2019 was the 50th anniversary of Woodstock 1969 and to commemorate this anniversary a trend arose, causing many people to recreate iconic original photographs from the festival. Instead of recreating a pre-existing moment, I chose to set the scene from my point of view as if I were actually there observing my boyfriend and enjoying the distant, but present, roars of the festival. My main goal in this project was to make the composite as time accurate and visually believable as possible to create a sense of traveling through time. There are an inconceivable amount of photos from Woodstock, but a vast majority of those available are crowd photos that don't quite catch the more intimate and personal moments throughout the festival. I wanted to portray a moment with this likeness instead of simply replicating what already exists, a point of view people may not have seen of Woodstock.
The elements in the composition are finds from adobe stock, original photographs, and generative AI.
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ReplyDeleteMost images I've seen of Woodstock are of a huge crowd or dense camping ground where you could spend a considerable amount of time picking out what each person is doing but not really feel close to any of the subjects. The way you portrayed the subject in the middle of getting up from the blanket, with the classic VW bus behind him, deep into the trees so no one would intrude would they smoke something green, is a completely immersive composition. Most images I've seen of Woodstock look even a little concerning for festivals sake in terms of hygiene and crowd control (1999 being a million times worse) so it's quite refreshing to witness a moment of peace in the chaos. As for the technical skills portrayed, it's clear a lot of work went into blending elements together, blurring the background an appropriate amount, keeping crisp edges and letting the grass peek over the VW bus tires all made this image easily believable. I think after watching the gif, I'm tickled you had to edit out the UNCC buildings from the background to insert a hippy music festival- kind of speaks to where you'd rather be or what your education might be worth in the face of raw experiences.
ReplyDelete"Woodstock 1969" captured by Savannah Demao presents a unique perspective on the iconic music festival. The composition centers around a subject in the midst of rising from a blanket, with the classic VW bus serving as a backdrop against a dense woodland. This offers an immersive experience, steering away from the typical wide shots of large crowds or campsites. The aspect ratio is well-balanced, emphasizing the subject while incorporating the surrounding environment. The formal elements include a warm and tranquil tone, achieved through careful blending and editing. The texture of the grass peeking over the VW bus tires adds a tactile quality to the image, and the proportion of elements creates a harmonious balance. The final filter used is accurate to the sort of photography equipment they had back then.
"Woodstock 1969" seems to encapsulate a moment of peace within the chaos of the renowned music festival. The choice to focus on an individual getting up from a blanket, shielded by the VW bus and surrounded by nature, suggests a desire for solitude and tranquility amidst the communal frenzy. The image may symbolize the search for personal moments of respite and connection with nature in the midst of a crowded event.
Both content and technique in "Woodstock 1969" are done very well. From a technical standpoint, the blending of elements is seamless, creating a believable environment. The artist's ability to maintain crisp edges while blurring the background contributes to the overall realism of the composition. The image effectively addresses the project's parameters related to media literacy, using compositing to create a scene that appears authentic. The choice to edit out UNCC buildings in the background adds an interesting layer, possibly suggesting a preference for raw experiences over institutional settings, sparking a thought-provoking conversation about the value of education in the face of genuine experiences.
"Woodstock 1969" holds cultural relevance by offering a unique perspective on a historical event and challenging the typical portrayal of music festivals. In the broader cultural context, the image speaks to the counterculture movement's ideals of peace, love, and connection with nature. The shared audience experience is likely aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical significance of Woodstock, emphasizing the importance of personal moments within larger societal narratives.