Initially with the portraits project I was very unsure on what I actually wanted to do, even with my Initial research I was still stuck on what to actually create. Eventually we had a tutorial with Peter Ren, our Photography Lecturer, and he pointed me in the direction of using a projector in a shoot mixed in with a clean and colourful aesthetic that I like to use. So I immediately just booked a flash studio and a projector, I thought I might as well just dive right in.
Initially it was going well and I had everything set up but one of the flash light was just constantly on and i had no clue what the hell to do i i scrapped having a separately lit background and just moved onto the projector. It took me a bit too set up the projector, about half hour including a Skype call to my friend for help. Because I booked the studio so suddenly I kinda wasn't prepared at all and didn't have anything planned to project so I just Youtube-d my favourite music videos, set the camera up, and pressed play.
Above are just some of the pictures from the shoot. I started with just my friend Ciara and then eventually added my friend Adelaide as I wanted to see how having two people in frame changed the dynamic of the image. I didn't give my friends any direction as I was just really testing the effects of the projector. I feel the projector was an amazing idea from Peter Renn as the meaning of the image changed completely with whats being projected. At the moment I really like this but I know in the future I'm going to have to think very carefully about what I'm projecting so I continue to have the correct meaning. I know the project has to be to do with 'Identities' but I'm not quite sure how I want to interpret that into my own meaning.
Even though I really liked having two people in frame I think my composition wasn't right for it so alot of my favourite of this shoot are from the first half from when it was just my friend Ciara.
Above is one of my favourite pictures from the first shoot and it was actually one of the first I'd taken. I also think that it stays within the identity brief as it has strong connotations of self reflection. I really like this image as I think the composition is interesting. This is mainly because of the standard mirror shoot behind the subject but the in the middle of this blocking the woman in the background. I think the shadow added to this as it almost acts as a looming figure over the subject. so all this together it changes the meaning of the image to be this like self reflecting image of the back character looking onto her self but in the way of her view is this figure who's almost enveloping the foreground character. growing from this you could say that the shadowed figure is hiding or protecting the foreground character and the reflection and woman in the background are almost on lookers.
Overall I really like this image but if i was to shoot it again I'd adjust the focus and make sure my friend wasn't moving to avoid the blury hand.
Moving on from the last image this one is continues with similar themes of self reflection. But instead I get a new vibe from this picture that i cant quite put my finger on.
What I mainly like about this image in the composition, how its faceless in a way. I love the lack of identity it has. It's almost as if the subject is looking back on the character in the back. but at the same time hiding her with the shadow. The image could be one that represents the notion of modestly and society's view on it. Moving from this the picture kinda reminds me of an art gallery and its more of an positive expression of the female body with the subject initially not looking at her but then the photo captures the moment of her turning round and starting to see and respect women, as a representation of changing times.
Too improve from this image I think I'd play about with the projection, maybe shoot my own picture to make the meaning a lot more obvious.
The picture to the left almost acts as that before point of not looking at the woman behind her. Although the message is less clear bey its self.
As a stand alone picture I found it hard to find a meaning but visually I really like it, how it has this curve made from the bodies and how this kind of links into the rule of thirds. I really like the colours of it as well, how theres this contras between the bluey hues of the background and then the pinks of the skin how how they blend on the face.
This last image moves of totally from the the last three in all ways. But I still really like it. It doesn't really follow along the theme of identities but I really like the sense of reminiscing and nostalgia from it. It looks like an abstract way to show two old friends looking through old pictures and memories and remembering the past. I just think that its a really sweet image and i really like that.
To improve I think I'd actually direct my friends so they we're in the right positions so you could actually see the expression of Ciara's face.
Overall this shoot went really well as a first, practice style shoot just to get use to the equipment I was using and the studio its self. The main areas I need to improve in is the direction of my subjects and what I'm actually projecting. Although to do the latter I really need to decide on a meaning and at this point I haven't so I'd like to do some further research on artists to try inspire a meaning.
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| A collection of photos from; Portraits Shoot 1 by Joe Palmer |
Even though I really liked having two people in frame I think my composition wasn't right for it so alot of my favourite of this shoot are from the first half from when it was just my friend Ciara.
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| One of the top pictures from the 1st Portraits shoot by Joe Palmer |
Overall I really like this image but if i was to shoot it again I'd adjust the focus and make sure my friend wasn't moving to avoid the blury hand.
 |
| One of the top pictures from the 1st Portraits shoot by Joe Palmer |
What I mainly like about this image in the composition, how its faceless in a way. I love the lack of identity it has. It's almost as if the subject is looking back on the character in the back. but at the same time hiding her with the shadow. The image could be one that represents the notion of modestly and society's view on it. Moving from this the picture kinda reminds me of an art gallery and its more of an positive expression of the female body with the subject initially not looking at her but then the photo captures the moment of her turning round and starting to see and respect women, as a representation of changing times.
Too improve from this image I think I'd play about with the projection, maybe shoot my own picture to make the meaning a lot more obvious.
 |
| One of the top pictures from the 1st Portraits shoot by Joe Palmer |
As a stand alone picture I found it hard to find a meaning but visually I really like it, how it has this curve made from the bodies and how this kind of links into the rule of thirds. I really like the colours of it as well, how theres this contras between the bluey hues of the background and then the pinks of the skin how how they blend on the face.
 |
| One of the top pictures from the 1st Portraits shoot by Joe Palmer |
This last image moves of totally from the the last three in all ways. But I still really like it. It doesn't really follow along the theme of identities but I really like the sense of reminiscing and nostalgia from it. It looks like an abstract way to show two old friends looking through old pictures and memories and remembering the past. I just think that its a really sweet image and i really like that.
To improve I think I'd actually direct my friends so they we're in the right positions so you could actually see the expression of Ciara's face.
Overall this shoot went really well as a first, practice style shoot just to get use to the equipment I was using and the studio its self. The main areas I need to improve in is the direction of my subjects and what I'm actually projecting. Although to do the latter I really need to decide on a meaning and at this point I haven't so I'd like to do some further research on artists to try inspire a meaning.
Awesome blog Joseph! a very interesting read
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