Shilpa Grupta

Grupta traced individuals who changed their last names either to succeed, or to survive to create this exhibition. 

Photos from Altered Inheritances- 100 (Last Name) Stories:

I like the way that the images have been split in half and stuck back together again in a mix match way and how this represents how the names were shed and then split apart as they needed to change them.

For my own project I would like to take the style Gupta has used and split my images where possible because I think it adds another layer of story to the final product. I plan to look at my own identity and take pictures of objects from my childhood and use old photos to create a snapshot of my life.

Freya Dumasia

 I was born in Dubai, a country rich in religion that intrigued my interest in the Islamic culture. I am interested in using photography as a tool to reframe perspectives and emphasis the way in which a cultural image within society has been constructed through the media. I want to raise awareness within the viewer of the way newspaper coverage and online access to current events manipulates our views and opinions of Islamic culture. My photography aims to express the way the media distorts, blurs and shows a selected view, and to explore the way this process can result in the loss of individual identity.

-Freya Dumasia

Photos from Freya Dumasia’s A level Photography portfolio:

I like the style of Dumasia’s digital photos and would like to try and use it in my own work by perhaps layering a digital overlay over images or using a low shutter speed and taking blurry self portraits or object photos.

Umberto Verdoliva

Photos from What is a dream?:

Two real moments captured over time, merged to create something meaningful, balanced, and unique. Recreating a scene, an atmosphere, an ephemeral reality from something that existed in different times and places has been the leitmotif of my work.

-Umberto Verdoliva

I like the story in these images and how Verdoliva has used photomontage to blend two images together and create a narrative. I plan to mix my photos from the past (from my childhood) and present self portraits or pictures I take that relate to my identity.

Photos from Procida:

Why the island? Because it is the point where I isolate myself, where I am alone: it is a point that is separate from the rest of the world, not because it really is, but because in my state of mind I can separate myself from it.

-Giuseppe Ungaretti

I also like the way that Verdoliva has captured his life and made it personal to him as it is his surroundings. I would take photos inspired by these of places on the island which relate to me or perhaps get images from our family archives of where my parents are from and their hometowns because these are also my ‘homes’ and where the rest of my family lives.

Jocelyn Calac

Photos from Centrevilliens – Dontown citizens:

Last year was special for everyone, I focused on the citizens of my little town of Rodez in the south of France as we was living between the multiple levels of lockdown. I was participating for the Ricoh GR challenge with all the finalists of the Spi awards 2020 and I have to say that it was a special moment with a lot of luck and good energy. This kind of times when things happen with an idea in it, I feel I just have to capture them in the timing. I selected this ten photos because of the short period in witch I did them and it seems to me that they fit well with each others and making a good series of how I saw my city and the ones who was living it with me in this hard cover situation, maybe I needed to put more creativity into my work to balance. I only used the Ricoh GR3 for this series.

-Jocelyn Calac

If I was to focus on community I would take photos like these where Calac has caught people in the moment and they are living their own lives but part of the community where he lives.

For this NFT project we started by researching what exactly an NFT is (non-fungible token) and then continued our research by looking at examples of NFT’s and really trying to understand what they are. We then discussed as a group what the question, ‘What will the future of Jersey look like as a community in the Metaverse?’ means and how we will go about creating a 30 second animated video to link to the question. We started by creating mind maps of what a community is and what it means to be a community. We then created mind maps and mood boards on our chosen theme; which we decided to create a film based on fashion. After we made the mood boards we created a statement of intent to decide exactly what we were going to do and how we were going to do it. Within the group we decided on multiple different ideas which varied from using a projector to project different sort of patterns onto a model wearing plain and simple clothing to the model wearing clothes that replicate fashion trends over the years. Additionally we also spoke about how we may be able to use Photoshop or a similar software to edit over peoples original clothing, which may show that the digital world of fashion can be easily manipulated. Our last idea was to print out original photos which we have taken of our models and either collage or embroider over them to create different designs. We decided that we were going to have our model wearing clothes that best replicate fashion trends over the years. We then done a contextual study on NFT artists that link to our theme of fashion and researched NFT artist Toby Evans who focuses on digital fashion. After that we done a contextual study on the Bayeux Tapestry as it also links to the embroidery project we are also doing with Yulia, where we each made an individual embroidered piece that links to Jersey. After discussing more as a group how we were going to create the film we created a story board. We decided we’re going to start off with a wide shot and then zoom into a person wearing a 70’s inspired outfit (flares and a crop top), after that there would be an outfit change. Next, there will be another outfit change into a 80’s inspired outfit (mom jeans and a bomber jacket), then there will be a change into a 90’s inspired outfit (black dress). The clips will be shot with the model facing the camera and the clips will cut between outfits as the model walks forward towards the camera. The model will then change into a 2000’s inspired outfit (tracksuit) followed by an outfit inspired by current fashion (baggy jeans and a top). After deciding exactly how we were going to film it we brought in different pieces of clothing that we had at home to try to recreate old fashion trends. Making the outfits look as though they were from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s was one of the biggest challenges we faced as we only had our own clothes to use. We decided on which clothes best fit each year and then booked out a space in the studio so we could start filming. We started by preparing the studio for filming by setting up all the lights and getting are model in the first outfit. We decided to film on our phones so that the videos would be portrait. We had our model walk towards the camera in the first outfit as we recorded her and then repeated this in all the other outfits. We then chose our favourite clips and started by importing all the videos onto Adobe premier. We then cut each clip at specific times to make it look as though she was walking towards the camera while her outfits changed. We then decided which music to use as a group and uploaded it to the video. After the video was filmed we made a digital image from the video. We decided to edit the images we took on the day of filming in photoshop to make them more interesting. To edit the images I duplicated the image and then used the FX tool on the duplicated layer to turn off the green and blue channels on the layer. I then moved the bottom layer slightly to the left to create a 3D effect. As well as the edited photoshop image we also created a Gif. We used all of our images and copied one image after another to make it look like stop motion and create an illusion that the image is moving. We copied each image over another and created a new animation layer in order to play them one after another and create a frame. This turned out well as it achieved our aim of showing the different changes in fashion through decades by creating a gif and making it look like its one big moving image. Once all of the layers were there we included all the images we wanted to use and created a timeline to create the final gif. We also done an embroidery workshop that links to the question about community in Jersey. For the workshop we took all of the individual pieces of embroidery we have done as a group and placed them together on a big piece of fabric. We sat around the table as a group and decided whether or not we liked the positioning of the individual pieces on the larger piece of fabric.  As there wasn’t enough individual pieces to fill up the fabric we had to overlap some and leave some spaces in the fabric. Once we decided that we liked the placement we all chose thread colours that we like and started stitching the pieces onto the fabric.

Final Digital Image:

Final Film:

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/744704d6-9530-45ed-90ef-886d0c5627f8

From your Personal Investigation based on IDENTITY & COMMUNITY write an overview of what you learned so far (both as Yr 12 and Yr 13 student) and how you intend to develop your Personal Study.

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

Themes and Techniques I have studied:

Life after lockdown/isolation, the natural world, repetition, pattern, rhythm, reflection and symmetry, Astrophotography, Street Photography, Candid Portraits, Studio shoots, photo montage, Landscapes, Macro, Romanticism, new topographics, Anthropocene, Identity, Community, Family archives.

I have mostly used digital photography to explore these themes and techniques, but recently have used video in the NFT project, as well as stitching a tapestry.

some artists I have researched and referenced are: Alfred Krupp, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Henri Cartier, Claude Cahun, Ansel Adams, Lewis Baltz, Jeremy Carroll, Lilli Waters, Mike Winkelmann

The software i enjoyed using the most, as well as where i feel i improved the most at using Adobe Lightroom, where i edit images to portray a certain feeling to the viewer. My favourite ay to edit images is with high contrast between colours and tones to create a more impactful image that draws the viewers eye. Aswel as this i have used Photoshop, InDesign and Premiere Pro

Identity Mind Map

My thought behind this id map is having multiple parts of your identity, mainly having a time to spend alone and your own identity, then the time you spend with other people and your social identity. I think the contrast between these images are interesting as they can portray two sides of the same person, as some images may appear to be introverted and lonely, but other images can make the person seem extroverted and sociable. Showing that a persons identity doesn’t have to be fixed and can change depending on the situation. These sets of images also shows the different emotions this person can be feeling as well as making the viewer feeling a certain way too. I also like the contrast between the posed and thought provoking images of the one person alone, and the candid and in-the-moment style of the social images, the almost un-professional style of photo makes the viewer relate to the image as if they were really there.

Statement of intent

What you want to explore?

I would like to explore the topic of identity, broadly as a whole, as well as how people can have multiple identities. The direction i would like to go with this is mainly Alone vs Social identity. I find this comparison interesting because of the contrast that can be created between the two through the actual contents of the image as well as how the image can be edited. Ideas like group photos with faces covered could show that they have a social identity as a group, but each individual has a separate identity and life of their own outside of that environment.

Why it matters to you?

I feel like this matters to me because it applies to me and my friends. We all have our own identities individually. But when we are together we have a group identity and show the social side of our identity, as well as our own personality and identity showing through too. I find that everyone has this contrast between their identity when they are by themselves and when they are with others, their personalities come together and show through the image, especially with friend groups, less with strangers. I think when people see the images created they will be able to relate to them, creating a deeper meaning and making the image more personal.

How you wish to develop your project?

I plan to have two contrasting styles of photography within my project, one being a crisp, aesthetic portraiture of a single subject. This will portray one side of a persons identity when they are alone. These images will be more though provoking, meaningful and perhaps metaphorical in their finished state. The other contrasting style will be a more casual, candid, almost less-professional style of portraiture, street and event photography. These will include multiple subjects and mostly be ‘old-school’ and ‘vintage’ looking, as if they were taken on a film camera. As well as these two contrasting styles, I may include images blending the two, with one subject alone, but in a social environment, showing that even though the person is in a social situation, they still have their individual identity. I will then edit these images to further bring out the meaning and emotion behind them.

One photographer that takes photos in the film-photography style i am going for is Caleb Triscari:

Another artist that takes photos in the style i am going for with individual identity is Noah Silliman:

First Shoot Plan

My first shoot will be a portrait or a shot from behind the subject of them alone. The location for this shoot will be a wide open area to show that the subject is alone with their thoughts and identity, showing that the photograph reflects them and only them. This will be the far end of St Ouens bay up on the hill. I will edit these images to be high in contrast between the lights and the darks to create a more moody photograph. I will also use warm tones to make the image more inviting for the viewer, to give an autumn type of feel to the image.

The link on stream for our NFT film can be accessed here.

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/f3639853-dd9f-4944-81b2-4142795fe623

Mike Winkelmann

Michael Joseph Winkelmann, known professionally as Beeple, is an American digital artist, graphic designer, and animator.  Working under the name Beeple, his long-running project “Everydays,” a series of digital compositions that he makes and shares daily. In recent years, the “Everydays” have slowly turned to the theme of garish cartoon sensibility. Here are some examples of what Mikes “Everydays” work looks like…

Greg Mike

Populated by gleefully twisted characters, his world is unsettling, mischievous and uniquely captivating. Currently based in Atlanta, Greg Mike is a multi-platform studio specializing in branding, apparel design and visual production. His work is based around the unique colour world with cartoons that intrigue all age ranges.

Over the past year and a half we have studied different photography topics, I enjoyed the abstract and landscape photography the most.

Abstract Project

I studied the works of Jaromnir Funke, Ray Metzker, Keld Helmer-Petersen and Albert Renger-Patzsch.

Landscape Project

Rural landscapes

Started this project looking at different artists and learned a lot about compositions. Like the Golden Ratio and Rule of Thirds which helped me develop my photography skills and create interesting images which were more appealing to the eye and told more of a story in some situations.

These three artists caught my attention by the colours and shapes they had in their images specifically Charlie Waite and Lisa Wood.

Some of my outcomes:

Identity Project

We were given the theme of Identity to start a new project. I chose to look at the word identity it self and to not focus on my own identity to start with.

I looked at the different approaches from each photographer looking at Identity as a topic and took Alec Soth’s and Raina Matar’s styles to create my own outcomes focusing on my identity but also the way that outside influences have on our identity.

Some of my outcomes:

Industrial + Urban Landscapes

After researching many photographers like Alexander Apstol, Ed Rushca, Rut Blees and Lewis Baltz I chose to focus on The New Topographics which is a theme about landscapes which have now been man-altered like urban areas being turned into parking lots, suburban housing and warehouses. I also focused on old urban landscapes and was inspired by the works of Eugene Atget who took images of the constantly changing Paris architecture and streets.

Lewis Baltz:

Eugene Agtet:

Identity + Community

This project helped me with selection of my images and understanding more about why certain images go together or contrast and why photographers choose to sequence images together.

In this project I also used Lightroom for the first time and have found this helpful in my current work.

In all my work I have enjoyed looking at compositions and shapes within different landscapes and objects.

Me and Michael get given the topic ‘Education and Sport’ to make a poster on related to Jersey.

We used the island identity report to list facts and information about these topics, as well as images to visually show the islands education resources and sporting life.

We also answered these questions on the poster:

1. What makes Jersey special and why does it matter to you?
2. What does it mean to be ‘Jersey’, now and in the future?
3. What can we all do to solidify a cohesive and positive Island identity?
4. Are there barriers to a positive and inclusive Island identity? (What requires a greater focus and what is being missed?)

Below is the final product: