Sam Kaplan
Sam Kaplan is a photographer and director born in Boston, MA. He studied art history and sculpture at Wesleyan University. He studied both traditional photography and conceptual sculpture. After graduating, he worked with a lot of other photographers where he says he learned the technical aspects and he learned about the imaginative process in his sculpture classes. He works for clients such as Gatorade, Google, Kraft, Fortune and The New York Times Magazine. He shoots at his studio on the west side of Manhattan.
Style
He likes problem-solving and conceptual thinking. His favorite type of pictures have a beginning and an end that make sense in the frame. He wants to be hired for his conceptual work. He likes his work to be simple, well thought, and intelligent. One of the visual characteristics that this artist possesses is that his work really just fills the eye with color and he does not have many black and white images.
Philosophy
He knows that to have a successful career he not only has to take great pictures but also needs to have a good marketing campaign. His philosophy is to simplify. He believes that if you add too many elements to a picture, you take away from what you were originally trying to say. For him, it is a reductive process where he gets to the root of what he wants to say.
Influences
Just as Sam Kaplan, I like simplicity. I prefer things that are clear and to the point and not too overcrowded. When I saw his work I liked it and that is why I selected his pictures. He influenced me in looking at things in a different way and seeing how simple things in still life can be beautiful, expressive and generate a reaction. One of the things I really like about him is that he can create impressive pictures from everyday objects.
Compare and Contrast
Sam Kaplan is a photographer and director born in Boston, MA. He studied art history and sculpture at Wesleyan University. He studied both traditional photography and conceptual sculpture. After graduating, he worked with a lot of other photographers where he says he learned the technical aspects and he learned about the imaginative process in his sculpture classes. He works for clients such as Gatorade, Google, Kraft, Fortune and The New York Times Magazine. He shoots at his studio on the west side of Manhattan.
Style
He likes problem-solving and conceptual thinking. His favorite type of pictures have a beginning and an end that make sense in the frame. He wants to be hired for his conceptual work. He likes his work to be simple, well thought, and intelligent. One of the visual characteristics that this artist possesses is that his work really just fills the eye with color and he does not have many black and white images.
Philosophy
He knows that to have a successful career he not only has to take great pictures but also needs to have a good marketing campaign. His philosophy is to simplify. He believes that if you add too many elements to a picture, you take away from what you were originally trying to say. For him, it is a reductive process where he gets to the root of what he wants to say.
Influences
Just as Sam Kaplan, I like simplicity. I prefer things that are clear and to the point and not too overcrowded. When I saw his work I liked it and that is why I selected his pictures. He influenced me in looking at things in a different way and seeing how simple things in still life can be beautiful, expressive and generate a reaction. One of the things I really like about him is that he can create impressive pictures from everyday objects.
Compare and Contrast
In this set of images, I tried to replicate it as closest as possible to the original. I got the big yellow paper clip in the center surrounded by more tiny paper clips all around. I didn’t have a green background so I decided to use blue instead and I liked it because it is similar but not identical. Another difference is the amount and arrangement of the small paper clips. I decided to arrange them as if they were pointing towards the center, I think it gives the picture movement instead of having all the paper clips in perfect order.
I am very proud of this picture because I think I did a great job replicating the original. It was hard to get the pen to stand, I had to put it against the wall and ensure that the pencils could hold it while remaining in the position I wanted them to be. My picture has a portrait orientation while the original is landscape but I think they look quite similar. I edited the picture in Photoshop to get the black background and to make sure the light was very similar. I think the result is quite good.
This was the most difficult picture to recreate and I chose it because I wanted to challenge myself. First I had to take individual pictures of the smart watches so that I could arrange them in a similar position while simulating that they are suspended in the air. I had to use a lot of Photoshop to erase the background and recreate one similar to the original picture. Also, I needed to add the shadows that make it seem like they are floating. I arranged the watches in a similar position but facing to different sides than the original to give it my personal touch.
Artist Statement
I had a lot of fun recreating this pictures even though it was a lot of work. I was glad that the materials needed were very easy to find in my house and that I had learned Photoshop skills to help me make them more similar to the originals. The theme I think my pictures represent is working together in a community or society. The first picture makes me think of leadership, how the big yellow paper clip is leading the small paper clips and they are all going the same way. The second picture represents team work and shows how if we all work together and help each other we can help someone rise or stand. And the third picture makes me think of effort and accomplishment, of going through the finish line knowing it was hard to get there but we did it together.
I had a lot of fun recreating this pictures even though it was a lot of work. I was glad that the materials needed were very easy to find in my house and that I had learned Photoshop skills to help me make them more similar to the originals. The theme I think my pictures represent is working together in a community or society. The first picture makes me think of leadership, how the big yellow paper clip is leading the small paper clips and they are all going the same way. The second picture represents team work and shows how if we all work together and help each other we can help someone rise or stand. And the third picture makes me think of effort and accomplishment, of going through the finish line knowing it was hard to get there but we did it together.
Sources
https://aphotoeditor.com/2013/11/07/art-producers-speak-sam-kaplan/
https://thekaplans.studio/STILL-LIFE/2/thumbs
https://www.connectionsbylebook.com/ny2019/nominee/sam-kaplan
https://www.commarts.com/fresh/sam-kaplan
https://www.digitalphotopro.com/profiles/sam-kaplan-the-problem-solver/
Images
Smart watches
https://thekaplans.studio/STILL-LIFE/2
Pencils
https://thekaplans.studio/STILL-LIFE/34
Paper clips
https://thekaplans.studio/STILL-LIFE/39
https://aphotoeditor.com/2013/11/07/art-producers-speak-sam-kaplan/
https://thekaplans.studio/STILL-LIFE/2/thumbs
https://www.connectionsbylebook.com/ny2019/nominee/sam-kaplan
https://www.commarts.com/fresh/sam-kaplan
https://www.digitalphotopro.com/profiles/sam-kaplan-the-problem-solver/
Images
Smart watches
https://thekaplans.studio/STILL-LIFE/2
Pencils
https://thekaplans.studio/STILL-LIFE/34
Paper clips
https://thekaplans.studio/STILL-LIFE/39