2nd to last tutorial - Martin Pover

I feel pretty positive after my tutorial today as I kind of knew that these images from my final shoot were what I wanted to get out of this project. But what was suggested really surprised me; the shots from my first shoot on this project were saying the same thing as my final shoot was. Plus they were strong images to start with. So I've taken the advice and have planned to incorperate and produce more of these images. Maybe in black and white or maybe in the same colour schemes I've been working with my final pictures.

These are six of the images from the first shoot that I want to include :

And I wish to do six more to make it up to twelve images all together expressing the way celebrities have to choose and decide what persona or identity they are to sell to the public.

And then this image will create that feeling of how celebrities sell their image to us for us to idolize and also represent ourselves as well.

I might actually have two big prints of the colour images and then the 12 images in a grid format or a narrative format by the two big prints.

I have a clear vision on how I want to present my work now as well as what I need to do to start printing. Unfortunately this blog to book has to be sent off soon so I can have it in time for my review. But I will follow my presentation research as well as any other quandaries about printing in my work book.

Final Shoot

I found this shoot a huge learning process with how to shoot with my flash gun and how to capture detail perfectly focused. I also learned to trust myself as I am fully capable with capturing what I have in my head - I just never think I'm good enough technically to push myself this far. But I am! So that's nice to know.

I started out using just spotlighting and then progressed to using flash in a dark room. All were shot on my canon 40d (manual setting!) with a slightly wider lens than standard. 

Here are my favourites from the shoot:

Barbara Kruger

Kruger works with mainly black & white images and then overlays them with black, white or red text mainly referring to political issues like capitalism, gender issues and so on. Her canvas for these  phrases are appropriated or altered images. 

As I know the message of Kruger's work is still incredibly relevant and important, the images she uses don't really speak to me as a person. I feel more of a connection with the words that she has over-layed onto the images than the images themselves. I think this must be because I feel like they're not the main message, the images are just a back drop to these phrases and statements.

None the less, I feel that her work is relevant to where my project is at the moment.

Experiments with Kruger-esk manipulation

To do list

I'm so glad that I attended my second mid-review as it made it clear that my project wasn't finely resolved as of yet and it also made me think of how I can make it into a polished piece.

So this is my TO DO list (roughly!)

1. experiment with the images I've already shot with inspiration from Barbara Krugar. 
2. Copy all of my relevant research into my work book to show a full and proper account of my research on this project
3. When my new ink cartridges turn up - print out all the images so far and collage them on my wall for the shoot - document
4. Shoot both with me in the frame and without.
5. Go to the tutorial booked on Tuesday to show progress and get feedback from my new spin on the project.

2nd Mid-Review

I had my second mid-review two days ago now and I feel like I've had enough time to think about the feedback I received and how to tackle the issues so they're fully resolved for my final hand in.
My feedback from my peer group was mainly all positive:

• Using glossy magazine paper would suit the project more than using plain paper.
• Maybe stick to just creating the covers instead of trying to make a whole magazine.
• Try covering a wall with images so it's as if it's a teenagers bedroom 
• Put the covers on the wall and then photograph them, Maybe put yourself infront of the images again. Being the teenager. 
• Magazine layout is good.  

I know how to tackle all of these issues in my head:

• Do a shoot with my bedroom walls plastered with the images I've already shot to create the teenagers bedroom feel.
• Experiment with me in front of the camera as well and then me not in front of the camera - see which works
• Forget about the idea of the magazine covers - Not working - not saying what I want it to say! 
• Therefore not using magazine paper but thinking about one huge print instead of many. 

Feedback from tutors: (the hardest bit was reading the writing on my sheet...)

• Design element of the magazine cover is too distracting from the actual images. 
• Experiment more with self-portraiture in relation to magazine imagery
• Suggested reading - Auto Focus - Susan Bright (Read for dissertation, notes in work book) The Beauty Myth and No Logo, Germaine Greer (Read for previous project, notes in work book).
• Suggested artist - Barbara Krugar - Take on one element from 'the layout' rather than a whole cover. 

Again, I know how to answer and resolve all the above issues:

• Experiment with the images I've shot with elements inspired by Barbara Krugar (text and image, outlining, boxing images etc) 
• Copy all relevant research I've all ready done and taken inspiration from for this project subconciously and display in my work book
•  Experiment with the images on my wall, and the ones I've already shot, shoot more etc.
• Scrap the magazine cover! 

Sharif Hamza - Azealia Banks for Dazed & Confused magazine

I was talking to someone about having this idea of a teenage bedroom as a shrine to idols as well as using this feel to critique celebrity culture and they pointed me in the direction of the September issue of Dazed & Confused magazine which featured Azealia Banks. But the props were all to create this feel of a teenagers bedroom. Magazine rip outs plastering the walls all featured her idols and inspirations as well as herself.

  I absolutely adore this shoot and I feel it says a lot about Banks as an individual as well as relating heavily to my project. I really feel inspired to plaster my own walls with the pictures I've shot for this project and then do a shoot with me in front of the images. And then maybe I can experiment with elements from the magazine layout etc.

I just love the simple layout of Dazed & Confused's website also! Might be inspiration for the way this blog/book is heading...