1. Describe which themes, medium (photography, film), approaches (documentary, tableaux, conceptual), artists (incl contextual references to art history, movements and isms) and photographic skills, processes, techniques and methods (incl learning new software) inspired you the most and why.

2. Include examples of both previous and current experiments and imagery to illustrate your thinking.

3. Produce a new mind-map and mood-board based around how you interpret one/ or both theme(s) of IDENTITY & COMMUNITY using new artists inspirations and visual references etc. Reflect on the Island Identity project and also consider themes more broadly (see below)

4. Write a Statement of Intent that clearly contextualise;
What you want to explore?
Why it matters to you?
How you wish to develop your project?
When and where you intend to begin your study?
Make sure you describe your chosen theme (IDENTITY & COMMUNITY), subject-matter (topic, issue), artists (inspirations, references) and final outcome (photobook, film).

5. Plan your first photo-shoot as a response to initial ideas. Must be published on the blog by Wed 2 Dec.

First Project: Identity and Place.

For our first project we were focusing on Portraiture as well as learning how to use the settings on our camera to create different images without it being edited heavily on photoshop. We experimented with things such as aperture, shutter speed and white balance.

I focused on the photographers Claud Cahun and Edward Honaker throughout this project. Edward Honaker is known for using photography to express his mental health. An example of how he does this is using a slow shutter speed whilst people are moving and I used this as an inspiration for my first shoot of this independent project. In addition to this I wanted to try and morph my models’ faces in another shoot. This meant I had to go into photoshop and gave them a whirlpool like structure on their face. Honaker’s images still inspire me and I would like to use his methods of editing in my personal study.

I believe that the first shoot allowed me to realise I enjoy doing portrait photography and that I would like to do it more often in my spare time as well as the main chunk of my personal study.

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These images were used in my project to highlight that life shouldn’t be people obsessing over looks of themselves or others; but instead should be about personalities. I want to convey this message more throughout this project as I believe we can all wear a mask and not show who we truly are. We need to realise that we only have one life and we need to focus on the positives rather than dwelling on things that could happen or things that could be said etc.

Project 2: Pollution

For this second shoot, I wanted to show different types of pollution. I focused on air, water and plastic pollution. I tried to incorporate Portrait photography as much as possible.

The artist who inspired me the most for this project was Jeremy Caroll who created a photoshoot to highlight how deadly plastics are to ocean life, by putting humans in the sea creatures place.

I asked my model to wrap a plastic bag around her neck as well as shoe laces, receipts and a face mask to show that even the pandemic is causing global destruction to wildlife. The model then attempted to pull the rubbish from her neck.

For air pollution I asked my model who vaped to exhale I as was taking the images of her. This then allowed my images to show an exaggerated version of what the world will look like if we carried on emitting the gases that harm our planet.

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I would like my images in this personal study to be eye opening like both Honaker and Caroll’s work. I wand people to understand that not everything is as it seems. People can be going through things without you even noticing. Someone could be the most popular person in the world and still feel alone and helpless.

Mindmap and Mood Board

This is a mindmap of ideas for my personal study. It highlights the areas I would like to focus on. My main idea is to highlight the fact that no one is how they seem. I would also like to include a juxtaposition throughout my work. This is why I have depression as well as happiness on my mindmap.