When sifting through my photographs, which have been taken throughout the portrait project, I have found some images which could be manipulated in order to show loss of identity. These images are essentially the ‘forgotten’ images which I believe have potential to be something more. For all the edits I levelled and adjusted the curves to make the image darker and lighter, depending on how much of a tonal contrast I wanted to create.
In my first edit I wanted to physically represent my model loosing her identity. this image was taken from the studio lighting shoot, in particular when I looked at the chiaroscuro effect. I started of by cropping the image to be solely focused on the face of my model. The using the spot healing tool I went over the eyes, nose and mouth which erased them from the image. I then went over any areas of facial structure, which shows how the model has physically lost her identity. The black and white also presents no identity as colour has been taken out of the image. I really like how the image has high contrast which allows the facial features, which have been taken away, easily seen. Therefore, this edit successfully present a loss of an identity.
For my next edit I wanted to show the process of losing an identity, physically. I took inspiration from Marccelo Monreal, who did a similar style of photo manipulation. In Monreal’s image he added flowers behind the cut out of the face, due to this being loss of identity I decided not to include the flowers as I felt that it presented to much of an identity. To do this edit I used the quick selection tool and went over the face, I then pressed layer via cut in order to make the face a new layer. I then used the move tool and moved this cut out face slightly up and to the right in order to make it look like the models face is being taken away. Due to this edit showing the process of losing an identity I felt that this image should be in colour as it shows the before stage. Although I like the way this edit looks I do not feel that it has strong links to the theme of loss of identity, and therefore am not considering making this into a final piece.
In this edit I wanted to look at the double exposure technique, where I would use two different images to formulate a whole image. I opened up the two images and cut the out using the quick selection tool and made them into separate layers by pressing layer via cut. I then moved these cut outs onto a new A4 white document. Using the rubber tool I decided to rub out the face, only leaving the body. I then placed the two images in the centre of the page and decreased the opacity of both, in order to see both images. I then decided to duplicate the layer with the model playing with her hair, and placed it the other side. Pressing ctrl + t allowed me to make the image face the other way. This final piece shows loss of identity as the models poses shows that she is confused, moreover the missing face suggested that she is lost. Finally the image is presented in black and white, making all aspects of colour identity being taken away.
Series of Three
For the next three ideas I followed a similar approach as the first idea, I wanted to physically shows a person who has lost their identity. To do this I simply made the image black and white, to remove colors, and used the paint brush tool (white paint) to scribble of the face. This creates the concept that the image has been scratched to remove the identity of the model. These three edits are the most successful, due to the strong link it has with the theme of loss of identity. Moreover, I believe that these could be a potential final outcome for the loss of identity project.
Series of Two
For my final two edits I wanted to physically show a persons loss of identity, as it tends to have the strongest connection with the theme. I followed a similar approach as the edits above, but decided to completely remove the face of my model. To do this I used the quick selection tool, and pressed layer via cut, in order to make the face a new layer. I then deleted the face layer, leaving the body and a white area where the face is meant to be. These edits are strong edits due to the not neat edges, from where I cut out the face, this metaphorically represents the idea that losing an identity can leave marks and scares and is not a tidy process to undergo. I really like the way these edits turned out, but believe they would have been more successful with darker and more sinister images, as the overall tone of the images could then match the concept trying to be presented.
To evaluate these edits, I believe I have produced some strong connections between my images and loss of identity. Moreover, I have managed to incorporate the ‘forgotten’ images and include them into the project successfully. I believe that some of these edits can be furthered into final pieces, due to meanings and representations the images hold. I have been able to clearly show a variety of Photoshop skills in order to manipulate my images in many ways, presenting different approaches to the theme of loss of identity. Thus, these edits have clearly benefited me and my exploration towards the theme of loss of identity.
