Andy Warhol Art Inspires Ballet in Nashville

July 12, 2011 By carcher Leave a Comment

By Courtney Archer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UTC/The Loop) — The Nashville Ballet, inspired by Andy Warhol, will perform a short program Friday at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts where a Warhol exhibit is on display.

According to a news release from the ballet, the performance at the center’s atrium will be inspired by Warhol’s aesthetic and artistic style. The performance will mimic Warhol’s art that features everyday objects, and will be set to popular music from the era of Warhol’s pop art and screen prints.

The exhibit is “Warhol Live: Music and Dance in Andy Warhol’s Work.”

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment and Culture, Featured Tagged With: andy warhol, Art, ballet, nashville

My World in HD

December 2, 2010 By baird 3 Comments

A closer look into the ever changing and always evolving world of technology in motion pictures and still photography.

By Benji Aird

Benji-Aird@utc.edu

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (UTC/The Loop)-Whether you shoot with the Nikon D90, Canon 7D, 5D, or anything else, HD-DSLRs are now taking over a large segment of the video-journalism and motion picture markets. All are not really made to shoot video, but with various adapters and add-ons you can make it work and get results not possible in the past.

Recently I shot two projects with the Nikon D90 and was thinking about the differences between using the D90 and a “regular” video camera.

Bokeh

Bokeh describes the rendition of out-of-focus points of light. Bokeh is different from sharpness. Sharpness is what happens at the point of best focus. Bokeh is what happens away from the point of best focus.Bokeh describes the appearance, or “feel,” of out-of-focus areas. Bokeh is not how far something is out-of-focus, bokeh is the character of whatever blur is there.

The most obvious difference is the wonderful limited depth of field (DOF/Bokeh) that is made possible by the large sensors and 35mm still lenses.

This is an example of the Bokeh from a prime lens.

A welcome change from the everything-in-focus, 3-chip smaller sensor video cameras.

At minimum, you’ll need some sort of viewfinder to use the LCD screen in the back of the camera. I tethered to a 17inch monitor for the last project. There’s really no way to use the camera without a viewfinder for professional results. This is a must.

The on-board sound in any HD-DSLR is abysmal at best. You can either record using the BeachTek DXA-5D, or use an external recording device such as the Zoom H4 and sync everything up in Final Cut Pro with Pluraleyes, an incredible program from Singular Software that saves many frustrating hours of trying to sync sound.

One last item is a Vari-ND filter. This variable neutral density enables you to shoot at f2.8 in daylight and maintain that limited DOF look and feel. I use one from Singh-Ray.

Video

The following clip was from the Thanksgiving holiday 2010:

Shooting a low-lit environment may not be the best of conditions to shoot a video, however with 50mm prime lens like the Carl Zeiss I rented from Lensrentals.com helps a lot. That particular lens had a beautiful bokeh. It was a totally manually operated focus ring which took some getting use to. I know many young photographers are custom to automatic everything!! Using this lens really forced me to take my time when composing the shot.

Photography

The other project brought me to up and coming recording music artist Richard Torregano:

Mid:Depth of Field

Shallow: Depth of Field

In the behind the scenes footage from Chad B.’s new club banger “Hit It” you can clearly see the skeleton crew that shoots the video using Digital SLR’s.

After Torregano’s session Blake Hampton of Attention2Detail and I collaborated on a few projects.

Some time in the not too distant future I would like to hit the lottery. I am speaking it into the universe!! I would make the world a better place, visually that is. SO, you come across one of these from a “Street Vendor” get in contact with me.

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment and Culture, Featured, Film Tagged With: Bokeh, Canon, HD, Nikon, Richard, Torregano

Anime Comes to life in DC

November 29, 2010 By choneycutt Leave a Comment

Fans gathered in Washington DC to share their love for Anime!

By: Corey Honeycutt

evenstar1@bellsouth.net

CHATTANOOGA/Tenn.(UTC/LOOP)– The Hyatt Regency in Crystal City Alrington, VA. played host to one of many Japanese animation conventions on the weekend of November 12-14th.

Hyatt Regency Crystal City, photographer unknown

Anime USA was started by fans in 1999 and became a non profit educational organization in 2004. It’s slogan “Of Otaku, By Otaku and For Otaku has held true throughout its years.

It started off as most conventions with a few hundred people. It now brings in around 5,000 fans a year to the Crystal City Hyatt Regency.

Fans ranging in all ages show up dressed as their favorite characters, from animes and games ranging from Pokemon and Final Fantasy to more obscure titles such as 07 Ghost.

This form of dressing up is called cosplay or “costume play.” It originated in Japan, but has been gaining more and more popularity here in the U.S.

Kuroshitsuji Photoshoot, photo by Corey Honeycutt

Fans can also put together skits and compete against each other for the title of Best in Show in the masquerade which is the highlight of most conventions and draws the biggest crowds.

Shanna Labriola potrayed the character Van from the series Escaflowne. Her costume consisted of hand made wings from chicken wire, felt and feathers. Overall her outfit took her 25 hours to make.

Van from Escaflowne, Photo by Refractor Productions

“My cousin took me to a convention and that’s how I got started into cosplaying.”

The convention played host to not only the fans to but to many guests who work in the industry such as voice actors, artists, directors and professional costumers.

This year’s guests were voice actors Brina Palencia, Cristina Vee, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Patrick Seitz and Christopher Sabat. Megan Murphy, Heidi Arnold and Monica Gallagher are a few of the artists guest and Clockwork Dolls, Promise Sisters and Echostream were the bands.

Brina Palencia recently landed the main role of Ciel Phantomhive in the anime Black Butler(Kuroshitsuji). Black Butler is an anime gaining popularity over here in the US and already has a big fan base. She has voiced small and large roles in such popular animes as Fullmetal Alchemist, Nabari no Ou, Darker Than Black and XXXholic.

“My favorite role has to be Natsuki in Summer Wars, because she is raised by her grandmother and I was raised by my grandmother. It is probably the most genuine acting I’ve ever done.”

Even though she has voiced main characters in the past when asked how she felt about the part of Ciel she said she was terrified.

Brina Palencia, photo by Corey Honeycutt

“It’s really exciting, but I’m so terrified about it. I feel I worked very hard on the part and researched the accent. I’m proud of the work I did, I’m just hoping the fans like it. ”

Brina Palencia just finished a web series called Throwingstones on top of her other voice acting roles.

“It’s sort of a Breakfast Club meets horror movie.”

AUSA is just one of many conventions dedicated to anime, games and manga. There are enough conventions to go to one every weekend. They range from smaller ones with only to a few hundred people, to over 50,000 people.

So if you feel that Halloween is to short a time to dress up, or have a knack for creating costumes and are an anime or gaming fan, there are plenty of conventions to choose from.

Other conventions are listed below that can be attended throughout the year in many different states.

Anime Weekend Atlanta

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment and Culture, Featured, Film, Gaming, Music, TV Tagged With: anime, Anime USA, convention, cosplay, costumes, games, video games, voice actors, Washington D.C.

Chattanooga’s Essence of a Queen

October 29, 2010 By bsimpson Leave a Comment

When you hear the word pageant you think of Ms. U.S.A. or Ms. World. However, Chattanooga has their own pageant called Ms. Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant

By Bryson Simpson

Bryson-Simpson@mocs.utc.edu

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.(UTC/TheLoop)–Several different pageants take place around the world. From baby beauty pageants, teen pageants, gay pageants, and scholarship pageants. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated hosts scholarship pageants called Miss Black and Gold Pageants all over the United States.

The bylaws of Miss Black and Gold Pageant states, “That under the sponsorship of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is an outgrowth of the long standing tradition of the Fraternity chapters recognizing outstanding young women, their achievements and talents. The Fraternity recognizes the valuable contributions of women scholars in the undergraduate community.

The first national Miss Black and Gold Pageant was held during Alpha’s 1976 General Convention in New York City where Miss Denise Smith, representing Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, was awarded the first prize.

The Eta Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha hosts a Annual Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant ever since they have been reactivated in 1998. The Eta Phi Chapter was chartered on the campus of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the campus is the usual location where the pageants are hosted. Phillip Rosser, The Chairman of The Miss Black and Gold Pageant, said,” The Pageant this year is separated into six sections which are dance, Introduction, swimwear, talent, formal, and question and answer.

This year the Eta Phi Chapter had their annual pageant on Oct. 27 in the University Centers Auditorium. The theme they chose for the nine contestants was “The Fruits of The Spirit” which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.Each of the contestants chose a spirit and had to pick out fruits that represented them.

The contestants of the pageant were

Shanee Driver
Kaila Warren
Amanda Thompson
Ciera Conley
Alyssia Morales
Kayla Hyatte
Jessica Ornsby
Faith Henderson
Ashley Robles

After the Question and Answer section the judges were making their final tallies of the contestants so the new 2010 Miss Black and Gold could be announced. Ciera Conley was awarded Miss Congeniality, Kaila Warren was awarded Best Talent, Faith Henderson was awarded Miss Black and Gold Runner Up, and Jessica Ornsby was awarded 2010 Miss Black and Gold.

Jessica Ornsby, 2010 Miss Black and Gold, said,”I enjoyed myself throughout the whole process of the pageant. I have established great relationships with the other contestants and I am looking forward to progressing to districts.”

The winner of Miss Black and Gold will move on to the district, which is held in Chattanooga as well on Nov.22.

Filed Under: Art, Campus, Entertainment and Culture, News and Opinion, Style Tagged With: Alpha Phi Alpha, Miss Black and Gold, Pageant, Scholarship

The Digital Shootout: Does size really matter?

October 27, 2010 By baird 1 Comment

by Benji Aird

Benji-Aird@utc.edu

The ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have Nots’ in the digital single lens reflect camera industry makes a big difference, size matters! Laying the smack-down on full-framed digital slr’s are the medium-format digital slr’s. Don’t let the distinction in the title, medium, fool you. Medium formats’ capture images starting out with 30 mega pixels. We see the tip of the ice berg in a short comparison between the full and medium framed cameras.

Chattanooga, Tenn(UTC/TheLoop) — On set at a photo shoot in between the firing of strobe lights, hair-stylist crofting hair, make-up artist reapplying foundation, and wardrobe repositioning garments, photographers patiently wait to capture a single image. I think this one of the greatest times in history to be a photographer. The evolution of the camera has taken leaps and bounds in every decade.

In my not so distant past, I began shooting with a Kodax 110. The number ’110′ refers to the size of film measuring not quite 111 mm. Fast forward a few years to Christmas 1998 when I received a 35mm automatic camera. The simple point-and-shoot helped me see, and develop an artistic eye. Now, I have a Digital SLR that allows me to instantly see what I photographed! Oh how I am easily amused.

Some pro-amateurs and professional photographers alike use full frame digital SLR. To get you up to speed click here to read what a full-frame digital SLR is all about. Just when I thought it could not get any better…IT DOES! The lion has entered the den with a presence that commands respect, the medium format digital SLR. Medium format brands include Mamiya, Hassleblad, Hola, and others. These cameras are fashion’s equivalence to Gucci, Fendi, Prada, and Chanel.

In digital, medium format is a very expensive option, with typical brand new all-digital medium format cameras retailing for $10,000 (Mamiya ZD) to $32,000 (Hasselblad H3D) in 2008, though, older and used equipment can be substantially cheaper.

Derek Blanks in a helicopter shooting the New York skyline with the Hassleblad.

Celebrity photographer Derek Blanks recently shot with a Hasselblad medium-format digital SLR in a shoot on-location in New York. Derek said, “Ok guys, I think I am in love with this new camera! The Hasselblad! Check out my beauty shots…”

Digital medium format SLR’s shoot at an astronomical 30 to 60+ mega-pixels. Lets put this into perspective:

Camera phone at best is 5MP-8MP.
Average point-and-shoot digital camera for adventures in the club is 10MP-12MP.
Canon T2i Digital SLR is 18MP.

The Fuji most conservative medium format camera starts at 30MP!!!! If your head is about to explode, this sensation is perfectly normal. As Derek would say “That’s dope.”

Image of Tomiko Fraser Hines taken by Derek Blanks with a medium format digital SLR.

Up close and 'Pore'sonal. The 30MP+ hides no problems defining each pore with crisp definition.

Notice how in the DSLR image (left-side) the image of the bird is not seen. This is a result the the smaller frame size of the DSLR. The Medium format on the right captures more of the image.

I get goose bumps looking at a side-by-side comparison of the full-frame and medium format.

Does size really matter? Well, thats relative to your level of photography. If you have the money to spare and really, really, I do mean really want to go all out you can rent a medium-format from LensRentals.com as well as other equipment to keep your shutter-finger happy.

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment and Culture, Featured, Film Tagged With: Camera, Commerical, Digital Camera, DSLR, Editorial, Hasselblad, High Fashion, Medium Format, Megapixel, Point-and-Shoot

Anything You Shoot, I Can Shoot Better…& Cheaper

October 11, 2010 By baird Leave a Comment

By: Benji Aird

Benji-Aird@utc.edu

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (UTC/TheLoop) – Here recently I have noticed the growing trend of small to even large production companies incorporating Digital SLR (Single Lens Reflect) cameras into their arsenal of equipment. Digital SLRs allow the camera operator to shoot tight spaces with a minimal amount of equipment.

DSLR Video Rig

Many ‘Guerrilla’ style productions are shot using this type of system. A camera rig and operater, gone are the days where you need three and four people make up a production crew.

Everyone from music video producers to reality television shows often shoot concepts and pilot shows to pitch to broadcasting networks to get showtime.

About a year to two ago some friends and I started what I call a visual communication team. Wherein we Tweet, Blog, Vlog and anthing else you can think of to visually communicate with the world.

Everything is done one of the two Nikon D90 Digital SLR’s we currently own. Its our staple when I comes to in-the-field footage and studio photoshoots. We are always keeping an eye out on the latest gadjets that help us do what we do better!

Window shopping lead me visit my friends at Wolf Camera to see what hit the shelves.

The featured Nikon D3000 has a very user friendly user interface and in hand it does feel soild. I won’t be trading up/down/or lateral until all the kinks are worked out.

Back view of the Nikon D3000

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment and Culture, Film

Dark Twisted Fate

October 6, 2010 By bsimpson Leave a Comment

Bryson Simpson

Bryson-simpson@mocs.utc.edu

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.(UTC/TheLoop)–What would you do if you entered an elevator with four people that you have never met before; the elevator stops, and demonic events start to take place? Well that’s what five characters have to go through in the film “Devil”.

The film “Devil” starts off with a man committing suicide by jumping off a building. Then you hear Ramirez mention stories of the Devil roaming the earth and it always begins with a suicide. Detective Bowden is called to the building where the suicide happened to help with the investigation.

At the same time, five strangers enter an elevator, which is located in the same building where the suicide has taken place. The five strangers consist of an elderly woman, a security guard named Ben, a salesman named Vince, a young woman named Sarah, and a former U.S. military soldier named Tony.

Weird things start to happen starting with the elevator getting stuck. While stuck in the elevator the five strangers start discussing their backgrounds and found out that each of them has a criminal background. The elderly lady was a thief, Ben the security guard has a violent past, Vince was a con artist, and Sarah was a blackmailing gold digger.

Then, the lights go off and Sarah has a wound on her back. The people in the elevator start to suspect Vince of assaulting Sarah because he is covered in blood. Later, one by one the five strangers start to die. Vince is the first to die when the lights cut off and his throat is slashed.

Overall the film “Devil” has a good plot, the story made sense, and the special effects to draw in the audience. Also, “Devil” did a good job by not making the storyline obvious and it keeps viewers in suspense. Also, the film has a lot of “twists” and unexpected connections throughout the story.

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment and Culture, Film

Not Your Grandparents “Picture Show”

September 22, 2010 By baird 1 Comment

By Benji Aird

Benji-Aird@utc.edu

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (UTC/ The Loop)– The Story Beyond the Still is the first ever user-generated HD Video Contest where photographers become filmmakers, and we all see beyond the still. I will highlight last month winner Marc Jonathan de Jesus of Chapter 6 for his film “Fool Circle,” based on his interpretation of a still photograph left at the end of the previous winning chapter. I will also showcase what makes the Canon EOS line so great!

Marc’s film was the sixth chapter of seven, ending with a still photograph of its own for the Vimeo community to once again interpret. After a wave of entries, Tony Leech’s “Exit Interview” was chosen as the winner of Chapter 7, leaving a new still to guide the way for Chapter 8 – the final chapter of The Story Beyond The Still to be interpreted and shot by Vincent Laforet in collaboration with all the chapter winners!

What will he see beyond this still? And how will the award-winning user-generated HD Video contest end?

Blake Whitman, Vimeo staff says, there are “no limitations, Judges will just be looking for entries based off of the criteria spelled out in the rules. But have fun with it, there is no right way to make these.”

Celebrity photographer, Derek Blanks, shoots with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II. He has even filmed behind the scenes footage with his Canon. His favorite line is, “This is DOPE!” as a reference to the video quality.

Watch an entry from Isaac Viel’s group!

On the Technical Side

Bigger is Better!

What makes these Canon Digital SLR’s such a power house are in part due to its sensors. Canon develops and produces its own CMOS sensors. Unlike CCD sensors, CMOS sensors convert and amplify signals before they are transferred to the image processor, enabling them to produce exceptionally clean image data and reduce power consumption.

Experiencing this first hand I can say the Canon’s senors, the brains of the operation, are stunning.

Japanese love affair, dont tell my Nikon.

In holy matrimony with the CMOS sensors are its image processors.

Developed to enhance performance between capturing and recording stages of digital photography, Canon DIGIC chips use advanced signal processing technologies to dramatically augment image quality and deliver a more intuitive, responsive camera.

What this translates to is the ability to capture stills in photo mode with relentless sharpness quickly. This allows the camera to capture such fine details like pores on the skin and fine hairs.

In addition, the latest DIGIC 4 Image Processor speeds up all operations to make a number of inventive new features possible, such as Live Face Detection AF, HD video recording, Auto Lighting Optimizer and Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction. Top EOS SLRs such as the EOS 7D and EOS-1D Mark IV feature two DIGIC Image Processors for an even greater level of quality and power.

The EOS HD Video Lineup starts at about $900.00.

I found great deals on the enrty-level EOS Rebel T2i at Sam’s Club and Amazon.

Sources: Canon , Vimeo Video Entries

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment and Culture, Featured, Film

Nashville Airport honors women in the local music industry

August 23, 2010 By mariahbrooks Leave a Comment

By Mariah Brooks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ( UTC/AP) — An exhibition honoring women who helped establish the foundation of Nashville’s music industry is slated to be unveiled at the city’s airport.

Arts at the Airport and the Metro Nashville Airport Authority along with SOURCE — a nonprofit group that supports women executives and professionals who work in Nashville’s music industry — will celebrate the opening of SOURCE Behind the Music on Wednesday.

The SOURCE Behind the Music exhibit highlights women honorees and their achievements. While many were not celebrated during their lifetime, they played a major role in creating today’s music industry.

Arts at the Airport’s Caroline Carlisle was the curator and producer of the exhibit, and Karen Edgin was the designer.

Filed Under: Art, Local, Music, News and Opinion

Young Monster Fuses Local Art and Music Scenes

April 21, 2010 By xangwaltney 1 Comment

By Xan Gwaltney

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (UTC/The Loop) — If you have seen event posters around town in the last year, chances are you’ve seen the work of the local art collective known as Young Monster.

Young Monster design

The group started operating over a year ago thanks to a grant from Chattanooga non-profit organization CreateHere, which identifies itself as “an experiment in harnessing the economic potential of creative individuals” to “build Chattanooga’s cultural economy through arts, economic, and cultural development initiatives.”

UTC graduate Nick Dupey founded Young Monster after writing the grant with Heather Lacey, who now works primarily with Do Ya Hear We records.

Currently, the core group consists of Dupey, Zach Hobbs, Alison Burke, and Scott Campbell, and specializes in screen printing, graphic design, and most recently fashion design.

Dupey says, “There’s a rich history of music-based design” and the goal of Young Monster is to “try to develop a design culture around the music scene” in Chattanooga.

Young Monster pieces can regularly be found touting upcoming events at local venues JJ’s Bohemia and Discoteca, and often add a distinct art aspect to events such as the Bangers Ball and The Chattanooga Roller Girls bouts and shows by the likes of:

Discoteca poster designed by Young Monster

The Distribution
King Khan & the Shrines
Andrew Bird
Those Darlins
Lambchop
Forest Magic

Dupey says, “The regionality of what we do is really important. We want to create a voice for our city and the music that comes out of our city.”

A veteran himself of the music scene as a member of Giant Tigers, Dupey has become prolific as a visual artist.

He says, “I personally did about 40 posters last year.” Add in the output of the other Young Monster contributors and he says the group produced “upwards of 100 posters last year.”

As a group, Young Monster has created a distinctive style, influenced heavily by Polish poster design and film. Dupey says that film especially is an inspiration because it is a “culmination of film, visuals, music, and graphic design.”

In particular the artists are inspired by horror films, such as the work of Roger Corman, in which they are drawn to the beauty of at times ugly or horrific imagery.

Young Monster has recently branched out further with merchandising, offering posters, prints, cards, and clothing on their website. Dupey says the worldwide decline in record sales has led the music industry to push gig posters and other merchandise as more products to sell.

As a result, he says the art form of gig posters, while it had never gone away, has found increased public awareness.

Young Monster also recently partnered with Leo Handmade Gallery which officially reopened April 2 and currently features the photography of Robert Parker.

The new store is located at 22 Frazier Avenue in Chattanooga.

Here Nick Dupey demonstrates printing a poster in the Young Monster studio beneath the Leo gallery.

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment and Culture, Featured, Local, Music, Style Tagged With: Art, Chattanooga, Create Here, graphic design, Music, poster, screen print, Young Monster

What will he see beyond this still? And how will the award-winning user-generated HD Video contest end?

On the Technical Side

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