Photograms for Wendy Guinn Malave

Photogram #1 "Jungle Cat"
Whether it is a National Geographic special or just a photograph on a calendar at your local bookstore, there is something awe inspiring about a big jungle cat. Take your pick, leopard, panther, jaguar, tiger, it really doesn't matter they are all worth taking a second look at. You don't have to be a cat lover or even an animal lover to appreciate the scene. I believe that a jungle cat appeals to both male and female alike. My theme for this photogram was to capture the feeling of the amazing power of a three hundred plus pound cat walking silently thorough the jungle. My cat was a cardstock cut out from a Microsoft clip art. I used the leaves off a rose bush in front of my house to create the jungle. I exposed the paper for six seconds.

Photogram #2 "Office Supplied Flowers"
This was my first idea and I almost scrapped it when I put my creative hat on and started thinking about others. I revisited it for several reasons. One of my better ideas didn't translate onto paper as well as I had hoped. I'm sure many can relate to that! The second reason I went back to it was that my initial reaction to coming up with something artistic on my own was to panic. All I could think about was elementary school drawing which is still all I can do. I ultimately decided to just go with it and so that became my theme if you will for this photogram. I took basic office supplies, such as rolls of tape, pencils, and pencil top erasers to create some flowers that reminded me of childhood art. They look like the flowers that mothers all across the country patiently magnet to the front of the refrigerator and display with pride. My first attempt came out light so for my final, I exposed the paper for 7 seconds.

Photogram #3 "Voltage"
I was looking at some of Chelsea's photographs before class the day of the assignment and noticed that she had a funny one of a sign warning of possible electrocution. I work in the technical operations section of my job so we have batteries for everything. One day somebody that I work with thought it would be funny to stick the opposite ends of two nine volt batteries together and leave them on my desk. I came back and heard this weird hissing noise. The batteries were turning around in circles on thier own and getting very hot. Not a genius this guy, but they will let anybody work in a government job these days. Anyway, I was sitting at my desk thinking about photograms instead of working when somebody came in wanting a nine volt battery. Every time someone wants a nine volt, I remember the smoking batteries from years back. This in turn caused me to think of the photograph I had seen earlier. To make a short story even shorter, that was the inspiration for this photogram. I used D size, AAA size, AA size, and of course 9 volt batteries along with some cardstock cut outs of lightening bolts to create this photogram. I exposed the paper for six seconds.

Wendy Malave