'Space' experiments.

I chose to experiment with the photographs I took for the 'Space' theme. I did this as I wanted to see how I could get the best possible outcomes. Here I have changed the colour of the original photograph into black and white. I think that this has  great effect as the light reflecting on the water shows more then if the picture was coloured.

Here I have changed the hue and saturation levels using photoshop to change the colour of certain areas of the image mainly the face and a few reflective areas. I also found that by changing it to a colour that makes him seem unusual it seems a bit surreal. Almost like I have placed a layer of water effect on top of a normal image of a male model.

For this photograph I colorised the whole image giving it all a blue tint. I chose to use purple and blue because these two colours give the impression of being cold and uncomfortable within the water. Being under the water is uncomfortable anyway as you are restricted with space.

                                            

The positioning of the guy in the bath is a little off centre. I like this as it gives an effect of his body floating within the water and he is struggling to keep his body in one position this also relates to the space the water is in, which connects to my chosen theme.

'Space' theme photographs.

Inspired by my second chosen theme of 'Space', I have taken a few photographs inspired by Alban Grosidier. Alban is known for his project 'Drowning' and this is the project that inspired me to do this. I have asked a model to lay in a bath of water as I photographed him getting both in and out and whilst under the water so I could capture his facial expressions and the different reflections and ripples the water makes around his body. 
I simply used a 35mm lens on a digital SLR. I think that the simplicity of the photograph and minimal additional effects shows how well the photographs were taken. 

The two above images are my favourite, this is because of the ripple effect in the water. I think the effect is so simple and really effective. In the top photograph my model has his eyes closed, this lead to you experiencing the same emotions as him. I believe there is a slight feeling of fear of the water and not being able to see is fear many of us have. In the bottom photograph you can see that he has his eyes open the reason for this because I feel that you can relate and understand a person emotions by looking at the persons facial expressions. 

I took a photograph of my models legs because I like the way the water makes the hairs on his legs stand up and move with the ripple of the water. 

The composition of the photographs is very simple and a little bit off centre. I think by them being a little bit angled and the shoulders being cropped by the camera lens it shows how uncomfortable my model is underwater.

This photograph is a little bit scary to me. The model is really still and with his eyes open it almost seems a doll like a effect. However you can also see by his shoulders being risen that he seems a little uncomfortable and doesn't like bing under the water.

In-depth analysis of Cindy Sherman.

'Untitled Film Stills'

This project is called Untitled Film Stills photographed and model by Cindy Sherman. Cindy is known typically of photographing herself in a range of costumes. To create her photographs, she shoots alone in her studio playing multiple roles from director to make up and hair stylist and of course model. Cynthia Morris Sherman (Cindy Sherman) born on January 19 1954 is an American photographer and film director best known for her outstanding portraits. Cindy's photographs have been known to be some of the more expensive photographs ever sold. Her theme to her photographs relates to inner character and who she is trying to become. Her work represents the role of women in society and by dressing as other women in the 'costumes' she wears shows that different societies look upon women differently. Sometimes more well off areas have been influenced more so by the media then the appearance of women around them. I think this relates many life issues many people suffer from today, some people are really conscientious about their weight and appearance so much they go to extreme lengths to change that. I think that each photographs has been exaggerated in the way that she dresses and the make up and wigs used are also slightly to much. I find that the meaning to Cindy's work is not obvious to start with but when you see the series together it is a little clearer that she is  expressing the difference between women. I think the lack of movement in the pictures helps along with the lack of props and other additional things as the images might seem a little complex.

The series all seem to be mid shots where almost the whole body fits into the image. By making the shots a little wider you as the audience are able to see all aspects of the costume as women often take pride in their shoes. I think the use of a digital camera is more beneficial to Cindy as it allows her add digital adjustments after the image as sometimes it can be hard to take her own portraits at a great standard as she does work on her own.

I believe that all the photographs that are part of the series are planned as well as posed. I think this because they are photographs of portraits and they would have to be planned as Cindy does not work along side of people who might plan it for her. It is possible that some of Cindy's photos could have been edited using digital software after they were taken. I think that the use of filters and colourisation could have also been added.

Cindy's work does not personal effect me. I do think that some of the images are a little disturbing due to the make up and additional effects she has added to her costumes. However I do that to other people it may seem a little stereotypical and could cause some offence. I do like the work but I wouldn't personally say that it would have a huge impact on me but it might influence my work.

In-depth analysis of Diane Arbus.

  

This photograph was taken by Diane Arbus. She was an American photographer known for her black and white square photographs of people that differ from the norm within the society that they live in. There are a many pictures that accompany this one in the way that each is unusual but still unique from the next. Diane was born on March 14th 1923 in New York, America and sadly died at the age of 48. In 1972 a year after Diane committed suicide  she became the first American photograph to have her work displayed at Venice Biennale where millions of people traveled to view her exhibition.

Diane's idea behind these photographs was to show that it may seem surreal or strange to people who do not see this everyday but there are people all over the world that are dwarfs or giants and people that enjoy being nudists or dressing as the opposite sex and it's not something that people should judge them for. She addresses many life issues within her work and I think this is great it gives both younger and older audiences opportunities to see for themselves that it is not just one of two people that are out of the ordinary and in the more modern day it is now something that people see as almost 'normal'. I think that these photographs could be a little exaggerated in the way that they are posed but sometimes people like themselves to be seen as flamboyant and show this through the photographs. The meaning to these photographs seem obvious to me in the way the people in them are posed and that they all connect with a theme.

Many of the photographs have been taken as close ups to details of facial expressions and emotions how ever some have been taken from wider shots so that she could capture all of the model in the photo and allow every aspect of the persons clothing and posture to be seen in one single photo. There is not much of an artistic approach to Diane's work in the way of contrast and patterns but the simplicity is great as the model in the photograph makes the picture. I really like the originality of the photographs I think if anything was to change it may be a little distracting. The idea behind the photographs is to show off model in the photo and to tell people that different is OK and if you was to add to the photographs it would change the meaning and take away from that. 

I think that the photographs have been planned and posed but I think the poses are to show of the best of the meaning behind the photograph. The transgender guy in the top left photograph is posed in the bathroom with all his cosmetics he may use with a feminine drink in his hand his legs crossed. This may be because it is very stereotypical of women to do and is probably why he is posed this way. I also think that there may have been some darkroom techniques used to produce the best print. Diane probably added a contrast filter to make the photograph a little bit sharper.

The meaning to these images does not personally effect me but I do understand why Diane has produced these photographs and the emotions and feelings she hoped to get across. However even today her work does remain a problem to viewers as her pictures crossed boundaries that many people wouldn't imagine crossing in her years. Diane soon became friends with the people she photographed and this was also looked down upon. 

In-depth analysis of Alban Grosdider.

This is one out of a series of photographs taken by Alban Grosidider. The twenty-two year old based in Paris is currently studying at ESAG Penninghen and has gone to produce this outstanding work. The series are all similar in the way that it is of people underwater and they make up a collection called Drowning. The theme that seems to shine through his work is 'space'. The feeling of being swallowed up by the water that they lie in is slightly fearful as water can be a big cause of death. However sometimes being underwater and the nothingness that surrounds you can be calming and allows you time to relax. I think that Alban translates the message of drowning to be something else. His idea of drowning is the emotions people feeling living in big cities where the world 'flies' past them on a daily basis. I also think that the simplicity of the black and white images is not only eye catching and there are lots of tonal areas but I also thing the black and white colours shows the dullness of the built up cities and the large grey buildings that tower over them. I believe that this meaning is shown within the work really well it might not seem obvious at first but knowing that Alban is genuinely interested in the social connection between places and people you start to see the hidden interpretation. There are lots of actions and movements both before an after the photographs was captured. The water covering the models body and face is the first. This shows the preparation of the photograph and this is captured and part of the series of photographs. Also the there are photographs as the models start to climb out of the water afterwards where they have tried to catch their breath again after holding it.

Each photographs is a close up portrait allowing Alban to catch the expressions on their faces whilst under the water. There are no objects in the picture other then the model under the water. There are many tones in the photograph where the water is reflecting other objects outside of the camera lense. The black and white images shows better tones then a coloured image would. I really like the simplicity of the photographs the lack of accsesories makes the photograph original.

I think these photographs are planned but not posed as the quick shots of the models coming out of the water seem spontaneous and the water movements show reflections. There has been very little additional materials and techniques added to these photographs which I love as sometimes less is more. There has been no camera techniques or dramatic lighting and there has also been no editing on Photoshop like text placed in the image of colourisation.

These pieces were exhibited along the bank of the Seine River in Paris in January 2012. This allowed passers by to stop and think about the meaning behind the photographs as well as it being a little unexpected that the 'Drowning' series were placed next to the main river running through Paris.

I really like the way that Alban has captured a second meaning within his choice of photographs. I like the way that everyone can relate to 'drowning' in a big city from it being there first time as a child or as an adult more recently. I also think Albans choice of getting his models to wear plan white clothing shows that they may all look similar in clothing but you can always relate to what people far from similar to you say, do or feel. 

Starting point - Space.

SPACE

My reason for choosing this starting point is because I like the way you can show both large spaces as well as confined spaces. You can also show the difference between empty/tidy spaces as well as crowded/messy spaces. People and places are judged by the 5 senses. I plan to look at the differences between both. For primary research I will take photographs of people under the shower or in a bath where people fear from drowning. For secondary research I will look at the work of other artists for inspiration. I will look at Alban Grosdider for inspiration as I think that his use of people in spaces is great as it almost seems as though they are uncomfortable being in the water. I would like to experiment with using different people in situations and spaces that are uncomfortable and small such as underwater or wrapped up tightly with some materials.

'Inner Character' experiments.

Here I have edited the photographs I have taken related to my chosen theme of 'Inner Character'. This was inspired by Diane Arbus as all her photographs are black and white. My reason for changing the colour and contrast is because it almost makes some of the photographs look older. Diane takes portraits of people where they seem to look different then how you would expect them to look. She gets them to dress up or express an emotion through their facial features.

The way the model is posed shows the masculine side to him and how he might be uncomfortable dressed as a women. The facial expressions shows that he might find this a little bit humorous. However overall you cam see that this is not a normal thing for him to do and it is not natural to him.

In the photograph above you can see that he does seem a little bit uncomfortable but sometimes that makes a good picture. Knowing that the model was willing to experiment and help me in my work is very helpful.

These photographs I have taken relate to my chosen theme of Inner Character. They connect through the unexpected shock you might get when you see a male dressed in female underwear.

'Inner Character' photographs.

Related to my chosen theme 'Inner Character' I took photographs. My photographs are of a male model dressed up in women's clothing with make up on. By changing the look of this to look like a women it is slightly humours as well as a little confusing maybe he is posing for the picture or maybe this is something he does regularly.

The manly look posed by my model could be read as being uncomfortable photographed in this way.  Being dressed this way is extremely different for my male model and in this picture as well as in others you can tell this is out fo the ordinary.

This photograph is very natural in the sense of the smile and the positioning however the false make up and bra strap shows another side that he is dressed up in something unexpected and 'unnatural' for a man to do.

Moodboard.

(1) Eve Arnold
(2) Eve Arnold
(3) Diane Arbus
(4) Orlan
(5) Cindy Sherman
(6) Cindy Sherman
(7) Diane Arbus
(8) Diane Arbus

Mind map of general ideas.

Here I have written up a quick mind map of ideas that hopefully will help me to gain inspiration when planning for my final piece.

Starting point - Inner Character.

Inner Character

My reason for choosing this starting point is because I love the way that you can get someone to change the way they look and another persons opinion about the person dressed up. People judge others normally by their appearance and that can lead to lots of difficulties. I want to change the way people interpret things. For Primary research I aim to get family and friends to dress up to disguise themselves. I want to change their appearance so that you can no longer recognise themselves. My first choice of artists to look at is Diane Arbus as I was inspired by her work when picking this theme due to the way she expresses peoples personality's through the photographs and I will also look at Andy Warhol... I would like to experiment with using fabric within this start of the project so that I can see how the outcome might look even though I will continue to develop ideas and my ability to produce better outcomes. I plan to experiment with using both digital and hand made experiments. I hope to use different multimedia experiments to get the best outcome.