Mount board 1:
Mount board 2:
For my final layout, I decided to use black mount board/ card as I felt it well supported my images due to their vibe and tones. The black card allows the images to stand out against each other and makes the layout look cleaner overall, especially with the black and white edited images. I am very happy with my photographs and narrative, which created my photo book.
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Evaluation:
Overall, I am very happy with these final photos. I feel that I linked them all to one main theme, yet they tell different stories individually. I edited them all to be unique and different through tones and shadows. Therefore, these images stand out between each other and makes viewers question the narrative behind the photos.
Here is an online link to my photobook- Age of Innocence
To start with this process, I carefully selected around 20-25 images I was sure I wanted to include in my photobook. To do this, I used the flagging system in Lightroom so it was clear which ones I would be using. I then transferred these images from my ‘Photobook’ folder to my ‘FINAL’ folder. To create my photobook I am using Adobe Lightroom Classic.
From these 26 final images, I chose which image I would like to use as my front and back cover. I picked an image which stood out to me as there is an array of vibrant colours and it can be stretched over the entire book cover.
Initial cover:
From this, I sorted my images into three sections. One as the beginning of my book under the title ‘Age of Innocence’. Second is the middle part of my book, which is completely black and white, under the title ‘The Insecurities’. Finally, the ending of my book which is under the title ‘The Present’. These sections represent the different narratives I am trying to present, which could be seen as a reflection of a teenage girls’ life. Viewers are able to create their own versions of the narrative, although I am aiming to create the main messages.
These are my initial ideas for the first photo in each section.
Throughout the photobook, I am hoping to present feelings connected to colours and tones of my images. For example, the entire ‘Age of Innocence’ section is beautifully colourful and bright, reflecting nature and happiness within the girls. This section metaphorically represents ‘time before social media’ for girls and how everyone was so carefree in society. The middle section, ‘The Insecurities’, is entirely black and white, to show how depressing and low girls feel when they gain insecurities, which could be from scrolling through social media and seeing numerous photos of other women who they may feel threatened by. Finally, the last section ‘The Present’ is an attempt to show the lives of girls that have gone a little bit off the rails with their friends, due to the effects of social media and it’s impact on how girls react to it.
In the last section, I used a range of colours and tones to convey different moods of the photograph. For example, the black and white photos are representing a drunk, lonely girl, who is seen invested on her phone. The coloured images represent sensuality and an intimate feminine connection. Lastly, the bluey toned images convey freedom and rebellion, as we see the subjects hanging out of a moving car at night time.
Final front cover:
Initial:
Final:
Initially, I had both of these images their original way. I started experimenting and thought about flipping one of these images horizontally to make it inverted. I definitely preferred the inverted image as it made the whole photo look more central.
Initial layout:
Final Layout:
I decided to remove the subheadings for the start of each photoshoot as I felt it was more powerful without them and can leave viewers questioning on the narrative behind the images.
Firstly, to start with my selection process of images, I moved all of my green rated images and some of my favourite yellow rated images into one folder on Lightroom named ‘Best Images’. From this, I then carefully selected my few favourite images from this folder and moved them into a different folder named ‘Photobook’. This allowed me to significantly reduce the amount of final images I had to chose from. The folder ‘Photobook’ also includes the edited images I could use.
Here is my selection rage of my favourite images, in which I am going to pick a final few to use in my photobook.
I think that these three photoshoots were hugely successful as I achieved to create a narrative within my photos, similarly to Justine Kurland. I hope that viewers are able to create their own narratives for these photos, depending on how they want to view them.
Finally, I am going to create another folder named ‘FINAL’, in which I will transfer a few of my favourite images that I will be using in my photobook.
To do this, I will use the flagging system on Lightroom Classic to make it clear which photos I need to transfer to my ‘FINAL’ folder.
For my photobook, I will be presenting my images in a time chronological order to represent the growth of girls in contemporary society. I will be using the concept of online social media to show how girls have grown up to become different due to the influence of social media.
The first part of my photobook will represent the time in life where girls didn’t rely on social media to make friends or be happy. I will make sure the subjects in my photos are surrounded by colour and a nature setting.
The second part of my photobook will show the affects of social media, like insecurities and having to worry about their appearance. I will show this through my subject looking at her reflection in the mirror with a worried facial expression.
The third and final part of my photobook will represent girls nowadays, where social media and mobile phones have taken over their lives. I will show this through the rebellion of girls who are drinking alcohol and smoking/vaping, as well as showing the friendships and connections between the girls.
1. Research a photo-book and describe the story it is communicating with reference to subject-matter, genre and approach to image-making.
FEMALE- Jitka Hanzlova
This photobook explores the concept of femininity through reflective photographs of women. It is composed mainly of portraits of women taken in various parts of the world, showing the different lives people live. Many photos capture the personal lives of women, including vulnerable moments, presenting them as natural and spontaneous. The images in Female are deeply sensitive and evocative, with Hanzlova’s characteristic soft, atmospheric style.
2. Who is the photographer? Why did he/she make it? (intentions/ reasons) Who is it for? (audience) How was it received? (any press, reviews, awards, legacy etc.)
Jitka Hanzlova is a Czech photographer, who uses photography to address the ways in which surrounding environments shape identity. Her work often focuses on the themes of identity, memory and the human connection to environments. She gained recognition for exploring identity through her portrait photography and landscape images. Through her photographs in her book Female, she creates a sense of quiet reflection of women
3. Deconstruct the narrative, concept and design of the book and apply theory above when considering:
The book ‘FEMALE’ is simple. It’s size is a little bit larger than A4 and has a beige colour wrapped around it, with an image on the front of the book of a singular woman. This emphasises the femininity aspect that this book is trying to evoke.
The book is thick, and full of images of different women portraying their own lives- it is 127 pages.
Literary sources: Go to this blog post here: Theory: Literary Sources and copy relevant key texts relating to the subject of your essay and list in alphabetical order in your bibliography. In addition, find your own key texts in relation to artists selected for in-depth analysis in your essay and list these too. These texts could be interviews with the artist, or reviews/ critique’s written by others. See useful online sites/ sources here .
Essay Plan
Make a plan that lists what you are going to write about in each paragraph – essay structure
Essay question: How is feminism and identity manipulated through the evolution of social media?:
Introduction (250-500 words): What is your area study? Which artists will you be analysing and why? How will you be responding to their work and essay question?
Pg 1 (500 words): Historical/ theoretical context within art, photography and visual culture relevant to your area of study. Make links to art movements/ isms and some of the methods employed by critics and historian.
Pg 2 (500 words): Analyse first artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.
Pg 3 (500 words): Analyse second artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.
Conclusion (250-500 words): Draw parallels, explore differences/ similarities between artists/photographers and that of your own work that you have produced
Bibliography: List all relevant sources used
Kotz, L. (1998) ‘”Aesthetics” of Intimacy’ in Bright, D. (1998) The Passionate Camera: Photography and bodies of desire. London: Routledge
van Zoomen, L. (2019). ‘Feminist Theory’ in Dixon, M. Media Theory for A-Level Students. London: Routledge.
Jansen, C. (2017). Girl on Girl: Art and Photography in the Age of the Female Gaze. London: Laurence King Publishing.
Healy, C. M. (2023) Girlhood, London: Tate Enterprises Ltd.
Sontag, S. (1977) ‘In Plato’s Cave’ in On Photography. London: Penguin Books.
So far, I think this has been my favourite photoshoot overall because it was fun and creative, and it shows a clear connection between the female subjects. In this photoshoot, I focused on the reality of party life, creating a mood of intimacy between the girls. I also tried to include a theme of depression through the impact of social media and how it affects girls when they’re with friends/ going out.
I have chosen my few favourite images out of the whole photoshoot, and edited them to portray the narrative I was aiming for. I wish for these images to convey sensuality and intimacy between the girls as we see they are closely positioned together.
For these images, I wanted to present a depressing, lonely feeling as the subject appears to be drunk and dejected. I wanted to present the subject as drunk so it reflects the rebellious side of teenagers, yet the impact it has on emotions. I really like the contrast between the light and dark shadows because it creates an exaggerated texture, which evokes the emotions within it.
As you can see, I have edited various photos which represent different stories and feelings. I decided to edit these photos in three different ways: Black and white, coloured and blue toned. This is because the tone of the photograph depicts the mood of the scenario. For example, the coloured photos show the subjects drinking as a group, representing a close feminine relationship. Whereas, the black and white images represent a depressing mood and could suggest that the subject is drunk and feels like this. Finally, the blue toned images represents the subjects having fun and shows the freedom they have.
For this photoshoot, I decided to go to the photography studio and take some staged photos of my subject modelling how girls secretly feel behind their social media.
For this photoshoot, I went to the studio to take some photos using a mirror as a prop. Here, the subject is reflecting ideas around beauty standards. For example, looking at her body in a negative way and using makeup as a coverup to build self confidence.
Through the use of social media, girls have grown up feeling insecure due to the presentation of fake beauty standards of other girls. On the other hand, social media can also ease many of the insecurities girls feel about their identity and relationships. Through the constant sounds of notifications and text messages, it makes it clear that they are wanted, needed and liked which gives them this feel of happiness from social media. Everything online is easy access, including both the negatives and positives.
For the self-conscious or insecure girl, technology can become a crippling addiction, not just for connection but the elusive promise of being liked by everyone. This leads to the change in personalities, growing up faster than usual, using makeup as a way to present them in a different way, and the internet can sometimes even lead to girls gaining eating disorders due to many other girls posting their bodies and editing them to make them look different to how they are originally.
For younger girls, who are more naïve than older girls, they are more likely to grow up with these values around how to present themselves in a ‘prettier’ way, or how to become more popular.