Period 7 -- Critical Analysis #13

1/24/2019

Today you will be writing about artist William Wegman, best known for his photographs of his Weimaraner dogs.

First, watch this short video interview with Wegman.

For your Critical Analysis, you will be writing a 5 paragraph (5 sentence minimum) response to the VIDEO.

Here are some things to consider as you write:

What kind of photographs does Wegman make? What camera/equipment is he known for using?
Consider your own experience as a photographer. What are some obstacles that might be associated with photographing animals?
What does Wegman say are some things that influence his work?
What does Wegman compare his video pieces to?
Do you like or dislike William Wegman's work? Why or why not?

Click HERE to view a selection of Wegman's photographs.

Your analysis is due by 4PM today.

Shayna Bolton

1/24/2019 01:14:08 pm

Wegman made photographs of mainly only his dogs. Earlier in his career he was not a photographer, but a painter. As the years went by he started making videos and photographs, mostly for magazines, eventually, he made photos of only his 2 dogs. He is known for taking photographs on a polaroid camera. He made photos of 8.5x11 so that he could put them in magazines.

Photographing animals can lead to many different obstacles. Animals can be unpredictable when you are trying to take photos. It is very hard for you to be able to tell a dog what to do, since you can’t talk to them. Simple commands are really the only way for you to communicate with the subject you are photographing, if it is an animal. Animals can also just run off of set or do something that is not desirable when you are trying to take a picture.

He said that his friend helped him take photos like he does today. She called him to try her new 24x24 polaroid camera and that’s what inspired him. At first, he was not interested because he only did stuff for magazines. Eventually, he went just to get her to stop bothering him. When he took photos, he just got hooked with that camera and has been using it ever since.

Wegman compares his video pieces to advertisements. He says “...the monitor was part of sculpture and I used it more like TV almost like a ad…”. He thought of his pieces as short 30 second videos that we used to grab people's’ attention. He made these pieces in the hope of them one day being on TV, which they eventually were. He says that he really just wanted a reason to go in and then get out quickly.

I like his work because I think the pictures are well thought out. The pictures really mean something to him in that he’s close to his subjects. He says that he thinks it strengthens the bond between him and his dogs with the photographs. I also like these pieces because the dogs are really cute. I think his videos are really cool as well because he does it in a way so that it seems like the dogs can understand what is being said and are actually listening to him.

Reagan

1/24/2019 01:20:01 pm

The critical analysis is on Will Wegman’s work. His work is very abnormal. When watching the video about him , you wouldn't assume he would picture dogs wearing funny hats. I would assume he pictured trees or the sky, but to my surprise his photos are quite beautiful. The photos are very unique.

He photographs what he loves making each photo meaningful and special. He started off as a painter and then decided to make digital art. He used a polaroids, and he is know to us the 20 by 24 camera. He photographer shis dogs, weimaraners, in some of his photos. He is a successful artist. He made his wealth through selling his art.

His photos are very colorful and different. He usually shoots in a studio. In a lot of his photos he shoots with a shallow depth of field. When scrolling throughout his work you see a lot of abnormal things a dog would do. I think his goal in each of his photos is to help the looks escape from reality, by picturing things you don’t see every day.

Will was inspired by Bob and Ray. Many of his films were influenced by their fans. He was also inspired by Borgas the writer. He has a video called “ New and Used Cars Sells Man.” He has many videos that are stories.

I like his photos very much. He choose a good animal to photograph. Personally i think dogs are absolutely amazing. I think his photos and videos are very creative and entertaining. He is really appealing to the majority of the audience by using dogs.

Campbell Streak-Jensen

1/24/2019 01:21:07 pm

Wegman makes videos and he is most known for taking photos of his dogs. He also used polaroid camera to make his photographs. He is known for using a 20x24 polaroid camera and his dogs. In his videos he uses his dogs, himself, and a monitor. He used the monitor to watch himself while he was creating a video.

There are many problems that can arise when taking photographs of animals. One major problem is the lack of control. You cannot control a dog and tell it exactly what to do. This could lead the animals to not comply with what you are saying. You also cannot make them do facial expressions because of the lack of communication.

Wegman said that there are two major types of people who influenced his work. The first one was comedians. He specifically mentioned Bob and Ray for influencing his work. The second one was writers. He also specifically mentioned the writer Jorge Luis Borges.

Wegman compares his videos to stories. He says that he was just talking about things. Him just talking about things eventually led into creating scripts and actual stories. He also said that it was weird using a monitor while taking a video. He said that he got creeped out because he was watching himself on the monitor while he was shooting a video.

I do like Wegman’s work. I like how he uses his dogs because I have two dogs of my own. I also think his dogs look beautiful. I also like some of his videos. I think that some of his videos are ironically funny and sometimes funny in a weird way.

David Scott

1/24/2019 01:21:24 pm

William Wegman is an artist. He is known for using a polaroid 20 by 24 camera. This is a huge camera by today’s standards. He said in the beginning of his career it was 25 dollars a shot and he took 50 shots a day. That's a lot of money a day!

I could only imagine how hard it is to take pictures of animals. It would be difficult to get the dogs to stay still. Especially when he has them in a very exact position. I am sure the dogs got used to their way of life and became more obedient. He didn’t seem frustrated by the dogs because of how much he loved them.

He says he was influenced by Bobby and Ray. He also said he was influenced by many other comedians. I could tell this because of how funny some of his videos were. He said Bobby and Ray helped him and inspired him with his films. He was also influenced by Borges.

He says his videos are like advertisements. He has one called new and used car salesman. In this video he has a dog on his lap as he tries to sell you a car. He also compares his video to stories. Many of his other videos are stories

I do like Wegman’s work. I can imagine how hard it must be to get the animals to stay still. I love his sense of humor. He is very zany and silly. I also love how cute the dogs are.

Anson Adamek

1/24/2019 01:22:13 pm

Wegman used a 20x24 camera and that camera was made by Polaroid and it was very expensive to shoot off of. He took Pictures of his Weimaraner dogs. He made Commercials for used cars when he was younger and he made some pretty odd videos and photos. He took his first color photo with his dog wearing nail paint. He primarily used black and white when he was younger.

My experience shooting with dogs is that if you can train them to stand still you can do pretty well. When I shot with my dog “Fox” he was only a few weeks old and was very small and hyper. He wouldn't stay still without me holding him and it was very difficult at first. What I eventually did was that I layed down and hugged Fox while keeping a tight grip so he couldn't run away, the picture turned out very well. Overall if you have the right control of your animal it can be a very satisfying image and interesting.

The things that influenced Wegman’s work is comedians “Bob and Ray.” He was a huge fan and he said it really helped with his videos. He also was influenced by a writer Borges. He adored the concept of circular time. I have never heard of either of these people.

He compared his videos to 30-second ads. To have a beginning middle and end, and to get in and out quickly. He also compared them to shopping for a suit with your mother. To see yourself in a 3-way mirror and see every angle. I don't really understand why these are compared.

Personally, I do like Wegman’s work because I find it very creative and refreshing. Anyone one can take a picture of a sunset or a beach but he really put in a lot of effort to get ordinary images looking great. Just a picture of a simple dog he made into a beautiful and interesting deal. I also really like the dog in the images. Overall he is an amazing artist and I would like to see more of his work.

Andrea

1/24/2019 01:23:55 pm

William Wegman makes photographs of Weimaraner dogs. These dogs are photographed in many beautiful and unusual ways. He is known for using a 20x24 camera. This was a model made by polaroid, however they are no longer made. In the late 2000s he stopped using this type of camera.

Now have some experience with photography. So, I can say that shooting with animals is very difficult. Animals like to move around, and more often than not, be independent. While photographing an animal, it may choose to run off or simply be disobedient to your commands. In order to capture an animal with a camera, you must be very skilled at your craft.

Wegman says that people he looks up to influence his own work. Wegman has been inspired to create many of his works of art. Writers and comedians have taken a part in his photographs that have been appreciated by many from around the world. Wegman is open to new and unusual ideas of how to portray his dogs. Perhaps some of these ideas had something to do with his idols.

I like William Wegman’s work. The idea of viewing dogs in such an artsy and odd way is something I consider to be amazing. Not only this, but the way he has control over the animals is impressive. Wegman has a true talent for art. This should be admired in all areas of the world.

Wegman started off his dog pieces with videos. These videos are considered to be brilliant because he has controlled the dogs to behave in odd manners. The dogs even appear to do anything he says. They must have had years of training in order to do what they have done in the videos. This is something to marvel over.

Hannah Barrow

1/24/2019 01:24:36 pm

William Wegman photographs his Weimaraners. He is known for using a polaroid 20x24 inch camera. He didn’t want to try it but to get them to stop calling him about the camera, he went to see it. He likes how it is now size instead of how everything digital now can be changed to how you need it. His style looks modern.

I don’t know what style William Wegman’s images are but they have a modern look to them. They have their own new style that I haven’t seen before. I’ve seen people photograph family members and friends but I haven't seen anyone photograph their own animals before. William Wegman has a unique style. His images look new and like they could stay in style for a long time.

William Wegman’s dogs must have been very trained. My dog is very impatient and could not stay in one place very long. She doesn’t like to listen and wouldn’t be able to hold a pose either. His dogs had to do both of these things. It was probably frustrating often.

His images remind me of Andy Warhol. The colors that they use are similar. Their images both give me the same feeling when I see them. When I see his images, I feel like I am there. This makes the images pop.

I like William Wegman’s work. Something about them makes me feel good. His style is original. I had never seen his work before today. From what I’ve seen, it makes me want to see more.

Jack Waters

1/24/2019 01:26:41 pm

Wegman takes photographs of his dogs. Now he uses digital cameras for his work. He originally shot with a regular camera in 8 ½ by 11. he then moved on to 8 ½ by 11 polaroid. one of the main things he is known for using is the 20 by 24 polaroid. He used it up until 2006.

I attempted to photograph my dogs. once it was very difficult. It is hard to get them to keep a position. It’s difficult to get the right emotion as you cant tell them to make a certain face. The often don’t look at the camera because they don’t know what it is. Although he seems to have trained them to stay and look at the camera.

Wegman says that comedians influenced his work the most. specifically bob and ray.
That’s why his work is weird and funny. He was also influenced by a writer borges. He liked his idea of circular time.

Wegman compares his video to ads. He only used 30-40 seconds of the reel as opposed to the whole reel of film. His videos are all different. They are just whatever he felt like filming at the time. It gives and interesting feel as they are all the same yet they are all different.

I like Wegmans work. All of his work that I have seen has been enjoyable for anyone. He doesn't talk about there being a deeper meaning. He just takes pictures and makes things that he thinks look nice or interesting. Also the dogs are very adorable.

Eduardo Saucedo

1/24/2019 01:27:39 pm

This artist has a unique talent, because he does thing that no one else can do. He makes photographs of his dog in creative ways. He is well known for using the Polaroid 20x24 inch camera. His uniqueness has impacts on society. He is not just a photographer, but also a painter.

The skills that he uses are photographing a dog in funny ways. He photographs what he loves and that's his dog. He uses different lighting strategies. He also uses props to make his photos more alive. That is what you call strategy and passion.

I like the way he photographs his dog. He puts clothes on the dog and with the lighting, he makes it more believable. He also makes photographs of dogs with human hands. He can make anything happen if he really put his mind into it. What really inspired him to do these kinds of thing was his dog. The different lighting that he uses completely changes the scenario or what is happening in the photograph.

My own experience as a photographer has been ok, because I'm good with taking pictures but it takes a long time to get that one perfect photo. Taking pictures with my iPhone is not the same with taking pictures with a camera. So far, it has been a long journey for me taking pictures for our projects because I get to experience the different types of strategies that it takes to make a good photograph. This is why I press what I feel through photographs, because I can make a photograph of anything. This is one of the reasons I like my way of taking pictures.

I really enjoy Wegman's work. He uses dogs and sets a scenario for them so the the photograph looks more complete. I like dogs so hen I see his photographs, it makes me wanna be present in that exact moment. Photographers like Wegman have a lot of skills because they actually know how to express their feelings. This is why they re well known.

Paolo Hernandez

1/24/2019 01:28:02 pm

Wegman makes images about dogs. He enjoys doing this because it reminds him of his dogs. They also remind him about how close he is to his dogs. He is most known for using a polaroid camera. It is a 20x24 camera.

A problem with shooting the images of animals is that they might move and you will have to keep on taking the pictures until the animal finally stops moving. Sometimes it will get frustrating because the animal will not always look at the camera. It will also be hard to photoshop, because animals are different than humans, so people are not very experienced in photoshopping animals. Animals are difficult to photoshop, because people are used to photoshopping humans instead of animals. Therefore, animals are harder to photoshop.

Wegman’s dogs are the main things that motivate his work. They motivate him, because when he sees the dogs, it reminds him of how close he is with his dogs. He was also inspired by the new camera he got. It is called a Polaroid 20x24 camera. It was way bigger than his previous cameras. So therefore, he was very excited to try out his new camera.

Wegman compares his video pieces to his life. He talks about things like dogs, girlfriends, etc. This all relates to him, because they are all important parts of his life. For example, he compares it to his dogs, because he is close to them. He also compares it to his girlfriend, because he is close to her and he likes her.

I like Wegman’s work because it is related to dogs. I like dogs. So does he. I like looking at pictures with dogs in them. They are interesting to look at. They are fun to take pictures of.

Joey

1/24/2019 01:36:41 pm

William takes pictures of his dog. He sets up scenes and put his dogs in certain positions. The camera he used was Polaroid 20x24. This is a huge camera, however, it wasn’t super expensive at the time he started to create images. William believes that it is terrible for an artist to ask other’s opinions.

I like William’s work because they were creative. He put makeups on their dogs and pictures them from different angles. William took pictures of dog legs, dog chests and heads. His took pictures even in different environments. Some of them were took in cloudy days, in deserts and in forests. A lot of them were created for commercials.

I believe that the best picture he took was “Fake”. In this picture, dogs are dressed up as humans. The dog close to the camera looks sad and the dog behind it looks happy. The background is dark and the camera is focused on dogs. He was using shallow depth of field for this picture.

I have no experiences with animals. But I can imagine that working with dogs is difficult. If you want them stay in one position you have to trained the dog very well. Sometimes you need additional setups. For example, the picture I mentioned above is dogs dressed up as humans. You have to put them on a high chair or something.

William recored a lot of videos in his early years. These videos are really interesting. In one of his videos he tried to teach his dog how to spell words like “beach” and “park”. In some videos he tired to talk to his dogs. Later he focused on taking pictures. He is creative video maker.

1/24/2019 05:46:50 pm

Wegman is most known for using 20 by 24 inch photographs of his weimaraner dogs. He was known for using a 20 by 24 inch polaroid camera. But before he used that he stuck to small 8 by 10 or similar cameras so it would be advertised on magazines. The 20 by 24 inch camera produced the photos fit for the cameras name because they were all 20 by 24 inches. The film made shooting expensive but for him that wasn’t a problem for Wegman.

Animals would be hard to photograph as they can’t be as controlled. This makes the photoshoot not fully depend on the photographer. This can mess up a shoot. They can do this by moving around or butting the camera. It would be especially hard for the dogs to stay with that giant camera pointing at them.

Wegman said that he was influenced by comedians. In particular he was influenced by Bob and Ray. He was also influenced by a writer named Borges. He liked Borges for his idea of circular time. He said that breaking his cycle made him feel liberated.

He compared his videos to TV not as much as artist’s videos. He said they were more like ads. His videos were supposed to be for everyone not just the art scene. He made theses stories that he liked. He liked the format of beginning middle and end.

I like Wegman’s work. I think that the dog photos are interesting and look good. I especially like the dog’s as humans photos because it is funny and looks weird. I also like that he used such a big format for his pictures. And giant polaroid pictures seems pretty neat.

Paul Borrego

1/24/2019 05:47:34 pm

Sam Meldner

1/25/2019 06:30:44 am

William Wegman is a photographer/videographer that uses dogs as the main subjects in his art. He said in his video that he was inspired by most writers and comedians. He, however, was not inspired by photographers. He made videos about human interaction with dogs. He created it as a way of showing the way that people react to animals.
In addition, the images that he produced of the dogs are also considered, in my opinion, are very dreamlike. In his image, Inclined Tiger that he created in 1994, it looks as though there is a small tiger on the nose of another larger dog. This is very fun and different than other images produced by many artists. It creates a different story as well. The way that I look at the image, it reminds me of the way that animals communicate with each other.

In another image, he created (Fruits, Nuts, Vegetables, etc.) there seems to be an assortment of fruits and nuts on the head of a dog. This also has a different vibe to it. It forces the audience to come up with a story behind the image themselves. He wants us to be able to add our own interpretation of the image and what he wants to say. This created more hands-on art for the audience to enjoy.

Personally, I enjoy this type of art because it reminds me that there isn’t always one standard of art. It also keeps things interesting in art. He changed the way that I looked at the art of a dog. He takes a simple animal as his main subject and makes it more than a dog. This allows me to change my own perspective of it.

Finally, the art shows a sense of freedom and individuality. He shows us that there are many different ways of creating art. His creativity, itself, also provides people with a sense of inspiration to create their own beauty. I enjoy the imagery of dogs because the dogs can represent something that the artist likes. This allows the audience to be more connected to the artist.

Hannah Growney

2/4/2019 05:33:54 am

Wegeman takes pictures of his Weimaraners. He is best known for his work with the 20x24 in. polaroid camera. This camera had a stationary height. This means his dogs had to be on stands or tables. Because they were on these pedistoles he made photographs in which the dogs would be doing human things with human features.

There are many obstacles in photographing animals. I believe that the main one would be movement. When i took photographs of my two dogs i had to take several images to get it right. This would be especially difficult since when using polaroids. This is because you can only take one image at a time.

Wegman said that one of his main influencers were comedians. He mentioned Bob and Ray and Borges. He said that Bob and Ray inspired him when he made his videos. He also really enjoyed Borges’ idea of getting in and out of circular time. He related this to his dogs.

He compare his works to advertisements. He said that his monitor was a sculpture. He said that he used the monitor like and tv, or an add. He also mentioned that it was good for the videos to have structure. It was said that having structure was almost satisfying.

I enjoy most of his work. This is probably because I like dogs. I really enjoy his works of just the dogs. However i don’t like the works where he makes the dogs seem human. I find it weird.

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Period 7 -- Critical Analysis #13

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