Author Archives: Mai Man

Lighting for moving image workshop

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I attended Lighting workshop today because i want to learn more about lighting. This workshop provides many new lighting equipment that i’ve never seen before which was very interesting to know about different set up and what camera good for doing video or moving images. The tutor Matt was very nice and helpful, he showed us different options and different lighting angles that can affect on the subjects. I also first know about the flag which is also use to soften the light but easier to move than the soft box. My favourite is the small light that can be use close the the face to create more depth

We also had the chance to practice with those light to re create one of the example picture.

I’m glad that I attend this workshop which help me know more about lighting, and i feel more excited to practice myself.

Experiment with film photography

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I’ve always interested in film photography, but I never try before. Since my boyfriend has an auto film photography, I borrowed it to try a small styling project with my friends. The ideas is showing the contrast in styling as well as in the background. Now I live around Hollingbury area and I have take the bus to Uni, that ‘s how I found the Yellow shop. I was thinking it would be to try out a film photography with monochrome styling and yellow vibrant background.

I have photoshoot with Elva before and she’s lovely, this time I asked her friend Kitty to join as well. So I can do a black and white styling. This is my first time trying film photography, I found it’s so hard to look on the small screen and I can’t check the photo right away. Also it was the first time so I wasn’t too sure about focusing the lens and check the angles.

Some of my favorite shots. I like how film make the photos more emotion I guess, it’s also adding the nostalgic filter in the photos. Even though this shot is not related to my ideas at the moment, I still enjoy the processed of trying with film photography and styling process.

There are still some shot that can be improve in the composition and timing to press the button.
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I would like to play with photos, adding some lightings or editing. I will see if I want to do more of film photography for my project in the future, but it’s good that I try now.

Week 3 tutorial

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This week starting off with a small tutorial with Jules and Emma. In my group there was Evie and Vicki, it was nice to listen to their ideas as well. Emma and Jules both agree that food and fashion is a huge topic and I need to narrow it down. Since I mentioned about my favourite morning routine is making matcha, Emma suggest me to read the book called Ritual, I will try to find it in library. I also mentioned about the food zine I made for my family business and how I appreciate the cultural mix from my parents, Jules suggested me to work on the culture identity and recommended me some museums that I should check out. I’m coming to London this weekend and I planed to visit Japan House London since they’re doing an exhibition about the Japan’s Food. I think it will be beneficial for me in term of food styling and colour theory.

Here is the ingredient of making Cash Ca Dang (bitter pea soup), consist of lots of homemade ingredients that you can find in the garden of Ede people. I might try to find those pictures I took in April and make some collages with them maybe.

I have made a Google form to collect some opinions about food and fashion (can be seen on my sketchbook), there are pretty good response that I want to focus on more. I also want to interview some of my international friend about their food routine and outfit routine. Since international students are far away from home so food is a way that we feel like home.

I’m gonna have to submit a formative presentation for Business Plan next week and start researching my essay. I felt a bit overwhelmed. However, I would to spend most of my time in library and museums to research and get inspiration and also epxeriments with different media.

Week 2

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Unfortunately, I missed this week tutorial due to my personal appointment. I have emailed Eloise about my draft idea and she said I should keep researching.

In this week I have read and looked at lots of interesting book. Since I want to look at Food and Fashion, I have picked Food Design XL and Fashion Theory where they have one chapter about relationship between food and fashion. However, I think it’s a broad topic so I will have to research more in order to focus on the aspect I want.

I found Buffalo Zine issue 8 talked about this topic and they make a big cook book, but it’s been sold out everywhere. However I still have chance to look at some picture they upload. I also want to learn about food photography/product photography. I always interested in taking food picture with my phone and kind of decorate them to look nice. I will look at more food photographers and how they tell story behind that.

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Week 1

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For this week, I got introduction about the new module. I just returned from London 2 days ago so there was lots of things going on in my life. I felt a bit overwhelmed with moving and also the amount of work when I saw the handbook. But I spent time alone later that week to read through the handbook and I understand more.

I didn’t have time to do my summer homework but listening to people in my group also helped me a lot. Everyone has very different ideas and starting point. I’m excited to research to find my and excited to see everyone works.

I made my own IKIGAI chart to somehow figure out what I want to do and what is my strength.

Placement Year

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In my Placement year, I have a chance to experience with different areas in Fashion industry. Starting off with 18.01LONDON vintage archive studio. As a person love archive and vintage clothing, I pretty enjoy working in this studio, I also had a chance to help with the preparation of Fashion Is Muse event. Meanwhile I also volunteered at London Fashion Week for some brands as dresser and bts photographer. Then I moved to LRP studio, where I learned a lot about stock management and e-commerce photoshoot. There are lots of brand working with LRP so I somehow learn about these brand style and customer target. I also assisting in the shoot as well.

After finishing Placement hour required, I spent 2 months back in my home country Vietnam. When I came back I applied to Veronica Beard Intern and I really enjoy it there, I learned more about wholesale and buying appointment.

I then offered a paid position with Veronica Beard which gave me more responsibility and experience.
While in London I visited lots of exhibitions, CSM graduate show and Goldsmith Graduate shows. Which gave me lots of inspirations and I met lots of young creatives that share them same interests.

Making fashion space

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I wasn’t very sure about the space, so I decided to talk with Mark on Wednsday. Seeing everyone with their already setup spaces gave me stress. I thought the website I made is enough so I didn’t plan or have any ideas about the physical spaces. I talked with my friend Stella and Elidth and they gave me some ideas for the spaces. After all, Mark found a small space for me, it was next to someone else work so I dont think i should do something too big. First I’m thinking to turn all my photos into slideshow and show them through the projector on the wall.

But then I think i can just reuse all my props for photoshoots for this space. I run up to the Print service to print some of my photos. I would stick them on the wall and under will be decorated with grass and metal flower. I attached some nails and wig onto the photos to make it lively. I attached NFT tags behind the photo so when people scan them the link of my instagram and website will appear in theirs.

I brought the grass i used for the 1st photoshoot and metal flowers to decorate the floor, i tried to make the flowers stand so they looks more real and viewers can walk in to look at the photos. I kinda regret not to print these photos bigger like a3 which can make it more clear.

Here is the video that I attached NFT tags under each photos.

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Fashion space reflection

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fashion space document

here the video document my fashion space.

The exhibition day was very interesting that i had chance to look at everyone work and understand more about their concept. Mostly everyone have AI aspect in their work so we can try them out together. I’m very grateful when people said they like my website and my filters. Having a physical space but also connect to digital world is what i’m aiming for and luckily all the links working well. I still have to fix the mobile site on website as it was a quite messy, and everyone will definitely view website on their phone rather than laptop screen so I have to be very careful with that.

The guidance note i attached on the wall was a bit small so it hard to read, i should have make the tap instruction bigger therefore it will easier to follow. The photos should be printed bigger like A3 size so they will have more impact because my space quite narrow, if i printed them bigger it will make my space more recognisable. All the filters looking nice except the Wood mask one, it looks not really on theme but i have no more idea and it needs to be approve before the exhibition so I just choose the template to make it.

In overall, i satisfied with all the shoot that i made, I learned so much more about the lighting in studio and time managing to make all the shoot. There are still things i regret about the space and the website, but i can learn from these mistakes and do better for the next project.

 

Fire and Metal photoshoot

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I don’t have much time left therefore I decided to combine 2 photoshoot in one day because there’re both studio base. I just need to prepare props and clothes few days before. The shoot went pretty well as I already discuss with Richard about what I wanted to do, he and Rachael helped me a lot in setting up the light and backdrop.

I wanted to have red light setting for the first one and one round light for the 2nd one. I learned more about studio lighting setup and I know to adjust the light and the distance to give the results as I want. I already prepared and have main posture I want in my head so the shoot went fast begin from 12:30 -4:00.

For the Fire photoshoot, I just want to express the dynamic and the energetic when we think about fire. Using ribbon as a symbol of unfreedom, model standing out of the ribbon represent she’s free and step away from the stereotype.

For this shoot, I always want to make something cyber or robotic. Using old phone as a prop and metal dress turning the model into a robot-human. I want to say that human are too depending on technology, will human be half robot half human in the future. The Utopia can be flexible and human can be anything they want

Water photoshoot 17/4

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I arranged the 3rd photoshoot on Monday this week as the weather is predicted to be nice. I have prepare earmuff, nails, makeup and dress in advance. When Eilidh come, i just need to help her get ready. I have my friend coming and Eilidh had her friend come to help as well. We took nearly 30mins bus to Hove as the beach there less crowded.

My friend -Ngoc helped me hold the light reflector, luckily the sunlight look amazing at that time. Eilidh’s friend assists us in behind the scene and fixing clothes. I feel much more confident when I have some people come for help especially for outdoor shoot. Unfortunately, i forgot to bring the earmuff I made from recycled plastic as it makes the model more mermaid-like. Maybe I can try to add it later in Photoshop.

The waves pretty strong so I didn’t want model go to far, but I still able to catch the scene the wave and the dress blend in. I also really like the sticker I put on her face, it matches with the water drop on her body.

In overall I really satisfied with this shoot, my top1 favourite so far. However I still very worried because I have two more shoot to do and only 2 weeks left to submit. I have booked the studio for these shoot but I’m still looking for model who match the vibe.