As Collier Schorr is my artist reference I wanted to present my final images as a collage, so I started off by selecting images I want in my collage and putting them in a folder I probably won’t use all of the images in the folder but this is a good starting point.

Creating the collage

⬆ I started Selecting a few images and moving them around until I came up with this layout. I like the way the images positioned however I want to experiment even more and see if there are any other layouts I like.

After moving the photos around I also came up with this layout I prefer this layout more than my previous one as I like the composition and the way the photos use the space more.

Virtual gallery

Above is my virtual gallery which includes my final images. On the left of the gallery is photos I took in the lighting studio which have been edited and used as my final images as they are the best outcomes from the photoshoots I did in the studio with the lighting.

In the middle is my response to Collier Schorr’s Americans collage which includes some of my final images which have been edited and placed in a collage form. This is also why I put it at the centre of my gallery.

On the right is some more of my final images but they are more natural ones and are more simplistic than my other final images but are still equally important.

Evaluation & Comparison

Overall I am pleased with my final outcome and all the time and work I put into this project.

I felt that my final outcome is quite successful as it is like Collier Schorr’s work but with a more modern feel to it, this is because my work resembles more of modern masculinity with the use of lighting and the studio in some of the photos. It is like a comparison to Collier Schorr’s photos which looks quite old and use more older men in the photos, some of the men are cowboys which gives her photos a more wild western feel.

However, there are some similarities such as the pose and facial expression in the main middle photo on both pieces of work which may hint that even though the idea of masculinity is changing, some things are still the same I also tried to use similar visual and technical references in the middle photo on my response, but for the other photos in the collage I tried to be more creative. If I could do the project again I would try and produce multiple outcomes and use a wider range of people in my photoshoots to make my photos more diverse.

⬆ For my first photo I edited I started by cropping it, so the subject was more centred and enhanced the blue by adjusting the colour levels and vibrancy and I also got rid of the blue glow, in the background, on the left behind the arm as the photo looked better without it.

⬆ For my next photo I started off by cropping it to make the subject more in centre and removed any marks with the spot remover tool. Afterwards I wanted to experiment by having my photo in black and white, I liked it but I thought the back and white could be better, so I went through all the options until I found one I really liked.

⬆ I edited the photo above in the same way I did with the previous photo I edited, so I can decide which one to use when I finalise my photos and because I wanted to see how this photo would work in black and white and I think it works well.

⬆ The photo above didn’t need much editing so I only cropped it and slightly adjusted the temperature, exposure and contrast. Which I personally think the photo looks better now as it only need small adjustments and nothing much more than that.

⬆ For this photo I wanted to edit it so stood out especially when it came to colour. I spent ages adjusting the colour levels, shadows, contrast, vibrancy and saturation until I found the perfect balance. What I like about the edited photo is the colours seem more stronger and powerful also the image feels more clearer than in the unedited photo.

In this photoshoot I took photos of my friends outside rather then in the studio, as some of the photos in my artist reference are taken outside. I took photos of them standing there looking masculine.

A collection of my favourite photos from the shoot

Next steps…

• Edit the photos I took from my last two photoshoots
• Present the images in a collage or another composition

For my first photoshoot I was experimenting with coloured gels and lighting. In some of the photos the lighting wasn’t that good as we were only experimenting however some photos turned our really good.

A collection of my favourite photos from the shoot

Outcomes for my next photo shoot

For my next photo shoot I want to try and focus on three things:

• Taking more photos for the shoot
• Taking photos in a different place
• photos with a different person

Out of the three artists I picked I chose Collier Schorr as an artist reference, but first I need to analyse and find out more about his work.

About the photographer

Collier Schorr is an artist and fashion photographer who grew up in New York. Her work explores themes such as history, nationality, war and gender. She is most popularly known for her adolescent portraits which blend photorealism with elements of youthful fantasy.

Examples of her work

Americans

The photo has horizontal lines from what is believed to be metal bars on a wooden gate, the wood on the gate gives the background, of the photo in the middle, a rough texture.

The photo at the back of the montage is taken indoors and uses artificial light. in the photo it looks like there is a man with a hat playing snooker/pool. Having that photo at the back could imply that it is less important and there is a hierarchy in the photos as the photo of the cowboy is placed in the middle, drawing the attention.

The photo in the top left behind the middle photo has a yellow filter to it, you can’t really see what is happening in the photo but it does have a man with a hat in it.

The photo in the top right has a group of people standing possibly around something but you can’t tell what it is because the photo of the cowboy is covering it, the photo looks like it was taken at night with an artificial light possibly from a torch shining at them, however the light is not too bright that it affects the exposure of the photo.

After looking through a photography book on masculinity I found three photographers with photos I liked, now I need to choose one to use as a possible reference.

1. Fouad Elkoury

2. Collier Schorr

3. Mikhael Subotzky

Masculinity and Femininity are binary opposites as they are similar terms with opposite meanings.

Masculinity definition: qualities or attributes regarded as characteristics in men or boys

Femininity definition: qualities or attributes regarded as characteristics in women or girls

Qualities and attributes that define masculinity and femininity are created in the society we live in and may be seen as stereotypes. Different cultures and societies may define these characteristics differently.

Upbringing can also affect peoples ideas on masculine and feminine attributes as they could have been brought up with the idea that certain behaviours are more masculine or feminine than they really are.

Mind map with further thoughts and ideas

Identity is a collection of attributes, beliefs and experiences that shape how we, and other people see ourselves. A person’s identity includes but is not limited to a persons race, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, gender and sexual orientation.

Identity politics is the discussion and political activity around a persons identity. Common groups associated with identity politics and culture wars in the United states Identity politics was Developed after the civil rights movement and include African Americans, Asian Americans, Muslims, Native Americans, Jewish Americans, LGBTQ community and Feminists.

The problem with identity politics now days is it now causes conflict and division instead of being inclusive like it once was. This leads us to the topic of Culture wars.

Culture wars is a cultural conflict betwen different social groups/identities who want to impose their own ideology in society.

Henry Mullins

I chose this layout above by choosing 2 of my best final images and adding a drop shadow and a dark blue frame.

Below is a Virtual Gallery with the Photos I hand picked.