Tutorials

First Tutorial by Morris97 on Scribd

When I went to my first tutorial I was nervous as I was worried that my mentor would prefer my original idea which was why I ensured that I had enough research to back up my idea so that I could explain it. I also ensured that I had test shoots to show the mentor so that I could show that I hadn't just sat back stressing about what to change my idea to. My first tutorial went well as we agreed on all the next steps for my project and she advised me to look at Cindy Shermans work where she experiments with colourful backgrounds as that was something I hadn't yet done but wanted to look into. Something she also wanted me to do was to look into the makeup as we discussed basing the make-up on celebrities that have experimented with their makeup a lot which resulted in me researching Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Gigi Hadid and Katy Perry. All four celebrities have evolved with their use of makeup which was interesting to look into.

Test shoots

After this test shoot, I was able to perfect the set up and style of photography which will be used for my future photoshoots. Also this photoshoot helped me realise that the make up needed to be looked into as the shots were lacking in colour which would be interpreted into the makeup. Looking at the images the hair also would look Better if it was slicked back as it did get in the way of some of the expressions. 

Here is my second test shoot, testing the make-up looks to see how they came out with the layout of the images. Reflecting upon them now I can see the makeup really makes a difference to the images which makes them much more effective as in the right images the model looks more dramatic which is what I need for the images. Also I got the model to wear the same sop as she did in the first photoshoot as I feel the stripes made the images much more confusing and hard to focus on which is what i planned for them to be like. 

With this test shoot I was experimenting with coloured backgrounds as I hadn't yet investigated it. However, I did look at images by Cindy Sherman as she experimented greatly with gradients and very colourful backgrounds which were very intriguing as you are drawn to the background due to how bright it is but the model still catches your eye as the make is recreated from iconic images.

New Project, New Passion

My project is now based upon Multiple personality disorder as it is important to recognise that this is an illness that effects a lot of people  and creating images to display what it could be like would be very effective and hard hitting for people to see. It would also create awareness of the illness and what people go through.

The cause is believed to be due to childhood trauma. In about 90% of cases there is a history of abuse in childhood, while other cases are linked to experiences of war or health problems during childhood.

This is diagnosed about six times more often in females than males which is not surprising as a lot of people do tend to assume it is more of a female issue. 

Looking into the subject I found an artist called Alex Garant who paints realistic portraits that capture subjects in multiples. Using traditional portrait techniques, her oil paintings combine graphic design elements with abstraction in great detail. Looking at her work is like getting lost in an optical illusion, where colourful patterns are key to holding the composition together. This had spurred me to feel the need to experiment with different colour backgrounds as I have only been thinking to use black as that was what was used when we looked at this set up in one of the photography sessions. 

Symmetry and duplication are important tools which Garant uses to engage her viewer. They can add to the overall image effect, inducing a physical reaction that makes us look beyond their prettiness. this is something I want to achieve with lowering the shutter speed so that the model has enough time to move into a different position using a different expression.

I have also looked at the work of Jeff Huntington who was inspired by his father who had Alzheimer's, which he then began to experiment with perspective. Using his father, nieces and nephews as subjects, Huntington developed a new portrait style that illustrated not only fragmented and  confused states, but also his own shifting and often challenging feelings about his fathers illness. This is why Jeff Huntington is a valuable artist to look at as he focuses on perspectives which is an interesting approach to take. 

Loss of inspiration

 Initially my idea was based upon the fact that eating disorders were seen as a female issue. I wanted to display that men also have things they don’t like about their bodies, which seemed like quite a difficult subject to tackle as a lot of the time it can get brushed under the carpet. My aim was to photograph things that people feel conscious about as it would be interesting to see real people going through the struggle of covering up the things you don’t like about yourself. However, concerning models this idea became difficult to continue with as although everyone has insecurities it is not something everyone would be comfortable to get out in front of a camera. Which consequently made me feel quite stressed as the passion for my idea just was not there. This led to the decision to change my idea but with the struggle of what to change it to. It wasn’t until a refresher lesson with Chris Overend when we worked in getting images of the same face but overlapping by making the shutter speed lower. It spurred the idea of looking into split personalities as these kinds of images would be a great representation of the concept. When I did art in sixth form ‘split personalities’ were something that interested me and an artist called Jeff Huntington as a lot of the portraits he paints display multiple personalities.

The aim of the images that come from this project are to help people visualise the struggle that some people actually deal with.  I want the images to be effective and breath taking as they would be a good addition to my portfolio. This idea is more interesting to me and has more passion in it as I am interested to see the different sides to it. The style of photography and art I looked at is very real and hard hitting as it denotes multiple personality disorders.

Having made a schedule it did worry me as I struggle to follow plans which is why I avoid making in depth plans. Time management is not something I struggle with as I have been able to work on during the course due to how fast passed it can be when the deadlines approach quite quickly. However, this does not mean that I am able to stay on track with my schedule all of the time as things can get in the way which is inevitable. I have already faced a setback in my schedule due to a change of idea.

Overcomplicating things is something I struggle with as when it comes to projects I always set myself multiple tasks to complete instead of focusing on one big task in depth. This tends to stress me out which is something I want to avoid doing with my final major project. From my mentor sessions, I can recognise that it is important to not focus on the outcome and to concentrate on getting test shoots done whilst doing lots of research helps to develop your idea more as you get a feel of what you do and don’t like about the idea. It is important to remind yourself that it is just the process of getting the work done that stresses you out not the outcome as the outcome will be the best part of the project as you will be able to look back and appreciate all of the hard work you have put into it.

When it came to my idea I decided it was very important to get test shooting to get a feel of my idea as I wanted to make sure I am able to set up the lighting. Although most projects require a big team of creatives to help there is always a risk of unreliability which is not something I want to face so I am going to ensure that my team is small and only including reliable people. This will help to ensure that the end result it of the standard I plan for It to be. This will also help when it comes to photoshoots as it overcomplicates things when you are in the studios as it gets too busy and crowded. It has been advised that you should have few people in the studio to avoid any accidents as the equipment is very heavy and could do lots of damage.

The direction of this project has already changed a number of times due to lack of interest and motivation but now I have an idea I am more interested in it should come easier for me. However, depending on if my test shoots go well my idea could develop further and progress further as I will be able to picture the kind of end result I may end up with. Also could document the process in a blog which I could carry on to use at the end of my studies in order to promote my work and freelance business.