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AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Unit 2 Portrait

MY PLAN FOR THE STIMULUS ‘IDENTITY & PLACE’

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In the exam I want to produce my final images by taking inspiration from the artists Barbara Kruger, and Steve Rosenfield. My final images will consist of portraits alongside text, they will be edited in the style of Barbara Kruger using Photoshop, but take the same approach as Rosenfield in regards to the text.

Personally, I believe that self portraits would have been more appropriate for this concept, however I did not feel comfortable doing this and so therefore have chosen to use portraits of some of  my closest friends; Erin, Daisy, and Katie, as they influence my social identity.

I’ve chosen to tackle some extremely controversial and sensitive topics, emotional abuse and mental illness and how the stigma and after effects can lead to ones loss of identity, and the consequences that change a person, whether that be for the better or not, afterwards, I have made this personal to me by incorporating some of my story and making it more personal.

I’m aiming for my images to be in a sort of ‘series’ and tell a story whilst also being able to be separate, individual images.

I want my final pieces to represent how these negative factors, that are very stigmatised, and very frowned upon and judged, do have long term effects on a child’s identity growing up, however that is not always negative. I want to represent the ‘loss of identity’ a child can feel and experience due to a negative environment.

To finish, I’d like to frame my final images together so that they can be seen as a whole story.

experiments:
 

AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Unit 2 Portrait

Photo Shoot 2 – Edits

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In this image, I took a tableaux approach, where I attempted to create a story within the image. The story being told is that a woman who has lost her identity, is placing makeup on her face in order to rectify the issue. The makeup represents a cover up for the loss of identity, which shows how society wants us to act when we lose our identity. In order for this story to clearly be presented I felt that the image needed to be naturally darker, and so I adjusted the levels and curves to do so. I also decided to turn the image into black and white which has allowed the idea that the woman has no identity to be clearly presented. Although I like the way this image has turned out, I do not feel that it has strong links towards loss of identity, and therefore I believe that this is more least successful outcome.

In my second edit, I wanted to showcase my surrealist approach to mask photography. Instead of using a mask I used a bed sheet and rapped it around both of my models heads. I placed the taller model in the foreground and the shortest in the background. From looking at other surrealist photographers work, most of the images are presented in black and white, I believe that the black and white look allows the image to be high in tonal contrast which emphasize the entrapment of my models, and how losing your identity can trap people in their own minds. The bed cover acts metaphorically to represent the mind trapping people. To edit this image I simply adjusted the levels and curves to ensure that the image would produce high tonal contrast.

In my next edit I wanted to show my model presenting her mask, before she puts it on, taking away her identity. As seen the models face is not seen and completely black which represents her identity being lost. In order to allow the face to be completely black I made the image seem naturally darker by adjusting the levels and curves, I then decided to turn it into black and white in order to allow the whole face to be completely black. I chose the main focus point to be on the mask as I felt that it represented the importance of ‘putting on a mask’, putting on an act, when you lose your identity. I feel that this image is one of my more successful images due to the different photography techniques  that are shown and the editing techniques I used.

In my next edit we are presented with the mask, looking out of a mask. The idea of this image was to showcase, what viewing the world and others through a mask, when you lose your identity. To edit this photograph, I wanted to ensure the mask on the face could still show facial features, like the nose and eyes, but had the rest of the frame white. To do this I made the image lighter by adjusting the levels and curves, and turned the image into black and white. I areas I went over with the paint brush tool (white) in order to conceal any darker areas. This image strongly portrays the theme of loosing an identity but shows it from the viewpoint of someone who has lost their identity.

In my next edit, I selected the image where a half mask is placed onto of the full mask. This represents the model falling deeper into the obis of losing their identity. This denotes that losing an identity can layer up and become hard to find themselves again, which shows the importance of speaking to someone when you begin to lose an identity. To edit this image I adjusted the levels and curves and turned the image black and white, in order to make it high in tonal contrast. I then decided to lighten the image by adjusting the lightness to be brighter. This made the image seem more grey, and old which adds to the overall sinister tone of this image.

In my final image I took the same approach as the edit above. I decided to follow the same technique, in order to make a mini series of the layering of the mask. These two images work well together as they are taken at different viewpoints and show two different styles of portrait photography. In this image we see the model in a desolate area looking as if she is walking somewhere, in hope to find someone for help. In the background we see corner stairs, which are used to represent the entrapment and how losing her identity has trapped her and how she is searching for help.

Comparison 

Small Family Group, Chelsea Hotel (from the Mask Series with Saul Steinberg), 1962. Photograph by Inge Morath, © The Inge Morath Foundation

To compare my work to Saul Seinberg, I believe that my approach has a stronger link to the loss of identity. To technically compare my image to Seinberg’s, I took the same idea of using a basic background in order to present context to the image. my background is more isolated and worn down, where as Seinberg’s image uses a posh home environment which creates an identity for those people. Both images seem to use natural cold lighting which adds to the eerie tone which was trying to be created. Both images are presented in black and white, which allows colour to be taken away, which can help present an identity. Moreover, it allows the formal element of tone and shape to be clearly presented within both of the images. One difference is that Seinberg uses paper bags with faces where as I use masks, although I like the paper bag concept I felt that it began to create an identity, which was not the aim of this photo shoot. Therefore, using a mask I felt was more appropriate. Finally, my image uses a short depth of field compared to Seinberg’s image. I felt that the main focus point being on the model helped to isolate the background, allowing the focus to be on the model allowing the clear message to come across.

To evaluate these edits I believe that I have managed to produce a strong response to mask photography, which could then develop into final pieces for the theme of loss of identity. The edits have used simple photoshop techniques which has allowed the theme to clearly be portrayed in every photograph, making these edits successful.

AO2 Explore Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Unit 2 Portrait

Image Trials and Layouts for Final Outcomes

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For my final outcome I would like to create a series of photographs that go together across the theme of Identity, so this means I will be choosing multiple images that follow through and compliment each other to sit in a series together.

I have chosen to trial my images in the specific layouts that I would use so that I can see how they fit and how I would organise them.

First Trial

Below shows my first trial and experiment for the series of photos I want to produce.  All of the photographs have been produced previously in the project under the influence of Philip-Lorca diCorcia, I feel the top and bottom image are working better together rather than the middle image as it has a lot of noise to the image and I feel it distracts from the quieter images above and below it.  I feel the two images on top and bottom are more personal images and intimate in a way specifically the bottom image and I feel this is why those two work together.

Choices 1st trial
Second Trial

Below is my second trial of three images working with each other.  The images I am trialing with jow have not been the most clear photographs throughout the project however I feel that in some ways they can work together as it does not stand out as one unclear images among clear images I feel this is helping them work together.  This trial below is using two of the photographs from the previous trial however with a different third image that came from the same shoot as one of the others, I feel it is a more interesting and personal image compared to the previous one I used, however I still feel there could be better photograph compositions for identity.

Choices 2nd trail
Third Trial

This is an experiment layout with my newer images that I have specifically taken for the final outcomes.  I like this layout and collection of photographs as I feel each image is interesting and intriguing and I feel the images work well with each other.  I feel this is one of the better layouts that I have produced and one that I feel could work well.

Choices 3rd trial
Fourth Trial

This is a similar layout to the one I produced above however with a different larger image on the side, I feel it creates a bit of difference to have the subject sat down in the larger image compared to being stood up in the other two and I feel this works well as he is turned to face me however his body is still moving away and it means the subject is not stood the same in all of the photographs.

Choices 4th trial
Fifth Trial

This was an experiment layout with one of my other images to test how it would work with the other, I don’t feel it is my most successful layout however was a good experiment for testing and trailing how they work together and how the tones work together which I feel for this layout is letting it down as being a successful layout.

Choices 5th trial
Sixth Trail

This was another experiment trial layout with my more successful images however having them in a triptych layout, I feel that the photographs are working well together with the colours and the tones.  For this layout of these specific photographs I have chosen to have the two images of the subject stood either side of the image sat down to test how to show different levels.

Choices 6th trial
Seventh Trial

This is a different variation of the same image layouts as above however I have placed the two images where the subject is looking out and slightly away from the camera on the edges as they are looking out of the frame and then the centre image has the subject directly looking forward with their body and their eyes.

Choices 7th trial

Final Choice to Print

Final Choice Layout and Images

This is my final choice of my images and of my layout that I will be using in my final outcome.  I have chosen this layout as I feel it works well the best and all the images work well together and hold a good sequence.   I feel I can relate them back to Lorca diCorcia’s work and show that this is where I have my inspiration from.  I feel these images are the best for showing my inspiration and relation to him.

I have also chosen to print another of my outcomes by itself as an extra, the reason I chose to have this image by itself and not in the trio was partly because I want to have variation in the trio of images with how the subject was positioned but also because I feel this images is the one that will work best on its own and as a large image will be more impactful individually rather than the other option would be.

Own Response | 0280
AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Uncategorized, Unit 2 Portrait

My Plan for the exam

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What I want to achieve going into the exam.
In the photography exam my plan is to create a combination of images that are merged both in Photoshop and made by hand . These final images are going to be a combination of inspirations of work from John Stezaker and Francesco paleria. These images are going to consist of faces and industrial building worked or structural shapes so will link in the influence of Xavier Ribas. One of my experiments shows what  sort of thesem of work i want to be producing when it comes to the final exam .This image is what i want to be editing and creating with in the exam. My aim for the exam is to edit the existing images that i have prepared and work on combining them with my urban landscapes in the first half of the exam in the second half of the exam i would ideal like to be creating my hand made blended photos. For on of my final pieces i may make a combination of one die Photoshoped and the other made using physical techniques this to me will reinforce the concept of identity and how my own work had its own style and creativity. Also there should be a noticeable idea running through of how industrialization shrouds our minds and how we let it take over our day to day life with no care in the world, also how it just happens around us over the nature that we all so preserve so important yet we do noting about. I want my final pieces to give off this idea that our identity and the places we live are ever changing and we just have to adapt to them.  Also i want it to represent how the place we live in no water how natural with always be subjective to industrialization ans we just let this happen as if it is a normal thing because it is all we have ever know. I want the images to show how imprinted industrialization is on our minds. My final outcomes i am hoping for at least one A3, A4,A5. That is the photoshoped images and then however many hand made edits depending on how much time i have left.
AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas

Francesco Paleari – Artist study

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Francesco Paleari and my interpretations of his work 
The artist that i am going to be focusing on for my exam inspiration is going to be Francesco Paleari. Francesco Paleari’s ‘Milano’s Profile’ series tells an architectural story, a personal story, and a demographic story simultaneously.  The photographs are personal in the sense that they tell a story of Paleari’s perception of Milan. He tells his story through portraits of the Milanese. Their portraits are also building profiles. The stories of people and buildings create the city’s collective profile. Paleari’s title for this series is very fitting. Each image is a profile view of a person combined with a building’s profile.Here is Francesco Paleari’s description of the series: ‘Milan in architectural profiles of a historic city and modern at the same time, Milan in the profiles of the people who live it every day.’Here is Francesco Paleari’s description of the series: ‘Milan in architectural profiles of a historic city and modern at the same time, Milan in the profiles of the people who live it every day.’There is something to be said about how Paleari decided to blend the two profiles. There is a set of decisions that dictate whether to fade out the building to highlight the person’s profile or whether to fade out the person to highlight a building’s profile. I think his decision-making was very successful. Paleari is basically stating that the building and the person tell the same story, and the collective stories of buildings and people tell the story of a city. Some images of his work that i've decided to base my inspiration off of. Image result for Francesco PaleariImage result for Francesco PaleariImage result for Francesco PaleariImage result for Francesco PaleariImage result for Francesco PaleariImage result for Francesco Paleari

 I have decide to create my own interpretations of his work by using Photo shop creating a blank document creating to different layers of images then using a layer mask and the brush to to fade them together.
AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Unit 2 Portrait

Identity 1; The Shoot&Selecting Images (Jan 2019 Mock)

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THE SHOOT 

For the shoot itself I used a canon camera with a standard lens, this is so I had a range of zoom that I wouldn’t of had if I was using a portrait lens. The standard lens made the shoot less stressful. I used the ring light as my main source of light, I used this light because it is a strong powerful white light, but doesn’t create harsh shadows on the models face. The ring light also had a dimmer on it, this allowed me to control how strong the light was.  I made sure the background of my images was white as it makes Erin stand out. I

I had my camera settings on 1/200 shutter speed and and ISO of 200, these settings where perfect for my photos as they were sharp and powerful. I could adjust the focus by using the focus lens at the end of my camera lens.

Like any shoot I had difficulties, they included making sure the light was at the right angle to create the silhouette around my individual and ti highlight certain areas of her face that I needed to be bright and exaggerated. Another difficulty I had was making sure the settings were correct, I had to take many test photos, this enabled me to adjust my settings as I knew what needed to be changed, in order to get the effect I wanted.

SELECTION PROCESS

Image 1 selection; (before she changes herself) 

Image 2 selection; (beginning the change)

Image 3 selection; (step one in the change)

Image 4 selection; (zoom in on the eyes)

Image 5 selection; (changing her hairstyle)

Image 6 selection; (adding on another layer to cover herself up)

Image 7 selection; (adding more)

Image 8 selection; (before she changes her outfit, which shows her personality)

Image 9 selection; (the final look)

AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Unit 2 Portrait

Identity 1; Planning (Jan 2019 Mock)

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PLANNING FOR MY SHOOT;

What is included and who is involved?

A series of 9 images of Erin getting ready to take a photo of her self, this will show how a modern day girl changes her identity to fit society and to blend in with everyone else around her and to show the parts of herself she wants people to know about her even if it isn’t true.

When and where is the shoot happening?

25th January in the studio. I chose to do the shoot in the studio as the blank background will really allow me to focus on Erin and the concept of the shoot, also I can adjust the lighting in the room with the lights, by making it brighter or darker and the angle of the lights, this is so I can highlight certain areas that I want a dramatic focus on.

Why am I planning the shoot and what does it connect to?

These photos connect to identity. I am showing the loss of identity to the younger generation and how we change ourselves to make us fit in. This is producing a society where we are all the same and nothing tells us apart for each other anymore because no one it willing to experiment with their look and they don’t want people knowing certain things about them so they hide it all by copying everyone else.

Technical approach; 

I am going to use a standard lens during this shoot as is allows me to have a wider range of zoom than a portrait lens would. Whilst using a standard lens the camera will be on a manual setting, this is so I can adjust what I have in and out of focus so I can highlight certain areas within the photo.  For the lighting of the image I am going to have a light facing straight onto my models face, as the light will highlight her features and create attention to her.  

As I am doing a set of 9 different images, showing how Erin changes herself to fit society’s ‘norms’. I want each image to show a different step, this will enable people to see the changes she goes through. Image 1 will be Erin being herself, this is the before she alters herself and then Image 9 will be the final look that she’s has created for herself that she knows as the norm.

 

AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Unit 2 Portrait

Identity 1; Research&Facts (Jan 2019 Mock)

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RESEARCH

Femininity is a set or attributes, behaviours and roles associated with girls and women. Femininity is socially constructed, made up of socially defined and biologically created factors. Traits of a women traditionally include, gentleness and sensitivity. The appearance of women are traditionally long flowing hair, perfect skin and a narrow waist. Hyperfemininty is the exaggeration of stereotyped behaviour of women. This is where the qualities that are believed to be feminine are exaggerated. Gender roles play a huge part in how women are ‘meant to be’ as society expects women to act and dress in certain ways, this leads to women changing who they are, so they can fit in to the social ‘norms’. Even in different ethnic groups, they have certain role expectations, but for women they aren’t that different.

In the 21st century it is critical that you are physically attractive, this can be achieved by make up or procedures. This results in women spending more time, effort and money on their appearance, this is because it has been socially learned from the female image. A thought experiment is that if children were introduced into a world where physical appearance was unimportant, they wouldn’t care about how they looked or how anyone else looked. As children are now introduced into a society where looks and appearance is everything, they are pressured to make themselves look like everyone else. Females spend an average of $700 a year on clothes before entering their older age. As women increase in earning power and social status their interest in physical appearance will increase even more. A study shows that half of girls feel stifled by gender stereotyping, as they are to believe that they are valued more for their appearance.

There are four types of gender stereotyping affecting women, which include; personality traits, domestic behaviour, occupations and physical appearance. Personality traits for females include in them being emotional and accommodating. Domestic behaviours such as taking care of children, to cook and clean are expected by women. Occupations such as a teacher or a nurse are assumed to be done by females. Finally, physical appearance is the main stereotyping that females are affected by, as they are expected to be thin, graceful and pretty looking, even if this involves in them changing who they are to feel like they fit in. If society didn’t have these brutal expectations for women, women wouldn’t feel the need to change who they are as they would feel comfortable and accepted in their own skin.

LEIGH BOWERY 

Bowery was born 26 March 1961, he was an Australian performance artist, club promoter and fashion designer. He was mainly known for his bold and interesting looking costumes and makeup in his images. He was mainly based in London during his adult life and inspired many artists, such as Lucian Freud who was a British painter. Bowery states that ‘fashion, where all girls have clear skin, blue eyes, blonde-brown wavy hair and a size 10 figure…STINKS’. He really exaggerated and almost took the mick out of models, applying all the makeup to himself to make himself ‘look like’ the typical model was a big statement in itself, as you can understand what Bowery’s concept of his images are, that girls are expected to have perfect features and alter themselves but it just makes them look stupid and that they should learn to love themselves.

Leigh Bowery over exaggerates the appearance of genders and how they are meant to look to look due to the ‘norms’ made by society. The reasons behind his exaggerations, is to present how ridiculous it is to apply so much ‘cover’ to yourself to hide the real you.

Leigh Bowery, Dazed Digital

I’m choosing Leigh Bowery as my lead artist as I love the way that he exaggerates his makeup and costumes to show hoe ridiculous it is to change yourself to fit the ‘norms’, also his facial expressions show his emotions and it is a contrast between look and emotions. My favorite images by Bowery are;Image result for leigh bowerythe boldness of the lips and the outfit choices and props used makes this image stand out to me as it is so unique. I feel like Bowery’s concept of this image is to show the boldness and extremes that people will go to, to make themselves look a certain way

 

AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Unit 2 Portrait

Photo shoot 2 – Masks

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Planning

The aim of this photo shoot is to clearly show my response to Saul Seinberg and mask photography. As mentioned before I felt that Seinberg’s work presented too much of an identity and therefore conducted research into mask photography.  In this photo shoot I will be using two types of masks, a whole face mask and a half face mask, in order to present the theme of loss of identity. The location of this photo shoot will be both indoors and outdoors, to gain a mixture of environments. I want to be able to use natural lighting throughout this shoot, in order to make the images seem more natural. Doing this will present the theme of loss of identity as a more natural and realistic occurrence, making viewers more aware of the idea that someone can loose their identity. I will be keep the camera settings pretty standard, with the shutter speed being quick, the ISO on 400-800 and the white balance being on daylight. On Occasion I will alter the shutter speed and ISO in order to make the images seem lighter and darker depending of the location of the image and how I envision the final image to look like. I will direct my model to sit in different positions, do different actions and to look in certain places which will ensure that the images taken are how I want them to look.

Contact Sheets

To evaluate this photo shoot I felt that I have been able to produce some strong outcomes towards mask photography. I looked at surrealism within mask photography, bed cover over head, and a more naturalistic look with a plain white mask. I felt that I was able to successfully meet the aim of this photo shoot. In the editing process I want to ensure that all personality and identity is extracted from these images, so I will look at adjusting the levels, curves, hue and saturation. I want to be able to create a eerie and sinister tone to the final outcomes, to represent the eerie and sinister feelings people gain when they loose their identity.