After editing the selection of images from my final photo-shoot, I was able to produce the following pieces. For this photo-shoot I was looking to present a more subtle example of women and girls breaking gender stereotypes, and I did this by placing a female model into an environment that is not considered a stereotypically “feminine” environment. I placed a stereotypically feminine model (wearing makeup, female, wearing jewelry) in an environment that is dirty, with twigs, leaves, water and spiked bushes providing contrast to the gentle appearance of the model. The following images are my final selections:

In the above image, I focused on emphasising the colours in the image, and in turn I was able to emphasize the contrast between the model and the plant in front. I feel that this image portrays the sense that the subject is hiding themselves (and in turn their femininity) behind the plant in the foreground. I feel that the eye-catching colour of the eyes draws attention to the stern look of he subject, while at the same time presenting the human side of the subject.

In this image, I was trying to convey the complexity of emotion, and the more extreme emotions of anger and fear which are often not associated with femininity. In this image, I feel that the background presents a selection of extreme emotions, some of which are unsettling to see a young girl portray, and therefore presenting the stark reality that although it is often expected for women to be emotional, feeling emotions of extreme anger, determination and strength are often not associated with femininity. The image in the foreground is an example of the subjects strength, with the contrast between the small feminine hands holding the mess of ropes and wood providing a more obvious example of contrast between things considered stereotypically feminine and masculine,

For the above image, I was focusing on portraying a contrast between the subject and the shapes of the plants in the image. I used a soft, feminine face, looking meekly into the camera, and contrasted this with the harsh sharp shapes of the holly leaves in the foreground. I feel that the use of this sharp plant brings a sense of menace and threat to the image. I also feel that the back of body-shape (other than a head) present in the image, and the use of the dark background, helps to bring an element of unease to the image, as it is difficult to place the subject when their body appears to be absent. I feel like these elements all together help to create a contrast between the gentle and harsher elements of the image.

This image is another version of the image from above, but without the faces in the background. I feel like this image on its own presents an example of strength, and the black and white tones of the image create a contrast, and highlights the different textures and tones of the image.

I feel that this image focuses heavily on the texture of the water, and the high contrast of the black and white tones of the image helps to emphasize this texture. I like this image as it presents a distortion of the subjects hand under the water, and the movement of the water gives the image an overall sense of adventure and action (elements not typically associated with feminine features, such as the painted nails)

The above image is a presentation of the different emotions that can be inferred from eyes. The subject of the image is seen displaying different emotions through only the use of their eyes, thus focusing on the different and varied emotions that an individual can experience. The gender of the subject remains relatively ambiguous, and therefore the image can be used to represent human emotion, rather than the stereotypes of emotion (such as feminine emotions being fear and care, and masculine emotions being anger and ambition).

The above image makes use of the contrast between the roundness and detail of the subjects eyes, and the harsh thin shapes of the twigs in the foreground. This contrast in shape helps to emphasize the contrast between the 2 different characteristics of the image (more harsh, masculine aspects, and the femininity of the face), and yet at the same time, both characteristics compliment each other.

This final image was a close up of the subjects eye, detailing their makeup and the intricacies of their eye. I feel that this image accurately depicts the stereotype of femininity, with the heart and star sequins solidifying the feminine characteristics of the image. The subject is giving a somewhat fearful and alarmed glance to the left, and this contrasts the stereotypical characteristics of femininity in young girls (joy, happiness, excitement, kindness), and brings a level of depth to the image as the viewer is able to look past the physical appearance of the image, and question the reality of what is happening “behind the camera”.

Overall, I feel like this photo-shoot has allowed me to explore the intricacies of what is considered feminine and masculine, and I have been able to present these 2 different but complimentary characteristics in a subtle but impactful way. I feel like this photo-shoot has provided images that can be used in contrast to the move overt and obvious images in my study, and can be used to provide a more subtle, yet equally thought provoking example to the viewer of the ways that out expectations and predictions of gender can be broken and rearranged.