Research Project
Artist’s name: Jake Naughton
Artist’s life: 1992- 2020 (living)
Personal Background:
Jake Naughton was born in Farmington, Michigan in 1992. For college, he went to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he studied art and journalism along with a minor in African studies. He is now happily married to Juan Anibal Sosa Iglesias. Jake has always loved photography and is very passionate about his work. Though his career in photography really started to take off after he interned at the New York Times as a photographer for the paper. After grad school he started freelancing full time in 2015. He was named one of Photo District News’ 30’s New and Emerging Photographers to Watch in 2017, and his work has also been recognized by American Photography and by Magenta Foundation’s Flash Forward prize.
Style:
Jake Naughton is a documentary photographer, he also does a mix of portraits, still lives, and some landscapes/ other types of photography. Most of these photos are documenting an important event in our world, or just in his life. In his photo’s there’s a common theme of bright colors that contrast each other and pop. I’ve also noticed a lot of use of shadow and light working together in his photography. Balance is also used a fair amount to create unity and lead your eyes to a certain part of the photo. I think some of his photos could be compared to the historic art form; expressionism, because an emotion is always evoked in his work.
Philosophy:
The projects he has made mostly revolve around LGBTQ rights and address issues around the world with that. There’s a theme of wanting change and progression in these projects. One is about refugees in East Africa, the other is about when the Indian Supreme Court struck down Section 377 (which made same sex activity illegal) once and for all, ending years of oblivion. He also documents his own life and what’s important to him. Some of his photos don’t have a meaning or purpose, they’re purely just for fun.
Influences:
In the photos I’ve taken, you can see similarities in use of color and shadows. I used colors that compliment each other well, and some that contrast. I also tried to give the photos the same kind of feel that his still lives have, calm, simple, and colorful. The photos are nowhere close to exact replicas, but I was inspired by his backgrounds so I used purple fabric with clear material over top, much like his backgrounds in the photo of the yellow flower. I used colored construction paper for the background of my photo with the red rose, this was influenced by the photo in the middle with the paper background.
Sources:
His website: https://www.jakenaughton.com/
Artist’s life: 1992- 2020 (living)
Personal Background:
Jake Naughton was born in Farmington, Michigan in 1992. For college, he went to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he studied art and journalism along with a minor in African studies. He is now happily married to Juan Anibal Sosa Iglesias. Jake has always loved photography and is very passionate about his work. Though his career in photography really started to take off after he interned at the New York Times as a photographer for the paper. After grad school he started freelancing full time in 2015. He was named one of Photo District News’ 30’s New and Emerging Photographers to Watch in 2017, and his work has also been recognized by American Photography and by Magenta Foundation’s Flash Forward prize.
Style:
Jake Naughton is a documentary photographer, he also does a mix of portraits, still lives, and some landscapes/ other types of photography. Most of these photos are documenting an important event in our world, or just in his life. In his photo’s there’s a common theme of bright colors that contrast each other and pop. I’ve also noticed a lot of use of shadow and light working together in his photography. Balance is also used a fair amount to create unity and lead your eyes to a certain part of the photo. I think some of his photos could be compared to the historic art form; expressionism, because an emotion is always evoked in his work.
Philosophy:
The projects he has made mostly revolve around LGBTQ rights and address issues around the world with that. There’s a theme of wanting change and progression in these projects. One is about refugees in East Africa, the other is about when the Indian Supreme Court struck down Section 377 (which made same sex activity illegal) once and for all, ending years of oblivion. He also documents his own life and what’s important to him. Some of his photos don’t have a meaning or purpose, they’re purely just for fun.
Influences:
In the photos I’ve taken, you can see similarities in use of color and shadows. I used colors that compliment each other well, and some that contrast. I also tried to give the photos the same kind of feel that his still lives have, calm, simple, and colorful. The photos are nowhere close to exact replicas, but I was inspired by his backgrounds so I used purple fabric with clear material over top, much like his backgrounds in the photo of the yellow flower. I used colored construction paper for the background of my photo with the red rose, this was influenced by the photo in the middle with the paper background.
Sources:
His website: https://www.jakenaughton.com/
Visions
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Still Lives: Flowers
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Still Lives: Flowers
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My photos:
I set up this photo in a similar way to the photo of the pink rose bush. I did this by cutting the photo in half in a way with the plant on top and the paper underneath. I thought the way he used balance in the photo looked really good so I was influenced by that. I was also liked the feel of the photo so I tried to create a similar simple and calming feel. I think both photos evoke an emotion of good times and nostalgia.
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This photo was inspired by his photo of the yellow flowers and pink background. I loved the way he used materials for them background, so I used similar materials to create that same effect. I was influenced by his use of color in this photo and in a lot of his photography, I used colors that I thought would compliment each other well. I feel like both photos evoke a mysterious feel because of the way they're set up. Though there are many similarities there are also differences in: color, lighting, type of flower, etc.
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I felt inspired by the way he set up the background paper and plant in the photo with the white paper. I liked the way the lighting in his photos created interesting shadows making it more compelling. I also really liked how he placed the paper and plant so that the background wasn't just white. I chose a different color paper because I wanted to make it my own and I really like how green and yellow look together. Though many elements of the two photos differ, I think these also create the same effect of feel.
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