Final Shoot

Above shows some images on set. The first image shows make up and hair artist in action, the others show me taking the photos. The lighting used was a soft box and flash to create images with minimal shadows and a natural glow, the natural daylight from the windows helps to achieve this effect. To create one of my images using the pink garment, I created a small set (inspired by rhea Theirstein) using to polystyrene boards. I pinned each individual tassle to the board in order to give the garment a second appearance, in the same way the other garments have.

(Authors Own, Contact Sheets)

(Authors Own, Photography)

(Authors Own, Photography)

Initial Photo Shoots

Below shows a selective sample of contact sheets from three photo shoot I produced over the last week. As you can see my models vary in height age and ethnicity. I did not choose my models as a way of tokenising them just to suit the theme of diversity, but I chose them to compliment each individual piece in a unique way based on their unique appearance. The green sample is complemented by a young female model with short hair and quirky tattoos, her pale skin and short hair compliment the form and colour of the piece. In this particular session I decided to experiment with some reflective material in order to emphasise and celebrate the colour of the garment. I feel that the idea could have worked well but as it was a last-minute decision, the space I photographed in was not complimentary of the reflective material. Following this shoot, I decided to cast a very tall and elegant female model, to complement a long slender dress. Using the failed method of reflective material from the previous shoot I decided to experiment with it one more time. This time I decided to place it on the floor so that the oranges and yellows of the dress could be reflected, I think it worked really well reflecting colours onto the floor rather than the backdrop. As this is the only finalised garment in my shoot, I decided that I could show its diversity by adorning the body with the dress in an unconventional way.  I challenge my own preconception of a "dress" and experimented with styling the model in different ways using it. The idea that seem to work the best, which we discovered quite quickly, was to let the dress hang around the neck as if it had not been put on properly or only halfway. Learning that single garment can be placed on the body in multiple ways has led to visualise my final outcome.  I would like my four models to display one garment or sample in two very different ways, this way I will be demonstrating the theme of diversity through the garments. At this point I have also decided that I would prefer to shoot just female models for my final outcome, have experimented with using male models and it seemed that the male physique does not complements the samples as much as the female figure does. I have plans for two full body compositions that I would like to photograph in my final shoot. I think this composition will complement the specific garment perfectly, and with this in mind I decided that it would be mandatory to shoot head shots for my third shoot. Unintentionally, but undoubtably aesthetically pleasing, my third model also had short hair, which compliments all of the garments and samples. I used an orange collar to accentuate and compliment the texture and colour of my models hair and skin tone. I am yet to discover what shot i would like to use this model for again, but for now I have a great head shot that works with the other final images flawlessly.

(Photography, Authors Own - Knitwear, Karen Moore - Model, Nelly Smith)

(Photography, Authors Own - Knitwear, Karen Moore)

(Photography, Authors Own - Knitwear, Karen Moore - Model, Cynthia Granfield)

At first I decided that I would use simple white paint across the eyes to show purity and freshness.  I didn't want my imagery to be too contrived or to be seen as tokenising the idea of African tribal body art,  so this simple makeup technique seemed appropriate. When I composed the first shoot with the green garment and tattooed female model I forgot to apply the white paint around the eyes, at first I was disappointed and wanted to shoot again with makeup,  but as I began to upload images on my computer to edit them in photo shop I actually preferred this natural look. Although the model wearing the orange collar was not one of my first, I didn't intend to apply makeup to her as I wanted to keep her looking natural and celebrate her age and identity.

Set Design & Makeup

This week I decided to test out some make up looks that I could use in my shoot. I tried them out myself to get a rough idea of what I think will work well, but for the real shoot  I have found a make up artist through the university that will assist me on the day. I started off by testing some simple tribal like markings across and around the eyes. I also realised that this style of make up was easy to colour correct in photoshop, so with the simple use of one colour I could edit each style to my preference in postproduction. The initial idea of tribal marks came from a recent issue of ID magazine,  and I thought that with the theme being based upon body adornment this would work well. What I later discovered once I had styled the clothing, was that the use of tribal markings for makeup appeared a bit cliche for the theme of diversity. Following this discovery I decided to simplify the idea of tribal markings, with the use of brightly coloured eyeshadow, I softened the look by suggesting tribal marks. I also experimented with the idea of soft paint, painted across the eye area. The paint accentuated the idea of the marks,  making the appearance of the make up more obvious and bolder which I think relates to my idea more. A worry that I had is, if the make up too colourful and bright it could draw the attention away from the garment, so above on my computer based make up faces I have suggested the use of white paint across the eyes. This idea will also brighten eyes.  The last experiment with make up was the combination of eyeshadow and lines, I would like to test a variety of combinations with this idea before I decide to use it or not to use it.

Following producing some make up ideas we had an amazing workshop with set designer Reah Theirstein. She showed us multiple ways of creating amazing sets on small budgets, and loads of ideas for creating unique backdrops. This workshop helped me greatly because I was planning on only using a white studio background to accentuate the idea of the garments. After the workshop I thought of loads of other ways I can do this by using more interesting sets. During the workshop we were asked to create our own sets, I experimented with the use of projecting imagery onto a subject. For the materials we had at the time I thought this was a great idea and will definitely help me to produce future concepts in set design. But when I came home I decided to create suggestions of set design in photoshop. Bellow, shows my illustrations and suggestions of set design, there are a variety of different ways in which I can create a set on a budget and the ideas I have demonstrated consist of simple materials such as: reflective paper, acetate or plastic, post production and simple use of materials. I will further experiment with these ideas to decide what one works best.

Isamaya Ffrench is a makeup artist who is currently the beauty editor of i-D Magazine. She is well known for her super-saturated palettes which rebel against fashion’s bored, minimalistic habits. “For her, make-up is paint, and skin a canvas.” I got inspiration from her work while I was looking through the "beautiful issue winter 2014" in ID magazine. The images were very linear,  depicting bright bold lines around the face, accentuating features such as cheekbones eyebrow bone and lips. I was interested in her style as it seems quite simple and it relates closely to my idea of tribal marks. As I began to research her work, I discovered that as well as using sharp linear markings, she has a tendency to create soft, chalky markings. Above I have attempted to portray her style using some of my own ideas. I intend to use a real makeup artist for the final images, these where just some experiments.

Exploring themes

My initial idea was focused on knitwear. I don't know a lot about knitwear but I am interested in the making of it. I like the way it can be placed on the body in unconventional ways and still look amazing. To place knit on the body in this way would be an aspect of diversity I could explore. I would use knit different ways in which they are normally used or accepted and display them in a non-traditional way.

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Group critique notes

This idea is more suited to my style

Reflects diversity through clothing rather than using "obvious" model choices for topic 

Experiment with location and studio photography

Experiment with movement

Visit the V&A

I took these comments into consideration and decided to pursue this idea.

Another idea I came up with was to explore the idea of astrology in the news. Recently NASA have made huge breakthroughs is scientific history, which is an area that interests me. I started to look into space like photo shoots, involving a lot of pre production e.g. hair and makeup. I am confident in computer based production and would be happy to collaborate with hair and makeup artists to achieve this concept.

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Group critique notes

This idea is interesting, but it doesn't suit my style of work

Looks fun to produce, but may not reflect idea of diversity 

Experiment with idea first

Try out makeup & hair

Although I was passionate to work with an idea that I hadn't tried out before, the comments my group made were valid and  decided to abandon this idea.