Portraiture.
I feel as a final outcome, these two pictures together work well. Compared to my other movement photos, this is the most successful due to the amount of movement in the first one in contrast to the second. I feel that even though the majority of the picture is in black and white, the pink is so vibrant it effects the whole picture. Even though my previous set with the milk were very successful, the colour in these add something more interesting than the plain white of the milk. Similarly, the model isn't chucking the liquid on herself unlike the milk, therefore these pictures work better due to her stillness.
Aaron Joel Santos.
Possible further development inspiration. |
If I had a later deadline, I would take this idea of movement in liquid further. Aaron Joel Santos shoots Thai new year, a celebration in which hundreds of take to the streets for a huge scale water fight. The way in which the water movement is captured creates a very busy, energetic feel. This combined with the bright colours and large amount of people allows a positive feel to the celebration. If given more time, I could attempt one of these large scale water fights, using a high shutter speed to capture the liquid perfectly still. However, I feel that if its too "set up", then the pictures would loose its feel and spontaneous look to them. |
Paint experiment.
I decided to add colour into my picture by using neon paints as a step forward from my first milk set. I feel they were successful in terms of the colour and the models poses, however I feel in all but one there isn't enough movement created and the pictures only capture the aftermath. However the furthest photo on the right works out perfectly on terms of capturing texture, movement and colour. When it comes to editing, I am undecided on whether the black and white background and the splash of colour looks better than the unedited ones. The only thing wrong with the black and white ones are the paint looks over edited, when really its just the true colour of the neon paint, plus i do feel the black and white ones are slightly unoriginal and a typical idea for use of bright colour. |
Movement experiment with water.
Movement Video Research.
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After studying each strand of my project so far, I've concluded that my moving liquid pictures work the best as an individual set for my possible final piece. The pictures work well that capture the liquid precisely, however if there is a slight blur then I feel there not that special. Therefore I decided doing some research into video clips that feature the same action. I love the direct throwing of the two green slime nickelodeon clips below as apposed to the pink paint one, as I don't like how its directly pouring onto the ladies head, I prefer the throwing at the face. However, I do really like the effect of the bright paint next to the white background. Another factor to consider is the people in the clips, the second slime video (directly below) is a good example of how different people could be quickly switched while the liquid is moving to make the video slightly more exciting and shows more variety. The videos also show a lot of good stills that would make great possible set of pictures for a final piece. If I was making a video on the other hand I could include different technics, such as slow motion or even reverse the clip to you witness the paint coming of the face and back into the corner of the clip. |
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Iain Crawford.Moving close towards my final piece of the project, I was inspired to revisit the theme of movement and liquid after researching photographer Iain Crawford, a mainly fashion based, london photographer who's worked for many major advertising campaigns over his career. Crawford's known for playing with texture within his photos, like the ones to the right, he uses a range of paints, water and powder, creating interesting shapes and colours. Following he paint shoot, he commented: "I love the fusion between paint and model. The resulting shapes are as opulent as any piece of bespoke couture. The excitement and anticipation as we waited to see the next piece of unpredictable chaos was electric. There was something magical about how random chance materialised into beautiful images in front of our eyes.” I really like the effect the paint has on the mood to the picture. The models somewhat calm and organised facial expressions are interrupted by the disorganised anarchy created by the different textures. The paint in the first picture presents this perfectly, the traditional model pose she is pulling creates a typical traditional background for the set up. This is also shown through the neat, slicked back hair and the matching red eyeshadow to the paint. This is then totally destroyed by vibrant red paint. The plain white background also adds to this, highlighting the thickness and colour of the paint. Iain Crawford would have used a very quick shutter speed in order to capture the liquid as a still, and highlighting the glossy texture. We can tell that makeup place a part in the shoot, as throughout the pictures the makeup is still immaculate and very eccentric. |
Calling Birds.
The forth day, four calling birds. Simple set up on a bed, lit from behind on the sides with two lamps while the rest of the lighting is quite dimmed making the pink telephone really stand out yet keeping to the glamour, fashion strand. I took my inspiration from the Marie Claire shoot, of the calling bird and felt this would be the most relevant way to link into all my other pictures. makeup is defiantly a focus in the photo, as with a lot of the others. |
12 days, Two turtle doves. |
Turtle doves are known for being birds of love, they always come in pairs. I wanted to show this through the second day of christmas. As I'm not doing observational or nature photography I thought I'd use two people in place of birds.The set up is simple, a simple background with the main focus being the subject matter-the two models. However, I could be improved by added a background, like green leaves or maybe sky, to keep the animal aspect. |
Peacock makeup experiment. |
After taking my partridge photos, I really wanted to experiment with other birds or animals. I decided to create a peacock by mixing blues, greens and golds into one eye makeup look. The lashes really bring out the extravagant feel and look that the peacock is known for. The pictures can defiantly be improved and I am slightly disappointed with the turn out for example the lighting was too dark and there could have been props involved to bring the photo to life such as peacock feathers.
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12 days, Lords A Leaping. |
For my tenth day, ten lords a leaping, I instantly knew I wanted to use the Marie Claire idea as inspiration and a base for what I would do. To begin with, I photographed my model in 4-6 different poses, from the floor to a high jump in the air (if i was going to refine this I'd shoot ten different poses, for the ten lords). Then on photoshop, I copied and pasted them all on top of each other and decreased the opacity of each layer, giving off the moving effect. I had to make sure I flattened the layers afterwards to avoid the picture being to big. Lastly I adjusted the levels and decreased the saturation slightly. I am overall very happy with how my experiment has turned out. To improve I'd play around with costumes, to bring the "lord" part to life. |
12 days, Maids A Milking. |
Thinking up an idea for the eight day, eight maids are milking, proved to be a challenge. I wasn't keen on the idea of setting up a studio type shoot and having girls dressed as maids pose, which would be the obvious idea. Instead I thought hard about how to make it different and ended up deciding to focus on the milk part. Therefore I experimented with my model simply by getting her to chuck milk at her face. I really like the movement created in the pictures, and feel it would look great done with any other liquid like paint or colored water. However I feel if I was to take my experiments to the next stage I would have to change a few technical things. Firstly, the photos are taken late afternoon outside, just as it is starting to get light so I had to keep my shutter speed reasonably low to let enough light in. However doing this meant that I couldn't get the movement of the milk as clear and sharp as I wanted. When I go on to do my need lot of liquid photos I will be sure to make sure I focus on these factors. On the other-hand I'm really pleased with my first go at them. The twist on the milking ideas really makes the project a lot more interesting. |
12 days of christmas ideas.
At this point in my project, I feel I need to start focusing on one main portrait strand. So far, I have taken a real interest in the fashion aspect of it, and while reading marie claire fashion magazine came across a 12 days of christmas inspired photo shoot, staring famous faces from the media. Each day took a modern, fashionable turn on each traditional day of the song. For example, on the fourth day (for calling birds) rather than capturing actual birds, the photographer photographed four of the "made in chelsea" girls all on the phone. This idea really inspired me and love the idea of following one theme and adding a fashion or even makeup twist to it.
Partridge in a pear tree
Two turtle doves Three french hens Four calling birds |
Five gold rings
Six geese a laying Seven swans a swimming Eight maids a milking |
Nine ladies dancing
Ten lords a leaping Eleven pipers piping Twelve drummers drumming |
Underwater Film Photos.
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After taking the Tyler Sheilds Francesca Eastwood set of photos, I decided to further experiment with water and as we were at the time working with film cameras I thought it to be the perfect opportunity to purchase a waterproof disposable camera. Once taken I got then developed and put onto a disk for upload. I then attempted to develop my negatives that I got back with my photos. However this was very hard to do as the picture were very dark and were taken in colour so there wasn't the right contrast for the actual developed photo. This was disappointing however I realized just how important it is to experiment before you go head first into a project, therefore making this a successful experiment. If I was to take this further I could do any of three things: take on a digital underwater camera (eliminating any of the above problems with light and have unlimited chances), use more light or take on a black and white film camera. This was when I attempt to develop the negatives, the contrast will be a lot better and hopefully not so grainy. I could also refine this experiment by adding props or even clothing. |
David LaChapelle.Diary of a housewife.
Response. |
David LaChapelle is an American fashion photographer and director known for his twist of glossy high fashion shots. LaChapelle often incorporates humour and sex into his pictures, often taking a controversial and shocking turn. He also has directed many advertisements for major brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Nokia and Diesel along side photographing a host of over fifty famous faces. I was inspired by a series by David LaChapelle, "the diary of a Horny Housewife", taken in 2000. The series stars a very desperate housewives like model, in typical domestic situations such a in the kitchen baking, washing a car and gardening. The women in the shot is very glamourously dressed and positioned in very promiscuous poses. As expected, in many of the pictures there is a sexual element added to the pictures. I feel that we can look deeper into the meaning of the sexual nature there is a element of boredom of her role in the house. |
Cecil Beaton.
Cecil Beaton is an English photographer born in 1904, he specialised in fashion and portraiture while also working as a costume designer and interior designer. Cecil Beaton is a perfect muse to use for portraiture as he has been known for stripping down to the basics by photographing celebs with few props and simple backgrounds. Some of the most well known photographs of icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Twiggy have been taken by Beaton. Beaton Response. The subject matter of the photo is the model with nothing else as a distraction. The pictures aim is not to address andy fundamental life issues, however in Beaton's he, in a sense, explores the idea of celebrity culture in todays world and focuses initially on the beauty of those famous women. The subject matter is the model herself, nothing else and is treated realistically not exaggerated or distorted. The picture was not rehearsed or designed and the best ones were taken when the model was in the most natural state. Once my pictures were taken I turned them black and white in photoshop just like Cicil Beaton's, while also creating a lot of contrast through the shadows and on photoshop. I feel this format, like Beaton's, make the photo a lot more classic and timeless looking. The texture in the picture is quite soft, as no harsh lines are used, this is further pushed through her hair framing her face. I find the picture comfortable to look at as there are no issues behind it that would cause discomfort to the audience. The subject matter is no moving, therefore a fast shutter speed was not needed and the lighting was quite dark in comparison to an adverse studio set up. Shadows are also created around the models feature and behind her on the backdrop which is plain white/grey, so that the main focus could be the model. |
First Experiment. |
Refined.
Tyler Shields. Tyler Shields is a Californian photographer who kick started his career on social networking site Myspace and from there his photos took a controversial turn working with sex and violence and became hollywood's "favourite photographer". While Shield's uses famous faces into his photography such as Linsey Lohan, Brittany Snow and Zachary Quinto, he also has been known for incorporates himself into a few. As expected, Tyler shields photos have receive numerous criticism for his reference to violence and drug abuse, most recently being his shoot with Heather Morris in which she stared as a domestic violence victim, featuring a black eye and other wounds. Critics claimed the photographer glamourised violence towards women and as a result audience three of his pictures, donating the proceeds to a leading domestic violence charity, in true shields style. |
Francesca Eastwood- Response.
Heather Morris.
The universal theme shields explores is domestic violence, he links this in his work by the bruises and objects. I feel that the content goes deeper due to the role the Heather Morris plays in glee, a hit television show which aims at the teenage audience and where Heather Morris plays a high school cheerleader, adding to the controversial violence. While some may criticise Shields for making light of abusive treatment of women, I feel presenting huge universal issues such as domestic violence through an inspiring photographer raises necessary awareness for such an important issue. However I do feel that the subject matter is presented slightly abstracted through the plain background as it takes the subject out of its natural background and presents it slightly superficially. The meaning of shields work in the shoot is immediately apparent and we are conscious of something having taken place before the picture. The colours are very plain and simple in the photograph, the white background allows the audience to completely focus on the subject matter and brings out the bold colours of the black eye which dominates the photo. The colours and textures of the photo are so contrasting it creates a slightly uncomfortable feeling as her complexion is so bright and perfect, the black bruised eye almost looks allen on the face. The picture is taken in a studio set up with lights towards her face as a shadow is created behind her, however I do think that a certain level of natural lighting was used too and I feel as if Shields improvised as he went along, as the positions Heather Morris is holding show no major link. I don't think a partially high shutter speed was used as there is no moment used one the other hand the picture are very sharp and bright. The mood created is disturbing yet in a strange way quite calming and quiet which is different to how other photographers may capture a subject so loud and violent. |
Tyler Shields response. |