Portraits

I would say that these photos are portraits and I can identify the subject of the portrait easily as Abby. The real portrait does give you some sense of who she is while the ideal portrait is much more superficial but that is what makes it an idealized image. It does not show true emotion and reality but rather strives for perfection, void of the unwanted traits and emotions that mare reality. Because portraits are posed it is difficult to truly capture reality but what is actually captured is a performance of a perceived reality. In both the real and the ideal portraits the subject is wearing the same outfit. It is a simple solid red/pink shirt but it is removed of its color in the ideal portrait due to the black and white effect on the photo. The lighting in the real portrait is bright and broad. The lighting in the ideal portrait is narrow which adds to the idilic quality of the photo because it a more flattering light. I think the camera is female because both portraits are taken straight on and portray the subject simply. I think that true self is incredibly difficult to capture in a portrait. I think that it requires that the subject be totally comfortable in front of the camera and that the photographer know the subject's true self. A false self is much easier to portray because while true self is the one thing that the person is the false self can be anything the person is not. I captured what I perceived to be Abby's true self in the real portrait but only she knows whether that is in fact her true self.     

I am easily identifiable as the subject of both of the portraits. As far as a depiction of my personality each portrait captures a small part of me. In this portrait a bit of intensity comes through. The real portrait captures a more athletic side of me while the ideal portrait shows a friendly outgoing side that is dressed more formally. The portraits convey a social designation as a typical college student. In the ideal portrait I am standing in front of academic looking building in preppy clothes. I am also laughing and socializing which also contribute to my appearance as a college student. Athletics also contribute to the idea of a typical college student and the real picture captures that. I think that each of these photos shows a bit of reality along with a bit of fantasy. The black and white effect of the ideal photo adds to the ideal quality of it because it smooths everything over and makes it seem much less natural. The coloring and lighting of the real portrait make it believable and tangible. Also the wardrobe is in the real portrait is thrown together and the outfit is not dressy making it feel more real. I do not think that these portraits connote a gender of the camera. True self and false self cannot be fully portrayed in a single portrait but pieces of each can be conveyed. As I said previously each portrait has a little bit of my true self as well as a little bit of my false, or ideal, self.    

Depicting God

The mosaic at the front of Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe was consecrated in 549. It was created during the period of 6^th century Byzantine art. It depict the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. In the scene the hand of God can be seen reaching down from heaven, Christ is represented by the jeweled cross. Under the cross Saint Apollinare is seen praying with out-stretched arms. There are three sheep by the horizon, eyes fixed on the jeweled cross who symbolize John, Peter, and James. The twelve sheep looking on from the bottom of the mosaic represent the community of believers and more specifically the disciples. The whole scene takes place in a pastural area with vegetation. Byzantine art often dealt with Christianity or Christian themes and the basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe is no exception. In the 6^th century the medium of mosaics was adapted from primarily floor decoration to wall art. The semi-dome of an apse is also common for the 6^th century. Another characteristic of Byzantine art that utilized in the basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe is the frontal presentation of main figures such as Saint Apollinare.

This picture was an alternative image for God for me because it summarizes the work of God through Jesus Christ in his time on earth and depicts the three persons of God. For me this image also spoke to the immensity of God. He is vast in love, size, and knowledge. It reminds me that God created all things, both natural and intellectual, from his nature and by his words. I chose to take my image of God in the library because it represented to me the omniscience of God. In one of my classes we discussed the idea of learning about God and growing in him through the study of all disciplines because the all originated from His mind. In thinking about these ideas I came up with depicting God through the vastness of the knowledge that he created. 

For my second picture of God I chose a photograph of a snowflake. Like a snowflake at first glance God can seem simple and flat. I recognize that this sounds rather horrible to say but I often find myself making assumptions about God or value judgement that when I actually reflect and consider are quickly overturned. For example, when something in my life goes south I often pity myself because I am a victim of unfortunate circumstances rather than recognizing that everything occurs according to God's perfect plan. At first glance a snowflake just looks it a white speck, but upon further examination a structure and complexity is recognized. I also have always been drawn to the idea that no two snowflakes are the same. To me, this points out that God is infinitely more capable than what I can even imagine. 

The image of God that I made for class was taken to capture the vastness and omniscience of God. A library of books is vast. It contains more facts, knowledge, and words than anyone can condense into their brains and understand. This, to me, reflects God both the art historical and contemporary images that I chose to portray God. The mind, nature, and acts of God are vast like the scope of the dome and so complex that we as humans can't even imagine his thoughts because we can't even fathom how every single snowflake could be unique.