The term ‘identity’ is defined as the fact of being who or what a person or thing is, and a close similarity or affinity. An individual’s identity can be influenced by their environment and their upbringing, as well as social factors such as culture, political standing, friendships and relationships. Additionally, an individual’s identity may be defined by their loss or lack of it; if an individual is unsure about who they are or who they want to be, then this in itself is also their identity. An identity is something that everyone has, regardless of whether they know it or not.
MOODBOARDS
My first initial ideas for my two photoshoots were to explore the themes of identity loss and gender identity. I think that especially in recent years, society as a whole has learned to be a lot more open and accepting of people’s choices about how they wish to be seen, not only by themselves but by the rest of the world too. Additionally, social media and the internet has had a heavy influence on topics such as self-confidence and the idea of the ‘perfect’ life. This could be tied into the theme of identity loss as what is being posted online is not always the truth; these people have lost themselves in the world of perfection so much that they do not know who they are any more. With the LGBTQ+ community slowly but surely being widely accepted across the world, the strict, traditional gender roles which have been in place for generations are becoming less and less prevalent, allowing these lines of restriction to be blurred and crossed by all members of society. Freedom of expression is something which everyone is entitled to, and I think it would be interesting to document the different ways in which individuals achieve this.
Before up taking this task, the photographer that I decided to choose from in order to gain an influence/ idea was Kensuke Koike
from his photgrpahy i decided to get pictures of myslef from a young age, to an older age with a plan
Who- Pictures of myself from different ages
What- I will be getting some albums from my house in shelves and taking pictures from photos in the albums of me at various ages.
When- This would of been done before the mock in order to be prepared for it on the day having images to edit from.
Why– I thought getting pictures of myself would be the easiest way in talking about the topic of identity.
How– Taking pictures with a camera in a room with a bright like supposedly my kitchen of the pictures in the albums
Contact Sheet of images
Influencer Chosen
The Photographer i decided to be influenced by was Kensuke Koike
The reason I have chosen to be influenced by the work of Kensuke Koike is because I feel like his style of Photography is very appealing to look at but also his work goes a lot deeper than just the appearance. His work goers deeper with links to identity because of the way that he modifies his photography with geometrical cut outs of a face and rearranging it into a different format. The link to identity with his work is that a standard portrait picture should never be a final outcome to identify someone for who they are or what they look like, because the identity of someone can be very vast as to an appearance like their cultural backgrounds and you could even go to say his work can be based on origami which is quite culturally big in Japan . Moreover, his work linking to identity is quite based on Japanese societies and culture as he grew up in Japan as quite a few of his pictures are of Japanese people.
Therefore, I found that my final piece was most similar to his work due to the fact that I have rearranged the photos I had taken and put them into different orders making a different variation of the original images. Moreover, I had my images in black and white which links to most of his work. Finally, I decided to make a GIF which is a silent animation in with my work appearing to shift throughout the slides changing in appearance, Kensuke has also done this on his Instagram page by uploading clips onto his page of his work pieces also being able to move by either unfolding them or moving the picture side to side.
Final Piece
Process in making my final piece
To start off I had to select five different images of myself which is shown up above in my contact sheet of images. Once I had selected the 5 images i had to cut them into 5 different segments vertically in order to get 5 different cut outs from one image of my face which is shown from the 2 images down below.
Once that was done, I then got all the separate cut outs of my face and weaved them together created the image that I thought was best suited for my final piece. As the different cut outs where weaved together, this allowed me to manipulate what the image could look like by sliding the different segments of the cut out pieces having different parts of my face across the image (shown down below with images). As I manipulated the appearance of the picture, I would then take pictures of what the picture looked like as i moved the different cut outs from one another in order to create a GIF for my final piece.
Final Piece
Evaluation on Final Piece
Technical– The lighting that was used in taking the images for my final piece was fluorescent lights, this cause the image to be bright as the light sources was about 1 metre away from the image, This cause the manipulation in the image having nice contrasts between the shades of black, white and grey. the camera was set up with an Iso of 100, aperture of f5.6, shutter speed of 1/100 and finally set with an auto white balance.
Visual- The colour of the final outcome was black and white as I had printed the 5 images in black and white, the tones in the images was quite dark as their wasn’t any bright highlights of white in any of the images. The shape of the images where 2d flat as the images cut out on the table where set flat. I had to cut out pieces of the images in straight lines, then I weaved the images together in order for them to look mixed up and have the image look complex.
Conceptual– There is personally a lot of meaning behind this piece as I am exploring the idea of my journey throughout childhood to now and how I have developed and improved myself. I have included portraits of myself from a variety of different ages representing the fact that, although I have changed, it is still part of me and is what I went through in order to get to where I am today. Each individual image of myself holds a memory that I am able to look back on and appreciate the journey I have had, I believe this allows me to study the nature of myself and help to recognise why I do what I do. It also encourages me to continue to build on and improve myself more into the further future. Overall, this concludes to the point that my identity has changed throughout my journey from a baby to a teenager and I feel like my final piece shows this as different ages of my face are shifting throughout the piece, almost demonstrating the evolution of me becoming the person who i am today and still to this day changing my identity as I grow up.
Identity is the essence that defines an individual. It can be qualities such as beliefs, personality, looks, gender, sexuality, job role, etc. It can be defined by the way you express and feel about yourself.
Other people may also have a different view on your identity than you which can be positive or destructive. It is scary to think that every person sees you in different ways, see other aspects of your personality and behaviour that you may not even have noticed; have different memories and viewpoints about you.
Identity affects people in various ways, but some aspects of your identity may be due to nurture and cultural upbringing as Tabula Rasa states that one is born as a blank canvas and the way you think, and behaviours are shaped by the people around you who you have grown and looked up to.
Others may argue that identity can be due to nature. For example, you are born with a specific set of genes that are more likely to influence your behaviour and identity and how other people may see you.
In my opinion, I agree to a certain extent that identity is down to nurture. But I think the way you see yourself is the most important base of your identity as you’re the only one that knows yourself the best and not other people. However, other opinions of you may affect the way you think and feel about yourself.
For this project I will attempt to portray the way that others opinions and behaviours towards me has affected me, the way I saw and see myself then and now, and how destructive others opinions may have in your life. As Billie Eilish states in her son ‘Everything I wanted’, “…if they knew what they said would go straight to my head, what would they say instead?”
Claud Cahun
Claude Cahun (25 October 1894 – 8 December 1954) was originally named Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob. She was a French lesbian photographer who enjoyed sculpting and writing.
Shwod adopted the name Claude Cahun in 1917 and since then has been exploring self portraits were, they explore themes such as sexual and gender identity in their work. However, their work was mostly frown upon due to homosexuality being seen as shameful and disgraceful in the 20th century and beyond, but their portraits were very strong with some people adoring their work and others hating on it. The view on homosexuality was so frightful people would usually be beaten up, stoned, tormented and their family would neglect them and have so association with them.
In the image at the top, we can see Claude’s transition from a stereotypical girl to a boy with short hair. Due to the reflection of Claude in the mirror we can clearly see that they saw themselves as a boy/lesbian and looks into the camera in a sort of prideful but seductive way suggesting that they know who they are. To strengthen this point, we can see they are wearing typical male clothes. Also, the reflection may show that they were living a double life, one that they were born in some way and the other they identify as something else.
Photo analysis:
Substance:
Due to the time the photographer existed; we can assume that this image was originally in a film format due to digital cameras only being invented in 1975.
The image was taken inside of their or someone’s apartment to what seems in the living room.
It was taken for personal work on self identity and gender, and it could be argued it was a sort of silent protest towards society at the time as images like this were mostly negatively viewed.
Composition:
The main focal point of this image is obviously Claude and their reflection in the mirror.
Author has powerfully used the rule of thirds to compose this image as the model and reflection are positioned in the center.
The main colours of this image are black and white tones. He purposely used the black and white technique to create this image to create a sense of light vs dark and may also have used it to show how there is beauty during times of tribulation and times of joy.
Lighting:
The light in this black and white image seems to be coming from the front as there are shadows behind their head which could suggest that the light is indeed coming from the front. Evidently, the light seems to be quite natural as there is little evidence that could suggest the artist used a flash or artificial lighting as there isn’t evidence of a flash reflection
There are soft shadows and dark tones throughout the image. For example, the bottom of the picture is darker than the top. The image is natural, but the camera seems to have focused on the bright sides first as the image seems to be a bit naturally underexposed as there are soft lights and soft shadows throughout the image.
The artist may have taken this image during light or evening hours as the light suggests that it was taken in a dim environment or sunny but rather more a cloudy environment as all the details is quite perfectly shown.
Techniques and editing: (evidently black and white filter or camera were used)
A fast shutter speed was powerfully used to produce this image as the subject (Claude) has been shot to a razor-sharp focus.
The depth of field for this image appears to be quite large as most of the image is fixed. This was used to capture as most of the setting as possible while keeping a crisp detail to the image.
The artist may have purposely naturally underexposed the image to keep it in focus and so it isn’t too bright or too dark just natural.
The camera is still as this is a self portrait and all the details are in focus suggesting that the camera was stationary; a tripod was likely used.
Atmosphere:
The photograph makes me feel amazed at how confident and courageous the artist was to portray and express their sexual identity in a patriarchal society.
The photograph seems to be communicating a message of freedom of speech and expression as the artists explored with self identity portraits in a society that shames homosexuality for decades.
My response to this image is just how inspirational this artist was to my project in to exploring identity.
Response:
I will attempt to use the same black and white techniques to capture my shots to make it alike the original artist.
In order to incorporate elements into my own work I will need to make sure most or some of my subjects are in portrait
Similarly, Cahun has influenced my shots by following his key theme which is the theme of gender and sexual identity, the alignment of subjects and personal nature in their work have also influenced the way I set up my portrait images and identity photographs.
I love their work as it is very personal project for the photographer; the artist is basically telling their story even though there is danger that they could be imprisoned for being lesbian.
Lara Gilks
Lara Gilks is a photographer that comes from Wellington, New Zealand. She came to photography around 2009 when she received her first camera. According to sources (laragilks.com/about), she utilises “elements of nature, water, light, beauty” that are often mixed with aspects that are ambiguous, weird, scary and disturbing. She apparently works “at the precipice between perfection and imperfection, human and inhuman, and dream and reality”.
In an interview for PhotoForum, August 2019, she states that she puts “incongruous elements into beautiful landscapes” in order to create a sense of tension and playfulness as she also mentions her choice of models; children “with masks and other props”. She also mentions something interesting which is that “people will experience the images in their own way influenced by their own stories”. When she mentioned the need of tension in her images, she mentions that she wants “the sense of being out of place and absurd yet somehow normal.”
Lara has explored with identity in different ways, so much so that she has a blog post called, “identity and disclosure”. In here she explains the lack of identity due to social media. We know this because she states, “The brink of a digital identity crisis – where the digital era tests the limits of identity – what is safe to disclose and what must be concealed. There are questions of trust and vulnerability – the stakes are high.
Photo analysis:
Substance:
This image was clearly taken with a DSLR in 2018 as it is in a digital format.
This photograph was taken outside by a lake. We can also assume it was taken in the evening due to the brightness of the clouds, but this could have been manipulated using software like Lightroom.
This was clearly taken for personal work as it was part of Lara’s series “white lies”. Her description for this project was a simple quote from Alan Moore, “You wear a mask for so long, you begin to forget who you were beneath it.”
Composition:
The focus for this image is the “Horse Bride” which delivers a sense of strangeness and wonder at the experience of marriage.
Author has powerfully used the rule of thirds to compose this image as the model and background have been purposely adjusted so that the model at the center along with the background.
The main colours of this image are black and white tones. She purposely used the black and white techniques to add to the theme of tension, ambiguity, strangeness, incongruous.
Considering the description for white lies, the audience may also assume that many people marry a fake spouse; people who have been wearing a mask for so long. In addition, the fact that the image is in black and white may also reveal that marriage is not always dreamy and colourful; it can be dark and obscure. We can assume this is the case as Lara has said before that her photographs are open for interpretation.
Lighting:
The light in this black and white image seems to be coming from the natural environment as shoot was done outside. The light however seems to be coming from the front as it is lighting the Horse Bride and background quite well.
Soft shadows and dark tones are present in the shot. The bottom of the image is darker than the top, for instance. The picture is natural, but first the camera seems to have concentrated on the bright sides as the image seems to be a little naturally underexposed as the image is full of subtle lights and soft shadows.
The artist may have taken this illustration during the day, during light or evening hours.
Techniques and editing: (evidently black and white filter or camera were used)
Evidently, a fast shutter speed was used due to the waves being fixed to a focused position.
As most of the image is set, the depth of field for this image seems to be very high. This was used to catch as much of the environment as possible while retaining a crisp picture detail.
The artist may have naturally underexposed the picture purposefully to keep it in view, because it’s not too light or just normal and not too dim.
As this is a portrait, the camera is still, in focus and all the specifics show that the camera was stationary; a tripod was presumably used.
Atmosphere:
The photograph makes me feel quite interested and confused as I have never seen a Horse Bride before, especially standing by a lake. This is evident that Lara has achieved her aim of strangeness through this image.
This image, clearly is open for interpretation and considering that inside the wedding dress is Lara’s son this may suggest that there is a prince trapped in the body of a mare getting ready for marriage but decided to take a moment by the lake to think of things.
Successfully, this image has achieved what it was created for which is to make the audience question what is going on. I know this because Lara states that Horse Bride is intended to challenge and provoke such ideas.
Response:
To keep it the same as the original artist, I would strive to use the same black and white methods to take my shots.
I would need to ensure that most of any of my subjects are distorted and have their faces hidden in order to integrate concepts into my own work.
Lara has influenced my work on identity by giving me the idea of making the audience question what is happening in the photograph.
This is one of my favourite pieces of photography as I find it very creative due to the nature and contents of the image. It’s an image open to interpretation and communicates a series of different messages. It’s also very strange which just adds to creativity.
Similarities
• Both artists have used a series of black and white images to communicate a similar message: that there may be light in the darkness, there is 2 sides to every story and not everything is a perfect, colourful world.
• Both artists clearly play with the theme of identity with Claud exploring gender identity and Lara hiding the model’s face / identity.
• Both have composed their images in a similar way. For example, both have placed their models in the centre or close to the centre.
• Lara attempts to create tension through her images. For example, the Horse Bride image encapsulates all my feelings of strangeness and wonder at the experience of marriage. In a similar way, Claud creates tension in society with her images as homosexuality in a patriarchal society was unacceptable.
Differences
• Claud focuses on gender identity and explores with my gender roles such as weightlifter in a photograph of hers. However, Lara focuses more on trying to make the audience question the nature and meaning of her images.
• Most of Claud’s images are taken in indoor places whereas Lara’s images are taken in a naturalistic environment.
• Lara uses elements of obscurity, strangeness, unique and quite dark. This can be shown through her image of the Horse Bride. Claud Cahun however attempts to use self portrait and self identity methods to create an image that demonstrates who they are as a person and sometimes compare it to society and how society has this “ideal” way that people should behave.
Manipulation – “Manipulation was an artform in which you failed. Better luck next time.”
This is my #1 outcome.
My main purpose for this project was to “to capture various portraits and to try and convey a message/story to the audience. I will be touching sensitive topics in my life such as; bullying, insecurities, gender, sexuality, and more.” Therefore, I believe I have achieved this through this artwork called, “Manipulation”.
This is one of my most personal photographs ever made to this day as it explains a bit about my life. For example, this photograph is a clear representation of what I have been going through for quite some time as I was recently in a situation where someone did whatever they could to control and manipulate me. This can be clearly shown using models creating a sense of puppetry / puppet show and the fact that you cannot see the male model’s face shows that not many people knew who the manipulator was.
However, there are some broken strings which to me represent a few of those manipulative methods being broken and on the process of setting me free to be my own person and have my own identity. In addition, the use of double exposure on the “puppets” represent madness because you tend to lose your mind in such situations.
In comparison to my key artists, Claud Cahun and Lara Gilks, this image is very open for interpretation. This is because one of my aims for this project was to create something like Gilk’s Horse Bride and have the audience interpret the image according to their own experience and link the audience to the photographer due to relation to the viewer, ultimately creating a bond between the artists and the viewer; sort of telling them that they’re not alone. As well, the use of a female model as the puppet may convey domestic abuse that a lot of female face.
Also, the shot is in black and white clearly showing similarity to Claud Cahun as their images are all in black and white. Both Claud Cahun and I have used harsh shadows and tones to show how difficult it can be to be our own person and have our own identity in a judgemental society; sometimes we are so pressured to act and look a certain way by society which makes us feel entangled in these strings and imprisoned at times.
Cut you off
Faceless
Stalker much
These are a trinity of images which try to show how other opinions have shaped and reconstructed my identity.
As you can see, the text in my images is a series of anonymous messages I received from people that know me, but I still do not know who sent most of these messages.
In “Cut you off”, there’s a message saying, “It’s funny cuz you acc think we like you but we’re j pretending… go AWAY.” This message came from someone that I know that clearly doesn’t like me. I did everything in my power to at least be civil with them, this was until I figured the friend group was talking about me behind my backs and so I cut them off. Hence the name, “Cut you off“.
In addition, “Stalker much” the messages that are going through my models clearly show how much these messages have got to me. Also, the female model looks like they are sort of guarding or looking over the male model. I did this in purpose in order to try and create a sense of the psychic staring effect; when you have that sense of being watched to which the messages suggest that people paid close attention to me and even saw who was texting me. The colourful double exposure, alike “Manipulation” was done to show madness and or how multiple people seem to be watching over me.
Similarly, “Faceless” is a photograph where the identity of my model is hidden, blurred out and shaken while they’re holding a message that reads, “Your 1000% gay, stop being in denial.”. This message was one of many that made me question who I was, what my sexuality was and made me question everything about myself and it got to a point where I genuinely hated everything about myself because no matter what I did, that was the ONLY slur that people tell me, it even got to a point where my old tutor had to ask my friends if I was gay because of the way I dress. That shattered me and confused me so, enjoy the series of images that attempt to show how I have felt during these times.
In relation to my key artists, most of my images are in black and white which relates to Claud’s images, the composition of these images remains quite close to both Lara and Cahun as my models are near the centre, my images also have a go at talking about identity / lack of identity which relates to Cahun. Also, it may be argued these images could be interpreted differently according to the viewers own experience which successfully links to Lara’s ideas. However, the use of messages in these images may reduce this effect as not every viewer has probably received similar messages.
Ghostin
This is my final outcome, it contains a series of messages that read, “gross”, “gay”, “there is no way you’re straight” and “he’s definitely a bottom.” These are just messages that people have said to me.
This relates to Lara Gilk’s approach to identity as I have incorporated elements of ambiguity, strangeness and obscurity. This was done through the ghost effect where the model appears to have multiple faded exposures of themselves.
In comparison to Claud, there isn’t much correlation except the fact that we both have attempted to talk about identity and what it means for us.
These messages are mostly blurred and over-layered one another which has a go at showing 2 different perspectives, one being that overtime these messages don’t hurt you anymore and two, over time the messages get deeper and harder to see on the surface but they’re still there. Obviously, the perception may change due to the viewers own experience. Like my favourite show, 12 Monkeys, states, “There are many endings and the right one? The right one is the one you choose.” Therefore, this image was created to purposely let the viewer pick the ending for this project on identity, let it be happy or sad. After all, the author is still deciding on what ending to this story to choose from.
How I edited these images:
For this project on identity I have used Photoshop to adjust the black and white filters for most of my images, I have also used it to create and bend the strings in “Manipulation” to make it more realistic and add to movement as there is little evidence that the model is moving so I tried to bend these strings to add to this effect. I have also used the “blur more” tool to blur the strings and ellipses around the fingers so that it looks like it was part of the original image, and in “Stalker much” I used these methods to blur the text to achieve the same outcome.
In addition, I have used photoshop to add the text to my images, change the opacity and adjust it to “Darken” so that it removes the background and displays just the text. Also, setting it to darken means that when it comes into contact with a darker background, it fades away. This and the eraser tool helped create the effect in “Stalker much” and make it seem like the text is actually in the background.
For the other images, I have used the “Glitch Lab” app on my phone to:
add the glitch effects around “Faceless”.
remove the faces in “stalker much” and “Faceless”. There was also a filter called “stripe shift” which helped cut off the face in “Cut you off.”
For “Ghostin” I used the pre-set “Troubled waves” to create the blue/green filter so it looks quite old and gives a cemetery, cold feeling enhancing the name “Ghostin”.
Snapseed was also used to sharpen the text in “Ghostin” so it’s clearer and more readable.
Step 4: Create your own location or choose a template.
Step 5: Upload your images, put them in your exhibition, name it and give it a description. For mine, I justified my photographs.
Step 6: Present / view your Exhibition.
Why I decided to do a Virtual Gallery:
I decided to do a Virtual Reality Gallery again because I feel it links very well with the theme of Identity. This is because the viewer is placed in a corner of a room and has to find the 5 outcomes that are in that VR building. This relates to identity as it puts the viewer in a way, in the artist’s/my shoes in the search to find my identity.
I am very happy with the final images of this project on the theme of identity. I love how I have successfully talked about past experiences in my life and managed to turn it into art. This project has really helped me turn my pain into a series of beautiful and artistic images.
The planning went really well and I said everything I needed to say through these images. But, next time i’ll make sure to think about props and how to use them successfully as you can see in my contact sheets some comments didn’t stick quite well. Also, the background for “Manipulation” could have been done faster if we thought about the colour of the props and background which is always important to think about.
I have clearly related my images to the key artists and have shown a great understanding of photo analysis, use of lighting and have shown great expertise with photo manipulation.
I strongly believe I have achieved the main purpose for this project which was to mix identity and portraiture. I have powerfully touched on areas like identity, sexual identity, how others opinions may change how you see yourself and I admire the way that I left the audience on a cliff hanger; having them decide what the final image “Ghostin” could mean to the whole project. For example, as explained above it could mean that the artists has moved past these hurts and the criticism they have had in the past is becoming nothing but a memory, or, the criticism is taking over the artist slowly becoming one. This could mean that the audience chooses the identity of the artist; are they someone strong, who’s moved past the experiences or is their identity confused?
The fact I am basically getting the audience to choose my identity adds irony as the project talked about rude and negative these comments could be to someone, talking about being driven into madness and having the constant fear that you’re being watched. This at last makes strain which identifies with how Lara needed her crowd to feel the feeling of being strange and crazy yet some way or another ordinary.
In conclusion, I am very excited to share this project with you, viewer. I hope you can relate or find comfort in my photographs.
The two images above form Claude Cahun and Carole Benitah both explore identity. This is because in the pictures Their appears to be a lack of identity due to the simplicity of both pictures. In Claude’s picture you can only see her head in some sort of object that appears to be made of either plastic or glass as there are reflections coming off this making it difficult to fully see Claude’s face. Moreover, you can only see her head in the picture as well which gives this a lack of identity as you can’t really see much of the person in the picture.
As for Carole’s picture, the faces in the picture are covered in what appears to be red stitching on every face with the strings coming off them tangled up. This shows a lack of identity just like Claude’s picture even though they aren’t to similar because due to the faces being covered up you don’t really have a see for what the emotions on the people’s faces are meaning you couldn’t really imagine what their expressing if they are. Either happy or miserable.
Looking at both of the images, the pictures look similar in the format of how they were taken. They both appear to have a fairly fast shutter speed of 1/125 as there isn’t much movement that is blurred in the images. Another comparison in hoe the pictures where taken, they both appear to of have an aperture of f16 in both pictures as the background and the main appeal of the pictures are both clear visually. As for the ISO, it appears to have a low sensitivity of 200 because you can see some sort of speckles in the pictures but I think this is due to the when the pictures where taken as cameras weren’t as good as they are now.
Claude Cahun was a Born-on October 25th in 1894 and was born in Nantes into a Jewish family who was a lesbian transgender which was expressed later on in her life with the photography that she worked with.
Cahuns work was involved around writing, photography and theatre. Claude was mostly remembered for her highly staged self-portraits and tableaux that incorporated the visual aesthetics of Surrealism. During the 1920s Claude produced a large number of self-portraits in various guises such as aviator, dandy doll, body builder, vampire and angel. Most of Claude’s portraits include the artist looking directly at the viewer with her head shaved, most of the time revealing her shoulders, and a blurring of gender indicators and behaviours which goes to undermine the patriarchal gaze.
In 1937 Cahun and Moore settled in Jersey. Which was in the time period of the fall of France and the German occupation of Jersey and other Channel Islands, they became active as resistance workers and propagandists. Against the war, Cahun and Moore produced a lot of anti-German fliers. The couple would then attend many German military events. In Jersey, strategically placing their pamphlets in soldiers’ pockets, on their chairs, and in cigarette boxes for soldiers to find. Cahun and Moore’s resistance efforts weren’t only political but also artistic actions, using their creative talents to manipulate and undermine the German authority. This was done in many ways with Claude dressing up as a transgender taking photos in which would show the mix that she could go between like dressing up as a pretty doll with weights besides her.
A seen in the picture above, it’s quite apparent in stating that you can see the picture was most likely taken in the 1940’s as the picture is in black and white due to the technology in cameras wasn’t as good as it is now. However, this works quite well as the contrast between black and white stands out great with the writing that is written on her top also, the love hearts that are drawn onto Claude’s face. It appears that there was some sort of stand possibly used to keep the camera in position in taking this picture of Claude. The tones in this picture are light bas you can see that everything in the picture is visible, even the background also, you can see that there are light reflections coming off the weights meaning there was some source of light used to make the picture overall stand out. Finally, in this picture Claude is dressed up as a pretty doll with weighs alongside her, this goes to show how she was trying to portray that society shouldn’t judge you for wanting to be free as she seems to be confused in picking between being male or female which could be caused due to society being so judgmental.
In the photo I am going to have me as the main subject because it is about me and my identity and i want the focus to be me. To take the photo I will be using self timer as it will be easier than trying to direct someone else to take the photo and it can be a self portrait.
What
I will be sat either in the middle section of the photo or slightly to the side surrounded by objects and my room reflecting different things about me.
Why
I want to take these pictures because I think identity is more than who you are as a person and can be reflected in objects, the objects also tell a story as they are strong messages that describe who I am as a person, what hobbies and interests I have and preferences.
Where
The location will be my room because I think that someone’s room or personal space, such as an office, can describe a lot about someone because usually it reflects them directly as they spend most time in there meaning that it is their own world, surrounding themselves with things they want to be surrounded with and personalising every part to themselves.
When
I will be taking the photos during the day so that I can use natural light, however on a day where there is no sun and the sky is grey because I do not want the picture to be really warm as I think that would impact the mood of the image and I want the objects in the room to set the mood because I am trying to describe me through them.
How
I will be using a digital camera and self timer so that I can take them myself.
Contact Sheet
First I set up my camera so that you would be able to see most of the half of my room with the most ‘personality’ focusing on the busiest part of my room. I set my camera on the TV (Time Value) setting so that I could ensure the image would be sharp and crisp by focusing on the shutter speed. I used the natural grey light from outside and white LED lighting to make the image bright and light. I then changed the LED lighting on a warmer setting because I did not like how cold the image was. I then decided to focus on the ISO settings as I realised that the shutter speed was not the issue and was more about the lighting.
Alec Soth ~ Johnny Cash’s Boyhood Home, Dyress, AK, 2002
The lighting use in this photograph is natural light from the outside and is not controlled in any way. The aperture in the image is higher because that way there is more of the landscape in the image, also the image is not over or under exposed and looks like a normal image. There is not much depth of field in this image because the background is just the plain grey sky, this adds an element of simplicity to the image and adds to the isolated mood with the cool tones in the photo. The photo has a range of cool and warm tones coming mainly from the sky and the land in the photo. This creates the centre horizontal split and makes it have more of an impact as it creates a juxtaposition between the two. Overall it is a cooler image as it is darker and the grey sky takes up the top two thirds of the photo. The photo is quite 2D as the land and house is in the foreground of the image and the sky is the background which makes it seem empty and isolated. The building being a house adds an element of character to the photo because it is someone’s home which is the centre of this photo which personalises it. The house being positioned in the centre surrounded by the emptiness creates a sense of calming.
Image 2:
Rania Matar ~ A Girl and Her Room
The lighting used in this photo seems to be artificial lighting because the shadow behind the subject (the girl) is very harsh and the light seems to be white studio lights as they are reflecting off the concrete wall and lighten the room. There seems to be a mix with natural light coming from above the photo. The overall image is bright which is due to the lower aperture which is allowing more light to go into the camera lens creating a bright image. The photo is shallow and has very little depth of field because the image stops at the wall, however the bed and the girl are closer to the camera which creates a difference with the background bringing them into the fore ground and giving the photo more shape. The photo has a large range of tones due to the lighting used as it has created darker and lighter tones. The layout between the objects in the photo and the girl are placed surrounding her but in an overwhelming way like they are controlling her. Linking to the context of identity this image shows a sense of loss of identity or identity theft because the things around her are very simple and dull which creates a gloomy mood. this could also relate to the location of the image as it is taken from a home in the middle east which is a less fortunate, poorer country which cannot necessarily afford things they want or added extras and focus on the most important needs such as food and shelter.
Comparison:
Both photos are quite grey and have a similar dull atmosphere shown in different ways. They both share a sense of isolation, Image 1 is showing isolation as a personality in a more positive way, whereas Image 2 is showing isolation from herself and her identity in a negative way. The depth of field in both are shallow but in different way because Image 1 is a very 2D image and is flat but Image 2 has different shapes and is more 3D because the objects that surround the photo give it shape and the wall has different tones and is not completely flat. Image 1 is spilt into two with a harsh horizon in the centre of the photo, whereas Image 2 is not split and works with all the elements together.
J Grant Brittain is a 65 year old photographer who has shot the skateboarding scene for over 3 decades.
J Grant Brittain
The reason I have chosen to reference his work when completing my project on identity is because he has grown with the culture of skateboarding and he understands how to capture its essence very well. I am also fond of the way he doesn’t limit his work to the conventional action-shot fashion. He broadens his work into a deeper sense to capture the identity of the skaters and their emotions towards the culture of skateboarding. For example the following image captures the identity of the person as it exhibits the subjects emotion and tells a story about the person.
J Grant Brittain
In the above image Grant uses high contrast to deepen the shadows around the subjects face to relay more emotion and definition. This is a way he included themes of identity in his work. The subjects identity is also explored by giving the image context and showcasing the subjects interests and culture he does this by composing the image with the subject holding a broken skateboard. Grant also does a good job of isolating the subject by photographing him with an contrasting background which gives the image a pleasing visual form.
Additionally, when Grant shoots the action shots he doesn’t just focus on showcasing the manoeuvre of the skateboarder but rather their style and environment which many skaters will tell you is far more admirable and important than the tricks you are doing. A skateboarders style and creativity is a what makes up their identity. This creative identity formation is a huge part of the culture of skateboarding and this is one thing that 3 decades of Grants work has made clear.
J Grant Brittain; Claude Cahun Comparison
Claude Cahun
J Grant Brittain
These two images by Claude Cahun and J Grant Brittain both suggest the exploration of Identity. Both images focus on a person and their facial expression and emotion. The compositions both tell a story that we can see behind the eyes of the subjects. The subjects are both photographed with their style being flaunted, the self portrait of Claude her upper body is positions in a confident, striking manner and her chic jewellery and clothing is also seen, the skater in the other composition has a chaotic yet focused style to him with his his creativity shown through his customised helmet which is a visual centre-piece of the composition.
The way the two artists question the theme of identity differs. Claude explores the idea of questioning her identity and her troubles with identity. This can be seen in the above composition with the placement of the mask in the top left corner suggesting notions of multiple identities and is masking her true identity. However on the contrary Grant explores a subject who has found his true identity through the passion of his creative field (skateboarding). Instead of challenging identity he is celebrating the concept through capturing the subject in the moment of passion and expression.
The images both share low saturation and high contrast. This highlights the subject facial features in the two images by accentuating difference in the highlights and darks in the face of the subject.
The images have different textures the self portrait of Claude has a quick shutter speed and appropriate ISO to create a smooth professional portrait texture. This is compared to Grants image which has a slower shutter speed, higher ISO and clarity to show more motion and noise in the image to create a rougher texture.
During the 5 year occupation of Jersey by the Germans during the second World War, amongst many terrible things that happened, many antagonists where deported to camps or imprisoned. 75 years ago the island was liberated by allied forces. The last antagonist prisoners to walk free days before the liberation were the Les mesdames who are regarded as local heroes for contributing to the liberation of Jersey.
Lucy Schwob better known by their pseudonym, Claude Cahun was the better known half of the Les mesdames, which was the name that Jersey islanders gave her and her step-sister/lover Suzanne Malherbe (known by her pseudonym Marcel Moore).
Claude came to Jersey from Paris with Marcel in 1937. The couple sought Jersey out for two reasons; because of the jubilant memories of childhood holidays to the neighbouring island, and it was a familiar place to escape the abhorrent fascism and antisemitism that was terrorizing Europe in the ’30s as Claud was Jewish on her fathers side.
Cahun was a French surrealist photographer, writer, and sculptor. A consistent element present in her work is her unconventional exploration and representation of the concept of Identity. Claud explored her identity in a way where she challenged preconceived notions of sexuality and gender of the time. Claude presented this in her works where she would photograph self portraits where stereotypical gender characteristics where aggravated, for example the following piece where she can be seen composing her appearance as a masculine “circus strongman” while still conveying typical feminine appearance stereotypes such as the bold lipstick:
Claud Cahun
Cahun believed that gender was exchangeable. Assuming different identities was her strong suit.
Claude Cahun
In the above image Claude represents the idea of multiple coexisting personalities by photographing a self portrait by creating a double exposure which is done by shooting an image on film and then shooting another with the subject repositioned on the same segment of film. She has used harsher fluorescent lighting in this image which has created a over-exposed, porcelain looking facial composure whilst accentuating the shadows around her jaw eyes, this could’ve been a way of exploring her identity by ridiculing the identity she was portraying by exaggerating the stereotypical feminine beauty aesthetic of the time being the over-powdered face and eccentric makeup. She also creates greater depth and form in the composition by separating the subject from the background by using a dark negative background and high contrast which opposes the light foreground giving the image an unconventional portraiture look.
Francesca Woodman, Born in New York in 1958, was an American photographer famous for her monochrome photography of both herself and other female models. The main common feature in Woodman’s work is her use of movement captured by long exposure, creating a ghostly affect. Her videography has been featured in exhibitions around the world, like the Helsinki City Art Museum in Finland, the Tate Modern in London and the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation in Miami. Woodman continued her inspirational work that brought mental health issues to life until she died at the age of 22 in 1981.
This image, titled “Space 2, Providence, Rhode Island” depicts Woodman’s underlying sense of human fragility. This depiction of mental health struggle is exaggerated to prove that although through first glance a person may look okay, however their mental illness consumes their entire existence in many cases.
The moody and ominous lighting is provided by natural sunlight shining through the window in a downwards direction. Although the shadows casted are harsh and dark, the edges on the shadows are blurred and hazy, proving the lighting to be slightly soft. The darkest areas of the photograph can be seen in the shadows and the ghostly figure, these areas are juxtaposed against the brighter areas such as the light casted onto the walls through the window.
The straight, thick lining along the floor could be said to be seen as a leading line as it directs the viewers eyes to the mysterious figure towards the middle-left of the image from either side of the photograph.
Although there is no representation of repetition in this image, there is a strong sense of echo, displayed by the delayed movement of the model. This is due to the use of long-exposure by which the camera lens is open for a longer period of time in order to capture the late movement within the picture. The method of long exposure provides an eerie tone to the photograph.
There is a combination of both organic and geometric shapes within this image. Straight-edged shapes can be seen in the lining of the floor and the triangular-shaped shadow in the bottom-right hand corner of the photograph. On the other hand, organic and curved shapes can be seen in the indistinct figure just off the centre of the image, as her back is curved.
It is difficult to work out the depth of field within this photograph as the majority of the background is empty, negative space. This means that there is little comparison in focus between the foreground and background. However I believe there is a narrow depth of field as the edges of the image are slightly blurred.
There is little representation of texture shown in this image as that is not the main focus of Francesca Woodman’s work, although if I had to comment on texture I would say it is smooth as there is no rough or jagged edges seen in the image.
There is a range of tones from dark to light in this image which creates an uneasy atmosphere for the viewer. the darkest tones can be seen in the shadows and in the model crouching in the left thirds of the image. The lighter tones can be seen in around the window, as the natural sunlight beams in and highlights a small section of the photograph. This image tends towards darkness as the majority of the image is in darkness.
There is no colour in this image because of Francesca Woodman’s common theme of greyscale aesthetic within her series of images. The lack of colour brings to light a visual representation of how many people view mental illness as seeing life ‘without colour’. I believe that if this image was taken in colour it would take away the sense of mystery and doomy ambience of the photograph.
The composition of the image is very simple, as the background is very empty and there is a singular focal point in the photograph. I would say this image is unbalanced as the camera is set at a leaning angle rather than central and the focal point is not dead-centre in the photo. There is no influence of geometric-shaped positioning which makes the image harder to comprehend and understand and the rule of thirds is not used either.
