Photo-shoot Seven
In the style of Christian Hopkins
We're All Ghost Stories
Record
Production
Photo-shoot Title:
"We're All Ghost Stories"
Photo-Shoot Concept & Aim:
The aim of this photograph is to create a representation of a paranoid mind. The concept of the this piece is to create two alternative narratives one to show how a blank identity is lost in a clustered forest this represents a subject not knowing who they are and the forest to represent their mind. Or alternatively represents of paranoia of getting followed by a blank identity of anyone in this dark, lonesome forest. Which helps to convey ideas of uncertainty.
Date & Timing:
This photo-shoot will take place on the 15th of October 2017 at 7pm. This time allows the sun to have set and the forest to be dark. The lighting will be difficult to get right However depending on the weather the sky light should balance it out and create the correct mood.
Location:
This will take place in Sunderland as it is local to me, therefore it will be easier on me to take my equipment to the forest. The forest will be close to Penshaw Monument in Herrington Country Park. This is because the forest floor in Penshaw is covered in mood and leaves which is the setting i am looking for, there are also trees clustered everywhere and even fallen trunks.
Props:
The props i will need for my photography is a white sheet to cover my subject in. As well as a a plain mask to match the white sheet. This will be the outfit for my subject, While environmental props such as the trees, leaves and the Forest in general will be the props needed for the mise-en-scene of the photograph.
Models:
To keep within the theme and style of Self Portrait photography I will be my own model. However because i am covering the subjects identity to create this surreal creature. This allows a wider audience to associate themselves with my work. This helps aim for a female audience as well.
Team:
There is no team needed as i will be working alone for this shoot. I have a tripod to stand the camera on and I shall set a timer for the camera to capture the photographs. Everything before will be set up my me and post production work will continue to be done by me, of course because this is my personal project.
Equipment and Preparation:
The camera I have used for this photoshoot is a Fujifilm Finepix S9600 Camera with a Integrated 28-300mm lens. The batteries were fully charged before shoot. Additional lighting was used with a studio light facing the model or pointing away to create dark shadows. The ISO settings will be set to ISO-200 while the shutter Shutter Speed will be set on 1/500seconds and an Aperture of f/4.5.
Desired Shots:
My Desired shot would be the messy and derangement of the forest with a white floating figure standing in the centre with a white blank mask on to hide the identity. The forest will have purple and blue colouring applied to it to make it feel cold.
Reference Images:
Photographs
Production
Product
The Genre of this photograph is Digital Manipulation. The Camera Control are set with the Aperture is set to f/4.5 with the shutter speed set to 1/500 and the ISO-200. Natural Light was used from the sun in the photograph of the forest while artificial light was used for photographs of the figure.
Visual Elements have been used as the Line from the trees and branches are present, As well as lines on the cloth. Shape is used within the photograph with the shape of the trees and branches as well as the figures shape within the piece. Form can be seen on the figure.Tone was used to darken the forest and the surroundings of the figure. Colour is used on the forest with the purpled colour gradient filtered over.Space is used around the figure under him to show him floating. As well as space around the figure. Texture can be seen with the texture of the trees and the bark. The texture of the floor the rough autumn leaves . Pattern can be seen on the leaves for the floor.
Composition has been thought about and used when necessary through my piece. Vantage Points were used to have the subject eye level facing the camera with direct mode of address looking at the audience. However the image of the forest is a low angle shot looking up at the trees to make it look like they tower over us and we are being looked down upon. Framing and Cropping was used to frame the figure in the middle of the image yet far away making it seem like they are floating down the path. Rule Of Thirds has not been used to give the image a slight uneasy tension towards it. Rule Of Odds and Evens has been used but not to the criteria of the rule. The single person makes the photograph look unbalanced. Rule Of Triangles can be seen with the interconnecting branches. Rule Of Space has been used to surround this figure allowing isolation and emptiness.
Symmetry has not been used. Repetition and Pattern are only present within the leaves, bushes and branches. Simplification was not used as i needed a backdrop to convey a specific message.
There are two decisive narratives i have set up within this piece. The first narrative is the story of an identity disorder. The person is themselves the blank, masked, figure within the image. Not knowing who they are and what to do anymore. The forest represents their mind. They are lost in this maze with obstacles of thought surrounding them. The interweaving branches represent lost thoughts and paranoid thinking. The vast quantities of overthinking overshadows the subject. The second narrative is the idea of a paranoid schizophrenic. The fear of the unknown following the person. This shows an unexplored realm full of the unknown. It stands for the unconscious and its mysteries. The forest is representative of not being able to find your way. Forests are large and they are complex. The subject stand faceless and emotionless. Floating far from the subject (camera) yet still appearing to come close. This is floating as it is unexpected and isnt reality, this represents the deluded thoughts of someone who has lost touch with reality. The Narrative of my word will mean different things to different people and is open to interpretation.
Evaluation
What i wanted from the shoot:
I wanted to create a representation of a paranoid mind.How a blank identity is lost in a clustered forest this represents a subject not knowing who they are and the forest to represent their mind. Representing the paranoia of getting followed by a blank identity of anyone in this dark, lonesome forest. Which helps to convey ideas of uncertainty.
Did I achieve this?
I believe I have successfully achieved this aim by the composition of the piece. The use of the forrest and the location of the bath and the vantage points around the trees and the angle it was taken at. The use of colour to make the trees and sky more purple to make it more effective of a creepy piece.
How can I Improve Further?
To improve this photoshoot, I believe there is minimum changed that need to be made to develop further. I am thinking of taking it with my better camera for a higher quality photograph this will allow better detail on the trees, colour, figure and the blending of them all together.
Follow Up Progress
This will link into my next photoshoot by the theme of identity and hiding the face