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Personal Investigation – Post 6 (Daren You – Response)
Response 1:
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Response 4:
Photo-Shoot 1: Final Images
The final products of the editing process can be seen below:
In this image, I was looking to focus on editing to paint the picture of the contrast between feminine and masculine features. The broken, split appearance of the image is meant to signify the broken and split boundaries of gender norms, that are presented in the image. The choice to include pink as the boldest colour in the photograph, was decided due to the fact that pink is often seen as a delicate, feminine colour, yet in this context is being used in a bold manner, with a bold pink tone being used to split the black and white fragments of the image. This image was created with the idea of liberation in mind, with the gender and identity of the individual being expressed as bold, proud and strong.
I have selected the above image as a final image due to the shapes and details within it. I feel that the shape of the forearm in the foreground is eye-catching, and draws viewers into the detail of the arm. It also makes it very clear that the arm is of a male, and therefor the viewer may assume immediately that the subject is male. However, the feminine clothing in the background, and the delicate, soft colours of the image give a contrast to this view, and provide contrast between masculinity and femininity in the image. I feel that this image presents a contrast between stereotypical male gender roles, and the defensive, masculine posture of the subject draws attention to the fact that the subject has to hide the feminine side of themselves (the floral dress) in order to present themselves as stereotypically masculine in order to avoid judgement from the outside world.
I feel that the simplicity of this image allows it to covey the meaning in a more fluid and subtle way. I used the split down the centre of the image to represent a split in an individual persona; how they present themselves on the outside may not be the way that they feel on the inside. The cut could also represent a split between what an individual knows is considered socially acceptable, versus what they wish they could be. I feel that the solemn, sturdy pose of the subject (hands held together in-front) helps to express the idea that individuals often have to keep these internal conflicts hidden from the outside world to avoid being judged or stereotyped.
I selected this image as a final image, as I feel it represents and brings to light the more delicate, emotional side of men, and shows that, regardless of the masculine presentation of the individual, their ability to feel, love and their need to be cared for is no less. This image is made to reflect the more feminine aspects of gender stereotyped; the subjects hands are posed in a delicate feminine manner, and the slight warm hue of pink/red is meant to give the photograph an overall soft, feminine feel. However, this is all contrasted by the masculine shapes of the hands, which are placed as the main focal point of the image. I feel that by placing the subject in a feminine pose, while also drawing attention to the detail of the masculine features, helps to reflect the way in which, although an individual may present as stereoypically masculine, clues may show the reality of hidden emotion, and delicacy.
This image, I feel has a slightly vintage appearance to it, with the slight blue hue giving a vintage magazine effect. I decided to use this image as a final image due to the shape of the subject, and the hue that is edited over the top. I feel that the simplicity of the pose helps to draw attention to the clothing of the subject (which is the focal point for this particular image) and the close up allows for the detail of the masculine, contrasting features to be shown. I feel like this image is simple enough to be used as a single image that could sum up the entire study, and its simplicity makes it appealing for a stand alone image.
I feel that this image reflects the work of Helmut Newton, in the way it presents the subject in a posed, model like way, with the focus of the image being the legs of the subject. Using inspiration from Newton, I heightened the contrast of the image in order to draw attention to the details of the shape of the legs, and the details of the clothing of the subject (which contrast one another). I wanted to flip the idea of Newtons work, using a male subject to reflect the reality of the way that Helmut presents his models. Using a male model in a similar way helps to draw attention to the way in which we are desensitised to the sexualization/presentation of women body in media, and yet are not at all used to the same concept occurring with men
For this photo-shoot, I was looking to focus on the contrast between masculine and feminine features, and show how, in the modern era, these contrasts (which were once much more prominent and strict) are beginning to merge into one another. My focus for this photo-shoot was to create a response in the viewer, as the images are bold and striking in their contrast, and therefore I attempted to present a moral example to the viewer, asking them to decide whether the images make them uncomfortable, or whether they embrace the images and the way they differ from typical gender stereotypes. For this photo-shoot, I feel like I was able to show a striking contrast between typical feminine and masculine features, in a way that draws the attention of the viewer, but also reflects the progress that the world is making towards their views on gender and the lack of boundaries that should be placed on individuals when expressing themselves.
Photo-shoot 1: Selection and Editing
After taking inspiration from my planning mind-map, I was able to take a series of images for my first photo-shoot, revolving around the theme of breaking masculine gender roles, and merging both masculinity and femininity in order to show a liberation from gender stereotypes and roles. Here are my results:
The final images from my selection can be found below:
After creating this contact sheet, I was able to using editing software Photoshop to edit the images I decided that I would use. I used different editing techniques on the images in order to show different final results, and made an attempt to enhance the colours and contrast of each image using the editing tools on Photoshop:
I decided to experiment with the hue of some of my images in order to give them an overall more blue/green effect. I did this because I believe that by increasing the presence of this colour, the image takes on a more delicate, soft overall feel, therefore reflecting the feminine side of the image that I am trying to convey.
As well as editing the hue of my images, I also focused on increasing the contrast and altering the colour balance, in order to give the image an overall slightly softer and lighter effect.
After adjusting these settings, I was able to form an outcome of the image below:
In my images, I also took steps to eliminate the background of the subject, or replace it with a colour that made sure to push all focus to the subject themselves, and to remove the background that did not match the context of the image. To do this, I used the eyedropper tool to locate a suitable colour on the background, and used the paint brush to carefully paint around the subject, and fill in the background.
In some of my images, I made attempts to show as much contrast as possible between the light and dark areas of the photo, and in doing so enhanced the shapes and patterns of the subject and their clothing, which I feel helps to draw attention to the parts of the image where there is contrast (masculine legs vs the feminine clothing)
After cutting out the subject from the background, I changed the image to black and white, and increased the contrast drastically. I then altered the colour balance so it sat more towards a blue hue, and therefore the final image is a black and white image with a slight blue tone, giving it a softer, but still stark bold overall look.
The following images are also a collection of my final images from my first photo-shoot, after the editing process:
Personal Investigation – Post 4 (Bruce Gilden – Response)
Response 1:
I liked the concept of multiple people in one photo, where the viewer has the freedom to hone in on any subject. Each person in the photo is telling their own story and could be considered the subject if the image. In response I captured head shot photos of friends stood together but each with their own character.
Response 2:
I enjoyed the humour of this image, yet the genuine nature of it. This candid shot embodies a sense of fun and a less serious side to photography, which I recreated by taking candid shots of the subject in a situation where humour and fun was inevitably going to arise and be able to be captured in an image.
Response 3:
This image in another that shows multiple subjects in the frame but the differentiating factor in this image is the fact that the subjects appear at different heights. As well as conveying the activities of the subjects, having this structure helps to bring the image together in a new way. In response I incorporated myself and a friend in the portrait image, showing us both at differing heights, separate in stature, but visibly both important to the image.
Response 4:
This image is relatively busy. People’s legs can be seen in the background making the only fully visible person in the photograph the focal point of the composition. It is here that a story is being told. The image captures the man’s inebriated state, emphasised through the blurry nature of the image to show the subject’s perspective of the situation. To recreate this I lowered the shutter speed to create a double exposure effect of a moving figure, similarly to Gilden’s piece.
Response 5:
I enjoy the candid nature of this image and fact that the subject is in the middle of an action when the photograph is captured. The photograph is framed by the man cupping the lighter to spark the cigarette in his hands. In response I took candid photographs of the subject as he was drinking from a water bottle, which allowed me to capture the hand holding the bottle clear bottle which almost gives the illusion of reflecting Gilden’s image..
Personal Study – Edits from first shoot
After cropping my images, I then led on to create montages with a few of the photos and in this I will use images or objects that represent and relate to an individual within the image. This will add a more p[personal feel to the image an create a different feel.
Personal Study – Shoot 1
For my first shoot, I will be looking through family photos and albums to look at the three generations of my family; my grandparents, my parents and me. Through the years of taking photos, it has been highly developed from photos being printed and placed into albums which was mainly what my grandparents and parents did, up until now where phones have been developed to where you can now save the images on your phone, so their has been a decline in physical album making and the use of disposable cameras. Not only has the way of storing photos changed, but the context of the images have changed as well. During my grandparents years, photos were a privileged thing to have and wasn’t a common thing along with photos being staged and directed, however photos are more now candid and capturing the moment as it is, which tends to be a common trend within baby pictures due to the lack of communication between baby and parents, but as the child begins to age and are able to communicate photos become more staged between parents and baby’s, which is a trend through my family photos.
During this shoot I mainly focused on photos that my grandparents and parents took, which allowed me to see how times had developed as photos my parents had taken where in colour and more in focus compared to the photos from my grandparents which where more out of focus and in black and white.
Photo-shoot 1: Planning
For my first photo-shoot, I will be focusing on the liberation of male gender stereotypes and roles. I have decided to dedicate a photo-shoot to this, as I think including both male and female stereotypes, and struggles related to the pressure of abiding to a strict “gender model”. In being able to showcase men breaking from the gender norms of being strong, unemotional, adventurous and competitive, I will be able to show a new perspective, where men are presented as being delicate and emotional human beings, and are not confined to the characteristics that society has laid out for them. For this photo-shoot, I will take a lot of inspiration from photographer Phoebe Jane Barrett, as in her work she portrays the delicate, emotional side of men, and draws attention to the unrealistic belief that all men must be emotionally detached and constantly strong in order to qualify as having masculinity. In taking inspiration from Barrett, I will be showing contrast between stereotypical femininity and masculinity in my work, and will be highlighting this contrast through overt and obvious visual examples, such as placing a masculine object/action/concept directly next to a feminine one, or merging the two together.
I have decided to take the approach of merging together both feminine and masculine traits in an obvious but thought provoking manner, and in order to do so, I will be using a male subject, and will be placing him in stereotypically feminine situations and scenarios, all the while keeping his identity hidden from view. In doing this, the viewer will be forced to only consider the contrast between the male model and feminine activity/scene, and will only be able to develop an opinion on the actions themselves, rather than the identity of the subject. Removing the identity of the subject also allows for the conclusions that the viewer develops, to be generalized to all individuals and scenarios in which there is a contrast between the stereotypical “gender” of a specific activity/scene/scenario, rather than focusing on the identity and individual scenario that the subject is in.
I have produced a mood-board in order to collect some of my ideas for my 1st photo-shoot:
Devils Hole: Tableaux Photoshoot
I went out on a photoshoot to Devil’s Hole and set off around 4:30pm, I unfortunately timed my photoshoot badly and found it difficult once reaching the cliff edge as it had settled to be completely dark, unfortunately this fell badly in using the camera and trying to generate well lit and produced photographs.
I was able to gain a happy accident out of the photoshoot however with an image I did not know I had taken, a blurred photograph that I feel generates a lot of effect with placing the idea of mystery to the photoshoot and the story I was trying to replicate and be influenced by. I experimented with the photograph in both black and white and in colour, I personally prefer the colour photograph due to the dark blue hue being produced in the background as well as the shape given to the figure with the red, orange and yellow tones.
Review and Reflect – Post 4 (Specification)
Occupation vs. Liberation:
The words occupation and liberation carry a lot of different meanings and connotations. This title could be taken literally as the occupation and liberation of an island such as Jersey during WWII as we have studied and explored in detail this year. However, occupation and liberation can mean a lot more. The occupation or line of work someone is in, the occupation and liberation of their minds on a much deeper and more personal level or simply the things people do to keep themselves occupied throughout their day.
My response:
For my personal investigation I will explore the relationships between friends. I will show how as people we rely on each other for our own well being. I will attempt to explore how my friends and I use our free time to have a break from the outside world and explore the deeply personal aspects of our relationship. And the emotional connection and unconditional understanding that comes with friendships. This investigation will showcase our common interests and what brings us together as individuals, and explore the relationship between our outside lives and lives behind closed doors as the less visible impacts we have on one another.
In a more literal context my personal investigation will follow the concept that our ‘occupation’ is the our state of mind towards life, ourselves and each other, and that our ‘liberation’ stems from our downtime with people we care about and what we choose to do with them, as our individual ‘therapies’. I will attempt to capture images from a range of photo shoots and real life situations showing versatile locations and activities to capture candid shots of the people I surround myself with, and gain a better understanding of how we spend our time together as well as what it means to be ‘liberated’ by those around us.
This is something I have briefly explored earlier on in the course and would like to focus on in more detail and on a deeper level than before.
Examples of earlier work as reference points: