Working with stylists for this collection of images I struggled with so much I found one stylist but she wanted me to fund it all myself however I didn't think this was entirely fair is she was going to take credit for the styling. I decided not to work with her.
Another stylist contacted me and we were going to meet up and a discuss the project and go and buy fabric together however the day of meeting she told me she would be at home so could no longer do the shoot.
FUSTRATION
With two stylist now being unreliable I decided to contact Kelly Barker on the Fashion course to see if she knew anyone or had any material I could borrow. Unfortunately I lucked out again however she did give me ways I could go about doing it myself and what kind of material to buy.
BUYING MATERIAL
I went to fabric land and had a small sample of the material I thought would work best cut off. I tried moving it around and it flowed nicely. Kelly suggested buying 10 meters in different shades of grey to give depth the the image and the fabric wouldn't look flat.
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WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - Sorting out a model for the shoot. Asking Chris if I can borrow the Fan and booking the studio.
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Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Inspiration For Thunderstorm Shoot
While completing my final major project I was immersing myself with every film our youtube out there to do with Climate Change.
I watched one film that really sparked my interest, this being "The Day After Tomorrow" This offered lots of extreme natural disaster that could happen due to the ice caps melting and our climate shifting.
There was one part within the film where tornados were ripping up cities and it made me think about being caught in a tornado.
Tornados are a big part of climate change and this could be a interesting route to explore and create some beautiful images.
When the savage beauty collection arrive in London the V&A released images of some of the collection. One image that has always stuck in my mind was a floaty dress that had been moved to show how easily it moved. This image really stood out to be as I really like how the fabric flowed and it gave the overall mood of being free.
I liked how you could see the fabric more than the body of the person. This was something I hope to achieve in my own shoot.
MOODBOARD
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WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - I think this is very large scale shoot so I want to recruit an assistant and maybe a fashion stylist as I wouldn't have a clue how to go about constructing this outfit.
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I watched one film that really sparked my interest, this being "The Day After Tomorrow" This offered lots of extreme natural disaster that could happen due to the ice caps melting and our climate shifting.
There was one part within the film where tornados were ripping up cities and it made me think about being caught in a tornado.
Tornados are a big part of climate change and this could be a interesting route to explore and create some beautiful images.
When the savage beauty collection arrive in London the V&A released images of some of the collection. One image that has always stuck in my mind was a floaty dress that had been moved to show how easily it moved. This image really stood out to be as I really like how the fabric flowed and it gave the overall mood of being free.
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| http://www.culturewhisper.com/r/article/preview/1211 |
MOODBOARD
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WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - I think this is very large scale shoot so I want to recruit an assistant and maybe a fashion stylist as I wouldn't have a clue how to go about constructing this outfit.
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Bright Lights Shoot
I had already planned on doing a photoshoot based on thunderstorms and freak weather conditions. But thought on the day before the shoot start to try and do a a few close up shots of the face and have the images really over exposed to show electricity as well and lightening.
I quickly screens hotted a few ideas so that my model would know what I meant. I spoke to my photographer and he said he would shoot the images normally and over expose them on photoshop.
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| Inspiration From iPad. |
TRYING DIFFERENT EFFECTS
We shot a few image straight on and with my model pulling a face like she was screaming. I would see these would look good when they were over exposed as the face she was pulling looked realistic of being scared by the light.
We decided to try and see if we could create anything a little different using double exposure.
We created some really different images however with some we did have trouble with the ears being the main focus when she turned her head.
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| The ears have become the main focus in this image. This was because she was just turning her head side to side. |
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| Again the ears are too distracting in this image and that is all you can really see when looking at the image. |
EDITING IMAGES
My photographer knew what my theme was and suggested put a lightening effect on some of the images I thought this was a great idea as it pulls it together and makes the viewer understand what effect it is.
MY THOUGHTS
For a last minute decision these images have turned out well. My photographers idea of adding the lightening effects onto the image really work. it adds that element of shock and I really like how bright they are. I think if they were to go any brighter you would start to loose too much detail.
The double exposure work really well and show the hecticness of lightening and storms.
THE OVERALL EFFECT
These images work well along side my other images and off the same raw effect I have managed to achieve with my other images. If I was to do this photoshoot again I don't think I would change anything for next time. They were very simple to shoot but I believe effective in my book.
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WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - My next step is to talk about the thunderstorm shoot i'm planning and what inspiration lead me down this path.
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Front Cover Of Book
On the website they offered 3 different types of front cover, you could have your own image or it leather or a cotton material.
LEATHER COVER
Before I changed my concept to Climate Change I did originally want a leather cover. With my new topic it just wouldn't fit and would be contradicting what the whole book is about if I chose leather, for me this wasn't an option.
COTTON MATERIAL
This was the front cover I was going to go for it came in a range of colours but thought a neutral tone would work best and make it look more professional.
DOWNSIDE TO COTTON MATERIAL
One draw back about having the cotton material as my front cover was they would only put the title in one place. (The bottom right) I thought on a book the size I wanted this wouldn't look good and the title may get lost in the pattern.
PHOTOGRAPH FRONT COVER
My only final option was to use a photograph for the front cover. I didn't want to use one of my own images that would be in the book as I wanted it to be a surprise when you opened it. I did a few sketches on layouts that might work. Below is a few rough sketches.
Looking at these images and think from a perspective of someone who nothing about my book. With just the title it may be a little confusing on what the book is really about. Adding a picture of the world would help the viewer understand the books purpose.
SOURCING PICTURES OF THE WORLD
As I wanted a picture of the world I wanted to double check with Sharon whether or not I would need copyright permission to use someones else photo. She informed me it would be okay as it was just an FMP project.
I found many pictures I liked I printed them out and put them up on a wall and looked at them all for a couple of days I wanted a picture I was drawn to each time. These were my final picks before deciding my front cover.
I really like the top image as it's so unique and you don't see many images like this when you google the world however I thought it's not 100% clear what it is and blending into onto a background would be extremely difficult.
The middle image is a favourite of mine as I like how you can see the swirls of the earth and the colour blue really pops against the back background.
At first I liked this image but thinking about it on a book that would be portrait would stretch the image and it wouldn't look as good.
FINAL PICK
I chose the middle picture I thought it looked professional and anyone quickly looking at my book would know what it was about.
Below is a sneak peak on how I'm planning on having my front cover of my book.
LEATHER COVER
Before I changed my concept to Climate Change I did originally want a leather cover. With my new topic it just wouldn't fit and would be contradicting what the whole book is about if I chose leather, for me this wasn't an option.
COTTON MATERIAL
This was the front cover I was going to go for it came in a range of colours but thought a neutral tone would work best and make it look more professional.
 |
| Bonus Print Website |
One draw back about having the cotton material as my front cover was they would only put the title in one place. (The bottom right) I thought on a book the size I wanted this wouldn't look good and the title may get lost in the pattern.
PHOTOGRAPH FRONT COVER
My only final option was to use a photograph for the front cover. I didn't want to use one of my own images that would be in the book as I wanted it to be a surprise when you opened it. I did a few sketches on layouts that might work. Below is a few rough sketches.
Looking at these images and think from a perspective of someone who nothing about my book. With just the title it may be a little confusing on what the book is really about. Adding a picture of the world would help the viewer understand the books purpose.
SOURCING PICTURES OF THE WORLD
As I wanted a picture of the world I wanted to double check with Sharon whether or not I would need copyright permission to use someones else photo. She informed me it would be okay as it was just an FMP project.
I found many pictures I liked I printed them out and put them up on a wall and looked at them all for a couple of days I wanted a picture I was drawn to each time. These were my final picks before deciding my front cover.
I really like the top image as it's so unique and you don't see many images like this when you google the world however I thought it's not 100% clear what it is and blending into onto a background would be extremely difficult.
The middle image is a favourite of mine as I like how you can see the swirls of the earth and the colour blue really pops against the back background.
At first I liked this image but thinking about it on a book that would be portrait would stretch the image and it wouldn't look as good.
FINAL PICK
I chose the middle picture I thought it looked professional and anyone quickly looking at my book would know what it was about.
Below is a sneak peak on how I'm planning on having my front cover of my book.
Plastic Shoot
PREPPING BEFORE SHOOT
Before the shoot started I sourced different kinds of plastic bags and plastic. I wanted to have a range to work with and show the photographer to see what he thought would work well with the lighting.
I also brought cling film to add a different kind of plastic texture to the mix.
LIGHTING
I didn't want anything over the top with the lighting just simple beauty dish picture. I thought with dark elements to the photo you wouldn't be able to tell it was a plastic bag.
CLING FILM
We first started the shoot with the cling film as we thought that would be the most interesting element. However these images didn't turn out good at all and just looked unprofessional. I think because the clingfilm wasn't completely tight it didn't work. They didn't give the dramatic effect I wanted and felt this wasn't as strong as my other images.
I did like this the bottom image of the hand behind the plastic as it showed the struggle and force of trying to escape. I wanted a tight crop of the hand for this image.
WORKING WITH PLASTIC BAGS
I showed my photographer the range of plastic bags I had brought there were white ones black ones and blue ones he said the black wouldn't work as you wouldn't be able to see much depth in the picture and the blue wasn't big enough for the area we wanted to cover.
I had two white plastic bags that may have worked. We tried the first plastic bag but it was very crinkles and I didn't like the effect it had on the face. I wanted it to be obvious a person was underneath and I felt the effect on the bag would distract the viewer.
When we used the second white bag I thought it was more see through which I liked as you could see his eyes and facial features better. this gave a slightly creepy feeling to the image. We also pulled the bag tighter about his face so would be able to see the outline of a head.
RIPPING THE PLASTIC BAG
I wanted to rip through the plastic bag and have one eye show. I thought this may be a good focal point for the image.
We first tried with the model looking directly into the camera. I wasn't pleased with how these turned out they looked good however it gave me the impression of being evil rather than suffocated from the waste. it also looked like a balaclava as you could see the skin on his neck.
We then tried adding the other plastic bag around his neck to hid his skin. These images didn't work it made him look like he was in a straight jacket going straight to the looney bin. His eye also wasn't working well for me.
CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF THE EYE
I spoke to my model about moving his eyes around while we were shoot like he was struggling for air. This worked so much better and we were able to get some images that looked like he was struggling. One Image I really liked was the one found below. I like how his eye is sidewards and you can see the veins in the eye. I think think this adds the effect of being suffocated.
However I didn't like the shape his mouth was as it looks a bit like a clown smile. I spoke to my photographer about cropping that image in when it came to editing them.
EDITING THE IMAGES
We spoke about the mood I was going for in these images which was panic and stress of the suffocation from the plastic bags. Even though I liked the lighting I did want them to be a little darker as I felt they looked a bit clinical and too clean for the mood I wanted to portray. I also asked for a few crop in on the images and whether he could make the veins in the eye brighter and maybe add a few more. I want it to look like the model was really struggling.
EDITED PHOTOS
MY THOUGHTS
These photos really depict the struggle of trying to escape the plastic I wanted to achieve. They work well together and how the truth of what happens to animals but on a human body. These have a deep underlying meaning that the viewer my not get straight away when looking at the images, but the more they look the more they will see how the model is struggling to breathe. I'm really happy how my photographer was able to darken the red in the models eye, it works really well and it does look like he has had blood haemorrhages in his eye from being suffocated.
THE OVERALL EFFECT
This does show panic and struggle of escaping from plastic. And I like how the images are dark as it adds to the mood of deathlessness. I could have considered doing it with a big plastic bag all over the body and had him trying to escape again.
If I was to do this shoot again I would have liked to have done this on a bigger scale with the camera in an aerial view and the model lying down pushing their arms and lets out if different positions.
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WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - I want to touch on a topic many people don't know that is an effect of climate change and that is thunderstorms. I believe this could work really well using the human body.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before the shoot started I sourced different kinds of plastic bags and plastic. I wanted to have a range to work with and show the photographer to see what he thought would work well with the lighting.
I also brought cling film to add a different kind of plastic texture to the mix.
 |
| Inspiration from iPad. |
LIGHTING
I didn't want anything over the top with the lighting just simple beauty dish picture. I thought with dark elements to the photo you wouldn't be able to tell it was a plastic bag.
CLING FILM
We first started the shoot with the cling film as we thought that would be the most interesting element. However these images didn't turn out good at all and just looked unprofessional. I think because the clingfilm wasn't completely tight it didn't work. They didn't give the dramatic effect I wanted and felt this wasn't as strong as my other images.
WORKING WITH PLASTIC BAGS
I showed my photographer the range of plastic bags I had brought there were white ones black ones and blue ones he said the black wouldn't work as you wouldn't be able to see much depth in the picture and the blue wasn't big enough for the area we wanted to cover.
I had two white plastic bags that may have worked. We tried the first plastic bag but it was very crinkles and I didn't like the effect it had on the face. I wanted it to be obvious a person was underneath and I felt the effect on the bag would distract the viewer.
 |
| First White Bag |
 |
| Second White Bag |
I wanted to rip through the plastic bag and have one eye show. I thought this may be a good focal point for the image.
We first tried with the model looking directly into the camera. I wasn't pleased with how these turned out they looked good however it gave me the impression of being evil rather than suffocated from the waste. it also looked like a balaclava as you could see the skin on his neck.
 |
| Overall Effect looked to Evil to me. |
We then tried adding the other plastic bag around his neck to hid his skin. These images didn't work it made him look like he was in a straight jacket going straight to the looney bin. His eye also wasn't working well for me.
CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF THE EYE
I spoke to my model about moving his eyes around while we were shoot like he was struggling for air. This worked so much better and we were able to get some images that looked like he was struggling. One Image I really liked was the one found below. I like how his eye is sidewards and you can see the veins in the eye. I think think this adds the effect of being suffocated.
However I didn't like the shape his mouth was as it looks a bit like a clown smile. I spoke to my photographer about cropping that image in when it came to editing them.
EDITING THE IMAGES
We spoke about the mood I was going for in these images which was panic and stress of the suffocation from the plastic bags. Even though I liked the lighting I did want them to be a little darker as I felt they looked a bit clinical and too clean for the mood I wanted to portray. I also asked for a few crop in on the images and whether he could make the veins in the eye brighter and maybe add a few more. I want it to look like the model was really struggling.
EDITED PHOTOS
MY THOUGHTS
These photos really depict the struggle of trying to escape the plastic I wanted to achieve. They work well together and how the truth of what happens to animals but on a human body. These have a deep underlying meaning that the viewer my not get straight away when looking at the images, but the more they look the more they will see how the model is struggling to breathe. I'm really happy how my photographer was able to darken the red in the models eye, it works really well and it does look like he has had blood haemorrhages in his eye from being suffocated.
THE OVERALL EFFECT
This does show panic and struggle of escaping from plastic. And I like how the images are dark as it adds to the mood of deathlessness. I could have considered doing it with a big plastic bag all over the body and had him trying to escape again.
If I was to do this shoot again I would have liked to have done this on a bigger scale with the camera in an aerial view and the model lying down pushing their arms and lets out if different positions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - I want to touch on a topic many people don't know that is an effect of climate change and that is thunderstorms. I believe this could work really well using the human body.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ReThinking My Plastic Shoot
I was feeling very confused and unsure what I wanted to do for the plastic shoot each idea I had it was either to big an idea or it wouldn't fit in with the other images so far in my book.
IDEA
One idea I had was to make a dress out of plastic bags I thought this would be too editorial and may not really go with the theme of the book.
FACTS ON LANDFILL AND PLASTIC
- We only have 7 years of land fill space left.
- Most families throw away 40kg of plastic each year
- Plastic take up to 500 years to decompose.
CHANGING IDEAS
I decided to change my idea from lots of rubbish and just to focus on plastic and plastic bags as the charge for the plastic bags have just happened this year I thought it would be more topical. Thousands of animals have been killed by plastic each year that was been left as litter. I want to try and portray how this plastic would suffocate us and kill us too.
IDEA
One idea I had was to make a dress out of plastic bags I thought this would be too editorial and may not really go with the theme of the book.
FACTS ON LANDFILL AND PLASTIC
- We only have 7 years of land fill space left.
- Most families throw away 40kg of plastic each year
- Plastic take up to 500 years to decompose.
CHANGING IDEAS
I decided to change my idea from lots of rubbish and just to focus on plastic and plastic bags as the charge for the plastic bags have just happened this year I thought it would be more topical. Thousands of animals have been killed by plastic each year that was been left as litter. I want to try and portray how this plastic would suffocate us and kill us too.
Tutorial With Emma
While in my tutorial with Emma we spoke about how I wanted to shoot with my background being a rubbish dump however I couldn't get permission from any sites to be on there with a crew. We spoke about bringing in rubbish and shooting it in the studios.
Emma pointed out that unless this was done on a large scale it wouldn't be as affective as I would want it to be. It concerned me that this image wouldn't be as strong as the rest so we spoke about different ways we could portray Plastic and Rubbish.
Emma told me about Christopher Kane who for LFW sent his models down the runway with cable ties in their hair and around their necks like necklaces.
She told me to go away and think about other ways I would represent plastic and rubbish dumps.
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