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Evaluation, Presentation, Recording

Symbolism: Plastic Pollution – Shoot 2

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For my second shoot looking at symbolism and plastic waste in the studio, I used a volunteer model and captured a mixture of head and half-body portraits. These photographs below are the result of, planning my ‘studio’, lighting, model, material and symbolic message, as well as, inspiration from fashion photographer Matthew Lyn. From researching Lyn’s series ‘Trapped and Wrapped’ I decided to experiment with his beautiful themes of light and shadow as well as trying to show examples of movement and form.

Although I was planning to take full body portraits, my final results below show only half body compositions. This is because I felt this cropping  made the plastic material look better arranged whilst wrapped around her body. The symbolism I am hoping to show with the idea of using plastic waste is the problem of plastic being used for everything (filling our surroundings), the effect it has on animals and marine life, as well as our connections to this issue. To carry out this shoot I created a makeshift studio in my bedroom by hanging a white sheet up on the wall and using a large desk lamp for artificial lighting. Like I have done in my last shoot I took each shot using a very dark exposure so that I could capture all images in focus and with a high contrast finish. As I have already experimented with different plastic waste materials in the studio in my last post, for this one I just chose to use my favourite prop, cellophane. To properly get across the symbolism of this shoot I tried experimenting with the ideas of distortion, being trapped, and suffocation. I think the outcomes of this shoot will go nicely with the self portraits from the previous attempt at this topic. When selecting my finals, I was very picky as I have already got a few successful images depicting the same subject matter. Below are a select few of the original images from this home-studio shoot presented as a contact sheet…

The first image displayed full and in colour above is a side portrait, half boy shot, depicting the model carefully drapped in a plastic material. To create this look I used an interesting arrangement of cellophane and painted small purple smudges on my model for a bit of extra detail. The meaning behind this photograph is similar to one I explored in my last self portraiture shoot. The head facing away and closed eyes covered by plastic represents our failure to see what is literally right in front of our eyes. I like this clear metaphor I have created with the material along with the stern expression and strong jaw line of my model. The artificial lighting in this picture, as well as my alterations made in post production, has created some very interesting shadows and highlights. I really like the spot light effect I have added to all three of my outcomes as, for me, it symbolises how I am trying to ‘shine light’ on this grim subject. Overall I have chosen this image as my best result from this shoot because of its interesting composition, lighting and soft colour tones.

The next two black and white finals shown above are some of my other successful outcomes from this shoot, depicting the same material, but different poses and symbolic messages. The first photograph on the left shows the model standing straight, looking down at what she is wrapped in, with a simple composition. The message I was trying to get across with this pose was ‘having a look at what man-kind has created’. I like the modest look this composition has along with the dark contrast of the material and her hands. The plastic covering the models eyes also gives the image an abstract and almost fashion photography look. Lastly the image on the right shows the model gripping the plastic that is wrapped tightly around her neck. This obvious symbolism is to show my message through ideas of being trapped and suffocation, ultimately telling the story of the effect it has on animals and marine life. I chose this simple composition because it resembles a previously analysed portrait taken by my inspiration Matthew Lyn.

Experimentation, Exploring, Recording

Clare Rae – Artist Response

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In response to Claire Rae’s work I produced some simple portraits using the blue background I had set up for another shoot. I chose to wear a plain black short sleeved t-shirt and some grey tights, both a nod to Rae’s use of costume in her photography. I also took inspiration from Rae’s workday covering my face with my hair, although I found that the silhouette and overall effect was quite different with my long hair compared to Rae’s short black bob. I experimented with  a few similar poses that involved my being close to the ground so I could tilt my head forward easily to conceal my face with my hair. Posing in the way I wanted in the short time it took my to press the shutter and get into position proved quite challenging and in the rush I often didn’t get into the frame in time or in the incorrect place. The grid of images above where the only ones that were potentially salvageable as outcomes.

I selected this image as an outcome because I found the composition of the figure within the frame was rather successful. There is a good session of a diagonal line created by my thigh as well as a string triangular shape reinforced by my arms and my legs and the base. I altered this image by enhancing the brightness, contrast and colour saturation as well as the levels. I also edited out the hole in my tights as I felt it was an unnecessary distraction and softened some of the creases in the backdrop where the vinyl has buckled slightly under my weight being placed mainly on the ball of my foot.

This pose is at first glance similar to the previous but I decided to place my weight on my whole foot as opposed to the ball to avoid the buckling I experienced with the previous pose. I also experimented with extending my arms and placing them in a way that mirror the corresponding legs. The left arm is folded similar to the leg and the right arm is extended in a dancerly fashion mirroring the extended leg underneath it. My body is also angled away from the camera which creates some interesting negative space created between my arms and the curve of my torso and thigh.

I selected this image as an outcome because I feel that I created a completely different shape with my body compared to the other photos. My body is much more compact as I am crouching down with  my weight placed on the balls of my feet (mainly because I cannot crouch with the weight placed on my whole foot so I had soften some of the buckling created as a result of this on Photoshop) I also like the seemingly symmetrical nature of the composition at first glance but on closer inspection one hand is closer to the floor than the other and my body is leaning lightly to the right. I also like the column of black created by a parting between strands of hair, which is also a little off centre.

 

Recording

Shoots One + Two (plus three ish?)

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// M A Y A //

The first person being photographed in this project is Maya, a friend from school and resident of curiosity coffee shop. Maya moved out from her mum’s house a few months ago and has had a mixture of homes since then. Last month Maya moved into a house share in Havre De Pas where she has a single room and bathroom. Visiting this space for the first time, It was hard not to notice how cold it was. Speaking to Maya about her new house, it doesn’t seem like this is home for her. The people are not kind there and she mentioned how when she stays there it feels isolated and lonely. Visitors are allowed 9am – 9pm but i’m told that if you can sneak in before 8 or so, no one will notice if friends stay the night.

The natural light comes from the window on the right hand side of the room and there is a central light hanging above on the right which adds a yellow-toned luminance to the room. I was keen to mirror a soft kind of aesthetic similar to Sian Davey’s images from her ‘first love’ series for this project. Working both digitally and on 35mm film, I started in the house by setting up the initial image. This first photo is a front facing portrait with the model sat facing forwards towards the camera. On my Canon 5D, I used a relatively high shutter speed to capture a crisp and clean image with the ISO set accordingly. My instructions to the model were to face me and remain as neutral as possible. The point of these first home images are to stay as blank and neutral as each character can. The external environmental shoots will be the characterised ones with light and life in them reflecting the energy of each area.

Rather than add an entire contact sheet below, I have chosen five photos which ultimately came up as the strongest images in terms of both colour, lighting and composition. Because I typically shoot in RAW on my Canon, the level of post-shoot editing I can do is much greater than if I was working with a standard JPEG image. I have not however edited the images below yet so these are the originals. The front facing portrait was the image I set out to shoot but it would have been crazy not to take advantage of the room and shoot some of the other details. I watched Maya paint her shoes earlier that morning in art and it felt natural to photograph them as well as the slight rebellion – and arguably destructive nature of her actions – matches her character very well.

This image is one of the strongest photos in terms of composition and link to my specification. The model is facing me on her bed as I instructed. Although she is not allowed to smoke within this house, the window is opened for her to blow out of. editing this image, I increased the brightness slightly and adjusted the colour contrast. The light coming through came up much colder than it felt this day and I edited the image to reflect the brighter warmth that we felt.

The final image I select from this shoot will depend more so on the second set of images for this character. I don’t want to decide on a photo now that may not work with its sister image.

The second shoot with Maya was the external environment which was selected by the model. The point of this was to show each figure in a place of significance to them personal, an environment with a personal attachment.

The images from the first location are shot up high in St Johns. Maya was part of a house share up here called Northwood which is where a lot of our friends ether currently live or have stayed in the past. She tells me how she used to go swimming and surfing at the beaches near there and how she felt happy living there. These images have not yet been edited.

This image is more or less exactly what I was looking for on this shoot. Maya is facing away from me and looking out at the landscape she chose (looking out at the sea in St Johns parish). The colours are bright and the light is warm. I lightened some of the shadows on her shirt and upped the contrast and clarity slightly but the image is relatively natural.

We also went adventuring to St Ouens because the sun was out and we like exploring. I need to make a note that adventures with Maya often involve climbing and cameras are somewhat hazardous when scaling four floors of scaffolding. These images have been adjusted in Camera Raw.

M A Y A 

The two images I have ultimately selected for this project share a continued line of similarity across their compositions and photographic structure. The first from the home shoot is exactly what I was looking for. A blank expression that shows the figure in their home environment around the things they have grown up with. Maya’s room is temporary but she has filled it with the things important for her.  There is something surreal about the contrast between the figure and the backdrop. It is more than typical to surround yourself – and in particular your room – with things that mean the most to you. In a way these portraits are reflective not only in the character shown but also in their room which is ultimately a self portrait of their attitude and emotions.

Driving around with Maya to each location, I asked about her home life and her relationship with Jersey. After moving here from Poland only two years ago, school is somewhat optional in her mind. Maya tells me she used to be good at school and always do the work but at some point that changed and she adopted her current care-free attitude which allows her to do as she wants. Her characteristic longboard is easily recognised and represents a large part of her being.

These images have been adjusted in Camera RAW

Exploring, Recording

How to Explore and Record

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Over Easter it is paramount that you make your principal images needed to produce final outcomes.

When you are photographing and responding to ideas and artist reference you are both exploring and recording. The two go hand in hand. If yo do it well and enough you should be able to achieve 50% of your overall marks!

In the PLANNER for A2 EXAMINATIONS 2017 Hautlieu ENVIRONMENT I have highlighted the importance of a sustained investigation.

Each week you are required to make a photographic response (still-images and/or moving image) that relates to the research and work that you explored in that week. Sustained investigations means taking a lot of time and effort to produce the best you can possibly do – reviewing, modifying and refining your idea and taking more pictures to build up a strong body of work with a clear sense of purpose and direction

Get yourself familiar with the assessment grid here:

AO2 – Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining their ideas as work develops.

AO3 – Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.

To achieve an A or A*-grade you must demonstrate an Exceptional ability (Level 6) through sustained and focused investigations achieving 16-18 marks out of 18 in each assessment objective

Lets have a look at previous student, Flora Devenport and her exam work and assess it according to the Assessment Objectives A2 Photography: (Edexcel.) Think about what level the student is working at.

What you are looking for when assessing A02 (Explore) and A03 (Record):

How well have ideas developed?
Are ideas explored and selective appropriate to intentions?
Are they sustained and focused?
Are they reviewed and refined?
How many responses/ shoots?
Command of camera skills/ photographic techniques and processes
Understanding of composition/ considering quality of light
What are the overall quality of the images?
How do they respond to research?
How do they relate to artists references?
How do the interpret exam theme of Environment?

Homework: Based on the evidence of your blog, what level are you working at? Produce a blog post where you reflect on your own progress. Provide targets that you can achieve over Easter and that can improve your work. Upload by Fri 31 March

Classwork: To develop your ideas further from research and analysis of artists references and other inspirations  on the theme ENVIRONMENT you now must be planning a number of photographic responses (at least 3 shoots per idea.)

Follow these steps to success!

  1. Produce a detailed plan of 3 shoots for each idea in your specification that you are intending to do;  how, who, when, where and why?
  2. Think about lighting, are you going to shoot outside in natural light or inside using studio lights? Maybe shoot both inside and outside to make informed choices and experimentation. Remember to try out a variety of shot sizes and angles, pay attention to composition, focussing, scale, perspective, rule of 1/3rds, foreground/ background and creative control of aperture (depth of field) and shutter speed (movement). If appropriate, think about how to convey an emotion, expression or attitude and the colour palette, tone, mood and texture of your pictures. Consider mise-en-scène (everything in the frame) – e.g. in portraiture deliberate use of clothing, posture, choice of subject objects, props, accessories, settings. Make a selection of the best 15- 20 images for further experimentation. Produce 2-3 blog posts from each shoot and analyse and evaluate your photos through annotation showing understanding of basic visual language using specialist terminology.
  3. It is essential that you complete your principal shooting over Easter and return on Tue 18 April with a few hundred images ready for further post-production and editing.
  4. Upload blog post with above planning by Fri 31 March

 

Evaluation, Presentation, Recording

Symbolism: Plastic Pollution – Shoot 1

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These photographs below are the result of planning my next two shoots carefully as well as exploring the beautiful examples created by fashion photographer, Matthew Lyn. I decided to begin with this self-portraiture / head-shot shoot because I didn’t need to rely on any models at the time and created this in my bedroom using the materials I had on hand. The symbolism I am hoping to show, with this idea of using plastic waste in the studio, is the problem of plastic being used for everything (filling our surroundings), the effect it has on animals and marine life, as well as our connections to this issue.

To complete this shoot I set up a makeshift studio in my bedroom by hanging a black sheet up on the wall and using a large desk lamp for artificial lighting. As you can see below in my contact sheet of original photographs I took each shot using a very dark exposure. The reason I often do this for studio photography is the edited results always take on a contrasted / dramatic look. When controlling the artificial lighting in these images I took inspiration, from the work of Matthew Lyn, and experimented with many different angles as well as softening it using white material as a buffer. To properly get across the symbolism of this shoot I tried experimenting with different plastic waste materials using the main ideas of distortion, beings trapped and suffocation. I think the outcomes of this shoot will go nicely with the finals from my ‘Common Pollution Issues, Part 1’ as they both display dark, symbolic and dramatic qualities. Below are a select few of the original images from this home-studio shoot presented as a contact sheet … When selecting my final outcomes out of the images above I wanted to make sure that I included a varied selection so that I can get across my symbolic point clearly. Below I have chosen four photographs (out of the 6 images above) that each show something quite different,  whether it be the tone created by lighting , type of plastic material, or pose.  When it came to editing these photographs the first thing I did to all of them was increase the exposure and play with the contrast. After this I judged each photograph individually and went through my normal editing routine of changing things like temperature, clarity, saturation, highlights and shadows. The reason I have included a mixture of colour and black and white outcomes is to tie into my first studio section, showing the common pollution issue of cigarette waste. Below are my final outcomes…

This first photograph is one of my favorites from this shoot, mostly because of the straightforward yet distorted composition and interesting light. To create this self portraiture piece I used a shutter button (to take the images), a black sheet as the background and a large piece of bubble wrapped that I have kept since last ordering something online. I like this piece as the colours and interesting light techniques shinning off the bubble wrap, reminds me of the beautiful plastic fashion photography done by Matthew Lyn.  The symbolic meaning behind this image is not only to emphasis our connection to this global problem, but also to show our ignorance and how we do not allow ourselves to be affected by its gravity. This is represented by the fact I am looking away from the plastic that is right in front of my face, as well as my concentration on the pretty pink light that is being emitted from the side. As well as this, even though this shoot was purely symbolic and not documentary, I have managed to reuse a huge example of real plastic waste.

Here are two final outcomes that in my opinion, are not as meaningful as the larger ones above and below. The image on the left shows my second favorite from the bubble wrap shoot, made by simply taping the plastic above me and sitting underneath. The visual elements in this piece are a straight forward self-portrait, emphasised by dark edges and distorted by plastic. The meaning behind this photograph is linked very closely to the photograph above, showing our connection to this issue. Although the straight ahead look takes away from the representation, I do like this image for is black and white dramatic impact. The image on the right however is very different, showing one of my experimentations using cellophane instead of bubble wrap. To create this look I carefully wrapped the material around my head (making sure to create air holes as I went round) until it started to make interesting creases for the artificial light to bounce off. The meaning behind this photograph is very much to do with representing the way plastic kills animals and marine life. However the way I have wrapped myself in plastic also symbolises the way we do this the pretty much everything else. I like the clear message I can get across with this image however, in my opinion, its is not as good as the larger version I have presented below.

Lastly is my other favourite final edited outcome from this self portraiture shoot. This photograph depicts a very strong symbolic message using self portraiture, a home-made studio and cellophane. To create the plastic wrap look I bunched the cellophane together, making more of a textured surface for the light the reflect off, and tightly wrapped it around my head until I could pretty much no longer see. The reason I have decided to have bare shoulders in these images is because, after trying multiple tops, clothing was really taking away from the representation and making the photographs a lot less dramatic. For me, the symbolism behind this photograph in particular is very strong because of the composition, material and pose. Here I am representing not only the way plastic kills animals and marine life, but also the struggle these creatures endure. This is much clearer in this image, than it was in my last outcome, because of my visible struggle to break free, paired with the dramatic impact created by very dark contrast and 0% saturation.

Recording

1st Shoot (Results)

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1st Shoot Results

At the weekend I followed through with my shoot plan that I had written.  As I had expected it was too rough for the models to be able to surf, so instead they decided to go spearfishing. This limited the kind of photographs that I could take but I went out nonetheless. It was relatively rough and generally the weather was not very good so I used the ISO 400 film which would allow me to use a faster shutter speed to try and overcome some of the movement of the waves. Only having 3 different shutter speeds on the camera meant that it was a challenge in some of the rougher conditions and meant that I was nervous about capturing movement but it worked relatively well.

Out of 24 exposures that were meant to be on the roll of film I managed to get 26 images with one that was lost due to me making a mistake loading the film at the start. As this was my first time using the camera I did not expect the result to be spectacular and when I got the images back there were pretty much what I expected. They were not bad images but many of them had water spots on the lens that I did not think about, and although they are well exposed the lack of any direct sunlight does detract from the images a little.

The completely grey sky does fit well to help show how cold it was on that day, it makes the images feel very cold and chilly as it was that day. The high winds that day coupled with the cold sea temperatures made it very hard to take photographs, we could only stay in the water for about an hour and three quarters due to this and the tide so the area that we were in was limited and meant that It was difficult for me to take a range of different photos of different scenes. The contact sheet above shows 12 of the photos that came out from the shoot, they all have a similar range of relatively dull colours, the rocks did a fantastic job of breaking apart the monotony of  the sky and giving the images some more interest. Although lacking in artistic merit the shoot did give me some ideas for where I could explore next. Water. Some of the images that I have taken, although the intended subject is uninteresting, have some very nice images of the water. Capturing the reflection of the rocks and the small, choppy waves gave some very interesting textures to the images. This is definitely something that I will continue looking at.

In addition to using film I also used my digital camera to take photos of the two of them as they were getting ready in the carpark above the beach and of them walking down. These images are interesting but they are still lacking in artistic merit and although they do show a progression of the guys getting ready leading up to the other photographs many of them are uninteresting from a photographic perspective even if humorous. They are insider photographs because the pair are known to me quite well, because of this the images have more of a connection to me than they would if I did not know the two. Some of them are shown in the gallery below.

Evaluation, Presentation, Recording

SYMBOLISM: Smoking Waste – RESULTS

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After getting inspiration from the work of amazing stage photographer Gregg Segal, and planning just how I wanted my results to appear, I was ready to create my representation of this common pollution issue. The reason I wanted to tackle the problem of smoking waste is because of the shocking facts and terrible consequences it has on the environment which I have researched and explained in my last post. To complete these two shoots I have used a home-studio of black paper, black fabric and a LED light. My outcomes below show my use of a male model’s hand, a fake flower, cigarette buts and other waste in the composition I have previously planned. By using a dirty human hand I am symbolising man-kinds connection to this issue. The fake flower represents the chemical damage cigarettes can do to plants and animals. As well as cigarette butts I will be adding a very small amount of other rubbish to compare with the amount of waste produced by smoking. In these compositions below I have aimed to symbolise the vastness of this pollution issue and how it is caused by us, effecting and poisoning everything natural. Below is a contact sheet showing a few of the original images from these two separate studio shoots…
To really capture these scenes in a very dark, emotive and contrasted way, I took these photographs using a low shutter speed on the aperture setting of my camera. When choosing my final outcomes out of these 10 raw images above, I was looking for a simple composition with sharp definition and interesting lighting. The first thing I have done to edit my final outcomes is bring the level of the exposure, highlighting, contrast, and shadows up. By doing this my outcomes have become bright and dramatic pieces that, I think, really emphasis this pollution issue prominent on our Island. Below is a mixture of colour and black and white results, although I will not be using all of them for final pieces to represent my project, I really like the range of compositions and mixture of harsh and soft lighting…

This photograph above depicts a straightforward composition of my models hand resting on black paper and surrounded by smoking waste. Because of my inspiration this shoot resembles the work of Gregg Segal as a representation of people compared to the waste they produce. Although, instead of full body portraits, I have used a hand as symbol of our species because it is what sets us apart and allows use to damage the environment in this way. To emphasis the scale of this problem I am representing, I have covered the hand in a black oily looking substance, showcasing our problem with mass production. To create these greasy marks I have used acrylic paints layered thickly and heavily in quick brushstrokes and captured the image whilst the paint is still wet. Overall I love this photograph’s appearance and feel it is the most successful for portraying this issue out of both of these two shoots. Aswell as this, this image is my favourite for its composition, contrast and striking / dramatic tone.

Below are two other black and white outcomes from this same shoot showing the models hand in different positions and framing. The first image on the left is an abstract closeup of the models thumb and fingers with the background of an indefinite amount of smoking waste.  Although I like this photograph because of the dark contrast of the artificial light, the abstract compositions takes away from the meaning and makes it less obvious to the viewers what this is about. The photograph on the right shows the hand flipped over clenching at the pile of cigarettes. I really like this hand position as it gives of a sense of anger and could suggest our guilt and frustration against the subject. However I much prefer the simple open palm photograph above as this straightforward and relaxed position is a better symbol for man-kind. Above is two of my colour results from the second shoot, made using a home-made studio, fake flower, artificial soft lighting and smoking waste. The image on the left is a full view of the scene I have created using very soft studio lighting. I love this effect the light source has as it represents the flower reaching towards, trying to survive. The reason I chose this image as one of my outcomes is because of the interesting focus and depth of field it shows. The image on this right however is a more abstract closeup version, and also one of my favourites from these two shoots. The reason I think this image works so well is the matching organgey / yellow colours displayed in both the cigarettes and the pollen of the flower. I also really like this closeup portrait composition with the darkly contrasted flower in the foreground and the pollution issue slightly burly behind. This depth of field for me represents the impact this problem has on natural things and our ability to ignore them, or in other terms, blur them out.

Lastly is my favourite outcome from my second shoot depicting a simple black and white shot of the flower circled with this poisonous, but common pollution. The reason I chose this result over the others is its strikingly clear symbolic and straight forward composition. To make it as though the flower was growing of the ‘studio’ floor I cut a slit into the black paper and positioned the flower in the very middle. After this, in post production, to match the paper with the black fabric background I raised the darkness and shadows levels. I love the strong symbolism of this issue’s connection with nature and feel as if visual representation is sometimes the best way to present it. Again, like in my outcome above this, the flower is illuminated with soft artificial light representing it reaching towards the sun attempting to survive. The reason this image is in black and white is because it really increases its simple message and dramatic impact. I love the contrast between the brightness of the natural flower compared to the bleak background and grey pollution below.

Analysis, Recording

Photoshoot 1

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I explored the environment and area of where I lived to stat the project. This also links in to a depiction of my own environment that i am surrounded by. As I discussed in my specification, I was looking out for land and areas that showed the conflict between man made changes and the natural landscape. I picked a late time of day where the lighting was soft and natural, I didn’t use flash at all to keep the lighting as natural as possible, but with the overcast weather it made the images more flat. For my next shoot I will pick a time where the weather is sunny to evoke a brighter more intense lighting. Above is a contact sheet of the photographs. I tried a variation of landscape and portrait photographs.

In the above photographs, they were all taken in the same area, you can really get the sense of human presence in these photographs but with an eerie absence of people. I wanted to focus on roads and paths that have eroded thru ought the soil but still featuring the rich green grass growing on the sides, showing the regrowth nature creates. The overcast lighting makes the pictures appear very straight forward, leaving the viewer to focus on the physical features of the image, similar to that of a documentary image, the flat lighting stripped the photographs of any creative narrative, they work well as a series, but do not leave any mystery or sense of poetic ambiance. The photogrpah top right reminds me of the photograph by Richard Misrach ‘Abandoned Trailer’ which depicts a selection of rubbish and abandoned debris surrounding a lake. Similar to Misrach’s photograph, my photographs portrays the dramatic effects on the land caused by society. I brought the highlight levels down to bring out the texture in the sky as well as evoke a more eerie ambiance similar to that in the work of Richard Misrach.

Abandoned Trailer, Mississippi River, Near Dow Chemical Plant, Plaquemine, Louisiana, 1998, by Richard Misrach

In the above photographs I wanted to look at the harsh difference between the smooth road and the rural landscape. The above photographs work well as a series as well as evoke a narrative of travel, where the viewer follows the photographer’s journey.

The above photographs all share a romantic influence such as with the use of flowers in the last two photographs and the focus on vast landscapes. Similar to the first few photographs, there isn’t really a narrative evoked in these photographs, the photos focus on the more obvious features as opposed to a deeper narrative and meaning.

I tried a selection of very straightforward compositions that allowed for lost of information and captures the whole landscape. I used the rule of thirds such as in the first photograph above, the electricity box if focused in the third section of the photograph. I have also placed the horizon in the centre, making the photograph more straightforward similar to the genre of new topographic, which is often described to have a very formal or banal aesthetic.

The photos above show a slightly romantic influence with the use of flowers. I like the influence of people in these photographs, the tractor marks in the mud and the boxes reflects the agricultural side, the flowers add a very poetic influence. These are my favourite photographs of this shoot for the juxtaposition and connotations between the mud, which shares negative connotations of dirtiness and unpleasantness and flowers which share positive connotations such as passion and beauty.

Recording

First Shoot Specification

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My first shoot will be situated in two places: Victoria Avenue Beach and People’s Park. I chose these places to start as they are not the most beautiful places in Jersey, however i can make them look pretty using angles and colours. These places will be my experiment areas but if they turn out well then i will use them in my project.

I will be doing this shoot on Sunday Afternoon (19th March), I will be using my my friend Hannah as a model and she will be wearing normal clothes to make the photo seem as normal as possible. The first image will be in colour and it will be vivid. The second image will be the same pose and environment but she will be wearing a mouth and nose mask similar to the ones the Chinese wear during days of dangerous levels of pollution.

The second photo will be in black and white but it will be soft greys more than sharp and dark black and white. This is to mimic the effects of Smog which can be seen above. The third photo will be the same pose and environment again but this time, my model will be wearing a full face gas mask which has been lent to me by a friend and this time the image will be a very dark black and white, with high contrast and sharp focus.

Victoria Avenue:

  • The model will be sat on rocks or leaning against the sea wall or rocks, this is to make it seem less staged.
  • I will be using my Nikon D3200 and i will adjust the settings to suit the environment each time.
  • The model will be wearing her normal clothes but the masks will change.
  • I will edit the photos in Lightroom or Photoshop after the shoot.
  • I may also try shoot the second and third images in black and white directly then adjust them in Photoshop.
  • I am hoping that the weather will either be sunny and cloudy, preferably both as it will give me different atmospheres for my photos.
  • If it is raining, i will use this to my advantage and make my model seem like she is raining to try get away from Acid Rain.
  • I will place her as close to the water as possible as water always seems to make photos much more interesting.

People’s Park:

  • I will position my model most likely on benches or on the hills, i may also make some eery photos using the playground, this will add variation to my work.
  • I will be using my Nikon D3200 and i will have to change the settings due to the different colours and lighting.
  • I do not think that this will be as interesting as the shoot from Victoria Avenue as i do not think that the environment is as interesting because it is ever changing.
  • I think i will do this shoot first as practice and if i do get some images i like i will keep them.

New idea:

I think i will also take some images of my model just simply in the gas mask and only photograph the head and shoulders against the sky. I will then Photoshop Smog into the background to make it similar to a photograph taken by Alex Hofford of an activist protesting against the high levels of pollution in Hong Kong.

An activist from the environmental group Greenpeace wears a gas mask in front of a Hong Kong skyline thick with smog, Hong Kong, China, 23 March 2010. The city is experiencing record levels of air pollution, in part caused by dust storms coming down from northern China, but also caused by roadside air pollutants emitted by diesel vehicles and ships, as well as industrial air pollution from factories in China’s Guangdong Province. The Hong Kong Government has ordered all outdoor school activities in Hong Kong to be cancelled. EPA / ALEX HOFFORD
Recording

Environment initial ideas

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Environment dictionary definitions and etymology:

  1. the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates
  2.  the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity.
  3.  the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population

From Middle French environnement, equivalent to environ +‎ –men

I think the theme of ‘Environment’ is very broad and can be interpreted in a number of ways.  For example the surroundings that artists are exposed to significantly influences the meanings behind their work  because the political and economic forces of their social context will effect their physiological condition.  Physically the natural environment has always been an dominant theme in art because of its aesthetic qualities. An obvious starting point for this theme could  be to explore landscapes as well as environmental portraits to show how people interact with their environments.  ‘Environmental art’ as a genre addresses ” social and political issues relating to the natural and urban environment” (Tate) and particularly it is now associated  with ecological concerns to do with climate change.

To begin my research and planning for this project I have created a mood-board and mind-map of ideas associated with the theme.

I have many possible starting points for this project but most of them are currently quite vague and need to be narrowed down.  I think that ‘environment’ can be thought of on a large scale, for example aerial views of landscapes in contrast to macro shots of elements that make up an environment. There is also the potential to explore it in a personal way through the environments unique to individuals like their homes and families.

Reflecting on previous projects, I was interested in exploring the contrast between the natural and man-made environment in response to the Romanticist and New-typographic movements. As part of my exam module last year I explored weather, light and tidal changes within the same landscapes which was also interesting. Previously I have also explored Jersey as an environment especially  during the Video Art project. I like the idea of challenging the stereotypical representations of Jersey’s natural beauty, not necessarily by focusing on the urban side but just finding new ways to represent the natural beauty. This could also be an opportunity to bring in archival imagery by exploring how the Island has changed and been portrayed in the  past. While doing the Video Art project I was also introduced to the film  ‘Koyannisqatsi : Life Out of Balance’  which I think is very powerful in the way that it juxtaposes the beauty of the natural world against the man-made  as well as the impact of humans and technology which would be relevant to explore again for this theme.  We are now considered to be living in the Digital age and historically technological advancements have impacted both the form and content of  art. For example during the Industrial revolution  artists rebelled against it such as the Romanticists who aimed to explore escapism and focus on the beauty of the natural world. When studying Tableaux I also found that the  Pre-raphaelites expressed a nostalgic desire for the past and imagined a medieval world unsullied by the industrialisation of the 19th century.  Realism on the other hand aimed to portray life as it actually was with truth and accuracy.  I think it could be interesting to explore how contextual environments have influenced art both in the past and present and maybe look into varying ideas of values and standards throughout time maybe in relation to things like beauty and representation of social class, women etc.

I have been thinking about developing something in relation to my Personal Study, possibly by approaching the subject in a different, more artistic way for example using the mirror found in the Foot buildings for a shoot. However the mirror is big and fragile so i’d have to be careful about borrowing it. A good way to explore this would be using the mirror to photograph scenes within the buildings but this isn’t really possible at the moment with the current work taking place. I could use the mirror at my own home and potentially create some family portraits but I think I would only be able to borrow it for a certain amount of time and I’m currently not sure how I would connect this to other shoots and ideas based around the theme of Environment.

I think this project could provide an opportunity to experiment with a more creative and artistic approach to photography for example I have started to look at ‘land art’ with the broader idea of conceptual and abstract art as a possible feature of my work. I am hoping to come up with an overarching narrative for my project as I don’t want to end up with disconnected images and ideas although I might have to do some experimentation first. Some of my ideas I like but I’m unsure as to how I would actually represent them.