Below are all the images I chose to edit from my shoot for tableau vivant. I edited them on Lightroom as it allows for more in-depth editing.
image one
original
edited
For this image, I decreased the saturation as the face is quite red and looks unnatural. I also altered the levels of the image to create darker darks and lighter lights, this allowed for the background to become a lot lighter and brighter, attracting the viewer more to the face.
image two
original
edited
For this image, there was very little editing need to make it strong and interesting. All I did was alter the levels to make it more balanced and easy on the eye.
image three
original
edited
For this image, I again decreased the saturation to make sure the face looked less red and more natural. I also altered the highlights and shadows, meaning the background became brighter.
image four
original
edited
For this image, I decided to yet again decrease the saturation to make sure the face looked less red and more natural. I also increase the highlights to make sure the features on the face were more illuminated and easier to see.
Images related to a Loss of Identity Visible + Metaphoric
Definition
Identity – the fact of being who or what a person or thing is; the individuality of one person, which makes them ‘different’/ unique/ themselves.
Ones background/ environment/ upbringing are all factors which contribute to identity, as they shape not only the person but also their ideas and belief system. Identity isn’t just the physical appearance of a person but also their personality, their past, their future and their ideas which is why factors such as gender, culture, society and stereotypes can also affect and change someone’s identity, they may change (or not) in order to adapt too and follow societies dominant ideology of the time – what’s popular/ trendy/ what others expect you to think and feel.
Ideas – Formal photoshoot – shoulders + above, empty room – high shutter speed to capture all subject movements, environmental ‘styled’ photos (not candid)
Print – Images on photo paper then burn/ place other object on top of them and re-take the images.
Lighting – flash lighting to minimalize the amount of shadows that are created over the subject face/ body, for outside shoots = natural lighting (morning/ midday times) as there is more natural/ exposed light during these times
Editing – Brush tool in Photoshop to mimic an embroidery effect/ actually sew then retake the images. Double Exposure = link to cultural(?) (Photoshop)
What – Images of people individually or using objects to mask/ disguise their faces.
Who – Similar to the artist, Carolle Benitah, I am going to use old family photos and use newer images to combine both. As well as using the Lucas Simoes burning effect to represent fading memories and how memories form ones identity.
Where – I am going to use the studio for more formal photoshoots, for the Alban Grosdidier inspired shoot I will use a bathtub and for others I am going to use everyday object/ surroundings to disguise the subjects.
Why – By combining these techniques, a representation of a loss of identity will be created.
Image Selection – Green = Good Quality, Amber = Medium Quality, Red = Least Quality.
Photoshoot 1 – Studio
Inspired by Lucas Simoes
Photoshoot 2 – carolle benitah
Photoshoot 3 – Alban Grosdidier
Inspired by Alban Grosdidier
Photoshoot 4 – Fence disguise
Inspired by various Pinterest artists
Edits
Idea 1 – Inspired by Lucas Simoes
Idea 2 – Inspired by Arnaud Jarsaillon and Remy Poncet
For this image, I printed out a black and white version of the image with high contrast. I then replicated the artists style of identity loss by covering the subjects face with food.
Idea 3 – Inspired by Alban Grosdidier
Black and WhiteFor this Idea I used the black and white image above and inverted the colour scheme. For this idea, I just changed the image to black and white making sure that It wasn’t too dark and then added a white boarder. Similar to the previous idea, for this one I inverted the black and white example and added a contrasting white boarder. This is a collage of some of the outcomes – each showing different emotions, the identity distorted by the ripples in the water.
Idea 4 – Inspired by Carolle Benitah
Evaluation
Direct Response To Alban Grosdidier
My images
Artist Images
For my Alban Grosdider inspired ideas and photo shoot, I used a bright light which allowed a shine/ reflected to be created from the ripples on the water. When comparing my results, I did take more of a surreal approach with some images containing three faces where as the artists style is quite natural. However, by getting the subject to move around in the water almost candidly I was able to capture similar expressions to that of Alban Grosdidiers subjects.
Not only focusing on the subject, creative photography is an exploration of the human mind and feelings as well as society as a whole. Therefore, creative portraiture artists frequently combine the past with present and explore different forms of physiology and philosophy. Probably the most important aspect of creative portraiture would be the use of modern technology in order to distort the subject and image; this form of editing on the photograph allows this type of portrait photography to differ from most other sub-genres of portraiture.
Artist
Photoshoot
Photshoot 2 – Studio
Light Photo-Shoot – Low shutter speed edits
Tyler Spangler Inspired Edits
Technique
For my Tyler Spangler inspired edit, I first used the threshold option in order to completely desaturate the image, creating a grainy chiaroscuro effect. I then used the Lasso tool to create a wavy effect for the tear stream which I filled with a water pattern; also using this pattern for the background. Own Idea/ inspired by a combination of Tyler Spangler idea
The lighting on Alfried is almost certainly artificial because of the way the that the light seems to come from a particular and specific height which then creates a shadow which seems to portray Alfried Newman as evil or even sinister.
The lighting looks to be positioned above Arnold whilst being angled down towards Alfried which in turn creates these menacing shadows, setting a mood within the picture
Visual
It seems that Newman chose a green filter which creates a powerful colour overall adding to the mood of the image. There is a very dark tone present despite the lighting. The texture is evident.
The composition seems to be mainly focused on the eye contact that Alfried makes with the lens and then how everything behind him is very busy, creating a sinister feel to the image.
Contextual
Alfried is known to supply nazi germany throughout WW2 shows that Newman intended to create this evil character especially as some of his Jewish family members lost their life due to the Nazi’s.
Conceptual
The idea of the image seems to be to explain how evil people create normal things to be used for bad and so the image is quite hard hitting.
