For my first photoshoot I am going to take pictures of my friend putting make up on since it is similar to one of Cindy Sherman photoshoots getting ready. Below is the inspiration photoshoot from Cindy Sherman.
My photoshoot isn’t going be the exactly same thing at Cindy Sherman’s photoshoot above but it will be the same back story which is her getting ready.
2rd photoshoot:
For my second photoshoot I have decided to take a photoshoot a bit similar to Cindy Sherman’s picture below. My mate is going to either pose looking at the mirror, look at the mirror and put perfume or staring at jewellery.
3nd photoshoot:
For my third photoshoot, its not related to cindy cherman but it is something that has to do with masculinity and femininity. I am going to take photoshoots of girls with things that people thing are more masculine such as a helmet or driving a motorbike.
Overall, I think my work related closely to Anthropocene as I communicated this through the use of different techniques that interested me from Edward Burtnysky and George Marazakis. Each artist inspired me differently as they were very different in how they portrayed their message. This was what I liked about both, as I could explore from different views and thought processes in order to create my response.
Edward Burtnysky
Burtnyskly explored more the infrastructure and industry side, capturing in abstract ways, which acts as a straight up message, as you don’t have to look for the message he wants to tell you, instead it there, right in front of you. His technique is very much giving you the straight up, real view, wanting you to see for what it is, in other words not sugar coating disasters that are happening all around us.
In response, I used unique perspectives to achieve this look which showed the abstract and detailed look I was going for. I visited Val De La Mere reservoir as this showed a unique contrast between natural and industrial infrastructure. From capturing different views along the reservoir gave interesting perspectives look at giving a stronger message.
George Marazakis
For this photoshoot, I enjoyed looking at Marazakis work and the unique techniques he uses which overall created an interesting ‘subtle’ message. This different, but effective way of communicating messages that overall has a big impact on our world. I found creating photos in this way showed different views engaging you in different ways. This closely links to Anthropocene because this unique way shows us humans impact on the world, allowing you to see from different angles things happening.
Stephanie Jung works as a freelance photographer, based in Germany. She Discovered her passion in photography after finishing her studies in visual communication back in 2010. Since 2012 she has been working as a freelance photographer. She Enjoys traveling the world, especially to large, vertical cities where her photography work is in its best elements. She has had many of her photos shown in various magazines and art galleries. You can see her portfolio here.
how to take photos like Stephanie Jung:
She decides her location by walking round cities and does it spontaneously, this gives her the freedom to shoot where ever she feels she wants to. She then takes multiple exposures and then uses post production techniques to enchance the colour and feel of her images. She creates layer upon layer of each image. This make the image feel like its moving along in time, instead of a single snippet of time.
Her Photos are often multiple merged images, each slightly offset from each other. Stephanie Jung does this to create a sense of movement, matched with the busy environment. This is a better way to present the busy, chaotic city life rather than using long exposure methods. I think her photos like strongly with Anthropocene as her urban photos are almost overwhelming, in addition to being completely disconnected with nature. Compare this to some of her Nature photoshoots, they more still and peaceful as there is little movement happening in the natural environment. The photo below is a good example:
Edward Burtynsky, born in 1955, is renowned for his continued investigation of the ‘indelible human signature’ of the planet, caused by are excessive destruction of the natural landscape, for resources, land, energy, dump sights and more. He is famous for his large format photographs of industrial landscapes, That show immense detail of the increasing development of industrialization. This size and detail can overwhelm the viewer with with “astonishing colour and relentless detail”, always focusing on the consequences of global consumerism. He is an advocate for environmental conservationism and his work is deeply entwined in his advocacy.
“Our dependence on nature to provide the materials for our consumption and our concern for the health of our planet sets us into an uneasy contradiction. For me, these images function as reflecting pools of our times.”
He has received the inaugural TED Prize in 2005, and won the Tiffany Mark award in 2012. In 2006, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2016 he received the Governor General’s Award for Visual Arts. He also holds six honorary doctorate degrees.
He has many pieces of work, but the one I will be focusing the most on is his recent Anthropocene Project. In the photos below, taken from both aerial and subterranean perspectives, and presented at a large scale, the patterns and scars of human-altered landscapes appear to form an abstracted painterly language.
Photo Analysis:
This photo found in his ‘oil’ series was taken in Pennsylvania USA, called ‘breezewood’. The photograph depicts around 5 gas stations all within seconds of driving distance between them. This photo instantly stands out to the view with bright colours from the various bill boards, trying do draw drivers in. Its almost unreal how many gas stations, shots and restaurants are all crammed into one image, along one road. It removes the power of an individual human in comparison to all the huge, globalized franchises. It shows how much we have evolved as humans from the single corner shop that would sell only the essentials to these company’s that sell everything we could ever need at our fingertips. The automobiles are the most common object in this photo, and are seen throughout the whole image, likely on purpose as Burtynsky has strong views on how cars have impacted the world as seen from this quote:
Burtynsky states, “The auto-mobile is the main basis for our modern industrial world, giving us a certain freedom and changing our world dramatically. The automobile was made possible because of the invention of the internal combustion engine and its utilization of both oil and gasoline. The raw material and the refining process contained both the idea and an interesting visual component for me.”
My plan is to relate my work with Ed Ruscha and Peter Mitchell. The main objective is to keep my images vintage and keep an old aesthetic. I will continue to take images of a variety of petrol stations like Ruscha and edit them into a typology to create difference. I will slightly edit them to make it look as if I am using an old camera however this factor may be challenging as technology as evolved and is difficult to make it look not modern. Within Mitchell, my focused objective is to take images of old buildings and compare them with modern buildings such as a modern cinema, shops, churches and old housing. With Mitchell, I will not be editing my images completely due to the fact it is not the image that is old it is the subject. This creates a contrast between the two artists as they are both obtaining an old aesthetic however in a varied way. A similarity I will be executing is the front on from far away point of view so the viewers can see the whole aspect. A large feature that is different is the time these were took and the choice of colours. I will be keeping my images in relation to Ruscha black and white and Mitchells in colour so I obtain my clear aim and succeed in my objective.
Where?
My work with Ruscha is specified as it is targeted towards petrol stations due to the carbon footprint which links to the Anthropocene. Furthermore, my plan is go around everywhere in the island to take multiple images. However, my plan with Mitchell is to focus in St. Helier as I believe it has the oldest features of every day life. However, it may be challenging to find old aesthetic factors as everything is evolving to be modern. Therefore, to make it easier and more accessible I will compare modern and vintage buildings to create variety.
Why?
In particular, I have chosen these artists in relation to the Anthropocene because I wanted to photograph the causes rather than the outcome and consequences. This is why I chose Ruscha due to the fact petrol has one of the largest carbon footprints and effect air pollution massively. So instead of completely showing the viewers the effect, I will be making viewers think deeply about every day factors people use and execute without giving it a second thought. I have chosen Mitchell to show the materials and the effect of evolving to more modern features due to building and the use of materials etc.
Photoshoot one: For this photoshoot, I decided on taking photos around the recycling centre because I think it really links to the topic Anthropocene. This idea is different as the recycling centre shows a positive perspective on how we can reduce pollution and can impact people’s decisions.
Photoshoot two: For this photoshoot, I decided to take photos near the tunnel in town because there is a large rate of traffic congestion near there. Also, I decided to take photos of man-made sculptors and buildings which look out of place and are affects from the Anthropocene historic period.
Photoshoot three: For this photoshoot, I decided on taking photos around the waterfront because it is packed with newly built, modern houses and this shows clutter and chaos.
This photograph shows the close connection and relation between the humans impact on earth and nature itself. Firstly, I admired how the cliff-paths continuously change direction, leading you off into the far distance which creates an interesting depth to the photo. It subtly shows how humans have impacted earth, not necessarily displaying bad things but subtly showing you minor changes like this, which makes you think of this on a larger scale, perhaps being more aware of your surroundings. I like how the paths leads you off into the distance, allowing you to notice changes in scenery as you notice more of the changes made inland, from fields to housing developments.
In comparison to Marazakis’s work you can see how he shows you scenes which make you question his intentions behind the message he wants to communicate to you. As you can see, from looking at my work I have tried to create this effect using similar intentions and techniques, from choice of scenery to editing. Marazakis takes his photos in certain conditions in order for you to feel the message. In response I captured my photos early morning and very slightly edited the contrast in shadows.
For this photoshoot I have decided to go to the beaches of Jersey and collect all the waste from the beaches and take photos of each piece of waste individually and then also take photos of the waste arranged into a detailed design or even if its possible I want to create sea life and sea creatures out of the waste to create a story behind the images and to represent the impact that plastic has on our world today and the sea life in the ocean.
Artist Reference:
Mandy Barker
Beaches I will go to:
St ouens
St brelades
Plemont
What time of day I will do my photoshoot?
For this shoot I will have to go to the beaches within any of the daylight hours to collect my props, and for the actual Photoshoot of my objects I can do this at any time of day as I will be using a black backdrop and artificial lighting to make the objects more visible.
Mood Board of ideas:
Photoshoot plan 2:
Main Idea:
For this photoshoot I have decided that I am going to take photos of popular places on island which represent the work and things that went on in the older generations. For example I am going to take photos of some of the war bunkers and places on the island and when editing I will edit old jersey soldiers into the images this gives a contrast between the past and the present. Another location I may do will be fields and edit it with some old jersey farmers in the foreground. Lastly i might take photos of the harbour and areas around boats to represent where all of jerseys materials and resources located from back in the 1800s.
One of the main focuses and aspects I want to involve in my photoshoot on Anthropocene within Jersey is the way that man-made structures restrict the growth and nurturing of the natural landscape alongside the ecosystems that reside there. Alongside this, I would like to demonstrate how the fast pace of human development not only adds to this issue (e.g. disregarded, abandoned structures mean that plants cannot thrive in or around this area, causing them to dry out and die or swarm the structure and take over in an unnatural way), this increases the amount of waste production. Another issue I would like to address within the Anthropocene is pollution:
Air pollution
Water pollution
Land pollution (e.g litter in town centres)
By doing this I hope to highlight how using man-made products/services for personal gain produces a selfish and harmful effect on the world in hundreds of different ways. This way, I’m pointing out the subtle problems that we walk by every single day nonchalantly when realistically, these factors build up and combine to damage the world as we stand by without realization.
1
The first aspect I would like to photoshoot the derelict greenhouses located in the more rural/ countryside areas of the Island, for example in St Clements:
I am going to take inspiration from this image in George Marazakis work of ‘A Cure for Anthropocene’:
I am going to use artificial light e.g. from torches and get some of my friends to stand on the opposing side, behind the greenhouse. This way, the interior of the greenhouse will be reflected and visible through the glass to create an eerie yet mesmerizing feeling through the strange beauty of the shadows poking through. This way, not only will I be able to show more detail but I will be able to give the impression of a sunset/sunrise leaving it open to experimentation once I edit it in Lightroom.
The reason why I am taking this approach is also because derelict greenhouses around Jersey was used for tomato and potato farming around the island. However, due to mechanical and chemical-based farming, they are no longer in use as human development has leaned more towards using synthetic fertilizer. This is a technique that relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to boost yields and control pests, which can have negative impacts on the environment and human health but produces higher yields in the short-term due to greed. This leaves the greenhouses vacant to catch dirt and sit there, not allowing the environment to thrive, instead forcing it to decay. On the 20th of January 2023, the Chief Minister stated:
“When glasshouses are redundant to the horticultural industry or are derelict, they should be removed, and the land restored to agricultural use,”
The current Bridging Island Plan, which covers 2022 to 2025, has a distinct policy on derelict and redundant glasshouses, which states that their redevelopment for non-agricultural use will not be supported. This means that the construction of more properties will be denied in order to salvage these spaces if they are truly redundant derelict greenhouses.
2
The second way I would like to photoshoot the Anthropocene is pollution. In order to do this I am going to go into St Helier as this is the town centre and the most urban location on the island, being where the most people live. To look at land pollution I’m going to collect litter from my household, for example crisp packets and plastic bottles that I use. Then, I’m going to incorporate the natural landscape into it by photographing flowers and other plants coming out of the item which I am using. I would then like to piece this all together by placing it onto a black sheet and taking an image from above.
My concept behind this is to demonstrate how plastic is becoming more present within the natural landscape itself, being silently detrimental. For example, Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year. This causes intestinal injury and death, transferring plastic up the food chain to bigger fish and marine mammals. This results in a high percentage of microplastics being ingested by humans themselves due to the high content in the seafood being consumed. Whilst the accurate figure on how much plastic actually enters the ocean is uncertain, it is estimated that there are 100 million tonnes of plastic in oceans around the world.
This results in approximately 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone, however many become trapped in the litter and get hurt alongside this in things such as beer tags, plastic water bottles and plastic bags. If a marine animal does become trapped in plastic, it has severe consequences of reduced mobility, starvation, drowning, or suffocation. Alongside this, it can cause the need for amputations, infections or growths, causing them to be less capable of finding food as well as being much more vulnerable to predators, causing an imbalance within the food chain. Animals often eat plastic because they are not always able to distinguish plastic from food. Organisms that are filter feeders (plankton, shellfish, baleen whales) or that live under the beach sand (lugworms) cannot make that distinction.
I would also like to highlight this issue because it demonstrates how the careless and selfish actions taken (littering and polluting the planet) has high consequences for humans themselves. Due to the high level of plastic in the ocean, this becomes consumed by an unknowing small fish, causing the microplastic ingested to travel up the food chain from prey to predator. Eventually, it reaches the seafood that we enjoy at home or in restaurants. In fact, studies have found that we eat about 52,000 particles annually, possibly 5 grams of microplastic per week – about the weight of a credit card. In 2022, it was found in a study that humans actually have microplastics in their blood due to high exposure to this pollution – 77% of people who were tested had microplastics in their bloodstream. This high hazard of mismanaged waste approximately kills 1 million people annually.
When plastics end up in the environment, they can bind with these pollutants, including persistent organic toxins such as PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins, both of which are not only very resistant to degradation but can also accumulate in animal fats and tissues. This means that the plastic will not break down and decompose over time, only gets broken down into smaller and smaller pieces. However, the particles do not actually degrade.
One photoshoot idea I had was to focus on Pollution and waste. For this photoshoot I am simply going to go to popular places on the island where people would most likely litter and pollute the earth. This could be places such as parks, forests and the town centre.
I decided to do this as Pollution is a big factor of Anthropocene as plastic has become a key factor. Plastic doesn’t biodegrade, it ends up littering soils and ocean beds. This can have damaging effects on wildlife, damaging soils and groundwater. It also has a great impact on global warming as extracting and creating these plastics emits vast amounts of greenhouse gases, This is Plastic pollution. There are also many types of pollution so I am going to try and focus on as many as I can:
Water Pollution– ‘harmful substances—often chemicals or microorganisms—contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water’
Noise pollution– ‘ regular, prolonged or sudden exposure to any unpleasant, damaging, or irritating noise above a certain level which will harm people, wildlife, or the environment.’
thermal pollution– ‘the harmful release of heated liquid into a body of water or heat released into the air a waste product of a business’
Mind map of places I want to visit to take these images:
Photoshoot 2: Greenhouses/glasshouses
This second idea I wanted to focus on greenhouses as we have a few greenhouses (out of use) in jersey and so I would have places to go to.
for example, the photo in the bottom left is similar to what I pass on my way to school so therefore I already have a location in mind and there are a row of out of use greenhouses there. If I cannot manage to get many out of use greenhouses I am also going to extend it to in use ones
Photoshoot 3: Overpopulation
For this photoshoot I am planning on photographing populated areas. I could focus on many different factors of overpopulation which can include population of people, buildings, cars, homes etc.
I live near a field where I can stand at the top and have a view of groups of houses so I am going to do a photoshoot there, another place I am thinking of is town as it is a very populated area almost all of the time. Traffic and cars is also something I want to focus on, this could include cars moving on the road or cars that are parking.
Photoshoot 4: Artist inspiration, Michael Marten
for this photoshoot I am going got take photos inspired by Michael Marten on his work on sea changes. This would mean I would have to take photos at different times since I will have to wait for the tide to be at different places. I think this is a good photoshoot idea as there are many beaches I can go to to take photos as we have many in jersey
