The Pen is Mightier than the Sword- Straight images

This series was intended to be shot using gel lighting however there were none in the studio so a union jack flag was used instead of gels.  To create the same effect the flag was held over the snoot and removed between shots to avoid over heating occurring.  The images shot were all altered in photoshop by having their saturation decreased and their brightness increased in order to allow more detail to be seen.



This image was lit in a style that reminisces film noir and is deliberately dark I like this aspect of the image as I feel that it amplifies the sinister undertones of the image.  I find this image particularly powerful as it displays someone collapsed on a desk of paper work symbolising the mundane routine of life and the fact that anyone can die at any moment.

This image is an extreme close shot of the wound on the subjects forehead and the blood dripping down his forehead.  I feel that the red is particularly powerful in this image as it carries connotations of anger and passion as both emotions can be seen as being linked to murder.  

This is one of my favourite images from the piece as the dull blue tones give the subject a sickly and pale appearance as well as providing a sense of contrast for the blood dripping down his head.  The leading lines of the paper are interesting here as they direct the viewers eye towards the subject and his head wound.

This is my favourite image as the pen wound is most visible here as it provides the clearest lighting.  I also like the way that the subjects eyes are gazing directly into the camera with a dead pan expression creating the illusion that he is dead.  I also like the fact that the lack of a coloured gel in this image allows the white paper to create a stark contrast against the black of the backdrop and that the leading lines of the paper are also more prominent and clearly leading towards the subjects eyes.

The Pen is mightier than the sword- Contact sheet

An Eye For An Eye- Work diary

Basic information:
Date: 13/12/16
Camera used: Nikon D3500 also studio camera with macro lens
Props or subject: Subject (Self portraiture)
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014
Camera settings: 1/125, f/16, ISO 200
Technique used: Low key lighting
Camera set up: (Diagram created using www.lightingdiagrams.com/creator)- Snoot x1, Tripod

Favourite image

This is my favourite image from this shoot due to the way that the low key lighting has kept part of the subjects face in the shadows adding a sense of mystery to the image.  I also like the way that the lighting has has helped to add depth to the wound in the image and given it a more gory appearance.  The low key lighting also helps to direct the viewers eye as the f-stop of f16 provides a wide depth of field with no evident area of focus for the viewers eye to be drawn to.  I feel that the use of muted tones throughout the image caused by the reduced saturation and low key lighting has provided an interesting sense of tonal contrast between the reds of the wound and the rest of the subjects face.  I like the framing of this image as it draws the viewers eye first to the subjects non-wounded face and then pulls their gaze across to the eye wound creating an element of surprise.

Least favourite image

This is my least favourite image sue to the way that the subjects eye is drawn from the eye in the images foreground to the subjects face in the images background.  This was an interesting concept for the image as it allowed for depth of field to be explored however I feel that in this instance it has not added anything overly interesting to the image and has instead presented issues with image crowding and misdirection of the viewers gaze.  I feel that this image may have been more successful if higher levels of light were introduced such as the use of a light box to provide more lighting in the images background as this would have made the image of the subjects face easier to identify.  I overall like the concept of the close up shots of the subjects eye and for this reason I decided to pursue the use of macro photography in the shoot by employing a secondary subject to hold the eye whilst I took the photo.

An Eye For An Eye- Straight images

The images in this series were all shot against a black background in the studio using low-key lighting.  This lighting was chosen to allow the subject to blend into the images background.  The images were then edited in photoshop where saturation was reduced and contrast was added as well as curve alterations being implemented in order to shift shadowing and highlights without losing the low-key effects.  The images are all self portraits which I fired using an external flash and framed using floor markings aside from the image of the hands holding the eye which was shot my me off a different subjects hands using a macro camera.  

The above image is a close shot of the subject positioned in a 3/4 turn towards the camera.  This positioning adds a sense of depth to the eye wound and allows the subjects face to blend effectively into the darkness around their face creating a sinister and surreal dreamlike appearance.  The positioning of the subjects places them in the left third of the image playing into the rule of thirds and allowing the viewers eye to be drawn towards the subject.

This image is an extreme close up of the subject in a 3/4 turn towards the camera however this time the subjects eye wound is directed towards the camera forcing the viewer to look directly into the wound.  This placement of the subjects eye in relation to the lighting gives it a hollow and shadowed appearance adding an additional layer of grotesque horror.  

This image is interesting to me as the subjects only takes up a small piece of the image as I was off mark with my framing however I feel that the image turned out well and that the fact that the subject is positioned in an almost profile view interesting as it shows that even when the hole is not visible that the wound still alters the subjects face.  The image has been cropped to a square format in order to remove a large area of dead space present in the image which was drawing the viewers eye away from the subject.

This image makes full use of the shallow depth of field which I was shooting on as I aimed to capture the subjects disfigured eye socket in the images background with the missing eye ball in the subjects hand taking up the majority of the framing.  This was successful and I like the overall image however I feel that this image is the weakest one from my straight image series.

This image features much cooler tones than the other images in the series and this was deliberate as I wished to give this image a less horror-esque appearance in order to allow it to channel emotions such as sorrow and remorse I feel that this has been achieved through this image allowing it to demonstrate that "An eye for an eye" is not always the correct course of action to take.

An Eye For An Eye- Contact sheet

Physical manifestations- Work diary

Basic information:
Date: 01/12/16
Camera used: Macro camera
Props or subject: Subject
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014
Camera settings: 1/125, f/9, ISO 200
Technique used: Standard lighting
Camera set up: (Diagram created using www.lightingdiagrams.com/creator)- soft box x2, Tripod

Favourite image

This is my favourite image from this series as I like the way that I have incorporated collage style through the use of shooting range targets as well as the technique of piercing to create holes in the image similar to an air rifle pellet in order to demonstrate the concept of "Bite the bullet".  I like the way that the overall image has a dull creamy and unsaturated tone as it allows it to compliment the cream of the shooting range targets.

Least favourite image

The above image is effective in demonstrating its concept of "Two heads are better than one" through the use of collage by ripping and layering images however it is unsettling as the subjects faces do not accurately align.  This image still appeals to me however as a result of its surreal and unnatural appearance however it could have been improved by possibly creating the split vertically down the subjects face once opposed to repeatedly across the face.

Physical manifestations- Connecting essay 3

Artists image- Jose Romussi

My image

Jose Romussi is a photographer and artist who works around physically altering his images through the medium of embroidery.  His work interests me due to the way that he alters the meaning of the original image after is has been printed adding an additional sense of depth to the piece post-shoot.  The image I have chosen above features a woman in a studded headress turned towards the camera in a crouched or bent position.  The studded headers and feathers used create an appearance of power and resilience which is added to through the fact that the image is presented in black and white as well as the fact that the subjects hair is not perfectly maintained and is wearing a black tank top going against standard feminine standards.  This is all contrasted through the later additions to the piece of intricate embroidered swirl patters in pastel colours.  This detailing gives the image a feminine edge and the pastels contrast heavily with the black and white tones in the image helped the embroidery to stand out.  The viewers eye is drawn to the subject immediately as a result of the shallow depth of field used as well as the colour over the subjects face this also creates a mystery about the subjects identity as it is obscured from the viewer by the embroidery.

My image is very different to Romussi's as I choose to only really draw from the embroidery aspect of the image.  In my image I choose to position the subject facing the camera in a close shot position.  I also shot in the studio opposed to on location and used a black background whereas Romussi used a very light background which was accentuated by the colour contrast shown by the use of black and white colouration.  My image lacks this large tonal contrast however the use of a macro lens when shooting insures that the subjects features are still sharp and easy to distinguish.  I choose to create a far more simple embroidered design as I wanted to replicate the stitching effect seen in "Lips sealed" one of my earlier shoots.  I choose a black thread as I felt that it complimented the images backdrop and stood out well against the subjects pale skin (this was furthered though the use of a reduced saturation when editing).  The black thread also helps to draw the sinister meaning behind the subjects lips being sealed against her will and the fact that she is being forced by society to keep her secret.  This is why I felt that it was important for the subjects face to be visible opposed to the anonymous subject in Romussi's work.

If I were able to revisit this shoot I would likely print my image on a larger scale such as A3 to give me more room to embroider a design as I feel that this larger scale would allow me to add more detail to the image.  I would also consider using a thicker thread and possibly more than one colour to create a more intricate design.

To conclude I feel that this shoot was successful in that it achieved what I wanted to convey from my shoots title which was to create physical manifestations of the idioms represented in other shoots.  However the shoot did not fully replicate Romussi's style so this is something that I could revisit.

In conclusion I feel that that this shoot was largely successful with the coloration and positioning used creating a striking image.

Physical Manifestations- Straight images/Physical photographs

Each of the images in this series was shot using two soft boxes with a macro lens in the studio against a black backdrop in order to capture detail in the subjects face as well as to help make them stand out against the background.  The images were then edited in photoshop where there saturation was decreased and their curves were altered (each of the images has the same editing technique as I layered them and then made layers visible to save as jpegs in order to create constant edits).

This image was formed around the idiom "Two heads are better than one" and was formed through tearing one image and then laying it over the over and glueing it down.  I felt that the ragged edges created by the rips were important as it gives the image a more raw and less clinical appearance than what would have been achieved through using scissors to cut strips of the image.

This image was formed around the idiom "Plenty more fish in the sea" I pierced the image with a needle and then threaded the hook through both holes in order to prevent the paper from splitting or tearing under pressure.  I choose to use  gold wire as this matched the collar of the subject in the image and helped to join the physical additions to the base image.

This image was formed around "Bite the bullet" I created the bullet holes by piercing the image with a pencil after laying it over a cardboard box.  In order to further demonstrate that the holes are bullet holes I choose to lay targets from shooting ranges over the image.

This image is based around "Lips sealed" I chose to execute this with black thread and stitched through the paper with a needle and thread.  This was difficult as I had to be wary of tearing the paper as this would have destroyed the detailing in the image.  I chose to use black thread due to it's sinister connotations such as death as well as the fact that it provided a good level of contrast to the subjects skin.

Concept- Physical Manifestation (Shoot 5)

Physical Manifestations- Contact sheet

Plenty More Fish In The Sea- Connecting essay 4

Photographers Image- Kyle Thompson

My Image

I am interested by the above image by Kyle Thompson as he is a well respected surrealist photographer who specialises in careful visual symbolism and imagery in order to achieve striking and meaningful pieces.  I was particularly interested by the use of fish hooks and the blue background to give the image an aquatic feel without including any actual water.  The hooks used carry violent connotations and give the image a dangerous or sinister undertone.  A sense of mystery is also achieved through the obstruction of the subjects face whilst the positioning of the subject in the centre of the square formatted piece draws the viewers eye directly to them further amplifying the idea that element of mystery as the viewer is forced to stare at an unknown subject.  The tilt shift used allows for specific elements of the image to be drawn into focus an effect which could be replicated to some degree using depth of field however is far more successfully achieved through the use of tilt shift further pushing the viewer to look at the images subject.

My image focuses around similar aspects to the image by Thompson however there are core differences.  I have included fish hooks in my piece however have chosen to embed the hook into the mouth of the subject in order to give the image a more raw and emotive appearance.  The real reasoning behind this choice of hook placement was to better drive display the link the the idiom which I was working around "Plenty more fish in the sea".  I hoped to convey the emotions centred around the idiom through the use of sombre blues which convey both sadness as well as creating a link to water and the sea in a similar way to the way that Thompson used the tones in his piece however I have created my coloration using blue gels and low key lighting opposed to the bright blue background used by Thompson.  Over the shoot I experimented with various lighting set ups which can be seen through my contact sheet the set up which I finally found to be most successful featured the use of a macro lens in order to capture maximum detail as well as the use of a singular snoot and blue gel to cast the colour of the subject whilst creating shadows and tonal contrast through directional light.  The placement of the string in the piece is also significant as when the string is hanging limp it carries connotations of freedom however when it is pulled taught in other images in the series this can be associated with being constrained by the past.  Over the shoot I experimented with various lighting set ups which can be seen through my 

If I were to revisit this shoot I would consider experimenting more with image orientation and square based compositions.  I would also be interested in creating a GIF or a sequence of photographs of the subject escaping from the hook and line however I would have to re-stage the shoot to achieve this so will be unable to complete this at this time.

To conclude I feel that the images from this shoot were on a whole successful and that the lighting alterations I made over the course of the shoot were vital in creating the final images.  I also feel that the message which I was attempting to convey through these images was ultimately successful.

Plenty More Fish In The Sea- Straight images

The above image was shot using a snoot and a blue gel covering against a blue background.  I choose to use directional lighting in order to create more dramatic shadows and give the image a more eye catching appearance.  The blue gels are used in order to further draw attention to the idiom plenty more fish in the sea as the colour blue can be linked strongly to the ocean and therefore fish.  The dark backdrop was used in order to give the image a more sinister appearance however I choose to use black opposed to navy blue to prevent the image from appearing overly blue.  The subject is positioned in a 3/4 profile pose and has a dead pan expression suggesting an absence of emotion and adding mystery as the viewer is unaware of what the subject is looking at outside of the images frame.  When editing the images saturation has been slightly lowered however no drastic saturation changes were made in order to avoid losing the blue tones in the image and a clone stamps tool was used around the wound site in order to attempt to blend the hook into the skin.

This image uses the same lighting techniques as the image above as well as the same editing techniques however the framing used here is a mid shot whereas the framing of the above image was a close shot.  This variation of shot allows for the string to be stretched away from the subjects face which provides a leading line and engages the viewer drawing them from the images outer edge to the subjects face and directly towards the hook.  Again a dead pan expression is used here which gives the image a somewhat unnerving appearance.

This image features a close shot and the same lighting and editing techniques as the image before.  The profile of the subjects face in this shot allows for the wound and hook on the subjects face to be fully seen and draws attentions to the hook.  An interesting tonal contrast can be found when looking at the light blue of the string against the dark background as well as the blood against the subjects pale face.

This image features the same editing techniques and lighting as the images above however features a 3/4 profile of the subject in a medium close shot.  The strong can again be seen as a leading line linking the subjects face and the hook to the images edges and acting as a guideline for the viewer.  The only variation between he editing of this image and the prior images is that this image has been additionally lightening and therefore has a more grey/blue background and lower level of contrast between the subject and the images background.

I dislike this image however have chosen to include it in my straight images due to it's drastically different appearance and to highlight my attempts at experimentation.  In this image I used a soft box on a low setting as well as a snoot with a blue gel.  This lighting created an odd orange glow on one side of the subjects face which I was not happy with.  I also failed to blend the hook into the skin effectively and feel that the absence of string makes the image appear far less dynamic than its counterparts.

Plenty More Fish In The Sea- Contact sheet

Plenty more fish in the sea- Work diary

Basic information:
Date: 01/12/16
Camera used: College studio camera macro lens
Props or subject: Subject
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014
Camera settings: 1/125, f/9, ISO 200
Technique used: Low key gels
Camera set up: (Diagram created using www.lightingdiagrams.com/creator)- Snoot x1, blue photography gel, Tripod

Favourite image:

The above image is my favourite from this series due to the way the subject is positioned in profile with half of her face hidden by the use of low key lighting.  This directed light shows only half of her face and draws the viewers focus to the subjects face as there is no shallow depth of field to direct the viewers eye due to the use of an f-stop of 9 in the image. The profile view and consequent obscured face creates an aspect of mystery in the image.  This mystery helps to give the image a more powerful meaning to the viewer and may make them question the story behind the symbolism of the idiom of "Plenty More Fish In The Sea" a phrase often associated with relationships and the search for love.  The use of blood in the image as well as the gruesome way that the hook has punctured the subjects skin provides a darker edge to the image making the viewer question whether the subject has had a bad romantic experience in the past.  This idea of the image having darker connotations can be seen again through the blue tone of light used this was intended to give the image a colder feel whilst also retaining the symbolism of the sea and creating a high level of contrast with the red of the blood on the subjects face.  The subjects dead pan expression also creates a dark and harsh sense in the image and upholds the mystery by giving away no emotional clues.

Least favourite image:

This is my least favourite image due to the subjects framing in the image specifically the dead space above the subjects head and to the subjects left as this confuses the viewers eye in the dramatic image.   The lack of focus on the subjects face and the hook in her mouth also take away from the images impact as the viewer is unsure of where they should be looking.   I feel that the lighting in this image was poorly executed as there is orang or red toned lighting coming from behind the subject where another light as triggered in the studio.  I also dislike the way that the lighting has created a particularly uneven edge along the hook prosthetic and that it has not been correctly blended into the subjects face post production.  I also feel that the image is over exposed in the areas where it has been lit resulting in the subjects shirt and face appearing almost luminous this distracts the viewer and makes the image look overly saturated and garish.

Concept- Plenty More Fish In The Sea (Shoot 4)

Mid-Project Evaluation

My personal project is based around the influence that literature can have on photography and vice versa.   At the point of writing this evaluation I have completed three shoots all of which have been focused around creating visual representations of phrases and idioms through the use of surrealist photography.  I have targeted surrealist photography through my use of props in my first shoot “Bite the Bullet” which focused around the inclusion of shot gun shells in my image as well as using special effects makeup in the latter of my shoots “Lips sealed” where I create the illusion of the subjects lips being sewn together and in my most recent shoot “Don’t cry over spilt milk” where I have added white tears to my face to create a self portrait.  

I feel that the shoot I have completed which has been most successful was "Lips sealed" due to the fact that I feel that the lighting, makeup and camera settings used have combined to make a very thought provoking series.  I feel that the least successful shoot in my series was "Bite the Bullet" which featured high key portraiture for this reason it is unlikely that I will attempt to complete another shoot featuring high key portraiture and have appropriately adjusted my shoot plans to accommodate this change in approach.  I find that the shoots I complete with the use of a block colour background such as black are very effective in the way that they are able to add a sense of darkness to the image which translates into the imagery and emotion perceived by the viewer.

I would like to further develop my variation of shots in this project as I feel that looking into a wider range of shot types would give my series a better and more engaging appearance.  One way that I may look into would be using a macro lens and possibly colour gels in later images to create a more engaging image series producing a more detailed look at the techniques used to create the images as well as using emotive and symbolic colouration.

I aim to complete a series of seven portraiture shoots and then later three still life shoots as I believe that the addition of still life flower photography would add an additional link to my project and the English Language due to the way that Victorian flower language has imagery over time in photography, media and literature.

  

Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk- Work Diary

Basic information:
Date: 17/11/16
Camera used: Nikon D3500
Props or subject: Subject (Self portraiture)
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014
Camera settings: 1/125, f/9, ISO 200
Technique used: Portraiture
Camera set up: (Diagram created using www.lightingdiagrams.com/creator)- Soft box x2, Tripod

Favourite image:

This is my favourite image due to the subjects framing and the way that the subject is positioned with her eyes in the images centre this positioning draws the viewer to the subjects eyes and gives the image a more emotive appearance.  This is important as it gives the viewer something to focus on as the image is shot with a wide depth of field as a result of the stop f9.  I feel that the use of white face paint has effectively created the appearance of milky tears and am happy with the opacity of the tears as milk is not a completely opaque fluid when it is on a surface in a thin layer such as a tear.  I find that the lack of lack of bright colours in the image creates a somber effect and like the way that the dark theme has been upheld through the coloration of the subjects brown eyes and hair and the way that this compliments the black background.  Saturation has been reduced in this image in the aim to tie the colours throughout the image together more effectively.  I feel that the closeness of the subjects face to the camera gives the image a somewhat comical appearance which bears a resemblance to the art of Roy Lichenstein which focuses around the face of a crying woman.

Least favourite image:

This is my least favourite image as the lighting is uneven in the image which creates an overly exaggerated shadow behind the subjects nose.  The images lighting also appears to be overly exposed which leads to the image having a washed out appearance an effect which diminishes contrast throughout the image and lightens the subjects features such as hair and eyes giving the image a far less striking appearance.  I am also unsatisfied with the images framing particularly the way that the subject shoulders and chin are not featured as a feel that the image has been cropped in an unusual and unappealing manner.  This framing does not direct the viewers eye as there are too many places for the viewers eye too stray an issue which is only made worse by the way that the lighting shapes the subjects face in the image.

Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk- Connecting essay 2

Photographer- Man Ray

Artist- Roy Lichenstein

My Image

The image by Man Ray "Larmes" or more commonly "Tears" was shot on black and white film using a mannequins head and glass beads to mimic tears.  The subjects faces proximity to the camera creates a more emotive appearance as does the glossy appearance of the eyes and the way that they reflect the light in a way which is reminiscent of tears.  The images lighting helps to give the image depth by creating shadows around the subjects face which is particularly important as a result of the wide depth of field used as this does not create any depth from out of focus areas.  The uneven placement of the tears on the subjects face helps to give the image a more natural and less staged appearance. 

The image by Roy Lichenstien is a piece of artwork from the pop art era and again employs a close portrait angle to create the maximum emotive effect and allow the viewer to engage with the subject. The bright colours contrast heavily with the solemn appearance of the subject and is particularly striking when compared to Man Ray's black and white work.  This style however was the signature appearance of the pop art era and was intended to give the images created a larger than life and cartoonish appearance.

In my image I chose to use a narrow depth of field as well as a close angle shot in order to create an intense and striking image.  I particularly wanted to draw the viewers eyes to the subjects eyes and tears as they are the most striking point of the image.  I feel that it was necessary for my image to be coloured opposed to black and white as this helps to highlight the fact that the tears are white and milky in colouration in order to allow the viewer to process the link between the link and the idiom.  I also felt that the tears had to be placed unevenly on the face in order to follow through with the concept that tears are a natural response opposed to something manufactured in order to create the best response from the viewer.  I feel that an additional sense of depth was added through the use of a black background as well as the light formed by multiple soft boxes as it created some slight shadows on the subjects face.

If I were to improve this shoot I would consider using shooting more close up images and possibly implanting macro photography in order to gain a more defined image.  I would also be interested in exploring different angles of the subjects face in relation to the camera something that I feel would be easier to achieve if I had not carried out this shoot as a self portrait.

In conclusion I feel that this shoot was successful and that I was able to draw from both artists in order to create a striking and emotive image which has conveys a message that has been presented by photographers through centuries.