Emily Blincoe
1981-present (37 years old)
Personal Background: Emily Blincoe was born and raised in Austin Texas, and now lives in Nashville Tennessee, although she is often travelling around the world taking pictures today. Blincoe hates school as a child and did not learn well in a traditional classroom environment. After finishing high school, she worked as a preschool teacher and then as a waitress in a cafe, where she worked for ten years and then quit to travel and take photos full time. Blincoe had no formal photography schooling. She learned how to use a film camera from her brother at age twenty-two and enjoyed it, but dropped the hobby after a few years. Blincoe came back to photography on her own several years later, and started posting photos on Instagram when it first launched in 2010. She taught herself photography through experimentation, and as her photography skills improved, she upgraded cameras and equipment. Emily Blincoe signed on with an agency (Tinker Street) in 2013 to travel the world and photograph full time, and has been doing just that with her dog, Eleanor, ever since. Emily Blincoe does commissioned photoshoots for many companies and organizations, as well as taking photos to post on her Instagram account and sell on her website.
Style: Emily Blincoe’s work involves vibrant colors and eye-catching patterns to interest her audience and create a playful sense of excitement in her photos. Blincoe creates simple, staged photographs of easily identifiable objects. Food, plants, and fabrics are used in meticulously organized still lifes and portraits that are calling and satisfying to viewers. All aspects of the images are deliberate and well-planned, creating a peaceful and orderly feel. She tells a story by highlighting unique details of objects and people found around her.
Philosophy: Emily Blincoe’s love of nature and eye for natural beauty are the major inspiration behind her photographs. Through her photos, Blincoe tries to share these aspects of natural beauty through intricate arrangements captured for visual pleasure. Through diverse subjects and photography styles, Blincoe tries to show beauty in all types of everyday objects and share this beauty with those who view her photographs. Emily Blincoe uses humor and puns in her photographs to show her personality and sense of humor, telling personal stories without meaning to be loud or offensive. Her images are a documentation of her travels and adventures, shared with the hope of inspiring aspiring photographers, and everyone, to find beauty in and treasure simple, everyday instances.
Influences: Emily Blincoe draws inspiration from the world around her, and for that reason the elements influencing her work are always changing. Blincoe had no formal art education, nor was she inspired to start photographing in the style of a specific artist. Instead, she began taking photograohs to document moments of ordinary beauty around her. Colors and light play an integral part in Blincoe's work, for example, her color-coordinating still lifes. She also draws inspiration from faces of people, as she believes that all faces are timelessly beautiful and worthy of documentation. However, Emily Blincoe is most satisfied when creating photographs of people and things she loves. Most of the photographs Blincoe takes are of instances in which she finds beauty and wants share with others, not necessarily for a specific cause. Her photographs are influenced by the ever-changing seasons of the earth and constantly evolving aspects of her life.
Style: Emily Blincoe’s work involves vibrant colors and eye-catching patterns to interest her audience and create a playful sense of excitement in her photos. Blincoe creates simple, staged photographs of easily identifiable objects. Food, plants, and fabrics are used in meticulously organized still lifes and portraits that are calling and satisfying to viewers. All aspects of the images are deliberate and well-planned, creating a peaceful and orderly feel. She tells a story by highlighting unique details of objects and people found around her.
Philosophy: Emily Blincoe’s love of nature and eye for natural beauty are the major inspiration behind her photographs. Through her photos, Blincoe tries to share these aspects of natural beauty through intricate arrangements captured for visual pleasure. Through diverse subjects and photography styles, Blincoe tries to show beauty in all types of everyday objects and share this beauty with those who view her photographs. Emily Blincoe uses humor and puns in her photographs to show her personality and sense of humor, telling personal stories without meaning to be loud or offensive. Her images are a documentation of her travels and adventures, shared with the hope of inspiring aspiring photographers, and everyone, to find beauty in and treasure simple, everyday instances.
Influences: Emily Blincoe draws inspiration from the world around her, and for that reason the elements influencing her work are always changing. Blincoe had no formal art education, nor was she inspired to start photographing in the style of a specific artist. Instead, she began taking photograohs to document moments of ordinary beauty around her. Colors and light play an integral part in Blincoe's work, for example, her color-coordinating still lifes. She also draws inspiration from faces of people, as she believes that all faces are timelessly beautiful and worthy of documentation. However, Emily Blincoe is most satisfied when creating photographs of people and things she loves. Most of the photographs Blincoe takes are of instances in which she finds beauty and wants share with others, not necessarily for a specific cause. Her photographs are influenced by the ever-changing seasons of the earth and constantly evolving aspects of her life.
Compare and Contrast
My photo and Emily Blimcoe’s photo are observably different, however both photos were based on the same ideas. For example, the flowers used in the photos are very different: Blincoe uses wildflowers, white, coral and orange zinnias and daisies, while I used dark pink and white carnations. Although the toes of the models in both photos are painted, those in Blincoe’s image are red and those in my image are blue. Additionally, my photograph is taken from a slightly different point of view than Blincoe's, and the resulting image looks forward toward the feet rather than down on to the feet. However, the background in my photo matches that of Blincoe’s. I created this background by photographing my subject on the grass underneath a tree, with sunlight shining through the branches onto the ground. Though these photos are different, a viewer can tell that I was not attempting to imitate Blincoe exactly - I was simply putting my own twist on one of her photos!
My photo and Emily Blimcoe’s photo are observably different, however both photos were based on the same ideas. For example, the flowers used in the photos are very different: Blincoe uses wildflowers, white, coral and orange zinnias and daisies, while I used dark pink and white carnations. Although the toes of the models in both photos are painted, those in Blincoe’s image are red and those in my image are blue. Additionally, my photograph is taken from a slightly different point of view than Blincoe's, and the resulting image looks forward toward the feet rather than down on to the feet. However, the background in my photo matches that of Blincoe’s. I created this background by photographing my subject on the grass underneath a tree, with sunlight shining through the branches onto the ground. Though these photos are different, a viewer can tell that I was not attempting to imitate Blincoe exactly - I was simply putting my own twist on one of her photos!
Compare and Contrast
My final photo and Blincoe’s are very similar, but different in some ways. First, the color schemes of the two photos are almost exactly the same. When I took my photo, I used orange paper as a background, however it was not the same shade of orange as in Blincoe’s photo. I was able to make the color schemes more similar, by importing color from Blincoe’s image to my image in Photoshop. The color transferred very well! Emily Blincoe’s photo has more types of leaves than mine, and they are organized by color, from lightest in one corner to darkest in the opposite coner. In my photo, the leaves are all very similar in color, and I had difficulty organizing them from lightest to darkest. Also, Blincoe’s photo seems to be taken from higher above her subject that my photo. Because of this, she could fit more leaves into the image. The leaves in my photo are more abstractly organized than those in Emily Blincoe’s photo, however the color scheme and general theme of both images is the same.
My final photo and Blincoe’s are very similar, but different in some ways. First, the color schemes of the two photos are almost exactly the same. When I took my photo, I used orange paper as a background, however it was not the same shade of orange as in Blincoe’s photo. I was able to make the color schemes more similar, by importing color from Blincoe’s image to my image in Photoshop. The color transferred very well! Emily Blincoe’s photo has more types of leaves than mine, and they are organized by color, from lightest in one corner to darkest in the opposite coner. In my photo, the leaves are all very similar in color, and I had difficulty organizing them from lightest to darkest. Also, Blincoe’s photo seems to be taken from higher above her subject that my photo. Because of this, she could fit more leaves into the image. The leaves in my photo are more abstractly organized than those in Emily Blincoe’s photo, however the color scheme and general theme of both images is the same.
Compare and Contrast
My photograph and Blincoe’s are almost the same, except for the vibrance of some colors in the images. I was able to line up the M&M candies in the same configuration as those in Emily Blincoe’s photo, and the ampersand signs look almost exactly the same. However, there are some inconsistencies in the positioning. It was difficult to match the colors exactly between my photo and Blincoe’s. Many colors in Blincoe's photo are brighter and more vibrant than mine. I was able to use the exposure adjustment to give my image a faded look, however, to match Blincoe’s. I was able to imitate many aspects of Blincoe's photo, such as the dark wood in the background and a white plate rimmed with color. I also put my own twist on the photo by using a plate rimmed with blue instead of orange, and using a blue plaid cloth instead of a green striped one. Although my image is not quite as vibrant as Emily Blincoe's photo, both of the photographs have a humorous and cheerful character.
My photograph and Blincoe’s are almost the same, except for the vibrance of some colors in the images. I was able to line up the M&M candies in the same configuration as those in Emily Blincoe’s photo, and the ampersand signs look almost exactly the same. However, there are some inconsistencies in the positioning. It was difficult to match the colors exactly between my photo and Blincoe’s. Many colors in Blincoe's photo are brighter and more vibrant than mine. I was able to use the exposure adjustment to give my image a faded look, however, to match Blincoe’s. I was able to imitate many aspects of Blincoe's photo, such as the dark wood in the background and a white plate rimmed with color. I also put my own twist on the photo by using a plate rimmed with blue instead of orange, and using a blue plaid cloth instead of a green striped one. Although my image is not quite as vibrant as Emily Blincoe's photo, both of the photographs have a humorous and cheerful character.
Personal Artist Statement
Imitating Emily Blincoe’s photographs was very enjoyable for me. It was interesting to take photos with a purpose and a model to imitate, instead of imagining and planning for my own photos. Imitating Blincoe’s photographs was difficult, because I had to find a balance between imitating her image and implementing my own ideas. While trying to make my photos look like those that I was imitating, I also had to remember the techniques that I have learned this trimester in photography class. Lighting and color was especially difficult to get correct in the images I imitated, because I did not have the exact same subjects as Blincoe and did not photograph under the exact same circumstances as she did. I had to adjust brightness and contrast levels, as well as color matching, when I edited my photographs to make them look more like Emily Blincoe’s. After experimenting in Photoshop, I was able to make my photographs much more similar to Blincoe’s.
Emily Blincoe’s work has inspired me to look for patterns and details in the subjects I photograph. Imitating her photographs required me to step out of my comfort zone a bit, and try new types of photography. Creating and photographing visually appealing flatlays especially required planning and organization, and I gained a new appreciation for work professional photographers have to do to capture amazing images like Blincoe’s. By imitating her techniques to create organized scenes with specific details, I have learned how to make my photos more visually appealing. As she aims to do through her photographs, Emily Blincoe has inspired me to look for beauty in ordinary subjects and appreciate all of life’s simple moments.
Imitating Emily Blincoe’s photographs was very enjoyable for me. It was interesting to take photos with a purpose and a model to imitate, instead of imagining and planning for my own photos. Imitating Blincoe’s photographs was difficult, because I had to find a balance between imitating her image and implementing my own ideas. While trying to make my photos look like those that I was imitating, I also had to remember the techniques that I have learned this trimester in photography class. Lighting and color was especially difficult to get correct in the images I imitated, because I did not have the exact same subjects as Blincoe and did not photograph under the exact same circumstances as she did. I had to adjust brightness and contrast levels, as well as color matching, when I edited my photographs to make them look more like Emily Blincoe’s. After experimenting in Photoshop, I was able to make my photographs much more similar to Blincoe’s.
Emily Blincoe’s work has inspired me to look for patterns and details in the subjects I photograph. Imitating her photographs required me to step out of my comfort zone a bit, and try new types of photography. Creating and photographing visually appealing flatlays especially required planning and organization, and I gained a new appreciation for work professional photographers have to do to capture amazing images like Blincoe’s. By imitating her techniques to create organized scenes with specific details, I have learned how to make my photos more visually appealing. As she aims to do through her photographs, Emily Blincoe has inspired me to look for beauty in ordinary subjects and appreciate all of life’s simple moments.
Bibliography
"FAQ - emily blincoe" Emily Blincoe, http://www.emilyblincoe.com/faq
"Emily Blincoe (photographer/person)" Emily Blincoe, http://emilyblincoe.tumblr.com/
"This Ultra-Organized Photo Series Will Make Type A People Deliriously Happy" Carly Ledbetter,
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/12/emily-blincoe-arrangements-photo-series_n_7564490.html
"What Photographer Emily Blincoe Can Teach Us About Instagram" Carianne King,
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-networks/carianneking/2015-07-15/what-photographer-emily-blincoe-can-teach-us-about-instagram
"FAQ - emily blincoe" Emily Blincoe, http://www.emilyblincoe.com/faq
"Emily Blincoe (photographer/person)" Emily Blincoe, http://emilyblincoe.tumblr.com/
"This Ultra-Organized Photo Series Will Make Type A People Deliriously Happy" Carly Ledbetter,
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/12/emily-blincoe-arrangements-photo-series_n_7564490.html
"What Photographer Emily Blincoe Can Teach Us About Instagram" Carianne King,
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-networks/carianneking/2015-07-15/what-photographer-emily-blincoe-can-teach-us-about-instagram