Contact Sheets

I went through the whole photoshoot, picking the best shots and flagging them, then going through the flagged options and colour coding the photos yellow and green to marking the best shots and ones I might use.

Edit One

I needed to crop and reangle this photo as it was slightly slated.

This photo needed, the highlights reduced as there was harsh lighting effecting the cars colour, once reduced I could decease the exposure and adjust the colour mixer panel. Selecting the darker blue, increasing the saturation to bring the cars true colour back to the photo.

Edit Two

This photo is similar to the last but I liked dog jumping up in this one, adding movement to the photo. I went through a very similar editing process, with adjusting the exposure, shadows, highlights and the colour mixer board. On the colour mixer board I tried to match the cars colour not only to the true colour but the previous edits photo.

Edit Three

This one I needed to reduce the shine on the dog that appeared due to the harsh lighting. To do this I used, the exposure on a decrease, as well as the highlights. I made other small adjustments to the image solving smaller issues within it. The cropped frame meant the angle re-adjustment wasn’t needed.

Edit Four

While this photo was similar to the last I haven’t decided which one I might use. The previous one is a better photo at first glance but I like the detail of the cars shown in this one. When editing this one I had to be careful to reduce highlights without making the background too dark as the car shown is why I like this photo.

Edit Five

I did try this photo in black and white to tie to previous shoots, however I preferred the colour as the contrast between the dark navy and wooden interior is not something you get in modern cars and creates a lovely contrast within the photo. I decreased the exposure to bring out the colours of the interior.

Edit Six

he blues in this photo highlight the unusal colour of the car. The dog adds human feel to the photo.

Edit Six

I loved the textures in this photo and the framing, having the person out of focus added to this photo. The dog staring into the camera works well as its a quiet moment of the dog in the car. I decreased the exposure as the photo was slightly over exposed so this added the detail back in, and added the cars details back in as before they were a little flat.

Edit Seven

I liked this photo however I knew it would be much stronger in a low contrast black and white, I liked the slightly out of focus look and the black and white enhanced this. It gives this feeling of connection and natural environment rather than a posed photoshoot. I loved the section of light on the windshield and bonnet and the black and white enhanced this showing how I used light and the shadows to create dynamic interesting photos.

Edit Eight

The colours in this photo made an interesting photo, I did try the shot in black and white to highlight the section on light on the persons back however it took away from the image. The models red hair contrasts well with the navy jumper, beige roof lining and dog. I moved the exposure down as the soft lighting washed the model out, adding depth back to the image creates a polished photo. I like the framing of this image as there isn’t too much of the car showing but the model looking over her shoulder creates a feeling of connection.

Edit Nine

Edit Ten

I like this photo, the nickname the car has been given has been written into the dust. The shadows add depth to the photo, almost underlining the word.

Edit Three

I tried this photo in colour, but it is much stronger in black and white. However when I first made the photo black and white I found the highlights, the bright sections of light are great at highlighting the parts of the car and making an interesting photo.

Edit Eleven

Having taken this photo through a window I was concerned here would be a glare, but instead it made the handbook standout. The left of the photo is mostly dark with different patterns and then the right side of the photo shows a section of the back of the seats. I like that you can see the age on the book, adding to the idea about the cars age. This was helped with the black and white as it removed the distracting colours from the background, leaving the focus on the book alone.

Edit Twelve

Being able to compare both photos was essential in the development of this shot, Originally I liked the colour version, with the shadows and sections of light highlighting the colour of the car. However I then compared it to the black and white version and found I liked that version better as the green mesh wasn’t as visible in the background, in fact it highlighted the writing on the cars back window. The black and white also brought out the details in the headlight and rust around it.

Final photos

I love the final outcomes of this shoot, I think there is a great mix of colour and black and white shots. Showing details, like the the original car handbook, to the owner and the car, to the dog in the car. All have created a mini narrative within the wider project. Showing the relationship between the car and the owner. I like how apparent the dust is in each shot, showing the age of the car as well as how the passion for the vehicle hasn’t changed over time. This is what I’m aiming to show in the next photoshoot with my father and his old bike that he still loves. Hoping to show how I have been around them most of my life and it has influenced my similar passions. The lighting in this shoot was harsh but created sections of light and darker shadows adding depth and feeling to the photos.

in book add pics of just her and just landscape then my edits also the questions and answers.

For this photoshoot, I was inspired by Aneta Ivanova. I began the process of recreating her work by first taking photographs in the studio. I first set up the space by adding tow lights directly in front of the model to ensure my images would have good lighting. I also ensured I used a white background as a key feature of her images of the blank white space behind the subject (which allows for direct focus on the subject and nothing else). I then got the model to experiment with different poses typically seen in Ivanova’s images. For example faced to the side with her arms up to her chest. My images for this photoshoot turned out quite successfully as I think it closely mimicked the positions of the models seen in her images and they are all in good focus.

For the next part of my photoshoot, I first gave some questions to my model to complete. This allowed me to take photos of things that had personal meaning to her and therefore her identity. These questions consisted of:

1. Where is your favourite place in jersey?
2. What makes you happy?
3. What does the word identity mean to you?
4. How would you describe yourself?
5. How would others describe you?

Her answers:

1. My favourite place in Jersey would probably be anywhere with nature such as the beach or forests. I specifically like Corbiere Lighthouse due to the views surrounding it.
2. I feel happiest when I’m being creative like creating sculptures or painting.
3. Identity to me means the way you express yourself and what it means to be you
4. I would describe myself as creative, funny, talkative and unique.
5. I think others would describe me as funny, creative, weird and pretty.

From these answers, I then visited various natural landscapes around Jersey such as Corbiere Lighthouse. I think this part of the photoshoot turned out well as the images are in good focus and will make my final piece more personal as I’m using images of nature that have a personal meaning to my model instead of picking a random environment to photograph which I originally intended to do.

To being the editing process, I first imported all of my images into Lightroom and narrowed down the images that I wanted to edit. I then adjusted the exposure, contrast, whites and blacks of these images. Once I was happy with the edits, I then exported them into a folder which I could then open up in photoshop. I began by opening up a blank A4 page then opening up an image of the subject. I then used the object selection tool to cut around the person only, right clicked on the cut out and pressed layer via copy. I then dragged the cut out onto the white piece of paper. I did this as Aneta Ivanova’s images are all displayed on a blank sheet of white paper behind the model. Next, I opened the landscape image and dragged it onto the image. I put this layer at the bottom. Next, I pressed on the person layer and used the object selection tool once again. However, instead of cutting it on that layer, I instead went to the white layer and pressed layer via cut. This then created a hole in the white layer. Finally, I went back to the person layer and cut her out using the same process. This left me with the landscape background coming through both layers.

Next I experimented with turning the landscape black and white as some of Aneta Ivanova’s pieces are black and white instead of in colour. To finish off this first part of the idea, I added a drop shadow to the person. This helped bring some depth to my images. Overall, I like how this idea came out as I think it closely resembles the work of Aneta Ivanova and clearly displays the theme of identity and disguise as the background layer, making it so you cant see any features of the person, portrays the idea of people feeling as though they are blending into the background of life as they struggle to understand who they really are as a person. Additionally, it could also show how people try to blend in to their surroundings (disguise) as to not be judged or seen as indifferent. One thing that I could improve about this photoshoot however is the opacity of the person layer. As in my images I just cut out the person but in Aneta Ivanova’s images you can still see a vague outline of the persons facial features. This would’ve made my images slightly more exact to her images.

I then decided to further my idea by adding three of my different attempts of creating her work together to create one image. In order to do this, I opened up a landscape blank piece of paper on photoshop. Next I opened up the three black and white images I created above and used the object selection tool to create a cut out of the person. I then dragged each cut out onto the piece of paper and adjusted the size and placement of each cut out. Once I was happy with the layout, I finished off this design by adding a drop shadow to each of the cut outs. Overall I like how this idea came out as I think it makes the piece look more complete and advanced than just having singular people on each page. However, next time I would take a photograph of the model looking to the left (as seen on the right side of the inspiration image) in order to make my piece more replicable of the original image.

For the second part of my photoshoot, I took pictures of various art pieces in the art room that Liv and her friends had created eg paintings and sculptures. I also wanted to delve into her childhood too as that is a part of her identity so I used a projector in the studio in order to project images of her in her childhood. I will then merge these personal images with her outline. I think this will be effective in showing the different things that makes the model who she is and therefore her identity.

Final outcomes:

Overall, I think this idea came out successfully as you can still clearly see the link between the artist and my work but I have also adapted the idea to make my pieces more personal and about identity as the photographs seen inside the model’s outline has a personal meaning to her.

About her

Aneta Ivanova is a 23 year old Bulgarian photographer who, after focusing her work on a lot of conceptional work and portraits, began experimenting with different techniques to give a new meaning to her photographs. She began with long exposures, then double and multiple exposures combining a number of portraits, and then she focused on portraits with landscape and nature elements. She states that she tries to keep her work as personal as possible, shooting self-portraits or portraits of her sisters mostly, and she prefers the method of double exposure because it allows her to combine two completely different scenes in one, allowing the pieces to become more expressive. Her style is based on a compilation of pictures from her trips, and photos where she acted as the model. She really knows what she wants to transmit, and adapts it. She experiments with her digital camera, and manually adjusts the effects to get the desired result. Ivanova’s style is characterized by minimalism, soft lighting, and a muted color palette, giving her images an ethereal and otherworldly feel. She often uses surreal elements like unusual textures or forms, creating a sense of ambiguity and mystery.

Analysis of one of her images

How she links to identity

Aneta Ivanova is a photographer and visual artist whose work often explores themes of identity, transformation, and emotional depth. Her photography is known for its conceptual approach and symbolic use of elements like lighting, makeup, and surreal compositions, making it particularly well-suited to the theme of disguise. Aneta Ivanova blends photos of people into photos of scenery, whether it be trees, birds or the sea. Many of her photographs are expressed in black and white to enhance the shapes; however she does also portray some of her work in colour, creating bright, lively images. I think her work links to disguise in identity as she combines humankind with nature which are two completely different yet similar things. Nature is seen for how it is (it’s natural) and cannot hide behind a mask unlike humans who constantly hide behind a metaphorical or physical mask. Whether that be putting on a happy face or wearing makeup, each are used in a way to hide the vulnerable true part of ourselves. By combining the two images, I think it highlights to the viewer that it’s okay to be yourself and that you don’t have to hide who you truly are as nature is still beautiful despite it being fully exposed to us with no mask to cover itself behind. Ivanova’s work often delves into the psychological aspects of identity, exploring the emotional facades that people put on in different situations. Disguise, in this sense, can be metaphorical: her subjects might appear one way on the surface, but their internal, emotional state may tell a different story. Through her photography, Ivanova might challenge the viewer to question the difference between how a person presents themselves and who they truly are.

Quotes:

• Ivanova often explores the malleability of identity, saying things that convey how people are constantly changing or performing different versions of themselves. A general idea she might express is how “Identity is not fixed—it is fluid and often shaped by external and internal forces.” This quote suggests to me that people often don’t know who they truly are and mould themselves to be like the people they’re around at the time. Implying people disguise their true selves in order to not be judged by those around them.

• “A photograph should evoke a feeling, a moment of vulnerability, or an introspective thought from both the subject and the viewer.” I think she successfully does this in her photographs as she addresses the issue of identity and how people often pretend to be something they’re not. 

• “Photography is a way to create new realities, where the ordinary transforms into something extraordinary. Through this, we can examine the deeper truths of who we are.”

Mood Board:

Mind map of ideas for photoshoots:

Who is Roberta Tocco, and what did she do?

Roberta Tocco is a 28 year old Fashion & Beauty, Fine Arts Photographer currently based in Catania, Metropolitan city of Catania, Italy. At age 20, Tocco began taking photos “just for fun” and she explains it was the most natural thing in her life. She tried different kinds of photography, with a range of sets and moods, but at the end she always found herself in minimal things, natural light and a very simple concept. In my opinion, Tocco was born with a true gift of storytelling, specifically through her work. This is because her work is all about capturing emotions and chasing the perfect, soft lighting. As she grew up on an island, it gave her the freedom to catch the sound of many waves and colours of endless sunsets. She described her land as “full of contrasts” and the balance is something that has grown in her eyes and aesthetic sense. I can relate to this on a personal level through growing up in Jersey where I am surrounded by nature, where I will be able to recreate a similar aesthetic in my own images through similar scenes and locations. This way, I am able to link my work to the artist effectively, but also with slightly different elements coming from my own area. In an interview, Roberta talks about her unique photographic style and reveals what can only be learned through practice. She successfully links to my project, through the theme of femininity as she focuses on the delicacy of women, yet also incorporating the relationships with the places she had growing up.

Image analysis:

This image in particular stood out to me the most within Tocco’s work. I believe it associates with my project as she is interpreting the theme of femininity as well as girlhood. The main subject in this image is clearly the socks and legs, as they take up the majority of the frame. Immediately, I am able to recognise a graceful and woman-like mood that has been illustrated to the viewer, through multiple elements such as the use of bare legs, floral patterns on the bed and the pastel coloured socks. The artist states: “What I want is to express my feelings and bring out the hidden beauty from what I see.” This quote tells me that Tocco clearly finds stereotypical womanly elements aesthetically pleasing and takes a liking towards photographing them. This may be because these elements specifically are what separates women from men, as they are more delicate than those that would be associated with men. Moreover, the female hand on the leg of the model in the middle also caught my eye, which could perhaps suggest intimacy between the females in the photo. Again, this implies that there may be a close emotional connection between them, which helps add to the distinctive and pure approach to her work. From this, I can gather that Tocco may be a feminist, as she clearly sees the beauty behind women and the small feminine details that stand out to her. There isn’t a particularly striking background in this image which hints that the artist doesn’t want the viewer’s eye to be wondering and wants us to stay focused on the main subject, however the use of the floral patterns behind the legs is effective, as it suggests clearly that this image has a very feminine approach. I like how the lighting in this image is natural, as this allows the girls legs to be highlighted, which also allows for the shadows to be emphasised, ultimately creating a contrast. Within this image, there is also a factor of objectification highlighted as there is lots of bare skin showing, and the overall construction of the image hints at typical stereotypes of women.

Image analysis 2:

For my second image analysis, I chose this image as I feel it has connections to the image I analysed above. This is because I immediately noticed the same background, and the fact there are 3 female models lying down on the same bed. Similarly, there is another element of intimacy in this image, through the use of the hand on the shoulder, with the other hand overlapping, which also contributed to the ideology of potential intimacy or emotional connections between them. Furthermore, the fact there are three models in the image highlight the composition, as the 3 models are arranged in an a-symmetrical way. The positioning of the 3 models influences the overall mood, as we usually assume that there is always one left out if we are shown a trio. As the girl furthest away from the camera is only partially seen, this creates an unsettling tone, and defeats the harmony within the photo. This overall creates a sense of tension, where the viewer is forced to only focus on the 2 girls in the front. An important contextual clue would be the use of the girls wearing the same outfit, which symbolises equality between them. This decreases the assumption of one of the girls being left out, as we can associate matching outfits to girlhood and feminism because this is something lots of girls do growing up. In addition, the matching outfits satisfy me as the viewer as it creates an overall pleasing aesthetic, and it can also persuade the viewer to focus on another element in the image that isn’t the same as one another. For example, as we can immediately establish they are all wearing the same top, we can move our eye through the image and pick up on other specific features like the facial expressions on the girls. Overall, this image intrigued me because the 3 girls and their matching outfits create a sense of union, which implies they have a shared purpose and are part of the same community.

“I think it exists a strong connection between photography, painting, and poetry. My wish is that the viewer would feel transported to another world: dreamy and angelic.”

– Roberta Tocco

Old Images I Will Re-Use

Photoshoot 1 plan-

1. skateboarding
2. environmental
3. personal
4. meaningful
5. night time
6. anthropocene
7. global warming

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that this photoshoot didnt go to well. I was using one of the newer cameras which I am not quite comfortable with yet, so some images have come out blurry or under exposed. To do better next time I will get a camera that I am comfortable with and use that instead, but I do think this photoshoot is centered around the right idea.

Photoshoot 2 Plan-

1. girlhood
2. environmental
3. teenage culture
4. sunny

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I think that this photoshoot came out very well, it is centered around the right idea of youth culture and girlhood. I think it also entails some environmental photography and I think that the images came out concise and clear.

Photoshoot 3 Plan-

1. studio
2. white background
3. coloured gels
4. skateboard

Experimentation-

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I think that this photoshoot is my best one yet. I have created a different kind of imagery compared to my usual candid photos which require people or my landscape images. I think that this photoshoot came out very clear and within edited them I have been able to create vibrant colours with key detailing.

Photoshoot 4 plan-

1. masculinty
2. teenager
3. work
4. fun
5. cars
6. environmental

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I think that this wasn’t one of my best photoshoots, I think that it’s clear that I didn’t really have a consistent plan throughout, but I do think that the images have come out clear. Some of the images are quite useful and wll link into my storyline of teenage culture, and I will add words to my images for example ‘your only young once’.

Colour Popping Experimentation-

Results-

I used photoshop to create these images. By cutting out a layer and making the background layer black and white I have made the subjects f my images pop. I think that this creates a clear meaning of what emotions I am trying to portray.

Photoshoot 5 Plan-

1. studio
2. portriats
3. environmental

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

These images were really just for experimentation, but I think that the photos of the boy model to fit into my aesthetic and I will use them within my book.

Photoshoot 6 Plan-

1. boy
2. greenery
3. daily life
4. candid
5. gloomy

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Photoshop Edits-

I had to take some of my lightroom edits and further edit them on photoshop due to the smudging on the dirty lense of the camera, I used the spot blending tool to fix this.

Favourites-

Results-

I overall think that this photoshoot went very well, although the weather was very foggy and the lens was dirty with some heavy editing I think that I have managed to get some key images for my book.

Shoot 7 Plan-

1. carwash
2. boy
3. teen activitys
4. fun
5. candid

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I think that this photoshoot wasn’t the best and definitely could be better, but I also think that they could be some good linking photos.

Photoshoot 8 plan-

1. cars
2. motion
3. dark

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I don’t think this photoshoot went too well I think that there is a bit too much motion blur, so I will redo this shoot so that there is less of that, I will do this by changing the settings on the camera and asking the driver to slow down.

Photoshoot 9 plan-

1. sunset
2. euphoric
3. teenage
4. candid
5. foreground/background play

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Photoshop edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that this is one of my favorite photoshoots, I love the brightness and colours of the sunset compared to the darkness of the car. I also think that the photoshop editing of where the car was scratched and dirty really made the images pop.

Photoshoot 10 plan-

1. modle
2. landscape
3. beach
4. light
5. sunset
6. light composition
7. neutral tones
8. calm

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that this photoshoot went quite well, I wanted some images which weren’t as bold and had more natural tones. I wanted something that could be a gap between the harsh images.

Photoshoot 11 plan-

1. stars
2. night
3. darkness
4. contrast
5. landscape
6. anchorage

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Photoshop edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that I have achieved my goal of finding an in-between, something that has two sides of the story. By contrasting the moon and the sun.

Photoshoot 12 plan-

1. car
2. working on cars
3. enaging
4. documentary
5. colourful

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that this photoshoot went quite well. My main aim was to get some better storytelling photos of the activates that they do which makes them so car obsessed.

Photoshoot 13 plan-

1. headshots
2. viewpoint
3. looking
4. eyecontact

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that I got the eye contact that I needed to build up my story line to learn more about the characters.

Photoshoot 14 plan-

1. interior
2. close up
3. personal
4. individual
5. linking material

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I think that these will make some good close ups to allow the story to flow and to gain character development and recognition.

Photoshoot 15 plan-

1. ambient lighting
2. dimmer
3. calm
4. flow
5. outcome of story line

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that I got the dimmer images that I wanted to end my story line on.

Photoshoot 15 plan-

1. football
2. active
3. story line
4. add on

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that I got some good sport imagery to create a flow to my images.

Photoshoot 15 plan-

1. skating
2. dark
3. flash
4. movement

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I think that I got some good close ups to change the contrast of my book.

Photoshoot 16 plan-

1. contrast
2. addition
3. putting two together

Outcome-

Lightroom Edits-

Favorites-

Results-

I overall think that I have managed to get a good link between car photography and skating, linking the two hobbies together to make the story flow.

Photoshoot 17 plan-

1. motion
2. new car
3. different enviroment
4. action

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

results-

I overall don’t think that these images came out great, I think that some of them are nice due to being in a different environment and having a new car to be the newer subject, but I am not sure that I will use them in my book because I think that they are a bit too blurry and my camera was dirty not allowing the best outcome.

Photoshoot 18 plan-

1. party
2. lining
3. friends
4. dialogue

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

results-

I overall think that this is one of my best photoshoots, I think I have really depicted teenage life, and that this will add a good anchor to my book to allow it to flow with dialogue and documentary photography.

Photoshoot 19 plan-

1. cars
2. new cars
3. old cars
4. portrayal of where it all ends up
5. anthropocene

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

results-

I think that I have got some good anthropocene photos by portraying how their love for cars is just a phase and that it will eventually die out and just become landfill.

Photoshoot 20 plan-

1. dark
2. fire
3. end

Outcome-

Lightroom edits-

Favorites-

results-

I think that this photoshoot is different to my other ones due to it being in the pitch black dark which makes it unique.

Lightroom categorizing-

I have flagged my images, adding a plain flag for ones that I like and a blacked out flag for images I dont. I also starred my images, four stars for ones that I think I could use but need some editing and five for images that I will definitely use.

I also created a personal study collection, where I have put all of my images into different folders.

Flagging for each shoot –

Colour popping edited-

shoot 1 –

shoot 2 –

shoot 3-

shoot 4-

shoot 5-

shoot 6-

shoot 7-

shoot 8-

shoot 9-

shoot 10-

shoot 11-

shoot 12 –

shoot 13-

shoot 14-

shoot 15-

shoot 16-

shoot 17-

shoot 18-

shoot 19-

shoot 20-

shoot 21-

Concept

when looking at developing photos to tell the crooked fairies story through photos my first concern was how I would depict the ‘crooked fairy’ how was I going to photograph something that had nothing with its likeness and didn’t exist?
when looking at the illustrations in the original material I figured my only option was to create a sculpture.
in light of this I figured the most effective option was to create e a small doll sized figure of the ‘crooked fairy’ and play with perspective and lighting to make it appear ‘larger than life’

Constructing The Crooked Fairy

when creating my crooked fairy i used only cardboard, mud rock, tinfoil, wire and water.

original inspiration of design

raw creation

i used wire as support for the two back legs and secured them too and piece of cardboard to give provide support, in order to create the signature arching back in detail i used tin foil to create a base frame for the torso and draped mud-rock over the legs and torso to attach and shape the fairy further, then using mud-rock alone I created the arms shoulders head and horns, shaping with my hands and water as I went.

Although a good start this sculpture didn’t yet have the detail it needed, both for up close images but with sharp enough details that they would been seen in its silhouette.

refinement

i began the process of refining my sculpture with a box knife and sand paper,
first focusing on the face and horns.
then the arched back, thin frame and ribbed back.
defining leg shape
carving strong shoulders and back detail

final result

photoshoot 1

for my first photoshoot I would dedicate it to the inspiration I got from rut Blees Luxemburg which is what a plan to do with all my photoshoots dedicating my photoshoots to each photographer I studied and trying to take photos using their techniques to my best ability. Where am I taking my photos? Because for my first photo shoot is going to be in the style of Rut Blees Luxemburg I would most likely go around around town but certain weather conditions would be necessary such as rain, fog, and possibly hail so overall harsh weather conditions. the images bellow would some I would like to recreate.

where could I achieve making an image similar to this? I would most likely take images in town where I could find street lights like this for bars, clubs, shops etc. how could I achieve this and what other factors need to come into place? to achieve this image i would need to find a street with a certain type of lighting at night. the lighting could be yellow or white doesn’t matter

photoshoot 2

for my second photoshoot I would like to take photos that would be more similar to recreate the work of Todd Hido’s house hunting project which consisted of him taking images if houses in the suburbs of America in Ohio in dark places which I could take inspiration by going to estates at night or even possibly find houses isolated and take images of that which would be more fitting to the considering his project. However I would obviously like to take my own twist the project as I just want to take inspiration and not copy the these projects. these are some of the images that i would like to recreate or put a little twist on it.

where could I go to create these images? I could create this images by going to estates or quite remote places around the island and take a couple of images of houses around those sort of areas. how could I create these images? i would need to go around the island in the night or possibly when the sun is about to set to have the perfect natural light to then be edited and maybe tint them a little bit to create the sort of misty or foggy effect that the sky has in the images.

photoshoot 3

just like all my other planned photoshoots im going to take inspiration from my artists i have studied which in this case would be Edgar Martins. in this case the images in this photoshoot would consist of images where the landscape is the main focus with sky basically not even being existent in the image as it would be completely black. then making the landscape a bit more bright as if someone was holding a flashlight when editing the image. these are some images I’m taking inspiration from for this photoshoot.

where can I create these images? I can make similar images to this near places like Cineworld where there’s an abandoned building and possibly visit other abandoned places around the island. what could I do when editing the images to recreate these effects? to recreate this image I can go into Lightroom and use the masking tool to highlight the background of the image and turn the exposure down to make it dark how the example image above looks.

• For my first photoshoot I will photograph some of my team mates in basketball, having a consistent lighting and consistent clothing to get me into this project. I will then put it into a topography of photos. I will be using my knowledge from my photoshoot work a year ago, using lighting like Rembrandt, Butterfly and Chiaruscuro to draw more attention towards the face:

• I want to also take some photos on the basketball court, using Neil Leifer as my inspiration. the photos below are some examples of what I will be trying to create.:

• Then I will take photos of my friend tony, being obsessed with the grind of basketball, and obsessed with the sport in general. Ill first go to his room, which is surrounded by basketball posters, shoes and basketballs, I will be using Sam Taylor-Johnson – crying men project as an inspiration.

• I also want to take some photos in the style of Paul m smith, where he edits himself to be in a photo multiple times. I will be using my friend tony again to get these photos. I think this would work well as he is so invested in basketball that he only plays by himself, not investing himself with the rest of the team.

• Another Idea is too take photos like Tom woods, but using my basketball team instead. I will go around town and replicating photos like this one:

• Taking shoots of basketball cloths and Item could be a good addition to my project as well.

Candles Photoshoot 1: In Praise of Shadows

This photoshoot was set up with a tripod. I lit the candle and set the camera up with a long shutter speed. Even with the longest shutter speed I had the flame did not elongate enough to look like those from Hiroshi Sugimoto. I had several attempts at creating different looks of flame: I left the flame to burn straight for an elongated appearance, I tried manipulating the shape by blowing it for a thicker appearance but regardless of what I did the flame was always short and faint. I put some black fabric behind the flame and Set the camera up as close as possible. I tried two different candles too. One slim birthday candle I thought would burn down fast and create a longer flame and one slow burn candle I thought might burn brighter. They both ended up looking similar overall however. Because my shutter speed was so low the images also looked far too over exposed which I didn’t realised until after Id finished the shoot to fix. I also took all of them in landscape instead of portrait because I thought the flames would look thicker. In editing I made them portrait instead which I think looks much better and compliments the flames photographed. I edited the contrast and set them all in black and white however none of them had the crisp outlines that were present in Hiroshi Sugimotos images. Next time I will photograph in portrait, adjust the exposure and try to photograph a match even for it’s speed. I might also take photographs of the wax once I’ve finished.

Outcomes:

I choose these 3 images for different reasons. The first one had a unique shape, the second showed the wick of the candle and the third resembles a person which I think matches the theme of my project. I also liked the difference between how grainy the middle image was and how crisp the bottom one was. I took the bottom one one 15 seconds shutter and the others on 30 seconds shutter which meant that it was crisper compared to the others.

In terms of fitting a narrative, I think I could use either the second candle as a beacon of light amongst a dark room, the bottom works as an ominous, unidentifiable humanoid resembling a strange figure that been imagined or dreamt up. The one on the top could also work as someone blowing the candle in the dark to show that the person holding the candle isn’t alone. This makes the first and last most likely but I’m gravitating towards the last. I might take some more images which can be a mix of the first two where the wick is visible but its also been blown.

Edits:

For experimenting I figured trying out multiple exposures might work well for this photoshoot since they’re all similar in set up and shape. I layered 7 images on top of each other and lined up the placement of the wick for each. Since they all had the same black background they blended together well and I just had to adjust the candle body. I adjusted the opacity of each layer until I had a shape I liked.

I didn’t like the outcome and removed a few of the layers to create a smaller shape. I realigned the neck area and made the background a navy instead. I like how the images shows the movement of a flame however I’m unsure how well it will fit into my project. I might try and contrast one of these with the still figure.

Since the flames were now extremely small around the head I added one larger one to the background and removed the rounder one in the middle. When the image is pure monochrome it almost looks yellow but when it has a blue hue it looks colder and the white looks brighter.

Overall I’m happy with the final outcome but I’m still unsure on its place in my project. This one shows clear layers and the flame obvious in the centre while the others merged into the layers. I like how in the image both halves have different colours. The left has a faint orange trim around the white and the right has blue.

Bianka Schumann –

Bianka Schumann focused on the idea of memory, and explored this from two perspectives, the first reflects on adolescence and what she called ‘no mans land’. The space between childhood and maturity. And the second being nostalgia, memory of things that sometimes we don’t remember, the memories hidden away that are enclosed by our minds. Which are usually deeply personal and not something some people may want to share.

Her work –

I feel like the prominent use of natural light in Bianka’s work give an incredible idea of the instinctive and regular life during childhood, I feel like the flame in the top middle photograph shows almost a vulnerability of the time of adolescence through its inclusion. The unease and danger that lurks through the symbolism of a flame is a very powerful way of showing how critical this time is for everyone.

The blurred or unfocused background in majority of these photos bring a very spotlighted feeling to them, the immediate focus and grasp these pictures get the viewer with is so powerful. It almost shows the desperation that is shown through the photo. It could be a case where the artist wants to bring attention to that part of their OWN life because of repressed memories or negative experiences.

Naturalistic backgrounds are seen all through this photoshoot. I believe the inclusion of this is to almost help the artist herself believe that it was natural, childhood and growing up is something everyone goes through, bad or good, it happens. I also love the inclusion of a sibling ( I think ) in this case. The perspective it gives to the audience is so powerful. Going through childhood without siblings is a completely different experience then when your surrounded by siblings all the time. it gives an idea of connection and unconditional love throughout the photoshoot.

Application –

I want to apply Bianka’s ideas of nostalgia and memory into my personal study. Since my main idea is to pursue the theme of childhood and growing up as a girl and the hardships and memories I have from my own childhood. I believe that nostalgia can be a very powerful approach to expressive work, it resonates with a very large group of people in however way you want to portray it.

Because of the inclusion of nostalgia I want to show in my work, Bianka’s use of natural light. I feel could help emphasise that a lot more. Studio lighting and artificial lights can sometimes come across as too harsh and I don’t want my photographs to look too staged. I almost want them to be candid but with some staging just for perfectionism purposes.

Catherine Panebianco –

Catherine Panebianco is a photographer from British Columbia, Canada. Her photography has been shown in art rooms all over the world, from shows in the US to internationally. Winning 1st place in numerous award shows such as the international photography awards. Catherine’s work looks for a sense of belonging, and place. Looking at memories and home, whether that is places or people she loves. Her work looks at how we connect with others, with our past and ourselves.

Her work –

Catherine’s work varies in technicality. The use of the natural light really captures the ease and thought that links to nostalgia, with no artificial memories just raw. I feel like natural light can help develop the idea of memories and their undeniable link to each and every person and the fragile memories that may come with it.

The use of the soft focus background ( blurry ) is an extremely powerful tool that has been used in this photoshoot. It immediately changes your focus to the polaroid photo in each picture, showing the focal point right off the bat, allowing the viewers to start from the centre of the image, whilst the rest of the art comes in when they take a wider look.

I also love the personal feeling this art piece holds. It may be subtle but the inclusion of the artists hand in each photo, allows each viewer to have a separate and individual relationship with the art and the artist. I also believe that this small detail almost takes the serious connotation this photoshoot may hold and while it is a professional piece that is very successful, I feel that it allows a relaxing and calm, nostalgic environment surrounding the piece.

Application –

I want to apply Catherine’s idea of a focal point into my project because I believe the use of archived photos as a main point in a photo can bring in the sense of nostalgia very strongly and with personal memories being what I want to focus on overall, the use of the archived photos really bring that to light.

Again, the use of natural light is definitely something I want to include in my work, to bring almost a comforting, natural feel. With the idea of understanding not just others but ourselves, I feel natural light has a powerful way of bringing things together and intertwining them as one. The warm feeling of the sun and the comforting feeling of the outside, can bring thousands of memories from everyone all over the world together.