Final images, Materials, Techniques, Processes and Evaluation

Desolate Final Images

For my desolate final pieces, i chose to use techniques in which i am familiar with, this being portraiture, i chose to compose portraits of materials, instead of real people, i chose this idea in order to create a true sense of desolation in a form completely void of life, emotion, merely only portraying the image of a face as opposed to actually being one. For each image, i selected a material and adapted that to the techniques and processes that i would be using for all of the images, the materials i used were basic and minimal, i selected materials i selected all had variables and would easily adapt and form to their surroundings. the techniques that i was using was to naturally let the image form, i would lay the foundations and let the image form, i then photographed the image as the intended image formed naturally before my eyes, i achieved this by using naturally adjusting variables, like my first set of images in which i poured food colouring into water, allowing the food colour to naturally mix itself with the water, while i photographed this taking place. The process that i used throughout was the use of post production techniques in photoshop in which many alterations were made upon each image, some of these were: A harsh use of contrast adjustment, deepening the image, pushing the image into an 'in your face' state. I then adjusted the vibrance of the colours, making the reds bolder, the colours starker and harsher on the eyes, the last common process i used was to select each of the images, dividing them through their vertical middle and mirroring each side, for example the left hand side of the image will then be mirrored onto the right, creating a single new image, the right hand side would then be mirrored to the left of the image, creating another single image. The process of mirroring each side of the image, not only creates 4 images out of only 2 to start with, but with the use of repetition and an emphasis on each side singularly the viewer can really look 'inside' the image, realising that in every image there is not just always 1 image that they are looking at but all images can actually be broken down further, seeing more than just this single story image, but numerous pictures can infect be formed, creating numerous stories, holding numerous styles, techniques and characteristics.

Initially i did some test shots using an olympus trip film camera, after numerous tests and experiments with film based techniques, i decided to use digital techniques and processes to obtain the image i was looking for.

I then shot for the first pair of final images using digital techniques, the equipment i used for the whole project was a Nikon D5000 and 18-55mm lens, once the images were obtained, i uploaded them onto my computer and selected the images i desired for use.

For my 1st set of images, i used a sheet of tin foil which i moulded to my face to form a mask, i then, after numerous experiments with film and other processes and techniques, found myself reverting to digital techniques and setting studio in the sink in my bathroom, i submerged the tin foil mask below the surface of the water and documented this. Once the tin foil had settled and i moved it into my desired position, i then, gradually poured red food colouring into the water, whilst doing so documenting the process with my camera.

Throughout my documentation of what was happening, i witnessed the mixing, blending and conforming of the food colouring with the water, this created an unusual and intriguing, harsh, stark bleeding effect, creating patterns and shadows. Following this, i uploaded the images to my computer and experimented with different effects and techniques, changing and transforming the image and then dissecting and mirroring each half of the image in order to create the desired image i was looking for. For the shooting of the image, i used an 18 - 55mm lens at its longest focal length of 55mm as it gave me the ability (as i was shooting down to my image in the sink) to not only being able to get directly above the image from where i was, but also being the optimal focal length for the use of portraiture shots, this was because focal lengths of 50mm and up do not allow for deformities of the subject within the image.




My 2nd set of images:

Above are the original images that i produced, both of which are severely underexposed, i produced them in this style, so that in post production, upon lightening the image and adjusting the contrast, i feel the effect would be so overpowering and strong, with harsher, more emphasised colours and contrasts

For the 2nd set of 2 images i approached a different means of techniques in order to obtain my desired image, like the first set of images, i used photoshop for post production techniques in order to mirror each side of the image, like the first to create 2 completely unique and original images from each other, from the first image. Each image includes the use of numerous variables of materials, the first image; A hawaiian tribal mask, coated in a  harsh, stark blood like concoction i made from: soy sauce, mustard, honey and red food colouring which i splattered carelessly coating the mask, i then used pickled eggs for the use of eyes as they best emulate an evil aura, emanating from this supposedly lifeless mask, bring about it a satanic light, intimidating and overpowering. Once the first half of the mask had been completed, it was then time to use my imagination to create a vastly different spectacle, following similar trends as the first in order to have the ability to mirror the image and to still create a sadistic feel and aura. The materials i used for the 2nd image was: Hair, knotted and mangled dreadlocked hair that i had previously shaved off my head, i positioned the hair around the mask, keeping to the shapes and contours of the mask, i then, like the other side added pickled eggs for eyes. After obtaining the initial image of 2 opposing sides of the mask, i then uploaded the images, selected the image that suited my needs and repeated the same processes as that of my first image.

Before i had decided on the use of digital techniques and processes in order to create my images as i desired, i used various other process and means in order to decipher the look of which i was going for. First of all i used 35mm film in the form of lomo style photography in which the camera i was using is made up of 4 shutters in which ( 35mm film camera pictured above), when the shutter is compressed, the cameras shutters simultaneously take exposures with 125th of a second in between each shot ensuring that i achieve numerous variations of a similar shot but in many different stages. A lomography camera like this is useful for the documenting of moving scenes and capturing shots that a multiple exposures or a motor drive would not be fast enough to be capable of.  I tried this technique in order to document portraits of a changing, harsh and repetitive nature while portraying the theme of desolation.

Below is a contact sheet printed using analogue printing and developing techniques of the shots i acquired from the lomo camera which i scanned into the computer.

After concluding that the look i was going for could not be accomplished with the styles of portraiture that i performed with the lomo camera i then, still using the lomo camera, attempted a new style of portraiture. The test strip below is a new portrait that i produced with the lomo camera, this time i was looking at the portrayal of desolate portraiture in the blurring, diminishing of features, making the face desolate and void of human features.

Inspired by this image on an album cover:

 

After printing this and performing various tests with it, i concluded that in order for it to be truly successful, the shutter speeds used would have to be considerably slower, allowing for complete blurring and distorting of the face. I performed some tests in this fashion using digital techniques but then concluded that it was not the look that i was looking for.

Intended Audience For My Images

With all my works i maintain a style throughout, commonly following the styles of fine art photography mixed with that of portraiture, mostly following the trends of being head shot style images and more often than not, like these images, portrayed with human characteristics and without the use of human form.

My intentions for my images is for them to be used for the purpose of exhibitional display, to be viewed by the public that are interested in the stylings and works of trends such as portraiture and fine art. I believe my images are most suited for exhibitional works, over that of many other forms of imagery as the techniques and stylings that ive used are individual and specialised to fine art and portraiture imagery. They would not be used for advertising, as nothing is being sold or advertised, they are inappropriate for fashion as the essence of beauty is completely lacking and void from all imagery and lastly they are unsuitable for landscape photography as no landscape is being portrayed.