Here is the link to my digital portfolio. It includes school projects and also promotional work done for the UVSC Athletic Department.

jaredmedleyportfolio.blogspot.com

Fine Art Photography: Defined

For an assignment in my photography class, I was asked to define "fine art photography" in its most fundamental terms. More simply, a person who has no internalized notions of what art is, or was, has asked you to define "fine art photography".

I believe the words "art" and "photography" are dramatically different concepts.
Photography is a very specialized way of using complicated, technical equipment and light to expose a light-sensitive surface, then transfer that image to a printed surface that represents the period of time that the surface was exposed to light.

Every person has internalized the world in a different way. When a person attempts to externalize this world by visible, audible, or tangible means, this is what, in our society, we call "art".

It is obvious then, that "fine art photography" is more than just the technical knowledge of photographic equipment, but rather, the attempt to express one's subjectified world, using the technical knowledge as the foundation.

Here are ten images that I believe are good examples of fine art photography.


(above - Aaron Hobson, American Labor 1) Although there is nothing moving while the photo is taken, there was obviously a tremendous amount of destruction sometime before. This relays a strong feeling of isolation, as well as a strong symbolism of the repercussions of living a fast-paced, irresponsible lifestyle (isolation, destruction, loneliness, darkness, weakness).



(above - Fam Van de Heyning, Mother with son) This photo was most likely meant to do nothing more than be used in an article about social struggling. I like this photo alot because it there is an obvious story that is told within the frame. The protective mother dominates the majority of the frame and completely surrounds the boy's figure. The stern expression on her face tells how she feels about what happened to her son. On the other hand, perhaps the boy was punished by his mother and she wears an expression of the disciplinary as the boy shows the photographer what she has done.



(above - Sarah Small, Ariella and Crow) One of my favorite emotions depicted in art is tension or fear. As you see the girl's expression of fear, notice how it causes you to sub-consciously tense up yourself and feel almost the same way she does. The form-fitting clothing she is wearing attributes to her feeling of vulnerability, as well as makes visible the tension in her body. There is a universal fear among children of electrical sockets. The girl looks trapped between two things she is afraid of.



(above - Gideon Photography) An immediate observation could be that this is a very provocative photograph. This aspect is accented by a number of characteristics. The only color in the photo is the woman's red dress, which psychologically triggers feelings of passion. There is a strong contrast between the woman's flowing dress and curved body against the chiseled surface of the brick wall behind her. The only curved lines in the photo are the woman's dress and body. In many ways this photograph is symbolic of femininity.



(above - Mark Tompkins) The mysterious, surreal nature of this photo is very similar to the mysterious nature of death, the very subject of this photo. Death (or the notion of existence thereafter) is by far the dominant cause of religious dispute, war, and has been the least understood of any natural phenomena. One of my favorite places to photograph is at cemeteries because of this mysterious nature they posses.

My new job

I recently started working for the UVU Athletic department doing their graphic design. This is my first project . I am very excited about working as a designer and hope it is something I can do one day to make a living. For now this is good practice. Life is good when you can do what you want to.

The Season's Begun

Me, Cassidy, Hannah, and Sean went boarding on saturday and it was so good to finally feel the snow flying under my feet again. It's such a good feeling to finally be back on the mountain. This is my first year having a season pass and it's amazing.

Back to Africa

On Saturday, Cassidy, Ruby and I took the most amazing trip to the zoo in Salt Lake. When given the choice between snowbowrding with Dad and Grace, going to a baby shower with Mom, or going to the zoo with Jerry, the answer was very clear and given with a huge grin, " a go to da zoo wid Jerry".
Ruby was so well behaved on the trip, we were all very impressed. She slowly got comfortable riding on my shoulders and spent most of the time gauging her fingers into my eyes. When Sarah saw this picture she laughed so hard and said " I'm totally blogging that!" I guess I beat her to it.
Sarah says I look like Dashboard in this picture. Freakin Sweet.

Swim in it

I am constantly blessed with the privilege to swim in the nostalgic memories of an amazing summer in Alaska. Although those present in this picture would argue that I was miserably cold during our swim across this lake, this was one of the most amazing memories I have of Alaska. Massive logs tangled along the shore of Perseverance Lake making a maze of balance beams that we followed until we came to the tips of the logs, where we proceeded to push each other into the cool water. I left my flip flops floating by the logs where I jumped in. Slicing our hands into the glassy water, we made our way to the other side, occasionally turning around to catch a last glimpse of the sun as it disappeared behind the mountains. I've never been anywhere like this in my life. We had not a single care as far as the mind could reach.

Learning to walk again

Sarah got a trial version of photoshop on her computer so I've spent the last two days playing with it and learning the basics. It is really like learning to walk again. I'm fairly confident this will help me in my business ventures as a photographer. Check out some other photos on my website link to the right.