AS Year Evaluation

For the last 8-9 months I have enjoyed my time in AS photography.  I feel I have learned lots of new skills and have developed my photography work from when I first started here at Harlow to now.  I am happy with the work I have produced and think it is a high standard and i am eager to begin my A2 year here in September and further myself in the subject.  I think the skills I have learned are demonstrated in my practical work and I think that I have began to explore a more signature style in photography unique to me.

Personally I have enjoyed my time in photography and as mentioned I am proud of my work.  I loved the unit one work where we looked at the formal elements as towards the end of this project I was able to conduct shoots of whatever I liked, and I think here I enjoyed myself the most and developed a style.  Although at first I thought the formal element techniques that we were learning at the time seemed a little pointless as I felt I wasn't actually shooting 'proper' pictures, I can now see the value in it and what I actually learnt - these are things I think about and apply in all of my work now.  The unit two exam project was something else I enjoyed (I picked the 'issues' topic) however after a while I became admittedly bored of shooting the same sort of things in photos and felt restricted to what I could do.  From this though I think it will help me to pick my unit three project more carefully to ensure that it is something that I am going to enjoy.

I have learnt a lot about myself as a photographer during the last year about the way I shoot - both strengths and weaknesses.  These are things I am going to take in my A2 year to develop my work further.  I have also learnt other skills such as those on Photoshop - these are skills that I am continuously developing.

Overall, I have loved my time in photography and cannot wait to start next year!  I think next year will give me the opportunity to develop further and really flourish in my own unique style of photography.  I have learned that I love working in the studio as opposed to location shoots - this is something I want to apply in my work.  I want to keep my project nice and broad so that I don't restrict myself nor become bored through out the coming year.

Video

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Sequencing

Teenage Pregnancy

Friday 10th May 2013

Plans for the shoot...

I am going to be looking at the issue of teenage pregnancy in today's shoot.  I don't want to represent the shoot by showing an actual pregnant teen, but instead look at it from a slightly different angle.  I am planning on getting a model that I am going to write some of the statistics of teen pregnancies on her stomach.  I want the photo to end up looking very simple with the focus being on the stomach with the statics on written on it.

What I am hoping to achieve...

In today's shoot I am hoping to get a shot that gets across the message that I am trying to highlight.  I don't want there to but much else, if anything in the photo, so I am liking going to be cropping the final photo down as much as I can.  I also would like the photo to be desaturated a lot or in black and white as I think this brings out different emotions and gives different feel to the photo.

What I actually achieved...

Here is one of the shots from today's shoot - I didn't get much variation in today's shoot as it was so simple, but I am happy with the shots that I did get.

I love the positioning of the photo and the feel it has given off.  I like the effect that the desaturation of the photo has given off too - I think it changed the overall feel and message of the photo.  Though there is no eye contact from a subject present in this photo there is still full focus on the subjects stomach as the cropping is so tight.

I think looking back a the shoot I could have tried to add some more complexity to the shoot to get some more varied shots.

What I am going to do next...

I liked the simplicity of the shoot that I did today - I have definitely realised in today's shoot that I don't need to over complicate things to get a good photo.  I still think though that I am going into shoots with the mind set of knowing what I want and this distracts from me experimenting and getting more variation in my shots and being able to get a get unplanned photo.  This is something that I want to continue to work on in my next and future shoots,

Guns

Tuesday 30th April 2013

Plans for the shoot...

In today's shoot I am going to be looking at the increasing issue of gun crime and how such weapons are glamorised.   This shoot is going to be done in two parts.  The first part of the shoot I will be using a male subject and photographing him holding the gun in a threatening way.  I want the gun to the focal point in the shot.  In the second part of the shoot I am then going to shoot with a female subject who is going to act as the glamorisation of the weapon.

What I am hoping to achieve...

I am hoping to be able to show the glamorisation of weapons in today's society in the shoot today.  I really want to get a threatening shot where the focus is on the weapon and then a shot where everything looks glamorised.  With the threatening shot I want the subject to be out of focus in the shot so you cannot see them clearly in the photo.

What I actually achieved...

Here are some of the photos from today's shoot.


I really like the strength in this shoot.  The gun is the focal point in the shot but due to the harmonious colours in the shot where the gun is positioned, and though the subject is out of focus they are still making eye contact with the camera and this distracts from the fact that he isn't dominate in the photo.  I like the way the way the shape is so clearly seen too due to the sterile background of the shot.

This is another similar shot that I really like.  I think this shot is possibly stronger as it looks like the subject has just turned round to take a shot or fire the gun whereas the other photo looks more static.  I think the gun is more noticeable in this photo too and there is even more focus on it as the subject seems further away and even less in focus.

This is one of the photos from the glamorised side of the shot.  I don't like these shots as much as the threatening side of shot photos turned out.

I don't think the photos have the same strength and I don't think neither the subject or the weapon takes full dominance in the shot.  The photo doesn't have the right feel about it that I wanted too - I think that this could partly be down to the expression of the model.  I like the positioning of the shot though and the way there is no background seen in the photo.






What I am going to do next...

I only liked half of this shoot that I did today so I would perhaps like to revisit the side of the shoot that I wasn't as happy with to see if I can get a better end result.  I really like the threatening part of the shoot I did though and I liked the feel that the photos gave off.  I would like to conduct another shoot where I get the same feel from the photos, possibly looking at a different issue or adapting this one further.

Don't be afraid, to be you!

Tuesday 14th May 2013

Plans fot the shoot...

The issue I am going to be looking at today is the issue of 'fear'.  For this shoot I am going to interrupt it in to something I could personally relate to or understand.  I want to get the message "Don't be afraid to be yourself' across.  My plans for the shoot are to literally shoot myself wearing no makeup holding up a sign that says "Don't be afraid", and then conduct another shoot where I hold a sign that says "to be you"with my looking how I normally would.

I also want to do a small shoot in-between the two where I photograph myself with half a face of makeup on and half a face without.

I will be using the ring flash for this shoot.

What I am hoping to achieve...

From today's shoot I am hoping to be able to show the contrast in myself wearing and not wearing makeup, but give a positive message about the issue that people may have in society with the pressure to wear things like makeup all the time.

I would really like to end up with a final piece that shows me wearing and then not wearing makeup with the two signs presented together.

What I actually achieved...

I am happy with how the shoot went today.  I ended up with these final pieces from the shoot.

This first one is the one I envisioned ending up with.  I am happy with it and think the contrast is clear and the message highly dominate in the photo.  I love the positioning of the photos and the pose of the subject.  I like the way the message behind the issues has been brought across in a light-hearted manner - this has added a contrast to the rest of my work as I have represented issues so far in quite a heavy manner.

This second photo I really like!  It was just a computer experiment that I was messing around with at first but I actually really like the effect and feel that this photo has about it.

What I am going to do next...

From today's shoot I am happy with my work and the way that I presented it in a different way (in a more light-hearted manner).  However I still feel that I prefer adding more of an edge in my work and making it 'darker' and therefore I am going to continue exploring this style and stray more from the type of work I did today.

Target Post (Friday 10th May 2013)

In today's class I am going to be conducting a shoot looking at the issue of teen pregnancy.

I am also going to be working on my coursework in the hope of completing it the pieces that are outstanding.

Best Work (20 images)

Best work (20 images) from Kate-Anna Smith

Best Work (30 images)

Best work (30 images) from Kate-Anna Smith

Little bit of graphics (technology issue)

Friday 3rd May 2013

Plans for the shoot...

Today's shoot is going to be like a big experiment for me really!  As mentioned from my last shoot I was happy with the style my photography had slipped into and wanted to explore this more, as well as look at other Photoshop skills that I could use in my work.  Therefore, today's shoot is going to be based around this.

I have chosen the issue of 'technology', and have decided on trying to do something graphics inspired with my work today.  Though this may seem loosely related to the exam topic I think technology is an issue in society and this is how I am choosing to represent it.  I am planning too shoot on a black background as I want a dark base for the background of this piece.  I am also going to be using a range of different brushes that I have downloaded for Photoshop including shattered glass and splatter effect brushes.

What I am hoping to achieve...

By the end of this shoot I am hoping to end up with only one piece of work that demonstrates the issue and effects that I want it too.  Though this shoot is being planned, some elements of the Photoshopping side to things are going to be a case of 'trail and error' and simply seeing what works and what doesn't.  Therefore I am hoping that my skills will develop during the making of this piece.

What I actually achieved...

This is the final piece that I achieved today.  I am fairly happy with my work and think that it looks like the sort of thing I was envisioning in my head.  I think I have matched the colours well and made it look like the subject I being 'destroyed' or 'melting away' in parts.  I especially like the effect that I have used on the arms where it looks like there is holes in then.  However I think in parts some of the splattered effects could be blended a bit better.

I think this shot looks very contemporary and and it defiantly gives me some variation in my work as it is rather unique compared to some of the other pieces of work that I have done.

What I am going to do next...

This shoot has inspired to continue to develop my Photoshop skills in future shoots.  I really like the effects that I am finding and starting to use and the way my style of photography has developed.  I would like to incorporate both my 'old style' and 'new style' in future shoots as I think that this is something that will really help to develop my work so far and as a photographer overall.

Lost

Friday 26th April 2013

Plans for the shoot...

In today's shoot I am really going to be really looking to use some of my Photoshop skills.  I have fond a tutorial (see previous target post) about removing your face.  I thought this looked like something that I would like to try and incorporate into my own portfolio of 'issues', and apply it to the issue of feeling 'lost' or 'lost in yourself' etc.

I am planning to used the ring flash for this shoot as I am going to be working up close on the face and therefore the ring flash will give more flattering lighting that looks more professional.

What I am hoping to achieve...

From this shoot I basically just want to end up with a photo where the face of the subject has been removed.  I would like it to have some kind of creepiness or eeriness about it too.  I am hoping that from this shoot I will also have the opportunity to experiment with the face in other ways and rather than removing the face away altogether, move facial features around.

What I actually achieved...

I am happy with the work I achieved today.  Here is the finished shot:

The shot looks exactly how I envisioned and I think I have done a good job of making the removal of the face look professional and 'seamless'.  I think the photo has the slight eeriness about it that I wanted to as well.

Though I am happy with the shot, I encountered many different problems in making this and have found that practice at more Photoshop based pieces of work like this will benefit me - for example, I struggled loads when I was trying to blend all the skin in where the hair and fringe started and had to try about three different ways before I was able to get it right.

This next shot that I did was simply an experiment that I did.  I photographed myself with hands covering my mouth, and then photographed myself screaming at the camera.  I then took the mouth from the screaming photo and put them on my hands in this shot.  I am happy with outcome and this the shot looks quite fun and contemporary.

What I am going to do next...

I have really enjoyed doing more Photoshop based work today and think I would like to experiment and try out something else using the tools available on the programme.  I like the contrast I have seen in my work here today too compared to, perhaps, my usual style of photography, and this is something I would like to explore.

Target Post (Friday 26th April 2013)

Your target for today is to clearly demonstrate your understanding of the possibilities of your chosen topic by completing further practical or contextual work according to the requirements of the assignment and your needs as identified in your personal target.

To ensure I achieve my target today I am going to be conducting a shoot in which I will be looking at the issue of feeling lost in yourself, like, not knowing or feeling who you are, or letting everything in your mind take over.  I think this is a good issue to explore as it's something that no-one ever talks about, being lost in yourself is something an individual might not even recognise. 

To help me with my idea for the shoot I am going to be follow this tutorial.

http://www.photoshopstar.com/basics/without-face-photoshop-cheating/

Outstanding Work Unit 2

• 2 Photographers
• 2 more shoots with contacts sheets and 3 work diaries
• Print Techniques
• Cluster
• Photojoiner
• 3 Computer Experiments
• 4 Physical Experiments
• 18 Final Pieces
• Powerpoint
• 2 (and a half) Connecting Essays

Exam Plan

For my exam on Friday 19th April 2013 I am going to be continuing with my theme of issues.

The way I am planning to structure my day is to arrive at college with my model, prepare the makeup and design I will be needing for my shoot, and then go on to doing the actual shoot at 11am.  I am then going to be in the studio for approximately 2-2 and a half hours doing the actual shoot before coming back into the class to download and edit.

My overall idea for this shoot is to incorporate more than one issue into one shoot with my model and make it seem like this is the subjects personal issues.  The issues that I am going to be incorporating together for the shoot are going to be drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, metal health, self harm and overall bring a feel to the pictures that shows a being that is ill in them self, sad and unhappy with the issues that has been inflicted on their lives.

Mentality

Tuesday 19th March 2013

Plans for the shoot...

For today's shoot I am going to be looking at possibly more than one issue.  The reason for this is oringially my idea was going to be mental health etc. but I have since thought my idea through and thought it could also link in with being terminally ill and in hospital.

The shoot is quite dark and invloves the model I will be using as my patient to hold a gun as if he were about to commit suicide.  I am also going to have a wheelchair for the shoot to just to help me get some variation in shots.  I will be using the white background for the shoot as it will repersent hospital walls etc.

What I am hoping to achieve...

From this shoot I am hoping to be able to really bring out the dark emotion that I want to be portrayed in getting this issue accross.  I also want to be able to do some things on Photoshop to enhance the photos and make them look even creepier.

What I actually achieved...

I really loved this shoot - it has been my favourite of this topic so far.  Here are some of the photos:

These two pictures were using the wheelchair. I really like the angle at which they were taken and the way the model looks almost lifeless.  I think the mask and the gun were nice elements to add to the photo shoot and I am glad that  encorporated them.  I think the white background worked really well too as it repersented the walls of a hospital, though as you can see in these photos shadows became a problem.

I love this photo! - my model reminds me of some kind of Gollum like creature.  I really like how stange and uniquw this shot is.  I like how you can only see part of the subjects face but you can see the 'dead' and creppy expression and the way you can really see the gun here too.  I would have liked to explore more with more unquie poses like this.

These next three shots are all ones that I enhanced on Photoshop.  I like to focus on the eyes as this made the shot, for me, even creppier, so I chnaged the colour of them to blakc or white and also made them look blood shot in one too.  On the one with the wheelchair I also edited it so that the colour of the skin changed to make him look more dead.  I really liked experiementing with some of the effects that I did here and I would like to try this some more.





What I am going to do next...

I really enjoyed this shoot and had fun with it.  I would like to do somehting like this again where I use props etc. to make the shot really come to life.  I also liked using the effects that Photoshop offer as it means that I can make the shot look veen darker.  I really would like to do another 'dark' shoot.

Thank you to my model Paul - again! x

Sexuality

Friday 15th March 2013

Plans for the shoot...

For today's shoot I am going to be look at the issue of sexuality.  I think that this is an important issue as it is something so common in today society yet something that I still feel is very unaccepted and one of the most discriminative subjects in society today.

My plans for this shoot will include me taking a male model and simply photographing them with 'I LIKE MEN' on there chest - to emphasise the point that it is something that people feel so strongly about yet don't really talk about, I am going to make it look like it is cut into his chest using makeup and effects on Photoshop.  I am going to be using th grey background for this shoot.

What I am hoping to achieve...

From today's shoot I am really hoping to highlight the issue in a light that shows the hurt and anger of people that have the same sex orientation and how society has shaped this by being so unaccepting.  The shoot is really quite simple, so I am really looking to bring out the emotion through my model and his connection with the camera.
What I actually achieved...

I am happy with today's shoot, though I got some different shots to that I was imagning in my head.  I really like them, but rather than making sure my model was all connected with the camera so to bring the emotion out in his eyes and facial expression, it turned out that during the shoot it actully worked better when his was 'disconected' from the camera and not looking at it.  Here are some of the shots:

I like this shot as I think the pose it rather unusal.  I really love how the red is standing out so much with all the other colours in the photo being neutral and harmonious.  The positioning of the photo is something I quite like too - I like the way it is off-centre.

This next photo I am not so sure about - I love somethings about it and am unsure about others. 

I really love the pose and the off-centre positioning of the photo again.  However, I think though the pose is really good, the accentuation on the 'writing' on his chest is lost slightly and more focus is brought to the subjects face as he is making the connection to the camera - nevertheless, I am not sure that this expression is quite the right one for getting across the issue I was trying to in the way I was trying to (I think it looks a little too moody).  I should have specifed more accurately to my model that I was after a more emotional shot.

This my favourite shot from today.  I love the pose of the subject and how it has really made the 'writing' on his chest stand out and get the message I wanted to accross.  I really like how he is looking down and away from the camera - it makes the shot really emoitonal as my model looks sad but also like he is ashamed of his sexuality.  This is what I stated at the begining about how society has shaped this and this is what I wasnted to get accross in a photo.

What I am going to do next...

I really like how these shots were simple and yet they still made an impact.  I loved how all the colours were neutral yet the red stood out so well in the photo making the point I was trying to get accross stand out more.  This has made me think about how I can use colour more in another shoot to get an issue accross and make it stand out in a photo.

I also loved the unique range of poses I had with my model this time and this is something that I am going explore in other shoots.

As always thank you to my wonderful model, Paul!

Target Post (Tuesday 19th March 2013)

By the end of this lesson you will have clearly demonstrated that your understanding and exploration of your chosen exam topic has increased and you understand the potentials of the topic.

In today's class I am going to demonstrate my understanding of my chosen exam topic of issue by tackling the issue of insanity/mental issues/terminal illness.

I think this is an important issue that is often dismissed in society.  I am going to execute this shoot by having my model done up like a patient in a hospital that is insane etc.  I am really hoping to photograph the emotion in make the photo look quite frantic and crazy (the model).

Target Post (Friday 15th March 2013)

By the end of this lesson you will have clearly demonstrated that your understanding and exploration of your chosen exam topic has increased and you understand the potentials of the topic.

In today's class I will be demonstrating my understanding and exploration of my exam topic of issues by tackling the issue of sexuality/ sexual orientation in  a shoot.

I will be shooting in the studio and have a model to help me.  I am going to go about this issue by shooting my model with 'I like men' on his chest - I am going to do this in SFX makeup as I want it too look as he has cut it into him.  I have chosen to do this as I think that some people find it really hard to come out and say whether they are gay/lesbian or yet they are still proud - it makes them who they are.  I also hate the reaction that society has on people who like the same gender to them and therefore around this 'cut' and I am gong to write some of the offensive insults or things people associated with being gay/lesbian.  

I really want this shoot to make a statement and really show the emotion that I am trying to get across.  I feel this is a big issue in society and I don't think that is is right that people aren't understanding of people's sexual orientation.

Target Post (Tuesday 13th March 2013)

By the end of this lesson you will have clearly demonstrated that your understanding and exploration of your chosen exam topic has increased and you understand the potentials of the topic.

For today's class, and so I can for-fill my target, I am going to look into research and planning for my exam shoot and get prepared for shoots I have planned for later this week.  My exam topic is issues and I want to be able to really show the emotion in the issues that I am photographing.  I am also going to look into the past shoots I have done and try to explore different ways of editing and enhancing my work by looking at Photoshop techniques and tutorials.

Home Sweet Home...

Tuesday 5th March 2013

Plans for the shoot...

For today's shoot I am planning on looking at the issue of homelessness.  This is going to be a location shoot as opposed to a studio shoot (for obvious reasons).  I am planning on conducting this shoot in an old garage car park area that is barely used now in an area close to where I live.

This shoot is going to be simple - nothing too complicated or over the top.  I am going to have my model sitting with a old blanket and sign that says 'HOME SWEET HOME...' - I want it to be sarcastic yet still have the deep emotion in it that people would experience being homeless.  I am then just going to use an props from things that I find around the area I am doing the shoot in.

What I am hoping to achieve...

I am hoping to get set of photos today that portrays the harsh reality of being homeless.  Though my shoot is going to be reconstructed I want it to still be convincing.

What I actually achieved...

I am happy with the outcome of todays shoot - I got some really good shots I think.  One problem I did realise though till I got back to the class room to edit the photos is that it was such a bring and sunny day, some of the photos have the wrong feel about them colour wise as they look to 'happy', even though my subject is looking sad.  Therefore in Photoshop I darkened them out a bit - here are a couple of my best shots.

Here is one of the shots that I really liked.  I like the pose and the way the subject isn't making eye contact with the camera and looks lost in thought. I have changed the colour on this photo by de-staturing it slightly and then changing the colour levels slight and brought them more toward the red/ magenta side of the scale.

This is one of the photos that was really bright to begin with that I made darker.  I like this photo a lot and think it looks pretty realistic.  To get the dark effect I have to layer over paint using the gradient tool whilst the opacity was right down till I got the desired effect.  I also changed the saturation and the colours slightly too.




What I am going to do next...

This shoot has made me want to experiment more with location shoots as opposed to just working in the studio.  I think there are many other issues that I could explore outside and I am going to start looking for some good locations to conduct shoots.

I have also been inspired to go out and find real issues from this shoot - I think if I walked round the streets in London I would find some real life issues going on right in front of my eyes - this would hold the emotion that I could never bring out using a model and get a different feel to the photo.  I might see if I can take a trip into London and see what I can find.

Again, thank you to Paul for helping me with all my work and being an amazing model! xxx

Eating Disorders

Friday 1st March 2013

Plans for the shoot...

In today's shoot I will be looking at the issue of eating disorders and trigger point of people not wanting to eat anymore down to poor self image and appearance.  For this shoot I am going to be using a model who looks normal and healthy, so I can capture the moment in an individuals mind on when they think they should stop eating and why.

I am planning on making red cupcakes for this shoot! I am then going to write on my models chest 'F*CK FOOD', as if saying I don't want or need it anymore.  I have chosen to use a cruse word here as I think the control side of eating disorders that make one want to carry on with not eating is very angry and has a lot of pain.  I then want my model to be holding the cupcake and to smash it up in his hands while black icing pour out of it - I want this to signify the need and want to get rid of the food and stop eating, with the black icing representing the poison that people with eating disorders see food as.

I am going to use either the brown or grey background for this shoot.

What I hope to achieve...

I am hoping to get a good set of photos from this shoot that can really capture the ugly side of eating disorders.  I am not necessarily thinking of photographing my models face so I really want the emotion to some out in the cupcake being smashed up and the words.

What I actually achieved...

This was actually a really fun shoot to do - smashing up cupcakes and making a mess! Though I experienced a lot of development during this shoot as I what I had originally planned to do didn't work out.

Only shooting my models torso and hands with the cupcake didn't work out as well as I had planned and I felt that during the shoot it was become difficult to get across the issue as eventually the cupcake wasn't recognisable and it didn't really start to make sense.  At this point I decided to try and use to tape up my models mouth and smash a cupcake over it to make it look at if he can't eat anymore - this worked much better, though I did also get some of the original photos to work too.  Here are some of the best ones:

Here is one of the original ideas of how I thought my work would end up looking.  I think this works as you can still tell that it is a cupcake and therefore there is no confusion as to what is going on in the photo or the message that is being highlighted.

Here is one of the photos that I developed my shoot into.  Because the cupcakes at this point were so smashed up, this helped it to ensure that it still made sense.

I really like this shot in particular.  It is different to what I had expected the rest of the shoots to look, but I like it and I think it works well.  I like the way the cupcake it up front toward the camera and then in the background you can just make out the writing - I also like here only the mouth has been photographed out of the face yet this is enough to be able to get the point and the emotion across.

I put the background out of focus here and made the cupcake the focus.  I think this works as you can still make out the writing, even with the blur  over the top, and the cupcake is in focus at the front.  I think this allows both elements of the photo to compliment each other more as the cupcake looked so small against the strong writing, here it sort of balances it out more.

Here is a selective colour shot.











What I am going to do next...

This shoot has inspired me to look at the other side of eating disorders - over eating.  I want to photograph this shoot in  a similar way to this only rather than showing the trigger pint of the issue, I want to shows the point at which it has become too much and the food has taken over the persons life.

Thank you so much to my model Paul - amazing as always! :)

Review of Practical Work

So far in photography I have conducted three shoots, all of which I have enjoyed and gotten a fairly good outcome with.  I have encountered a few problems with my work with regards to getting people to help my with the modelling side of things, but as frustrating as it is I have learnt a lot more about photography as a industry of work and the problems that you can and will encounter.

Aside from this, improvisation is something that I have learnt a lot about and working spontaneously to still get a good shoot done.

For my exam I chose to look at the topic of issues, so far, I have looked bulling, self-image/ how society plays a part in making people feel they need to wear makeup/ style their hair etc. and domestic abuse.

I have enjoyed all my shoots and think that I have gotten some good photos from them, but I cannot wait to get started on some of my planned shoots and see what I can do when I have everything how I want it to be.  I really want to make my work quite controversial, not so much as to shock people or to cause a stir with what people think of my work, but portray an accurate reality of the horror that people experience with their issues.  For example, I have planned to do drug, rape and health issues.

Domestic Abuse in Marriage...

Friday 22nd February 2013

Plans for the shoot...

For today's shoot I am going to be looking at the issue of domestic abuse in marriage.  I am going to use the significance of the wedding rings to highlight the connection my two models have in marriage, but then use makeup to 'beat up' my female model's face and this will accentuate the issue of domestic abuse.  I think this is an important issue to tackle as it is something that can be common these days but is unspoken.
I am thinking about using only one flash to create shadows and darkness too.  I am also look at shooting some shots in black and white, too, as I think black and white shots always hold more emotion.

What I hope to achieve...

From today's shoot I am hoping to get a set of photos that really display and show the emotional pain and hurt that some people experience in marriage.  I really want the rings to stand out and the bruises/cuts too... almost making my models secondary to the shot as I want all the main focus on these.

What I actually achieved...

I am relatively happy with today's shoot - I love the pose and expressions of my models and the way they marriage has been accentuate with the the rings, but as an error on my own part I don't think I chose my background well.  The white has ended up making it look overly posed and I don't think that it compliments my shoot well.

To make the images look better I desaturated them and darkened out the background a little, I am much happier with the two images below and love everything about them, though I think a darker background would have worked better.

I really like the expression here, and the way you can see the male model almost looming in the background.  The cuts here really stand out and the wedding rings are subtle but till play a dominate role in the photo which is what I was going for.  I did a gaussian blur in the backgound to get this effect and I think it has work well - I also really like the de-stauration I put on the image as this made the background darker too.

This photo has alot more focus on the issue itself, namely with the cuts and the rings.  I love the emotion in my models face and the pose.  I think the lightening is good, though I think I would have liked more shadow on the left side of the face.  I think the positioning of the hands has really played a key role in photo as it has really brought forward the marriage element.












What I am going to do next...

This shoot has really inspired to look at relationship issues from lots of different angles.  I am thinking about doing some shoots that aren't so obvious with what they are showing, and letting the person looking at the photo to link it to multipe problems in a relationship or even relate it back to themselves and a self expereience.

Thie kind of thing I am thinking of doing is to photograph a bride and groom wearing gas masks, as if suggesting that the marriage is dead, or struggling.  I also am egar to keep the violent element in this work and would like to photograph a couple look almost intimate, but really leaning in to hurt one another with a knife and gun.  These are shoots I will plan out and see what I can do with.

Society's Impression

Friday 15th February 2013

Plans for the shoot...

So today, for varous reasons I am having to improvise a shoot and go into it totallu unplanned and be spontaneous! So today I have chosen to look at the issue of girls, and some boys too, feeling they need to wea makeup to be accepted in society. I though this would be a good shoot for me to do seeing as I wear so much makeup etc.

I am planning on doing the shoot so that I photograph myself multipe times in different positions holding various hair and beauty products to myself, then putting them all together in the end so to create and effect of my having multipe arms and holding all these products.  To do this I am going to use Photoshop and individually cut out my arms and place and merge them onto one photo.

What I hope to achieve...

I am hoping to get a photo that is well Photoshopped so it actually looks like I have more than two arms.  I want the work to look professional as the merging of the photos here is the most important part of the shoot.

What I actually achieved...

Here is the finished piece from today's shoot - I am actually really happy with how it has turned out, especially considering nothing was planned!

I encountered a couple of little problems with the final piecing together of this photo as when I took the starting photo I left one of my actual arms down by my side so I had to get rid of this to make the photo look better.  To do this I made a duplicate layer and then shifted the layers over each other till the arm was hidden; I then neatened it up using the eraser tool on Photoshop.

What I am going to do next...

As much as I enjoyed today's shoot I really want to be able to get some of my planned shoots done as soon as a convenient opportunity presents itself for my models to come in and help me.  I have enjoyed the Photoshopping elements of this work though and I might look to do something like this again in the future.

Target Post (Friday 15th February 2013)

My target for today is to conduct a shoot looking at poor self image.  I will be doing this through makeup and looking at it from the angle of someone feeling they need to wear makeup.  I am going to use myself as the model today.

After I have taken a good head-on shot of myself, I am then going to start to take photos in which I am holding various makeup and beauty products.  I am then going to put these photos together so it looks like I have multiple arms that are holding all the products around my face.

I am doing this shoot today in relation to my personal target of wanting to improve my Photoshop skills.  I still feel I have much to learn about the programme and think this would be a good shoot to use to help me with this.

I got the inspiration for this shoot from Emily, a student who previously did photography at Harlow.

Target Post (Tuesday 12th February 2013)

During today's lesson I would like to focus on the shoot that I conducted last class and edit and enhance more of the photos, looking at some more effects I could learn and add to my work using Photoshop.

I would also like to complete my image bank and definition today and also look at the planning the last few details of my shoot I am planning to do on Friday.

Bullying

Friday 8th February 2013

Plans for the shoot...

For today's shoot I am going to be looking at the issue of bulling.  IK am planning to do my model up in makeup to make them look beaten up and have facial injuries, and then tape over their mouth using duct tape or a similar tape.  I am doing this as bullying something that is not spoken about and people often keep quite about it.  I ma also planning on just using one flash so to create lots of shadow on my subjects face during the shoot.

What I hope to achieve...

I am hoping to achieve a series of shots that really being out hurt emotions.  With half of my models face covered, I really want the emotion to be able to be brought out in the eyes.  With me focusing on shots from the shoulders up I really want there to be lots of eye contact and connection with the camera.   I think this will help me to get across the point and the issue that I am trying to highlight.

What I actually achieved...

I was happy with the result of today's shoot.  In some parts I improvised and worked with my model to get a different feel with some of the photos and look at the issue of bulling from a different angle.  Here are some of my favourite photographs from the shoot...

I really like this photo for the emotion that my model is bringing across - he literally looks like he has just been beaten up and has now given up.  I also love the positioning of the subject and I think the background colour I used (brown) worked really well with the shoot.

This was one of the shots where I took a different angel with the issue of bullying.  This one is saying "I've had enough of this" and therefore the subject is seen pulling off the tape of his face in a rebel against being quite about the issue.  I love how the lighting in falling on the features of the model and how this is really accentuating the emotion in his face.

The close of shot of the eyes was taken so to see the hurt that bullying comes along with.  I used the burn tool on Photoshop slightly on this photo to enhance the bruised eye.  I like how the eyes are really connecting with the camera and therefore the person looking at the photo can really connect with the subject.

Finally, I have this photo.  This photo really focuses on the subject and capturing their ordeal with the issue.  I like the expression, and the way his eyes are connecting with the camera, again.  I love the positioning and the way everything in the shoot is really sterile and this allows total focus on the face of my model.  I de-saturated this photo and added some effects the eyes to enhance them and too add to the beaten up effect.

What I am going to do next...

From today's shoot I have realised I really want to be able to connect with the people I work with and really get raw emotion in the photos I take.  I also really like the use of only one flash as I think this has given a nice shadowed effect that has added to my work.  I would like to use this in future shoots.  I think while looking at bullying there are many other ways I could photograph this and get across my point and that is something I will look at exploring over the next few weeks.

Thank you so much to my amazing model, Paul! xxx

Target Post (Friday 8th February 2013)

This class I am aiming to achieve the first shoot in my unit two project which is looking at the issue of bullying/ physical abuse.

To execute this shoot I will be using a model and creating a makeup look for them in which they will look beaten up, and then taping their mouth shut so as to effect of people not talking about the issue of bullying.

I am thinking about the lightening in this shot and maybe using it in a way to create shadow on my models face too as I think this will add to the effect I want.  I want lots of connection between my models eyes and the camera so the emotion can really be brought out and seen in the photo.

My personal target today is to also use more Photoshop to help enhance my work and improve my ability in using the programme as this is something that I don't normally use a lot as I prefer to create all my work though makeup etc.  I think this will be beneficial to me as Photoshop is something I am required to use a lot and improving my skills on it will help me not only now but in the future too.

Far From History (live band photography)

I went to a gig last Friday and one of the bands that played asked if I would take some photos.  I have never done live photography before so though I would share some of it on here. :)

Make sure to check out the band, Far From History: https://www.facebook.com/Farfromhistoryuk?fref=ts

Lovin' Life

So today I basically just had a laugh in the studio - the ring flash was set up and I thought I'd have a little play around with it! :')
Here is something that I made with some of the shots :') (Sorry about the messy hair and makeup - blame the rain! - oh, and I know I look it here, but I am not ginger either! haha :'))

Bath time...

Monday 21st January 2013

Today's shoot was based around the idea of committing suicide in the bath i.e. cutting yourself.  It was also a shoot where there was a secondary idea of drowning yourself too.  It is the first free shoot that I have done at home as I needed to use the bathroom for the shoot.

This shoot was fun to do and I would definitely work like it again.  Though I did encounter many struggles to begin with and the shoots original idea got diluted down a lot, I now have a something to work from and develop further which is something I really want to do with this shoot.  Here are some of the photos that I have ended up with!

Thank you so much to my gorgeous model here, Gemma! xxx

Overdose!

Friday 18th January

So today I thought I'd tackle the issue of overdosing in photography.

For this shoot, I had the idea of getting someone to lie on the floor with their mouth over-filled with pills, or more accurately tictaks or something like that.  However, when going out to get supplies for this shoot it turned out to be cheaper to just buy loads and loads of paracetamol and ibuprofen, so I ended up with 256 paracetamol and ibuprofen for my shoot!

I am really happy with the result of this shoot - though there was a few minor problems to begin with it was something that was quickly worked through.  I was also able to work on some Photoshop skills in this shoot which can be seen on the eyes.  Here are some of the photos from the shoot...

Thank you so much to my model, Paul - you're amazing! xxx