This website displays the clothing collection created by a woman and her two daughters out of "their love for batik and urban aesthetics". Batik is a wax-resistant technique where parts of a cloth is covered by wax, while the uncovered parts of the cloth are dyed. This technique can be found in Eastern cultures, such as West Africa, and Asia, but it is considered a national artform in Indonesia. Although it is a common technique in Eastern countries, the origins of batik are unknown. The women have taken the artform of batik and given it a modern spin; they use this traditional technique on contemporary clothing. This website, which is Flash-based, creatively transitions from page to page using an elaborate design, and when the user moves the cursor on the page, moving butterflies appear. Some of the models are given movement through the use of Flash as well. Their movements seem realistic and fluid, which adds creativity to this website. The website also incorporates two quotes from two famous poets, Oscar Wilde and Jalaluddin Rumi.
Photojournalist Gordon Parks is the inspiration for many of my photographs. With just $7.50, Parks purchased his first camera, which marked the beginning of his photography career. Displayed here is my favorite photograph by Parks, titled Boy with Junebug. What I most admire about Parks' photography is his use of black-and-white and selective focus. Black-and-white images give me a sense of nostalgia, which is why I am studying the use of it. Parks also used selective focus, which I think adds creativity and peculiarity to his images. Parks is best know for his his work with Life Magazine, but was also a fashion photographer and the director of the movie Shaft.
Essence Magazine has been known to cater to the needs of African-American Women with topics ranging from relationships to haircare. I have always struggled with committing to one hairstyle, but last year I finally decided to wear my hair in its natural texture. When I first went natural, I thought it would be easier to take care of my hair. No doubt, it required lower maintenance than processed or chemically straightened, but I had to care for it alot more than I thought I would. One day, I bought an Esssence Magazine that was dedicated to Black beauty. In it, I found this article that revealed the proper way to care for natural hair. After two and a half years of having this magazine, I still find this article to be of some use to me.
Planted by the Water is a picture I took one day while walking by the lake at Clayton State. I was amazed by the colors of the trees in the background and the color of the sky, but I was also amazed by this broken tree that was still standing. When I saw it, I remembered a Scripture in the Bible from Jeremiah 17:7-8: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it does not fear when heat comes..."
Swans is a photo I also taken by the lake. When I first started studying photography, I wanted the get a good picture of the swans that inhabit the lake. Amazingly, I was able to get three good shots, but this is my favorite one. Behind the swans, the lake appears to be never-ending, and the blue water fades from a deep dark blue, to a pastel blue. The ripples under the first swan gives the lake definition and makes the swan appear to be in motion.
Erykah Badu, a thirty-six year old singer/ actress, has been my musical inspiration since she released her debut album in 1997, Baduizm. Since her first album, she has released four others Baduizm Live (1997), Mama's Gun (2000), Worldwide Underground (2003), and New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), which was released this year. I admire her for her freedom of expression in both her lyrics and her apperance. She has never been afraid to step out of the box in order to create an identity that does not mimick the identities of other popular entertainers.
I found this creative advertisement in the September issue of Lucky Magazine. Whenever I have a magazine, I look through it for photography inspiration. In my future career I plan to be a photographer for a fashion magazine, so I make sure I stay current on the happenings in the fashion world. Juicy Couture is a contemporary line of casual and dressy attire, which is now owned by the Liz Claiborne fashion company. This company is best known for their velour and terrycloth tracksuits and handbags, as well as their leather handbags and perfume. The thing that I love most about this ad is the texture. The paper is matte and feels rough compared to the other pages in the magazine, which is what drew my attention to it. I love how the name of the product is printed in tape, and the tape feels lumpy. What makes the image even more creative is the way the perfume is made to look like a drink, with the two straws and the lemon wedge. Also, while all the other perfume and cologne ads in the magazine have the folded side of the page that lifts to reveal the fragrance, the "lift to smell" label is uniquely placed on top of the bottle. This is the most eye-catching ad I have ever seen.