Category / Photography and Styling

by Phoebe Collins

final imagery

These are our chosen 9 final images for the project. We feel they really display well the direction we wanted to go in. Overall the project has gone extremely well in terms of experimentation, research and final outcomes. The compositions and shots really convey a sense of being trapped both physically and mentally. We ended up deciding to edit all our chosen images into black and white as we felt they looked a lot more powerful and linked more strongly to our dark theme.In photographic terms i’m very pleased with the variety of different techniques we used as i was able to explore new techniques and see how they worked for me. I have learnt a lot about lighting, the need to take test shots and making sure time is spent setting up the shots first. There are of course elements i feel we could have spent more time developing and altering however they didn’t effect our final outcomes too badly.

lar photo

loz 2 final

 

loz final copy

 

fence final copy

final shadows copy

ben hands final copy

ben final 2 copy

tights final copy

ben final 4 copy

 

 

by Phoebe Collins

shoot 5: plan

In our final shoot there are a few different techniques we want to try out, focusing on the use of props to restrict movement and looking into photographic techniques to create a sense of feeling trapped. Firstly we want to try using tights over the face and body of our model to trap them with no way of moving, i feel this will be most effective if take as a close up shot as you will be able to see the real struggle in the face and body of the model. The next shot we want to create is combing the use of ‘drawing with light’ onto our images to hopefully create the look of rope being tied around the body of the model. Finally we want to create a really strong shadowed shot, taken inspiration from our first test shoot in which  we created large shadows behind the model. The lighting for the first shot will have to be a small light positioned below or front on to really show the detailing. For the second shot we will have to use a pitch black room and only light the shot from the flash of the camera initially and then the light which we will be drawing with in order for the technique to work. For the final shot the lighting will be a spot light held very close to the models face in order to light the model and create a large shadow.

Inspiration:

 

by Phoebe Collins

shoot 4: plan

With shoot 4 we are aiming to focus on the use of props, and how we can incorporate them into our shots. In doing so we hope it will portray clearly the model being physically trapped. As in shoot 3 we still want to focus on the lighting being mainly spotlight as we feel it will make the images have a much more dramatic effect. Prop wise we are looking at using string or something similar to bind the hands and the model up, creating a trapped visual. We also want to use fabric or perhaps a see through bag to place over the models head to look into the feeling of being claustrophobic and trapped. However with this we will need to be very careful health and safety wise and check that the model is ok with doing this. With both shots we want to make sure the rest of the image apart from where we are highlighting is blacked out.

Inspiration:

 

by Phoebe Collins

Shoot 3: Plan

For this shoot we are wanting to focus on capturing movement, and the idea of wanting to escape the feeling of entrapment. We are unable to use the main studio for this but have hired out lighting equipment which will be very helpful in constructing the shots. We will be using just one model in this shoot, and will be focusing mainly on portrait  head shots. To create a real sense of movement we will have to manipulate the exposure time by altering the shutter speed.

Inspiration:

 

To create effects similar to these i will use a slow shutter speed, starting on 2 seconds, to hopefully capture two or more images of the face. I also feel it will be a good idea to try lighting the model from underneath, in order to blackout the rest of the image.

Inspiration:

 I would also like to try out some portraiture shots where only parts of the model are highlighted, leaving the rest in complete darkness. To do so i will either use a spotlight on the particular area i wish to have lit or light the model from the side with a slightly larger light. This effect links well to our theme of being trapped as its as if the rest of the body is trapped in darkness.

by Phoebe Collins

shooting with a coloured filter

For our first shoot we just wanted to experiment with different lighting and seeing what techniques we could use and what effects came from these. I am really happy with how some of the shots turned out, by using a blacked out room but having different coloured lighting coming from different angles i was able to capture some really interesting shots.

8815 edit copyAlthough only a test shot, I feel this shot has a great use of colour and strong composition. The way the model is being lit from below gives a really interesting glow across her face.

 

 

IMG_8900

 

I love the enlarged shadow formed behind the model by placing the filtered light directly in front of her, as it could relate well to the theme of being trapped as she could be trapped within herself and her own shadow.

 

IMG_9071

 

This shot is to me very powerful, i was able to create two mimicking shadows, by positioning the light in particular places. I feel the result is the most effective of the three as it almost seems as if its been edited on. However i would have liked to somehow create a way in which to keep the wall a lot brighter and whiter.

by Phoebe Collins

Styling concept

Olivia has researched into some ideas and looks she wants to try out in terms of styling and what she feels will work best with our theme. We both have decided that sticking to a minimal colour palette and style will be most effective for the types of shots we want, as it isn’t really a vibrant elaborate subject. We have looked into different materials and objects which we could use to ‘trap’ the model, such as tights, fencing and fabrics. We have also decided to use only male models as we feel this will work nicely with the theme as it is women people mainly associate with feeling trapped in different aspects of life.

Colour Pallette:

Important Imagery:

8790d1aac840ac4e3b302ed69baf2338

 Key Elements:

  • All black/monochrome outfits
  • Structured or fitted garments
  • Use of dark make up around eyes
  • Using props- tights, fencing
by Phoebe Collins

overall concept Imagery

This is a collection of imagery that has inspired the types of shots we hope to create. Although still wanting to have an obvious fashion related shoot, we have decided to make our shots quite dark both visually and emotionally in order to keep a strong correlation to the feeling of being trapped.

 

Peter Kolonia, stroboscopic

Peter Kolonia, stroboscopic

tumblr_marfn2UlFf1rpbbf5o1_1280

Guy Bourdin, 1972

Guy Bourdin, 1972

double exposure

Double exposure

 

 

Double exposure

Double exposure

 

 

by Phoebe Collins

Horst: photographer of style

From the trip to the V and A Museum with Historical and Cultural studies, in which we visited the ‘Horst’ exhibition and the ‘Disobedient Objects’ exhibition, i was able to get a real insight into the processes and developments of putting together amazing pieces of photography and political artwork.

The ‘Horst: Photographer of Style’ exhibition displayed such a wide variety of work from fashion portraiture to patterns formed from natural objects. His work really stands out as being well rounded and it is clear he wished to explore all types of photographic styles.I was interested to learn that he had worked closely with the likes of Salvador Dali and Elsa Schiapirelli, creating obscure unique photographs inspired by dreamlike sequences. The surrealist movement had a strong impact on design, advertising, film, theatre and fashion, and there Horst was keen to explore the ideas of the Surrealists. His photographs of the period feature whimsical elements combined with classical aesthetics.He created many trome l’oeil still lifes and shared an interest with the surrealists of the representation of the female body and ways in which to fragment it.

Mainbocher Corset, Paris, 1939

I found myself particularly drawn to the work of Horst which portrayed the figure of the woman, as it showed a strong correlation to that of classical and Renaissance sculpture. From the ways in which the shots were lit, it is clear he was trying to capture statue like forms emanating a real sense of stillness in the shots.

Lisa Fonssagrives Behind Harp, 1939

 

 

Both Photographs really link well to my theme of being ‘Trapped’ as the first shows ways in which you could feel physically trapped and the second perhaps suggestion a link to being mentally trapped, particularly with the pose she is pulling. I feel these shots are going to be a good starting point to thinking about how we want to visually portray the feeling of entrapment.

 

 

 

 

by Phoebe Collins

Brief 2: Photographer/ stylist

For this next brief i have paired up with Olivia Shaw and have decided for her to take the role of stylist and me to be the photographer.

Ideas process:

Styling-                   Shape             Trapped       Fencing              Frame         Minimal

Photography-        movement      Light            Stroboscopic     Shadow       Deliberate Colour

 

We have thought out the main key aspects each of us would like to portray through our images, drawing from our previous work. We have tried to develop these ideas through and have decided on our main theme to be ‘Trapped’, however we still wish to incorporate all aspects into our research and hopefully final outcomes.

Trapped:  Captured, Cornered, Imprisoned, Restricted, Confinement, Anxiety, Tied- up,                        Chains, Mentally Trapped.

Artist Inspiration:

  •  Guy Bourdin
  • Viviane Sassen
  • Solve Sundsbo
  • Txema Yeste
  • Irving Penn
  • Max Vadukul