Best work so far - Electronic Portfolio.
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Monday, 17 March 2014
Connecting Essays.
Connecting Essays
1. Connecting Essay 1 - Oded Wagenstein
This photograph was taken by Oded Wagenstein. In this photograph, we can see a close up shot of an old mans face as he looks directly away from the camera. He is shown to be old through his own grey hair and facial hair but also by the wrinkly and saggy skin shown around mostly his eyes and cheeks. All the colours are shown to be natural colours of grey, brown, black and light blue. The positive point of this photograph is the eyes of the older man, this is a positive factor because it becomes eye-catching but also dramatic with a lot of emotion. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
This photograph was actually shot by myself. In this photograph we can see an old man in public standing there with his eyes shut tightly. This model is shown to be old through his old rough skin, grey hair and facial hair but also shown wrinkles and creases across the models face. The positive point of this photograph is actually the background, this is a positive factor because by having the background blurred, the model comes into more focus and becomes the centre piece for the audience. The negative point of this photograph is that the models eyes are clenched shut, this is a negative factor because it mainly shows another emotion of fear than actual sadness in his age as his eyes did not show this. An improvement I would make to this photograph would be the colouring of the photo overall.
These two selected photograph connect between different ways. The first way shown is actually based upon the models. These models have the same facial hair in the same shape and colour, they're both nearly matching skin colours, but, the overall obvious reason that these models connect is because they're both shown to be old, through the way they both look e.g. skin tightness, wrinkles, colour of their hair. The second way they connect is between editing styles, the way they connect between this is by both using only neutral colours between them both also having the background blurred so the focus really goes onto the actual models.
2. Connecting Essay 2 - Rainwood Productions
This photograph was captured by Rainwood Productions. In this photograph, we can see a close up photograph of a young model with her eyes closed. Whilst her eyes are closed and the background is shown to be black, a young snake is shown to have wrapped it's self against her face and her head. The positive point of this photograph is the choice of background, this is a positive factor because it creates the model and the snake stand out extremely for the audience with the vibrant and natural colours. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
This photograph was captured by myself. In this photograph, we can see a self portrait of myself with a snake wrapped around my head and partly on my face. My positioning is also shown to be on the side with my eyes closed. The positive point of this photograph is the position of the snake, this is a positive factor because the audience are automatically attracted into looking at what has to be shown as a real animal which is exotic. The negative point of this photograph is the colouring of my face, this is a negative factor because the tone of the colour becomes a distraction between the facial features and the actual snake upon my head. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to use the hue and saturation tool to tone down the colouring of my skin.
These two photo's link in one huge way which is shown to be extremely obvious. This way shown would be through the way both the snakes are positioned upon our own heads, but also how both the model and myself are shown to have our eyes closed. These connections between are photographs are suddenly recognised and easily spoke about.
3. Connecting essay 3 - Andrew Bruce.
This photo was captured by Andrew Bruce. In this photograph, we can see a close up shot of a male model holding up a dead fox against a black background. The features of both the fox and the male models body are defiantly shown. The positive point of this photograph is the choice of background colour, this is a positive factor because by having a blacked out background against the pale flesh of the model and the darker grungy colours of the fox, creates both of them to naturally stand out to the audience. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph, we can see another self portrait of myself smiling while holding a dead fox up. The positive point of this photograph is the fox's positioning, this is a positive factor because the subtleness of the positioning of the fox as if it was asleep, against how it's guts are slowly pouring out, shows the audience in a nice manner a photo about death and life in an elegant manner. The negative factor of this photograph is the glove edge on the left hand side of the photograph is a distraction from the fox, this is a negative factor because the focus point on the fox is then pulled away. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to clone the glove away from the arm.
These photographs connect deeply with eachother. The way they obviously and mainly connect together is the two dead foxes shown to be cuddles up close to the model, as if they were still loved and alive. Both of them have wounds in the same location but also with nearly the same holding position and head position. The passion between the love for the ones who disappear and are not noticed connect these photo's once again with the same message.
4. Connecting essay 4 - Daniel Colegrove
This photo was captured by Daniel Colegrove. In this photograph, we can see a close up shot of an emotional women who is staring deeply into the camera. Her features are all shown darkly and so is her hair. By using a black background, the models skin is shown with a glow for the audience. The positive point of this photograph is the way the models eyes fall deeply into the camera, this is a positive factor because it draws the audience's attention into a mesmerising world of emotional thoughts. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative point of improvement to reveal.
This photo was captured by myself. In this photograph we can see a close up photograph of a 'chav' hiding mostly behind his hat as he holds it with his fingers, his eyes are also seen to glare into the lens of the camera. This model is also in-front of a completely white background. The positive point of this photograph is the positioning of the model, this is a positive factor because it shows the audience how he's scared to show the real him. The negative point of this photograph is that the tattoo on the models finger is a cause of distraction, this is a negative factor because it pulls the attention of the audience away from the main story. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to clone the tattoo of off the models hand.
These two photo's connect with each other in a way which the photo's have to be deeply looked into. The way these two photos connect through the way the models are shown to be in the photographs but also the camera position. Then model are shown on the left hand side of the corner of the actual camera shot, whilst the models are shown with a tilted head while looking up to the camera lens with their eyes.
5. Connecting Essay 5 - Gesine Marwedel
This photograph and body art was taken and done by Gesine Marwedel. In this photograph, we can a male figure with his eyes closed and his head leaning back as holds a strong posture. The background behind his is also shown completely black but also some of the jigsaw pieces which are shown to be missing. The positive point of this photograph, is shown to be the missing puzzle pieces which actually look realistic, this is a positive factor because it creates an allusion across the audiences minds as themselves would figure out how this work was done this way. The negative point of this photograph is the hair colour above the figure, this is a negative factor because the lightness becomes a cause of distraction upon the audience from the main focus of the puzzle pieces. As an improvement to this photograph, I would have liked too selected the model's hair before using the brush tool to paint over the hair with a black colour.
This photograph was taken by myself. In this photograph, we can see a self portrait in a medium close shot. Puzzle pieces are also shown to be painted down the side of my face with the some of the pieces actually missing. This whole photograph was shown in front of a completely black background. The positive point of this photograph is by using a completely black background, this is a positive factor because it creates myself and my make-up to stand out extremely well. The negative point of this photograph has to be the jigsaw piece across the nose, this is a negative factor because the section upon the nose looks photoshopped and face, creating the illusion to actually disappear. As an improvement I could make to this photograph, I would place the jigsaw piece upon the nose back in, before choosing another puzzle piece to remove without it looking too unrealistic.
These two photographs connect with each other through positioning and body art but also chosen background. The way the positioning is shown with the eyes shut and the head tilted back slightly is shown through both of them whilst the jigsaw puzzle pieces with the missing pieces are both shown but not so similar with the pattern inside but also the sizes it's drawn out to be. The background is also shown to interlink with each other as the chosen colour is shown to be completely black, separating the model from the background.
3. Connecting essay 3 - Andrew Bruce.
This photo was captured by Andrew Bruce. In this photograph, we can see a close up shot of a male model holding up a dead fox against a black background. The features of both the fox and the male models body are defiantly shown. The positive point of this photograph is the choice of background colour, this is a positive factor because by having a blacked out background against the pale flesh of the model and the darker grungy colours of the fox, creates both of them to naturally stand out to the audience. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph, we can see another self portrait of myself smiling while holding a dead fox up. The positive point of this photograph is the fox's positioning, this is a positive factor because the subtleness of the positioning of the fox as if it was asleep, against how it's guts are slowly pouring out, shows the audience in a nice manner a photo about death and life in an elegant manner. The negative factor of this photograph is the glove edge on the left hand side of the photograph is a distraction from the fox, this is a negative factor because the focus point on the fox is then pulled away. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to clone the glove away from the arm.
These photographs connect deeply with eachother. The way they obviously and mainly connect together is the two dead foxes shown to be cuddles up close to the model, as if they were still loved and alive. Both of them have wounds in the same location but also with nearly the same holding position and head position. The passion between the love for the ones who disappear and are not noticed connect these photo's once again with the same message.
4. Connecting essay 4 - Daniel Colegrove
This photo was captured by Daniel Colegrove. In this photograph, we can see a close up shot of an emotional women who is staring deeply into the camera. Her features are all shown darkly and so is her hair. By using a black background, the models skin is shown with a glow for the audience. The positive point of this photograph is the way the models eyes fall deeply into the camera, this is a positive factor because it draws the audience's attention into a mesmerising world of emotional thoughts. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative point of improvement to reveal.
This photo was captured by myself. In this photograph we can see a close up photograph of a 'chav' hiding mostly behind his hat as he holds it with his fingers, his eyes are also seen to glare into the lens of the camera. This model is also in-front of a completely white background. The positive point of this photograph is the positioning of the model, this is a positive factor because it shows the audience how he's scared to show the real him. The negative point of this photograph is that the tattoo on the models finger is a cause of distraction, this is a negative factor because it pulls the attention of the audience away from the main story. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to clone the tattoo of off the models hand.
These two photo's connect with each other in a way which the photo's have to be deeply looked into. The way these two photos connect through the way the models are shown to be in the photographs but also the camera position. Then model are shown on the left hand side of the corner of the actual camera shot, whilst the models are shown with a tilted head while looking up to the camera lens with their eyes.
5. Connecting Essay 5 - Gesine Marwedel
This photograph and body art was taken and done by Gesine Marwedel. In this photograph, we can a male figure with his eyes closed and his head leaning back as holds a strong posture. The background behind his is also shown completely black but also some of the jigsaw pieces which are shown to be missing. The positive point of this photograph, is shown to be the missing puzzle pieces which actually look realistic, this is a positive factor because it creates an allusion across the audiences minds as themselves would figure out how this work was done this way. The negative point of this photograph is the hair colour above the figure, this is a negative factor because the lightness becomes a cause of distraction upon the audience from the main focus of the puzzle pieces. As an improvement to this photograph, I would have liked too selected the model's hair before using the brush tool to paint over the hair with a black colour.
This photograph was taken by myself. In this photograph, we can see a self portrait in a medium close shot. Puzzle pieces are also shown to be painted down the side of my face with the some of the pieces actually missing. This whole photograph was shown in front of a completely black background. The positive point of this photograph is by using a completely black background, this is a positive factor because it creates myself and my make-up to stand out extremely well. The negative point of this photograph has to be the jigsaw piece across the nose, this is a negative factor because the section upon the nose looks photoshopped and face, creating the illusion to actually disappear. As an improvement I could make to this photograph, I would place the jigsaw piece upon the nose back in, before choosing another puzzle piece to remove without it looking too unrealistic.
These two photographs connect with each other through positioning and body art but also chosen background. The way the positioning is shown with the eyes shut and the head tilted back slightly is shown through both of them whilst the jigsaw puzzle pieces with the missing pieces are both shown but not so similar with the pattern inside but also the sizes it's drawn out to be. The background is also shown to interlink with each other as the chosen colour is shown to be completely black, separating the model from the background.
Monday, 3 March 2014
Chosen Photographers - Research log.
Chosen Photographers - Research log.
1. Andrew Bruce
I chose Andrew Bruce as my first chosen photographer because he has shot unique work whilst showing how any item can be used to show a specific story, no matter how gory the photo may become to different members of the audience. I find his work outstanding against other plain photographers when it comes to story-telling.
Annotated photographs:
In this photograph we can see a close up shot of a male chest and arms, as a small dead bird is shown to be laying on it's back in the males hands. The positive point of this photograph is that whilst the background is black and really shows the male's flesh, the bird is located near the chest showing the passion for the dead bird, this is a positive factor because the audience can really see how the love for the small wild bird has not died as the male which is shown to be half naked links with the bird in his hand and near his chest. The negative point of this photograph is the hand is located in a wrong location, this is a negative factor because the photo can contain an ambiguous meaning from the passion of the bird to actually the thought of the make actor eating it. An improvement I would make to this photo, would be to retake the photograph and place the hands nearer to the models heart location on his chest.
In this photograph, we can see another close up shot of a males chest and arms as he is shown to be cuddling a rabbit close to his heart. The only message that comes across that the rabbit is actually dead, is the fact that there is blood shown to be pouring down his arm. The positive point of this photograph is the location of the rabbit on his chest and the fact the male model is shown to be half naked, this is a positive factor because it shows how the model is really emotionally linked to the dead rabbit as he places his flesh against the animal in some sort of ritual or 'goodbye'. The negative point of this photograph is the trickle of blood on the models arm, this is a negative factor because it may confuse the audience between the thought that the rabbit is actually dear but also the thought of the blood coming from a cut on the models arm or shoulder. An improvement I would make to this photo, would be to photoshop more blood upon the model's arm structure, to really show that the rabbit is dead.
In this photograph we can see a close up shot a male models shoulder, neck and arms as he holds the badge close to his chest, while the badgers head is shown to fall into the crease of the elbow and arm link, whilst also covering him in blood. The positive point of this photograph is the revealing of the badgers head and blood in the male models arm, this is a positive factor because it shows the model's love for the animal itself, as if he was actually trying to help it. I believe that this photo does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph, we can see a close up shot of a male model holding up a dead fox against a black background. The features of both the fox and the male models body are defiantly shown. The positive point of this photograph is the choice of background colour, this is a positive factor because by having a blacked out background against the pale flesh of the model and the darker grungy colours of the fox, creates both of them to naturally stand out to the audience. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
Andrew Bruce has influenced me into taking photo's exactly like his of dead animals, to show the connection between life and death. He has also influenced me into showing how nature's life cycle can closely follow our own and how people may grieve or represent the emotions of this subject in my photographs alone. As an overall summary from looking through Andrew's work, I started originally actually liking his photo's on how unique and different they were, developing into this I have found out that I enjoy his work a lot more than from the start as I came to a realisation on the stories that were actually being represented in these photographs.
2. Greg Manis
I chose Greg Manis as my second selected chosen photographer because he displays mostly women and some men in a totally different light, back in the time it used to be all about sex, drugs and rock music. Some of his work also shows hints of abuse as women would challenge the other half back in the time when women really did not have power. By having photo's like this, Greg really shocked me and made me feel like I could understand what was going on and was actually there when this all happened.
Annotated photographs:
In this photograph, we can see the relaxation of two teenagers who rebel against society with a harmonica and a run down house with an old sofa. Both the male model who is shown topless is seemed to be relaxed and more focused on the music, whilst the female model tries to show a slight lust yet anger towards the camera. The positive point of this photograph would be the pale yet neutral colours used, this is a positive factor because it really shows how rundown the place can be, yet the couple still have concentration and hope for the future. The negative point of this photograph is the cans, this is a negative factor because it's a distraction from the models. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to crop the cans away from the photograph.
In this photograph we can see the mixture of what is shown to be the morning after a 'party'. Whilst the model is shown to be in heels and a slight piece of clothing on her bottom half as she leans over an old sink, the guy in the bathtub is still shown to be drinking and laying in his clothes as if the night has not ended. The positive point of this photograph is the scenery and the way the models are positioned, this is a positive factor because it gives the realistic atmosphere to the audience that the party has died down and the hangovers and confusion has begun, which can also remind the audience how their parties used to be. The negative point of this photograph is the flash reflection and light reflection on the tiles, this is a negative factor because it's a distraction from the models, but it also shows up to clearly in the photograph. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be too darken the levels and curves to remove the flash on the tiles.
In this photograph, we can see the close up photograph of a males tattooed arm and hand holding the females neck as she grits her teeth largely. She is also shown to be slightly fight back. The positive point of this photograph is how the camera is positioned to look like the audience are actually the male figure, this is a positive factor because it can resemble both not caring who the female is, so you do not actually see the rest of her face, but also how alcohol can hide the appearance of any one. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph, we can see a young female model in vintage clothing sitting on the window ledge as the sun hits the rest of her body and her face stays in the shadow. The female model is also shown to be looking straight into the camera lens out of the corner of her eyes. The positive point of this photograph is how the sun matches nicely with the outfit, this is a positive factor because it creates the audience to feel like their in the old summer days again when they were younger. The negative point of this photograph is the blurred green lines from a plant across the lens, this is a negative factor because it creates the photo too look unrealistic and unprofessional for the audience. An improvement I would make to this photo, would be to crop most of the green out of the photograph.
Greg Manis has influenced me into looking at more alternative women and men who are heavy alcoholics, taking drugs and live their life in a different way. By this influence, I will look into picking alternative models and getting them to relive their lives like Greg Manis's work for photographs based on personal life. As an overall summary from looking through Greg's work, I started off quite impressed with how the old days are shown so clearly in a more modern way, but deepening further into his work, I became slightly less interested than to begin with as his work mostly showed a lot of women coming across naked and not caring about their bodies.
3. Hid Saib
I chose Hid Saib as my third selected photographer, because I liked how his work fitted so well into fairytale in the most unique way with just make-up and paint.
Annotated photographs:
In this photograph, we can see the close up portrait of a female model as she glows purple, with UV paint styling as the make-up and flickered across the models face in a pixie sort of way. The positive point of this photograph is the way the UV light shapes the eyes to the point they become the focus point, this is a positive factor because the paint then draws in the attention to the audience. The negative point of this photograph is how the pupil's reflect the blue light, this is a negative factor because the attention then focuses on what the blue light is actually doing in the pupils of the models eyes. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to use the burn tool across the models pupils to get rid of the blue.
In this photograph we can see half a portrait picture of a model with their eyes shut. The shoulders and background is also shown to be blurred as the focus is pulled onto the model who's glowing purple with the galaxy printed all over them. The positive point of this photograph is the make-up, this is a positive factor because it makes the model look un-human and like a galaxy in space. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph we can see an extreme close up portrait photograph of a model who's eyes are covered in UV paint, yet so are their lips whilst also the cheeks have flickered paint across them. The positive point of this photograph is the ways the eyes are painted in UV paint, this is a positive factor because they clash with the dark colour of the irises which makes the photo eye-catching. The negative point of this photograph is the UV paint on the lips, this is a negative factor because the lips then become the unwanted focus point. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to change the levels and curves on the lips to darken the UV paint.
In this photograph we can see a close up side portrait of a male model. This male model is shown to be covered in a blue light with the flickered UV paint with the colour pink. The background and shoulder of this model is shown to be blurred so the focus goes onto the male models face. The positive point of this photograph has to be the UV light and UV paint, this is a positive factor because it defines the male's facial features in an interesting way. The negative point of this photograph is that there is too much background shown to the left hand side of the photograph, this is a negative factor because the background then becomes the distraction. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to crop the background away.
Hid Saib has influenced me into using his style of photography with the UV paint and slow shutter speed in one of my shoots for my exam, this then can fit into my actual fantasy section in my Exam question well and makes my work unique compared to everyone else's. As an overall summary, I find Hid Saib's work more and more mesmerising each time I look through his work. I have decided that since I fell in love with his work in photography, I will continue to like the way he represents his work.
4. Sarah Cheng-De Winne
In this photograph, we can see a side portrait of a self portrait, whilst the make-up shows the icon from a card deck which blends in well with the colour of the head scarf. The positive point of this photograph is how the smooth make-up which is really neutral, creates the card icon to stand out well, this is a positive factor because the card icon stands out nicely and becomes the focus point. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph, we can see a side portrait of a young women with her head tilted back and her eyes closed. Her lipstick is also in a heart shape such as the ace card, while her scarf matches the colour of the lipstick as well. The positive point of this photograph is the choice of colour used, this is a positive point because by having black as the background whilst red is the models colour, both colours contrast and really stand out for the audience. The negative point of this photograph is by having the eyes closed, the focus point automatically falls onto the eyes instead of the pattern on the lips, this is a negative factor because the whole point of taking this photo rapidly changes into something else. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be too darken the skin tone of the model down with the levels and curves.
In this photograph we can see on the right hand side, a model with their eyes upon and their head leaning back whilst the same model on the left is shown on a larger scale looking towards the camera with the eyes focusing onto the lens of the camera. The same card make-up is shown again with diamonds upon the neck. The positive point of this photograph, is by combining the two faces together to make one story with different scale sizes as well, this is a positive factor because it becomes eye-catching and interesting. The negative point of this photograph is that they both have the same opacity level as each other, this is a negative factor because it can cause confusion for the audience between the two different focus points. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to change the opacity level of the face on the left hand side of the photograph, so it would fade in.
In this photograph we can see a women who seems to be either dead, passed out or asleep across a wooden floor. With all the colours faded and the models motionless expression, us as the audience can only assume the worst of her fate. The positive point of this photograph is the use of lack of colour and a lot of shadowing used, this is a positive factor because whilst the lack of colour is a warning sign to the audience that the photograph is based on a tragedy, the shadows highlight the main points and features of the now dead female. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph we can see a women in a pale yet extremely short outfit crouching on the edge of the table, as her hands are connected and away from her body. With her eyes closed and her head holding high but pointing downwards, us as the audience can quickly assume that she has done wrong. The positive point of this photograph is actually the models positioning, this is a positive factor because the audience can see and assume how the women's actions have impacted her within the way she holds herself up in a guilty form. The negative point of this photograph is there is not a lot shown for the audience to connect too, this is a negative factor because it ruins the story telling of the photograph and can only leave the audience bored and mindless. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to photoshop blood splatters across the wall behind her, this then continues the guiltiness of the actual model.
In this photograph we have a landscape shot of a sunset at the edge of a cliff as the grass grows widely around, when the photograph is studied carefully the audience are able to quickly notice the dead pale body parts of legs laying across the grass. The positive point of this photograph is the camera angle, this is a positive factor because by showing the freedom of the land gives the audience a sense of freedom and purity, until the dead legs are quickly shown as if the body was about to be hidden. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph we can see a landscape photograph of two different road crossing as a female model is shown to be standing on the grass in between. The trees are also shown to be eye-catching whilst the mist is swarming around the model and the trees. The positive point of this photograph is the whole setting and the positioning of the model, this is a positive factor because it shows the models isolation and story in one about whether she could choose either road or hide in the trees for safety. The negative point of this photograph is the amount of grass shown from the model to the camera, this is a negative factor because it's a cause of distraction for the audience. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be too crop most of the grass out of the photograph.
Villi has influenced me into looking more at isolation without props but more in the positioning of the body and the expression. The more body parts are shown in more difficult positions or are hardly shown with just a single prop can actually tell such a big story to the audience, which makes Villi's work successful and has made me want to use the same style. As an overall summary, I really got caught and dragged in by Villi's work on isolation as it showed every-day life in such an interesting way in which we can all relate too, once I deepened my research into him, I have decided that Ville will be a huge role model and influence on my work.
2. Greg Manis
I chose Greg Manis as my second selected chosen photographer because he displays mostly women and some men in a totally different light, back in the time it used to be all about sex, drugs and rock music. Some of his work also shows hints of abuse as women would challenge the other half back in the time when women really did not have power. By having photo's like this, Greg really shocked me and made me feel like I could understand what was going on and was actually there when this all happened.
Annotated photographs:
In this photograph, we can see the relaxation of two teenagers who rebel against society with a harmonica and a run down house with an old sofa. Both the male model who is shown topless is seemed to be relaxed and more focused on the music, whilst the female model tries to show a slight lust yet anger towards the camera. The positive point of this photograph would be the pale yet neutral colours used, this is a positive factor because it really shows how rundown the place can be, yet the couple still have concentration and hope for the future. The negative point of this photograph is the cans, this is a negative factor because it's a distraction from the models. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to crop the cans away from the photograph.
In this photograph we can see the mixture of what is shown to be the morning after a 'party'. Whilst the model is shown to be in heels and a slight piece of clothing on her bottom half as she leans over an old sink, the guy in the bathtub is still shown to be drinking and laying in his clothes as if the night has not ended. The positive point of this photograph is the scenery and the way the models are positioned, this is a positive factor because it gives the realistic atmosphere to the audience that the party has died down and the hangovers and confusion has begun, which can also remind the audience how their parties used to be. The negative point of this photograph is the flash reflection and light reflection on the tiles, this is a negative factor because it's a distraction from the models, but it also shows up to clearly in the photograph. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be too darken the levels and curves to remove the flash on the tiles.
In this photograph, we can see the close up photograph of a males tattooed arm and hand holding the females neck as she grits her teeth largely. She is also shown to be slightly fight back. The positive point of this photograph is how the camera is positioned to look like the audience are actually the male figure, this is a positive factor because it can resemble both not caring who the female is, so you do not actually see the rest of her face, but also how alcohol can hide the appearance of any one. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph, we can see a young female model in vintage clothing sitting on the window ledge as the sun hits the rest of her body and her face stays in the shadow. The female model is also shown to be looking straight into the camera lens out of the corner of her eyes. The positive point of this photograph is how the sun matches nicely with the outfit, this is a positive factor because it creates the audience to feel like their in the old summer days again when they were younger. The negative point of this photograph is the blurred green lines from a plant across the lens, this is a negative factor because it creates the photo too look unrealistic and unprofessional for the audience. An improvement I would make to this photo, would be to crop most of the green out of the photograph.
Greg Manis has influenced me into looking at more alternative women and men who are heavy alcoholics, taking drugs and live their life in a different way. By this influence, I will look into picking alternative models and getting them to relive their lives like Greg Manis's work for photographs based on personal life. As an overall summary from looking through Greg's work, I started off quite impressed with how the old days are shown so clearly in a more modern way, but deepening further into his work, I became slightly less interested than to begin with as his work mostly showed a lot of women coming across naked and not caring about their bodies.
3. Hid Saib
I chose Hid Saib as my third selected photographer, because I liked how his work fitted so well into fairytale in the most unique way with just make-up and paint.
Annotated photographs:
In this photograph, we can see the close up portrait of a female model as she glows purple, with UV paint styling as the make-up and flickered across the models face in a pixie sort of way. The positive point of this photograph is the way the UV light shapes the eyes to the point they become the focus point, this is a positive factor because the paint then draws in the attention to the audience. The negative point of this photograph is how the pupil's reflect the blue light, this is a negative factor because the attention then focuses on what the blue light is actually doing in the pupils of the models eyes. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to use the burn tool across the models pupils to get rid of the blue.
In this photograph we can see half a portrait picture of a model with their eyes shut. The shoulders and background is also shown to be blurred as the focus is pulled onto the model who's glowing purple with the galaxy printed all over them. The positive point of this photograph is the make-up, this is a positive factor because it makes the model look un-human and like a galaxy in space. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph we can see an extreme close up portrait photograph of a model who's eyes are covered in UV paint, yet so are their lips whilst also the cheeks have flickered paint across them. The positive point of this photograph is the ways the eyes are painted in UV paint, this is a positive factor because they clash with the dark colour of the irises which makes the photo eye-catching. The negative point of this photograph is the UV paint on the lips, this is a negative factor because the lips then become the unwanted focus point. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to change the levels and curves on the lips to darken the UV paint.
In this photograph we can see a close up side portrait of a male model. This male model is shown to be covered in a blue light with the flickered UV paint with the colour pink. The background and shoulder of this model is shown to be blurred so the focus goes onto the male models face. The positive point of this photograph has to be the UV light and UV paint, this is a positive factor because it defines the male's facial features in an interesting way. The negative point of this photograph is that there is too much background shown to the left hand side of the photograph, this is a negative factor because the background then becomes the distraction. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to crop the background away.
Hid Saib has influenced me into using his style of photography with the UV paint and slow shutter speed in one of my shoots for my exam, this then can fit into my actual fantasy section in my Exam question well and makes my work unique compared to everyone else's. As an overall summary, I find Hid Saib's work more and more mesmerising each time I look through his work. I have decided that since I fell in love with his work in photography, I will continue to like the way he represents his work.
4. Sarah Cheng-De Winne
I chose Sarah Cheng-De Winne as my fourth photographer because I liked the way she smoothly overlapped one photograph with another, but also how she uses herself in the portraits and creates this Alice in Wonderland styled make-up.
Annotated photographs:
In this photograph, we can see a side portrait of a self portrait, whilst the make-up shows the icon from a card deck which blends in well with the colour of the head scarf. The positive point of this photograph is how the smooth make-up which is really neutral, creates the card icon to stand out well, this is a positive factor because the card icon stands out nicely and becomes the focus point. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph, we can see a side portrait of a young women with her head tilted back and her eyes closed. Her lipstick is also in a heart shape such as the ace card, while her scarf matches the colour of the lipstick as well. The positive point of this photograph is the choice of colour used, this is a positive point because by having black as the background whilst red is the models colour, both colours contrast and really stand out for the audience. The negative point of this photograph is by having the eyes closed, the focus point automatically falls onto the eyes instead of the pattern on the lips, this is a negative factor because the whole point of taking this photo rapidly changes into something else. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be too darken the skin tone of the model down with the levels and curves.
In this photograph we can see on the right hand side, a model with their eyes upon and their head leaning back whilst the same model on the left is shown on a larger scale looking towards the camera with the eyes focusing onto the lens of the camera. The same card make-up is shown again with diamonds upon the neck. The positive point of this photograph, is by combining the two faces together to make one story with different scale sizes as well, this is a positive factor because it becomes eye-catching and interesting. The negative point of this photograph is that they both have the same opacity level as each other, this is a negative factor because it can cause confusion for the audience between the two different focus points. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to change the opacity level of the face on the left hand side of the photograph, so it would fade in.
In this photograph we can see the side portrait of a female model looking to the left hand side of the photograph, with the club sign against her cheek bone while her hair is also covered up by a scarf. On each side of this photograph her face, facing forwards is shown in a faded look but whilst also being either one facing the right way up and the other facing the wrong way down. The positive point of this photograph is the use of faded faces behind the actual model, this is a positive factor because it creates an interesting story for the audience as they have ambiguous meanings to why the faces are shown. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
Sarah's work has influenced me into looking at simple portrait style work with only a slight make-up skill behind it. This influence work will influence me in my fairytale work and personal life work as she has shown me that the less make-up used and the more the facial feature is shown, the better the photograph looks. As an overall summary, to begin with I found Sarah's work something different and just plain but in a eye-catching way, when I furthered my research into her, I found the reasoning behind her style of work, which has changed my opinion into liking her. The only problem I find with her work that un-interests me is that her work is very repetitive in style and appearance.
5. Ville Varumo
I picked Ville Varumo as my final chosen photographer because of the topics he chooses to only photograph. These topics are mostly isolation, loneliness and becoming emotionless.
In this photograph we can see a women who seems to be either dead, passed out or asleep across a wooden floor. With all the colours faded and the models motionless expression, us as the audience can only assume the worst of her fate. The positive point of this photograph is the use of lack of colour and a lot of shadowing used, this is a positive factor because whilst the lack of colour is a warning sign to the audience that the photograph is based on a tragedy, the shadows highlight the main points and features of the now dead female. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph we can see a women in a pale yet extremely short outfit crouching on the edge of the table, as her hands are connected and away from her body. With her eyes closed and her head holding high but pointing downwards, us as the audience can quickly assume that she has done wrong. The positive point of this photograph is actually the models positioning, this is a positive factor because the audience can see and assume how the women's actions have impacted her within the way she holds herself up in a guilty form. The negative point of this photograph is there is not a lot shown for the audience to connect too, this is a negative factor because it ruins the story telling of the photograph and can only leave the audience bored and mindless. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to photoshop blood splatters across the wall behind her, this then continues the guiltiness of the actual model.
In this photograph we have a landscape shot of a sunset at the edge of a cliff as the grass grows widely around, when the photograph is studied carefully the audience are able to quickly notice the dead pale body parts of legs laying across the grass. The positive point of this photograph is the camera angle, this is a positive factor because by showing the freedom of the land gives the audience a sense of freedom and purity, until the dead legs are quickly shown as if the body was about to be hidden. I believe that this photograph does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.
In this photograph we can see a landscape photograph of two different road crossing as a female model is shown to be standing on the grass in between. The trees are also shown to be eye-catching whilst the mist is swarming around the model and the trees. The positive point of this photograph is the whole setting and the positioning of the model, this is a positive factor because it shows the models isolation and story in one about whether she could choose either road or hide in the trees for safety. The negative point of this photograph is the amount of grass shown from the model to the camera, this is a negative factor because it's a cause of distraction for the audience. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be too crop most of the grass out of the photograph.
Villi has influenced me into looking more at isolation without props but more in the positioning of the body and the expression. The more body parts are shown in more difficult positions or are hardly shown with just a single prop can actually tell such a big story to the audience, which makes Villi's work successful and has made me want to use the same style. As an overall summary, I really got caught and dragged in by Villi's work on isolation as it showed every-day life in such an interesting way in which we can all relate too, once I deepened my research into him, I have decided that Ville will be a huge role model and influence on my work.
Research log.
Research Log
1. Manabu Yamanaka
Manabu Yamanaka born in Japan in 1959, is a photographer who mainly focuses on the societal outcasts. In 2009, he released a monograph entitled Gyahtei which shows the six major series he created during the period of 25 years, with all the titles that originate from Buddhism. One of the series well known is Jyoudo, a collection of photographs portraying physically deformed human beings. Manabu alone noticed that even in this state, 'I saw how truly natural each one of their lives really were'. Manabu's work has been exhibited extensively throughout the world and has appeared in numerous publications. His other series Gyahtei and Fujohkan are also well known. His latest body of work is a series of images that show unborn and deformed embryos.
2. Rania Matar
Rania Matar born in Lebanon / USA in 1964 is a documentary photographer. In her photography she concentrates mainly on women and women's issues as identity and religion both in the US as in the Middle East. The series A Girl and her Room is inspired by her eldest daughter, which focuses on teenage girls within their private spaces. Her latest body of work entitled L'Enfant-Femme (The Child Women), was work which she portrayed young teens and pre-teens without giving them instructions apart from not smiling. These photos portrayed an array of emotions and clues to their true self. The angst, confidence and body language reveal their sense of selfhood and the developing sense of womenhood. As the teenagers still fluctuate between being a child and a women, Rania asks herself whether 'they are meant to see themselves as little girls, teenagers or as young women?' Since 2002 she has also been taking photographs of her four children showing the various stages of their lives.
3. Andrew Bruce
Andrew Bruce born in Kent, Uk in 1989 is a young london-based artist. In 2010, he gratuated from University for the Creative Arts, Farnham in 2010. Since then he has recieved much praise and attention for his work. During an interview, Andrew Bruce was known to say 'I started to see roadkill as a potent symbol of humanity’s clash with nature, both literally and figuratively. Of course people are going to avert their eyes from roadkill; it’s horrendous. Seeing a dead body, be that of a man or a beast, is understandably a traumatic experience. One minute we are a person, with relationships and a personality, and the next minute we could just be an object; our bodies are so delicate. So when it comes to that point of contact – metal against flesh and bone – whether you’re man or beast, you’re powerless. It doesn’t take much to turn a body into something unrecognisable, something repulsive even. I find this the most horrendous thought; it pierces through me, and it’s my worst nightmare.'
4. Cyril Helnwein
Cyril Helnwein has been taking photos since he was 10 years old, having started out with a Yashica half-frame camera that allowed 2 photos per film frame. Since then his work has been shown at various galleries worldwide and featured in a wide range of online and print publications, including a recent article in the UK alternative lifestyle magazine Bizzare. He has lived and worked in Austria, Germany, England, Scotland and the USA, eventually settling in Ireland in 1997. His implausible photographs are famously free from digital manipulation – Helnwein prefers to use traditional photography tools such as lighting, movement and timing.
5. Sarah Chang-De- Winne
http://www.sarahcheng-dewinne.com/
Sarah Cheng-De Winne, is a freelance photographer-artist. She specializes in portraiture, fashion and conceptual photography, keen to discover new ways of representing identities through photography. Trained formally in Art and Design, the 20 year old first picked up fashion photography as a reflexive means of making social commentary about media portrayal of women, thought and aesthetics in her portraits have resulted in a constant refinement of her artistry. In particular, Sarah's self portrait projects reveal her continued desire to use her unique perspective to explore women's issues and her identity as an artist.
6. Zhang Jingna
Only picking up photography 4 years ago, 22 year old Singaporean photographer Zhang Jingna (aka zemotion) has already managed to turn professional, with a portfolio that includes names like, Canon, Lancome, Mercedes Benz, Montblanc, Pond's, Sony and Wacom. She has produced fashion editorials for major magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, L'Officiel, and Luxury. Jingna is based in Singapore.
7. Hid Saib
Hid Saib is a Brazilian Photographer who has worked on some very interesting projects namely ‘Incolor’, ‘Desigual’, ‘Imperfeição’ and ‘Neon’. Saib tries to express his imagination through photography. He doesn’t believe in following the same old path followed by many photographer to create cliched and banal shots and this clearly reflects in his photos which are unique and expressive. Hid’s photography journey started since an early age when he used to photograph his friends and classmates during his school years. His interest in photography increased with time and Saib started to take classes in Photography when he moved to college.
8. Jan Banning
Jan Banning, 1954, The Netherlands, was born from Dutch-East-Indies immigrant parents. He studied Social and Economic History at the University of Nijmegen. His work is a mixture of photojournalism, documentary and fine-art photography. He has released an impressive amount of photography books. His most recent monograph is Comfort Women, a series of portraits of Indonesian women who were victims of forced sexual labor during the second World War. During the war the Japanese military set up a system for sex slavery, forcing women into prostitution in military brothels. Most of the women suffered physical and emotional consequences ever since.
9. Greg Manis
Greg Manis, 1975, is an American photographer who studied at the Savannah College of Art & Design. After completing his studies he moved to New York City to assist top photographers as Tom Munro and others. Although often named a "fashion" photographer, he considers himself to be a fine art photographer. He takes portraits of the girls that remind him of his childhood while growing up in a trailer park in Northwest Georgia with his family. His interest lies in the sexy, tough girls he was once afraid to approach yet longed to be with. His work is raw, playful, edgy and gives the viewer a glimpse into Manis' life. Greg has worked for clients as Nike and appeared in V Magazine and Inked to name a few. The following images come from his portfolios Sex, Drugs and Rock N' Roll.
10. Ville Varumo
Ville Varumo, 1986, Finland, is a young conceptual fashion photographer based in Helsinki. He started taking pictures in his teenage years and hasn't done anything else since. His photography is an extension of his moods and his growth as a human. He is fascinated by the feeling of mystery. Next to his often soft-toned fashion photographs Ville focuses on landscape photography. The tone and style of his landcsape images have the same signature as his fashion photographs. There is a certain calmness and aspects of islation in his imagery. The following images come from the portfolios Fashion, Untitled Work and Tölö Gymnasium.
11. Steve Mccurry
Steve McCurry is a photojournalist whose photo "Afghan Girl" became instantly famous when it appeared on the cover of National Geographic in 1985. He began covering international conflicts during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, hiding his film by sewing it into his clothes. McCurry has continued to cover the faces of those caught up in civil unrest, war and tragedy throughout the world.
12. Sebastiao Salgado.
In 1971 they moved again, to London, where Sebastião worked as an economist for the International Coffee Organization. He travelled often to Africa on missions affiliated with the World Bank. It was then that he first began taking his first photographs. On his return to London these images began to preoccupy him, and he abandoned his career as an economist. At the beginning of 1973 he and his wife returned to Paris so that he could begin his life as a photographer.
13. Alexandra Sophie
She grew up in the French countryside and discovered photography randomly through disposable cameras. Alexandra Sophie, born on September 30th, 1992 in Belfort (France), is a French artist and photographer. Due to a long illness, Alexandra stopped school in 2008 and started her career in photography as a self-taught photographer. Her work is rapidly compared to David Hamilton’s, because of the young girls she photographs and her way of capturing ambient light. Her creations are used in magazines such as Vogue and Elle, internationally.
14. Annie Leibovitz
.jpeg)
Based in New York, Annie Leibovitz is best known for her portraits of political figures, musicians and athletes, all of which are featured regularly in magazines, fashion and advertising. Many of Leibovitz portraits of rock music celebrities have become signature images. A notable example is her portrait of the nude John Lennon on a bed with his fully clothed wife, Yoko Ono, the last portrait of Lennon before his death in 1980.
15. Brittany Greeson.
I am a third year student pursuing a B.A. in both Photojournalism and Sociology from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I am currently the Multimedia Manager for the Western Kentucky University Talisman, the Student Coordinator for The Mountain Workshops, and a Volunteer Multimedia Journalist for The Community Action of Southern Kentucky. I have worked for This Is Louisville, The Western Kentucky University Talisman, and The Oregonian.
16. Kirsty Mitchell
Kirsty Mitchells mother died of a brain tumour. She died in November 2008 and that was when photography engulfed me, becoming an overwhelming passion that I could not stop. I found myself producing pieces that echoed the memories of her stories, and the belief in wonder I have always felt since a child. By combining my various backgrounds, I started to create images in which everything was made or designed by myself, with the occasional help of a few friends. The costumes, props, sets and accessories all became a vital part of the process that I recorded in the finished product of a photograph. It was driven by the need to produce tangible pieces of my dreams, and make it possible to step into the scenes for real. This physical creation was my favourite part, taking me to places I would have otherwise never known, until it finally led me to leave my fashion career behind in 2011 to focus purely on my photography.
17. Joel L.
Joey L. is a Canadian commercial photographer, director and published author based in Brooklyn, New York. A sensitive observer of endangered cultures and traditions, Joey travels the globe creating dramatic portraits while giving the viewer a powerful insight into his subjects’ lives. His photo series range from Brooklyn, New York to Siberut, Indonesia; proof of an artist equally comfortable with the familiar and the exotic. His work is cinematic and contemporary – a fine art portrait approach to subjects once only seen in photojournalistic styles.
18. Aaron Nace
For over five years, Aaron Nace has been teaching photography and photo manipulation to millions of users across the world at every skill level. Initially a hobbyist while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Design from North Carolina State University, Aaron's expertise in Photoshop developed rapidly. His creative portfolio of retouching, compositing, and conceptual work grew quickly, and he soon became a globally recognized Photoshop master.
19.Brooke Shaden
Brooke Shaden was born in March of 1987 in Lancaster, PA, USA. She grew up near the "Amish Country" until attending Temple University. Brooke was photographically born in December 2008 after graduating from Temple with bachelor degrees in film and English. She now resides in Arizona, USA with her husband and three cats.
20. Benjamin Wong.
Motivated by the desire to be creatively challenged and overcome impossibilities, Benjamin Von Wong has become notorious for his epic photography. His hyper-realistic art style captures viewers in a fusion of special effects and innovative concepts. Benjamin's background in engineering gives him a unique edge for creative problem solving, where technical challenges become friendly competition. Fueled by his passion to connect people, Benjamin has an affinity for finding unique talent to bring his complex stories to life. He is also highly engaged in the photographic society by sharing his experiences and techniques through blogs, social media, workshops and videos.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)