach a workshop on making cinemagraphs. In college, I began incorporating motion work into my work and I found that cinemagraphs were a good entry point for someone with a background in photography. Since then, I’ve loved using the format to experiment with imagery. 

Cinemagraphs refer to images that combine still photography with isolated movements. In this workshop, we shot using a DSLR with video capabilities. In the lighting studio, we used two different set-ups.

The first set had everyone taking turns to shoot a “self portrait” video. Each person stood as stationary as possible while blowing bubbles. The goal was to isolate the movement so that only the bubbles would be in motion.

The second set was a common cinemagraph trick – the wine pour. In this one the set is completely still while only the liquid from the bottle into the glass moves. Everyone took turns trying a pour in this set to animate later.

Finally we went into the digital studio to create our videos in Photoshop. There are a few different programs that can be used to create a cinemagraph, but Photoshop is sufficient for short-form video editing. We went through the process of cutting, masking, timing, and looping the video together. In the end, each person walked away with at least two different videos and the knowledge of how to apply this format to any project in the future.

I was so thrilled to get the chance to teach something I love to do so much here. Thanks to those who were able to attend! I hope I get the chance to teach here again someday.

Niagara Falls

Recently, my mother and I decided to visit the places we used to frequent on the American side of Niagara Falls. I wanted to go with the intention of photographing as well as honoring the memory of my maternal grandmother. She had lived in this area for the majority of her life and since her passing in July of 2013, my family visits here have grown infrequent. I find this place both bittersweet and sacred in my memory. 

As we drove, I photographed out the car window, capturing the power lines that follow the thruway and cut through the landscape. When I was a kid, we used to make this drive quite often. I remember always being bored out of my mind, staring out the window following the power lines that tethered here to home.

When we arrived we started walking around Goat Island, following the path around the river. At each opening in the trees, I would approach the water to document the walk.

It was an incredibly hot day so by the time we got to the actual falls, we only stayed a short while. The mist was high and refreshing to walk through. Shooting through it, the buildings were veiled in the distance.

It was great to get back here and look at this place with fresh eyes. I’m grateful for all the times I’ve gotten to see this place in person growing up. It still means the world to me now.

Class Spotlight: VIVA! Family Memories

As I was looking over the class offerings at Flower City Arts Center this upcoming fall, two unique classes caught my eye. As someone who treasures the time I spend with my family, I often complain that we do not preserve our photos properly. There is a box in my basement full of photos that are going to waste. That is why the classes, VIVA! Scanning Family Photos, and VIVA! Family Album stuck out to me as such fun and important classes.

Let me back up for a minute, you may be asking yourself what is with VIVA! in front of everything? Well, VIVA stands for Vitality in the Visual Arts and it is a series of classes created for participants 55+ who are interested in exploring art. Participants will get an overview of different subject matter a chance to work in the studio with professional artists.

Now, lets jump into the classes themselves!

VIVA! Scanning Family Photos
September 19th-October 10th, Thursdays 10 am-12 pm

The best way to make sure that family photos last forever is to keep them digitally. Participants get tech-savy and learn how to scan photographs, slides and negatives and then learn basic photoshop tools to make the memories look as good as can be! This is a great class for beginners as no prior knowledge is required!

Click here to register or to learn more!

VIVA! Family Album
October 8th-October 10th, 12:30-2:30 pm

This class is a great way to have fun and walk away with a keepsake that will be treasured forever. In this workshop you will learn to create or rebuild a family photo album using archival methods and materials.  Take that old box of photos and turn it into a beautiful album!

Click here to register or to learn more!

If you are not 55 or older, these classes are perfect to give a loved one as a gift! Also, check out our full list of classes here!

 

Intern Farewell

My time at Flower City is coming to a close. This experience has given me the chance to gain knowledge of new facilities, work with wonderful people I would never have met otherwise and have a ton of fun.

One memory from this summer is helping our Artist in Residence Megan Barrette set up for her show. Although the day was spent hanging photographs, leveling the frames and cleaning the space, it gave me a better insight into exhibitions and the work that is put into them. Artwork is displayed differently in every medium and as a graphic design student, often display is thought about last because functional work is usually not showcased the same way that other art is. Helping Megan set up for Guiding Light not only exposed me to some beautiful artwork, but gave me strong real world knowledge.

One of my main projects during my time at Flower City was to create promotional material and example work for the new Riso printer in the digital art lab. Having never used a Riso printer before (and having a shaky understanding of what risograph printing was), I was a bit intimidated. But soon I was able to understand the workflow much better and I now feel accomplished with my riso abilities!

Beginning with simple cards to be used for a free riso printing night all the way up to a more complex (albeit silly) zine, I feel I gained a very valuable understanding of this awesome machine! I look forward to using riso printing again in my art this upcoming year at school.

Overall, I will look back on this experience with so much happiness. I have grown as an artist and I am honored to have worked with an organization that means so much to Rochester.

Thank you!

First Light Reception


Looking for an enriching and interesting event this weekend? I’d love to draw your attention to First Light, an off-site exhibition focusing on the stories of six women veterans through black and white photography and writing. First Light is the culminating event of a 12-week photography and writing program, Eyes Front, with Flower City Arts Center.

Eyes Front is a 12-week photography and writing program for women combat veterans; an opportunity for them to express, both visually and in writing, their unique experiences and to share their stories with the community. By engaging in an intensive creative experience, participants explore topics of importance to them such as why they joined the military, its significance for them, various issues they have faced, or other personal reflections. Participants were immersed in the entire process of photography – learning how to use a film camera, taking pictures at home and in the community, and printing their own black and white images.

This exhibition is up from currently at Image City Photography Gallery and will be open until September 1st. Join us for the exhibition reception tomorrow, August 17th 5pm-8pm!

Click here get more information about the event our click here to learn more about our Eyes Front program!

“Pumpkin Spice”-Up Your Photography with These Unique Fall Classes!

Fall is quickly approaching! As one is lulled into coziness by the changing leaves, and fall festivities it is easy to forget all the great opportunities happening around you. While apple picking and tractor rides are must, make sure to clear your calendars for these four unique classes you will not want to miss.

Creating Letterpress Plates with Adobe Illustrator
Tuesdays 7-9pm, Sept. 17-Oct. 8

Interested in both printmaking and digital art? This class is right up your alley! Create photopolymer plates for letterpress printing using Adobe Illustrator. After spending two weeks in the digital lab learning some Illustrator basics and how best to design for letterpress, the class will go to the print shop to learn how to print their plates on our Vandercook presses. Your imagination is the limit!

Click here to learn more or to register!

Image Transfers on Wood
Saturday, Sept. 28 10am-1pm

This class is a perfect chance to get creative on a tight schedule! Learn how transfer your images onto wood with this fun and easy process. Materials will be provided. Just bring some pictures that will translate well into black and white.  Wood transfers make excellent and personal gifts for your loved ones!

Click here to learn more or to register!

Candid Street Photography
Oct. 10-17

Diversify your portfolio by branching into street photography! Get a crash course on what makes Street Photography such an exciting genre. Learn how to conquer fears of taking photos of strangers and tips on how to best prepare yourself to make candid street photos. Field trip, critiques and assignments will round out the class schedule. Don’t miss this opportunity to try something new!

Click here to learn more or to register!

Photography in Queer Culture
Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm, Oct. 16-Nov.6

Delve into new topics and get collaborative! This class will explore photographers in the Queer Community, some who lived throughout the AIDS Epidemic, including Robert Mapplethorpe and Félix González-Torres; and some who are still making work today, such as Zanele Muholi. Throughout this month, we will collaborate on a class project that will depict our views and experiences in the Queer Community in the form of images and/or writing.

Click here to learn more or to register!

If non of these classes strike your interest, try taking a look at our full class list. Happy Fall!

Boost Your Photography Skills with Our New Classes!

The art world can be intimidating. For the first two years of high school, I refused to pick up a camera because I didn’t know any technical terms or own professional equipment (and I was convinced that I would drop any camera I came into contact with).

Finally, with the quote “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” from Hillary Duff’s Cinderella Story ringing in my ears, I ignored my fear and enrolled in photography class. Man! am I glad I did that.

If you are looking for a way to branch out of your typical routine and gain some knowledge about photography, I highly suggest one of these four classes!


Meet the Flower City Arts Center
Thursday Sept. 19 & Monday Oct. 28, 4-5pm

If you have never taken a class at Flower City, this is the perfect place to start! This free tour will give you an insight into the facilities and history of Flower City Arts Center. Chat with our staff and find the right class for you!

Click here to learn more or register!


Flirting with Photography
Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm, Sept. 18-Nov. 6

Get a taste of all things photography in this eight day class! Students will have projects in the Community Darkroom, Silver Den, Lighting Studio, and Digital Art Studio. The best part? No prior experience necessary! This is an ideal class for those looking to “get their feet wet” in the world of photography.

Click here to learn more or register!


Looking at Photographs
Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm, Sept. 19-Sept. 28 & one Saturday field-trip to the George Eastman Museum 

Want to know what makes a photo great? This class will cover both journalistic and art photos from daguerreotype to digital. You will learn to understand what elements make a photo work and how to apply that to your own photography. Students will share photographs they love and give and get feedback in a final peer-review session. This is a great class for collectors, photographers or those hoping to gain a better understanding of the thought that goes into photography.

Click here to learn more or to register!


Basic Studio Lighting
Mondays 6:30-8:30pm, Sept. 3-Oct. 28

 

If you are looking to improve your lighting skills this is the class for you! Instruction will include various techniques in the use of the studio’s White Lightning strobes in multiple lighting configurations, as well as other equipment such as an incident/flash meter, softboxes, umbrellas, and various other attachment and light modifiers.

Click here to learn more or to register!

 

I hope you found this post helpful in finding some new classes to experiment with! If these don’t strike your fancy, I encourage you to check our our full fall class list.

My Favorite Things About Risograph Printing!

There are lots of exciting things to try at Flower City Arts Center. As the photography and digital art intern this summer, I got to get a taste of the facilities offered here. One hidden gem of Flower City is the Risograph Printer.  I was lucky enough to be able to play around with the printer and create a few designs, and I fell in love!

What is Riso printing?

For those who don’t know, the risograph pringint process is sgjhimilar to screen printing. Your original image is scanned on the Riso and burned onto a “master copy” which is then wrapped around a print drum which pushes ink through the screen and onto paper.

Here is why printing on the Riso is so unique:

Color

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The riso printer is a wet ink process that uses bright ink to create delightful color on the page. Because each ink color is printed separately, the overlap of inks creates interesting color layering. Adding colored paper changes how color appears as well. Flower City currently offers 7 ink colors which is more than enough to create bright, beautiful work!

Texture

Part of the charm of the Riso printer is its uniqueness. Because of the printing process, ink coverage can vary to create an interesting speckled-like texture. No two prints are exactly the same and it gives the prints the feeling that there was a human hand creating them. As always, texture of paper can add a new element to the print that is accentuated on the Riso.

Versatility

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

With the Riso, the sky is the limit! Digital files, drawings and photography can be easily translated and printed through the Riso. That is why it is a favorite among graphic artists, designers and photographers alike!

Ease

I am no technology wiz, so when I was I would be printing on the Riso I was intimidated. But, to my surprise the process was extremely intuitive and easier than I had ever thought. Once you get a sense of how the process is executed, it is easy to get comfortable.

Learn More

Come on down and jam to some Lizzo while printing on the Riso!

If you are interested in learning about this process or getting a chance to use the machine check our upcoming Riso Projects Class and our Intro To Riso Workshops!

Click here to learn more about the photography and digital art facilities!