I have selected my best photographs and arranged them into a gallery.

Evaluation

Overall I think my final outcomes were successful as they represent union through the way they connect together and relate to one another. I have demonstrated this through a series of different edits, firstly using Lightroom to slightly adjust and edit to then exporting onto photoshop, where I then experimented with layering different and the same photographs on top of one another, to using the joiners technique.

I was firstly greatly inspired by Ernest Ludwig Kirchner, a cubist artist who used very distinct  brushstrokes of colour which formulate the overall painting, creating this dramatic, expressive image. Kirchner’s intentions of his work to was to reveal the inner truth, and inner souls of humans even if it was shocking or the fewer. This really influenced me as his loose, figurative, sold blocks of colour, that were painted in a formational, distinct way, overall created this really expressive, intense, dramatic painting that revealed a lot about the subject. Within my own work I incorporated this theme, showing you insights of peoples lives through what they do everyday, or what their passion is. In particular, I captured moments as a girl applies her makeup, and getting ready to a different girl and her passion with music. I decided to take environmental portraits of this, which captured the subject in the moment, whilst still staging some aspects of the portrait, like how the subject as positioned and is set up, I also took the photo with the light coming in from behind me. This expressed union as we are presented with the subject and their ‘natural environment’ such as their bedroom, which describes this story and shows us how they are connected together, as it is something that is personal to them.

I was was further inspired by David Hockney and his photo joiners editing technique. This further intensified and dramaticed the photo as the photo became almost unrecognisable at first through the uneven, imperfect pieces that are re-joined or united together again which is completely different to the original image. This distorts not only the image itself but your response to it as the subject is not obvious, you have to look for it. This visual technique hides but also reveals narratives forming a new kind of reality, as you have to look in-depth to where you see the actual subject. Within my response, I wanted to emphasise the disjointed effect particularly where their were hidden or unnoticeable details, by repeating part of the layer, then layering this on top which created this sequence of a repeated pattern/ detail. In particular, I did this where the graphical parts were – like on the magazine as this created interesting depth, and expressed the intricate details.

From looking at the joiners technique I wanted to experiment with a new way that I could express the disjointed, fragmented effect, but then show how this was reconnected back together, in a way that unites. I decided to create a mosaic, grid pattern:

I thought this was effective as the broken up pattern creates a similar effect to Kirchner’s loose painting style of expressive brushstrokes.

I then began experimenting with new ways in particular layering photographs. This created an interesting illusion of the subject as their was duplicated versions of the same subject. I found this an interesting way of expression union, as it showed how someone was united together in a particular way. This also created a type of figurative movement, as it is not clear what you see , because your focus is mis-lead by the shadows of the of the second layer (particularly for the third portrait).

Throughout this project I wanted to find new ways I could create depth and show how two subjects are connected together, through various editing techniques from using environmental portraits.

For these edits I wanted to experiment with ways that I could layer my images on top of one another, with you still being able to see the original image behind. To do this I layered two slightly different images upon one another, then altered the blending options which resulted in the background image to be revealed through the gaps created from the blending. This creates an interesting movement as your focus is set on two images that are merged together. This increases the 3-dimentional view as the the portraits are overlapped upon one another, which results in new interesting shadows and formations to revealed.

Photos Used

I found it an interesting effect from the way that the photos had different shadows and highlights, which was then enhanced with they layered effect, as this created more intricate shadows.

These edits are inspired by David Hockney’s photo joiners. I am mostly inspired by the joiners where Hockney captures people within their natural environment. The joiners technique reveals various perspectives of the photograph whilst the fragmented pieces alters your perspective of the subject. This further expresses the intricate details showing us new perceptions. I like how Hockney’s joiners opens up your interpretation of his work meaning that it can be perceived differently for different people. This means that it displays union in a more captivating way as we can clearly see the connection the subject has to music, however the fragmented, broken up pieces alters your perspective revealing this new reality but the same reality.

Edit 1

In response I used the technique in the same way, using the environmental portraits and, breaking them up into smaller pieces then reassembling them back together in a disjointed way. Using photoshop I imported my image then duplicated it which allowed me to created individual layers which I could then layer on top of one another another creating this fragmented, distorted image.

As you can see I have carefully pieced the layers together, so that they overlap one another and join together which create this fragmented look. I find this fragmented look crates this interesting feature as features are repeated and joined together. Similar to Hockney, I have pieced the photos together, following the outline of the joiner, meaning that not all of the image has be reassembled back together. I have left areas missing meaning that the fragmented, distorted image is continued around the edges.

Edit 2

For this joiner above, I followed the same process on photoshop, creating a series of layers which are pieced back together in a disjointed and fragmented way. I wanted this fragmented feature to distort the way you look at it, altering and adjusting your perspective. When creating the layer, I liked this feature of repeating a particular detail and then piecing back together as they create dynamic contrast, as the shadows and colours are never the same. This repetitive feature creates a broken-up pattern as each fragment adjusts your view as we are presented with a new formation which shows a new reality. It emphasises the 3-dimentional aspect as multiple perceptions of the portrait are revealed. This further alters our perception of union, showing us things differently to what we would normally perceive them to be.

Contact sheet:

Selection Process

Final & Edited photos

For the next photos I changed the set up and positioned the subject differently:

For this photo, the lighting was coming in from behind the subject as well as from behind the camera, this helped elevate the highlights and shadows of the subject, which also added depth. The composition of the photo also creates depth as it leads you into the into the centre where the man focus is. The subject is dressed up, sat on a bed whilst looking at a magazine, only revealing the top corner of her face. I liked this idea of the magazine covering the face because it gives an interesting feature as the subject is hiding her face, so no emotions are presented or revealed to us. I positioned the subject directly in-between the two posters, with the magazine she was holding to be displayed directly in the middle of the two posters. The photo quite obviously describes the subjects passion for music, showing herself alongside posters, vinyl’s and magazines, then seeing how this connects them together in a unique way.

For the editing, I edited the photo in two different sections. I used the mask feature on Lightroom which meant I could edit the subject separately from the background. This allowed me to create contrast more easily and make the subject pop out as I could make the background darker by lowering the exposure and increasing the contrast so that the subject could more easily stand out. This further emphasises the depth of the photo as the subject is brought to the foreground of the photo.

Evaluation:

Overall this photoshoot went as planned. I captured a series of similar yet different environmental portraits which captured the subject within her natural environment. This formed a unique and personal connection between both the subject and her passion as your presented with the subject in her bedroom, her personal environment. The subject is really into music and different genres of music, in particular she plays records. I wanted her passion for music to be expressed within the photos, so I captured different compositions which showed this through the different perspectives. I spread out the records in front of her, showing both the records itself and the album cover. I wanted the graphical prints to be part of the photo as this creates extra details and features that surrounds the main subject for example details such as patterns, shapes, and colour. However this creates a contrasting effect as it distracts the viewer, for example the photo where the magazine hides the face, only revealing an eye. I felt this created a much more engaging photo, as the face is hidden, leaving us to interpret the emotions the subject is displaying on her face. This photoshoot clearly displayed a girl within her natural environment. We are followed along this journey of a girl and her passion, seeing how they are both connected together which expresses their feelings and emotions that we quickly learn through facial expressions. This shows the viewer how they are united together.

Mood-board / ideas:

 

• A girl in her room
• A friend
• What she gets up to
• behind the scenes
• what you do when your 18
• unfiltered
• untitled
• cinematic
• personal
• up close
• confronting
• revealing
• expressive
• dramatic

Above I have listed key words and phrases that I am going to explore throughout this photo shoot. Capturing a girl in her personal space, environment which reveals her inner world behind closed doors, creating this sense of new reality perhaps showing us a new world that we’re unfamiliar with, and is different compared to ours. I want to express union through how her world could be different compared to someone else like the viewer, this idea of getting up and close, confronting us showing us this new reality, shows us how people are united together expressing to us through new world and realities. I am going to capture her in unfiltered moments, expressing scenes that perhaps could be relatable or engaging to us as the viewer which leads us into her inner world. I am going to follow the phrase getting up close and personal, showing raw, emotional scenes which ultimately create unfiltered, confronting expressions.

Lighting:

I am going to capture photographs as the sun is setting so there is this natural light that is creating shadows, new formations of reflections which we typically wouldn’t notice. I want this to exaggerate and highlight new forms, as well as the subject, highlighting angles and tones. I am going to be capturing the photo from the same direction as the natural light that is shining into her bedroom which will express this cinematic, unfiltered feature.

Composition:

I am going to capture different poses, firstly focusing on environmental portraits. Capturing a series of portraits like this will express the subjects inner world and show us her reality forming unity. Then following David Hockney’s joiners technique I am going to create the same composition.

• fashion – contrasting colours that stand out and are clearly expressed within the photograph
• record players / records, albums
• dressing up
• books/magazines
• facial expressions / poses
• trying shoes/heels on
• music

This photo-shoot is going to be staged but unfiltered, showing you the true reality, behind the scenes of a girl in her bedroom getting ready, makeup, hobbies.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner – Inspiration:

These images above express reality, confronting views that are from behind the scenes within the subjects life, as we are shown through raw emotions and feelings. From portraits alone with a pose, or facial expression to the subject lying on a chair within their house with drink bottles near by, which expresses this engaging reality that closely relates to the subject we initially are drawn to in the subject. Although these are paintings I want to express the same effect but in a photograph. I going to do this by capturing unfiltered yet staged moments, choosing what they wear – from colours, outfits, and makeup, which will show the clear defining, definition of contrasting colour, that expressionist painters use within their loose brushstrokes. So expressionism has influenced me to capture people in unfiltered moments, with clear oulines and contrast, using bold colours and poses. I want it to be dramatic, expressing emotion.

These next photos show the next steps I want to focus on in a following photo shoot – which will show a series of images at different point within her (the subjects) life. So going out of her house to the world around her and how she fits within in. This expresses union as we see how she fits in with people alongside her, through what she wears, emotionally, through expressions and poses.

I experimented with layering of photographs on photoshop as I liked the multiple layered effect of having lots of faces overlapping one another, each coming in from different angles. I liked the connection that was created from this, even though they are duplicated versions, because it shows hoe the subject is brought back together and unified.

This was my final outcome, I duplicated the subject multiple times and then rearranged them, and adjusted them so that they formed a connection in the way that they are brought together.

For these edits I experimented with layering images together, however I used the same image but reversed them the blended them together so that they fitted together. I liked the mirrored effect as it creates this interesting effect as subject is reflected in the opposite way.

Photo 1:

For this joiner I liked the process of building up the layers, on top of one another, and repeating certain areas of the portrait as this effect builds you up and leads your focus into the centre of the portrait, were certain details and elevated more as they are a repeated detail or they are broken away, resulting in this fragmented look.

Overall the photogrpah achieved an interesting effect, and leaded your eye into the the centre as the fragmented pieces alters the way you look into it. I like this idea of repeating aspects of the photo then layering this on top of one another which highlights certain details which you wouldn’t notice straight away. This mis-leads your eye and creates movement as it alters your focus as it isn’t obviously clear what the focal point is.

Inspired by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, I wanted to experiment with other ways that I could re-join/ re-connect the photo back together, that still showed the disjointed and fragmented look, so for this photograph I took inspiration from Kirchner’s loose painting style and expressed this within my own style.

I used the same process as I used for the joiners and created individual layers and pieced them together to form a mosaic pattern, leaving a small gap between each piece. This became interesting as each shape was different in size which resulted in this interesting composition and dynamic arrangement of each piece of the image. I liked this idea of how the photo was disconnected, fragmented and broken up by each individual piece, then it was reconnected back together in a similar way. I like the uneven-ness of the image as it creates this interesting movement and figurative style as it is disconnected which describes the opposite of union ( two subjects connected together.) It is expressive because each area of the photo is broken up in a similar shape and size, but differs in the composition and layout.

• A girl
• My sister
• Subject looking in a mirror
• Makeup
• Curlers in hair
• Perspectives
• A mirror
• Viewer Looking through a mirror
• Mutual facial expressions

who, what when, how where

For this photo shoot I am going to have my sister as the subject, and capture her in different moments, in particular as she is applying her makeup, doing her hair and then portraits of her once she is ready. My goal is to document her as she gets ready in her ‘natural’ environment, capturing unfiltered moments that express her inner world. I am going to slightly edit the images, adjusting areas slightly for example highlights and shadows, then showing the subtle contrast that is created from this.

Contact Sheet:

Edited:

Evaluation:

For these portraits I captured a girl as she gets ready, from applying her makeup to her afterwards. I thought this represented union as it shows her and and her world, and how both are connected together. I wanted to capture portraits of the subject as this showed their connection, to then editing the photos in a to form a mosaic pattern. This creates and interesting effect as multiple perspectives are revealed, altering your overall perspective of the image. For the lighting I used a lgiht as well as natural lighting which helped enhance the details of the image. I decided to have the subject holding a makeup brush whilst looking into the camera as this created a strong connection to the audience, as it shows a single moment unfiltered moment which is what I think best describes union.

My interpretation of Union is bringing people together, meaning ways that people are brough together, perhaps this could be through the people around them, family, friends or just the small interactions or particular moments that happen – even with people we associate as ‘strangers.’ I feel this is a key aspect that unite us as people, and is what brings one another close together, no matter how well you know the person or scenario. David Hockney explores this this theme throughout his work, uniting people within their environment which could be their home, office, train ride commuting, or hobbies.

I am going to explore Union on a night out. Primarily focusing on my friends and their social interactions they have with one another, ‘strangers,’ as well as myself, – exploring the ways that amuse and entertain us. I am going to follow the process of getting ready, traveling, to the actual night out . I am to capture this like document, showing you the true reality whether good or bad to different perspectives on moments. Capturing this will give this unfiltered, candid photograph expressing the true meaning of how I define Union, through my reality and how I see moments compared to others for example older generations.

Also looking at the environment that surrounds us and how we see interact within it. for examples

• Graffiti
• posters
• how people are dressed
• street wear and style
• emotions
• what stands out
• unusual moments/ out of the ordinary
• Beauty

This all forms and unites different people together as moments are expressed to us through their actions and social interactions to people but also the environment they belong to. Following peoples emotions of people expressed through the way they put on their makeup to getting ready

Editing:

Capturing photos in the dark – on the streets – using street lights, car lights, or a torches will give this unfiltered effect lighting up certain areas, enhancing shadows, whilst also hiding parts that are unlit. This will create unique focal points which expresses that particular moment, showing you moments from various ways.

• Warm lighting, candid style
• Capturing shadows

I am going to edit my photos following David Hockney photo joiners technique. I am greatly inspired by this technique of distorting images which creates fragmented, uneven, imperfect pieces that are rejoined or united together again which is completely different to the original image. This distorts not only the image itself but your response to it as the subject is not obvious, you have to look for it. This visual technique hides but also reveals narratives forming a new kind of reality, as you have to look in-depth to where you see the actual subject.

Experimenting with different ways of collaging photographs, for example sections with missing pieces, edited and slight effect. Overlapping the pieces creates the disjointed and fragmented look, that shows imperfections and dynamic leading lines.

Jean Metzinger: Loose strokes of colour fitted together creating a fragmented effect. Edit my own photos from a similar approach, each one being slightly different in colour, tone, shadows.

For this photoshoot I had the subject positioned facing into to the mirror, where I then captured the from the mirror. This created an interesting effect as you

Final Selection:

Edits Process:

Final:

Inspired by David Hockney and his photo joiners, I experimented with ways that I could use this in my own work, breaking up certain areas then layering them on top of one another, and angling them in the same formation as the subject is positioned, which created this interesting, fragmented composition. Similarly, to Hockney’s joiners I’ve exaggerated areas of the design, to make hidden details become revealed for example around the edges. This then altered the subject inside of the mirror which created looser fragmented parts, and overall disjointed parts of the subject. This created an in-depth composition which has leading lines, that lead into the photograph, in the way that the subject is presented.