AO1- CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING
Develop their ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
Brainstorm
Mood Board
Idea's showing theme 'expressive'
Photographers
Cristina Otero
Cristina Otero, born november 29 1995, is a spanish photographer currently living in Madrid. She is a self-taught photographer starting at the age of thirteen. At the age of fifteen she had her first solo exhibition in the Kir Royal Gallery (Valencia), becoming the youngest Spanish artist to exhibit individually in a gallery.
I admire her photos because they have a great meaning to them, they are also seen to be dramatic and uses a great variety of expressions shown in a very creative way, using a different range of colours from dark, depressing colours, to more bright fun colours. However she contrasts these colours together in a lot of her work which creates that dramatic, intense effect. Most of her work is mid-shots, which exaggerates the facial expressions she uses to make them stand out against the blank backgrounds so the attention is on the models facial features. Otero's work inspires my theme of expression because of the wide range of moods that can be interpreted from her photos from the darker, deeper moods, to the more bright, pleasant moods someone can feel. |
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This picture from Cristina Otero's collection stood out to me as one of my favourite pictures because of its unique look and dark composition. She has used only black makeup against a pale faced model to create a contrast, she also creates a contrast through the lighting in the picture as she uses a black background and uses a lighting that creates shadow around her face and under her chin to create a more depressing atmosphere. Through the use of the black ribbon tied around the models face, I think that it represents a feeling of being trapped by your mind which isn't always shown.
Irving Penn
Irving Penn was an American photographer known for his portraits, fashion photography and still life. Penn's career included work at Vogue magazine, and independent advertising work for clients such as Issey Miyake and Clinique. His work has been exhibited internationally and continues to inform the art of photography. Penn was one of the first photographers to pose his models against a simple grey or white backdrop, despice it being very simplictic, he was very successful in using it. Expanding his austere studio surroundings, Penn constructed a set of upright angled backdrops, to form a stark, acute corner.
I was inspired by Penns work down to it being so simple yet still stand out. Eve though a fashion photographer, I veiwed his work as expressive because his photos show a lot of emotion and facial expressions, for example the first photo in the slideshow to the right shows her looking stressed and emphasises on her mouth and eyes and the photo isn't overcrowded and only has a make up across the eyes, which shows a darkness to the photo that adds to the expression on her face to exagerate her emotion in the shot. In a lot of his work he uses a natural look for his models as they dont wear much, or any makeup. They are also up against a plain background or either, white, grey or black, therefore the model stands out, alongside there facial expressions and natural features. In his photo's he captures the majority of his models at a mid shot showing only there head to shoulders, this means that there facial features and expressions stand out, he also sometimes uses their hands in the shot to add to the expression exaggerate their emotion. |
I picked out this photograph as I think that it is one of the best interpretations of my theme 'expressive'. I really like how Penn uses the black across her closed eyes which shows me that she is blind or can only see darkness, which is also shown by her facial expression as she is screaming, representing frustration or stress as all she wants to do is let out her anger or negative thoughts by screaming to try and find a sense of relief.
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Sketches
AO2- CREATIVE MAKING:
Experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
One light source:
Butterfly Lighting |
Rembrant Lighting |
Split Lighting |
Butterfly lighting comes directly in front and above the models face, creating a butterfly shadow below the nose. It also gives a flattering style that helps structure the face, making the model look powerful.
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Rembrant lighting comes from a 35degree angle to the side above the model creating a triangular shaped shadow on the cheek furthest from the light. This style of lighting creates a flattering style but can also be dramatic and mystical.
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Split lighting comes directly from the side of the model creating a dramatic sometimes sinister effect on the model as it causes a shadow on one side of the face whilst the other side is fully lit.
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Two light sources:
Clamshell Lighting |
River-cop Lighting |
Spray Light (background) |
Clamshell lighting are two soft lights as near to the model as possible coming from two light sources, one facing down towards the model at a 45degree angle (butterfly lighting) and the other light facing upwards at a -45degree angle filling the shadows created by the top light. This creates a flattering and glamorous style.
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River-cop lighting coming from either side of the model. The lights are equally bright and are placed slightly behind to control the amount of shadow that is shown. This creates a suspicious, scary or psychotic mood and can be quite an unflattering style.
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Spray light is a background lighting and is positioned low just behind the model angled towards the wall, the closer the light is to the background the smaller the circle of light becomes. This form of light can be combined with almost all light styles and causes the subject to appear less flat.
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Photoshoot 1:
My first photoshoot of Mahma involved her looking beat up by experimenting with red paint to create wounds, she only wore mascara to make her eyes stand out to show off her sad eyes which links to the pain that she is feeling. The wounds represent how she is feeling inside as people don't see the effects of the fights going on in peoples minds, it is showing the abuse she is giving to her self as she is battling the negative thoughts in her mind and i've presented it visually, the same as if she was in a physical fight. I used one of Cristina Otero's photos as inspiration to get the look that I desired with an expressive outcome showing the visual pain of people's battles with their inner thoughts and emotions. I used butterfly lighting to create a shadow which flattered her face but also to highlight her expressions and facial features. I also used a black background the same shown in Cristina Otero's shoots which creates a darker mood and makes the model stand out against it so that she is the main focus and isn't washed out against a lighter backgroud and I want her facial expressions to be the main atrraction of the photo as it fits with my theme 'expressive'.
Top photograph
I think this photo best fits my theme as it coveys the emotions that someone would expect from someone who has been a victim of abuse. The focus of the photo is her eyes as they are centred and are highlighted by the dark background, which creates a sombre mood. The red of the makeup cuts through the dark mood as it contrasts against the other tones in the picture and conotes violence and anger, which helps tell the story of a person who is subject to abuse. My intention was not for the make up to be very realistic in order to create ambiguity around whether the models abuse was emotional or physical as the way the make up has been applied could be representative of emotional pain or physical injury.
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Photoshoot 2:
My second photoshoot of Huda was a more final idea and added to my previous shoot with Mahma, I used the same concept by using makeup to show bruises and cuts to represent the battles within the mind. However I also added some black eye makeup around the eyes to represent the darkness she feels. Instead of just using ideas from my first artist Cristina Otero, I also incorporated some ideas from my second artist Irving Penn, in doing this I took some photos of my model with a natural look which created a simple look, however her emotions were more visual and her eyes looked sad which was the look I wanted. Then I added the makeup and also experimented around with chains to show the idea of being trapped by your thoughts and fears. For this shoot I used more of a rembrant lighting to show of more of her facial features, yet still have that dark shadowy effect. I also used clamshell lighting and butterfly lighting to give a more flattering look and to show of more of her features. I mainly took mid shots, or close ups as I wanted her face to be the main focus as it links to my theme.
AO3- REFLECTIVE RECORDING:
Record in visual and/or other forms ideas, observations, and insights relevant to intentions demonstrating an ability to reflect on work and progress.
Photoshoot 3:
This photshoot of Mia was inspired mainly by the artist Otero, however there are certain elements that were inspired by Penn's work. My idea for this shoot was quite simple yet effective as the model wore no makeup but a bit of mascara that I smudged so that it would show that she had been crying and that it was worn down. The model was good to work with as she showed alot of emotion in her eyes, I captured her crying or with teary eyes to show the sadness she is feeling. I used two light sources and experimented with a reflector which turned out to be very effective as it made the lighting look warmer. I assosiated this shoot with more visual emotions and stress, I used her hands to show frustration and worry. The use of hands also represented the hold lack of control she has as she is trying to keep it together yet her emotions are taking over her. In some of the photos Mia is also using her hand to cover her mouth, this is to show that she is being scilenced as she can't express herself. This shoot was successful as it showed a range of different emotions and linked to my original idea and theme of 'expressive'.
Top photograph |
I picked out this photograph as one of my best as it strongly relates to my theme and represents the feeling I wanted to come across very well and captured the meaning behind it, this picture also was inspired mainly from one of Cristina Otero's pieces . Unlike previous photo shoots, I focused much more on showing emotion using make-up and used more expressions involving the models hands, for example in this picture the model used her hands by gripping her head and pulling back on her face and hair as a way of showing frustration and representing a reaction to how someone feels when stressed or someone losing control of there thoughts. This photo also captures the models emotions from her eyes as her eyes are watering and red, the lighting adds to the effect, making the colour of the models eyes stand out as the sparkling green of her eyes contrasts against the red of her sclera, which is more visible as it stands out from the white. Overall this photo worked out really well and the lighting and contrast gave the final outcome more life and made her complexion highly flattering.
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PHOTOSHOP EXPERIMENT:
Photoshoot 4:
In my 4th photoshoot I decided to have the model (Aixa) wearing no make up against a black backdrop causing her to stand out more. I used two light sourses so that Aixa was brightly lit so that you could see all her features and the expression in her face. I gave my model a more blank expression in this shoot so that it would show a more empty look in the models eyes, I also had her wrap her arms around her shoulders so that it would show a sense of her feeling trapped in her own body,it also shows that she is scared and anxious as she is grabbing onto herself for a sense of comfort.
PHOTOSHOP EXPERIMENT:
Photoshoot 5:
This is my final outcome after using photoshop. My intention was to show isolation through the models actions as she has her arms are wrapped around herself to represent feeling scared and alone. I also edited the background so that it was completely black which made my model stand out, making her the focus of the picture and to also enhance the mood of the picture to show feelings of lonliness.
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In this photoshoot I used the same model as in photoshoot 4, this time I put black lipstick on her and wrapped her haid in black ribbon. I used the black backdrop again to create contrast and to set a more dark mood. The black ribbon was inpired by the artist Cristina Otero as I found that it linked to my theme. In having the ribbon around her face a represents that she is being tied up by her dark thoughts and by having the ribbon it is showing those emotions from within as a visual emotion and interpretation. The black lipstick adds to that sense of dark emotion and atmosphere that has been created. I took a range of different shots some of just her face and others a mid shot with her hands clutching her body or face to show the stress and the intensity of her emotions.
Top photograph
I have selected this photo as I think it conveys best the feeling of being trapped within yourself and your thoughts. I was able to use Cristina Otero's idea of the black ribbon wrapped around the subject's face and the black lipstick to bring this across, and the darkness of the lipstick and the ribbon has helped me to create an image that reminds viewers of darkness and sad emotions. The ribbon creates a claustrophobic feeling and tells us that the subjects feels confined and trapped within herself and the dark atmosphere created by the lack of colour and the shadows in the background. Her body language also created an uncomfortable feeling and her hands being wrapped around her neck again tell us that she feels suffocated in the situation she is in.
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Photoshop experiment
The editing that i used on this photo has allowed me to add to the message of the photo further. I chose to burn the background in order to deepen the photo and isolate the subject, which adds a darkness and a depth to it and mirrors the isolation that the girl in the photograph is meant to be feeling. The lack of contrast between the ribbon and the background almost makes it look like the model is being pulled back into her darkness and adds to the feeling of being trapped and tied down. I've brightened the face to contrast against the dark background and sharpened and enhanced the colours of the eyes which adds emotion and feels almost as if the subject is helplessly trapped and calling for help from the viewer.
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Photoshop experimentation
A04- PERSONAL PRESENTATION:
Present a personal, informed, and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate making connections between visual, written, oral and other elements.