A Balancing Act

Initial Thoughts:

A contrast of bad and good moments and the transformation and growth of mental illness from childhood to puberty and so on. Delicate memories v a dark passenger.

To go with creative writing or even a short piece – perhaps a journal integrated with photo-sets and charcoal sketches.

 

A snippet from what I have written so far…

I feel constantly restless, like I’m feeling everything and I’m feeling nothing at the same time; and it’s overwhelming. I constantly find myself feeling nostalgic, and I constantly feel fragile, not like I’m about to break, but more

R3 Fine Art IV

Today I made my video using iMovie. Here are some screenshots of the footage, as the video itself, unfortunately, cannot be uploaded.

Later, we will view each other’s work within the class. For mine, I chose to set up a projector and display my work at ‘The Dark Room’. I believe this will add to the tension within the piece, as it is already a very surreal and creepy piece. The use of speakers will be to a better advantage and the size of the projection is much greater than that of a laptop screen.

R3 Fine Art III

Today I shot all of my video footage needed and set up the shoots, as well as preparing my equipment in readiness for the night time shoot. The hardest aspect of filming were the actual camera settings, as the conditions I was shooting in was a mixture of fog and darkness.

Risk Assessment:

1. Fire: Safety Distance of 10 metres. On a concrete surface near nothing flammable.
2. Explosives: Handled by experienced person, not near children.
3. Splinters: Wear gloves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment:

• Gloves
• Newspaper
• Matches
• Petrol
• Canon 550D
• Tripod
• Microphone

 

R3 Fine Art II

Today I made the cage with some assistance, and chose the location on placement. I chose this spot because the fog rolls in thickly in the morning over this field in particular. My filming will include a lot more isolated and atmospheric energy by making the most of this type of weather.

Equipment:

• Hammer
• Nails
• Pry-bar
• x4 Wooden Palettes

R3 Fine Art I

R1 Lens Based Media VI

Today, in groups of five or six, we presented our digital sketchbooks to each other. It was nice to see other people’s ideas, such as a stop motion video, as it’s exciting to see the different paths people can go down. I also got a lot of positive feedback on my own work, but I didn’t get any constructive criticism and therefore couldn’t get any information on what I could improve.

However, I came up with my own ideas of what I could improve. If I could do the shoot again, I would want to wait to do the lake set as the sunset. However, this is a variable I have no control over, as a good sunset is very weather-dependent.

R1 Lens Based Media V

Today was the final day of rotation, where I finally put together my sketchbook of the weeks work, and completed all my final edits. Below is my thumbnail version of my digital sketchbook. It includes each stage of my idea thought process, my artist research, trial shoots in contact sheets and my final images, along with an image to go with an artist response.

I decided to have a series of four images which can work together, yet are also effective alone.I think every one of my final edits are beautifully composed, in terms of depth of field, rule of thirds and composition or the model; which I also directed.

I love the soft lighting that covers my model here, and I believe the trees that overshadow, suggest an almost enclosed environment around the person. I love the contrast of greens mixed with the colour of the skin, and the soft brown of the bare branches.

I love the hidden nature of this photo, and how the model isn’t at the centre of the photograph, but is instead placed to the right hand side, where it is already quite busy. The left side of the image has a great use of negative space and the water carries on that almost dream-like state.

 My favourite thing about this image is the incredible depth of field, and the sunlight that hits the few strands of grass and light green colour. The reason this photograph is one of my favourites is because it doesn’t draw too much attention to the model, and lets them have their own sense of peace as they reflect.

My favourite part of this photograph is the toning of the model’s back, and the rippling on the water as they begin to submerge themselves. I love how the blue sky is reflecting off the water, and then further giving off a blue tinge against the person’s pale skin. I think this image gives off a slight illusion with the use of reflection on the water weeds. This is my favourite photograph of the shoot because they look so focused on each movement they’re making.

Overall, I enjoyed shooting this whole idea because it was something incredibly fun and deep, including nudity, which I’ve never tried before. I have always been interested in shooting something that combines nudity and nature because both subjects serve a massive interest to me, and I’m always curious to view more in the light of appreciation.

R1 Lens Based Media IV

7:07am | Orange Tinged Nostalgia

I took this photo the morning of my shoot day, and I believe it sets the mood to the whole piece off. Although, it doesn’t include my model, it gives off that heavy atmosphere, that is full of morning thoughts or late night dreams.

I took many more photographs today, which I will begin to edit on Day 5. Some of my favourites are posted below.

The next stage of my rotation will be to edit my pictures and to complete my sketchbook work.

R1 Lens Based Media III

Today, I travelled amongst various places to decide which location I would use to shoot my series of photographs. I mostly drove along country roads, passing several villages like Stamfordham and Capheaton until I ended up at my own house near Little Bavington.

  

I found the location I wanted to shoot my photographs from, in some woods, right next to a lake near my house.

I am excited to shoot my photographs this week, and can’t wait to see the outcome.

R1 Lens Based Media II

I focused, again, on my own ideas and thought about what reflection means to me. I decided to focus more on the mentalistic meaning of the word, and concentrated on the idea of thoughts, feelings and places. I started to ask myself, what do I do to reflect? I go out into nature, try and find myself whilst I’m alone in the midst of the trees. With the idea of retrospect, using self reflection, analysis and therapy, use a single person to be a subject in my landscape photographs. Use of the person always looking away from the camera, to exclude the audience, as if they are observing, not connecting. Inspired by Spencer Tunnick with his work within nudity, strip down the model to their own skin to order to symbolise the purity of them and of nature.

Spencer Tunick

                                                             

Broomberg & Chanarin

Charlie Waite

         

Researching artists today has been very useful as I now have a clearer image of what I want to include within my photographs. I want to have a mixture of images that include the vibrant, contrasting colours as seen in Broomberg & Chanarin’s work, the appreciation and admiration that is felt by Waite as he captures his landscape, and that raw nudity that comes with the use of people within Tunick’s installations.