James Viall III
Art 380: Contemporary Photographic Strategies
Digital Print(s)
12” x 8 (Photos 1-4), 15” x 10” (Photos 5-8)
8 images in series
Notes: “For this assignment I essentially created a record of a supernatural incident, making and photographing a case file and then staging photographs of the ‘incident’ itself. There are 8 photos in the series : 4 of the case file and 4 of the incident – these are the ones of the ‘incident,’ photos 5-8.”
Photography and Video Exchange 
There is definitely an aspect of the supernatural in these photographs. I love the ghosting you’re doing with the subject as well as the spotlight effect from the first image. I feel like it would be really easy to slip into the cliche when it comes to long exposure “ghost” images but I think yours stands out. I’m really enjoying the second image… it reminds me of witchcraft, or of some ghost sighting.
These colors are really nice with the darkness of these prints. I think it helps create this eerie effect that is really difficult to get in photos. I also enjoy the ghosting effect in these as well. It really solidifies the mood and atmosphere that is coming across. I would have liked to see more colors maybe just to have a range but the ones in this series are working really well together and I’d like to see more.
Nice series, I think you’ve successfully communicated the unfolding of an event. Your use of lighting and light painting in a wooded, night time setting definitely are central to implying the supernatural incident. Yet I also notice how important the colors are to setting the tone of these images.
In your photographs, there is a proponent “supernatural” affect. These are the types of photos that I want to learn how to take. Previously stated, I do agree that the colors are important to create the “ghostly” affect. Within your third photo, an object appears to look like a skeleton, which matches to the “ghostly” theme.
I love this series, and the ethereal feel about it. The longer exposure (I believe that’s what it’s called, new here) in the photographs helps to create that ghost-like effect that he really isn’t there. The first photo is by far my favorite of them as the line just pulls the attention with it to the ghostly appearance of a man. And that alone makes it seem as if he is appearing out of thin air with his own light source. Very good series.
The way it these photos look are very appealing and really stand out. The way you made these pictures “ghost” like is very interesting and I would love to see more photos like these.
I love how you are able to manipulate the lighting to create movement in these photos. I like how the image is clear enough to pick out the shape of the man and certain details of his face, but is still abstract enough to leave the viewer wondering what exactly took place. I also like how dark setting contrasts so significantly with the bright subject.
I also love the ghosting you are doing with these pictures. The lighting of the images also goes well with the subject of the images. You took really good pictures!
The effects in these images give such a sense of an eery setting. I love the way the subjects are much lighter than the background; the contrast is amazing.
I enjoy the light trails in your photographs. I also enjoy the way your photographs have a sort of dark vibe to them.
I love the use of lighting to communicate this supernatural event. I think you could play with an even greater contrast between the lit areas and the background, it give it a feeling of being in a tunnel almost, or of being even more placeless–with the background falling away to black very quickly as the eye moves away from the lit area.
Based on your statement, I am assuming there will be text accompanying your images, which I think would help with the storytelling. You have done a good job in the ghosting effect, and some photos have very bright light blurbs which adds to the ‘incident’-ness (if that is a word!!). The blue color is repeated in all images, which gives me a cold and mysterious feeling. Overall good job with the effects you have created.
Your pictures have this crime scene feel to them. There is like this spooky feel because of the ghostly figure in the pictures.
I love the photos of these post, it reminds of a horror film. I think its cool how the person is blured into the picture and how the dark and light blue kind of combines to the picture. I love the setting of the forest and the bridge, I think its very cool and very amazing.
All these pictures remind me of Halloween season because it portrays a spooky scene. The third picture has a great symmetry angle of the bridge which gives an appealing focus on the person or clown which looks to me.
Your use of color and light really portray the idea of supernatural. The elongated exposures were done very well and you were able to capture something that actually looks ghostly.
Really experimental and hazy. Love that. Definitely gives that thriller/horror vibe.