Old Film Edit

An idea of mine was to try out an 'old film grain' effect. I thought this could add a more obvious symbolism of film to the picture. I have always been interested in this textured look and wanted to try it out for myself. I found a youtuber called NowPhotoshop with a tutorial on this edit, which is how I learned the technique.

To practice giving my pictures the old film grain effect, I used a picture of myself that I took while practising with the camera. I chose to use this picture because its very simple and has a plain background so I thought it would be easier to edit for my first try.

The original picture

First I duplicated the layer and added the pointilise filter at 0.3, the gaussian blur at 0.9 and overlayed the layer.

Next I used the black and white effect and lightened the highlights on the red and yellow.
I used the layer effect 'difference' and turned down the opacity to dull the red and yellow tones.

Now that the photo was ready, I layered pictures of slate, grain or scratches over
 the top and used the 'hard light' layer effect and changed the opacity if needed.

After the texture was done, I then altered the pictures how I felt necessary.
For this picture I used a black and white filter as I thought it worked better than in colour.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh0oztts-DI - The tutorial I learnt this technique from.

First Editing Practice

In the edit, I adjusted the contrast to make the colours more vibrant. I like the way this effected the scenery and made the fence look worn and grungey, however after seeing the picture on the Mac I wasn't sure I liked the way this effected mine and Suzie's skin, we looked too pink. I also added a vignette effect around the border of the image to give it a darker, mysterious feel. I then distorted the image using an effect that made the middle of the picture further back than the edges, I did this to make the picture look creepy and distorted. Finally I thought I would try adding things into the frame, just in case I couldn't get the props I needed. I added in the pumpkin light on the table, the 'drink up witches' banner and the cigarettes in mine and Suzie's hands. To add them in: I found the pictures of the objects that I wanted to involve, cut them away from the background with the magic wand tool and sized them to fit into the picture. 

Original Picture

Edit 1

Edit 2 - Lower saturation and turned down brightness

I also tried to change the sky on some pictures because I was planning to make the sky look almost dream like. To change the sky I first found a picture of a new sky (e.g. one full of stars) and layered that picture behind the image of the scene. I then used the polygonal lasso tool and traced around the buildings and bushes and connected the ends of the lines together. When the whole sky was outlined I deleted it and the picture of the 'dream-like' sky was then visible in its place. To practice I used a shot from the scene by the shed as it showed the most sky. Once the sky showed through I moved it around until it fitted with the rest of the picture.

1st Edit

2nd Edit

First Photo Shoot

For my first shoot I wanted to get a feel for the camera and practice taking pictures of the models in the scene. I set the chairs and table out in the garden how I was planning to have them for the picture, I then asked the models to sit around, in their position, naturally as I tried to find the right position for the camera. At first I found it surprisingly difficult to find the right angle to shoot at. I had a picture of what I wanted in my mind but I didn't know exactly how to create what I imagined. I set the table and chairs in the back garden in the corner by the house, I wanted the photo to be facing the fence and to have the characters in the corner and the rest of the picture negative space giving an impression of isolation. I also wanted to have the sky showing so I could add extra stars and a moon to make the scene look more dream like. 

I couldn't find the right look for the photo so I decided to try out a different scene, I thought the placement near the shed would work as the the shed is slightly slanted and would give a weird, eerie effect to the scene, however every lighting I tried for this scene the lighting was terrible. I also did not like much of the surroundings, like the plant on the fence or the shadows coming from the plants.

I decided that I preferred the scene to be in the area closest to the house as the area by the shed had too many surrounding features I did not want in the picture. At the end of the shoot I took a quick picture of myself and Suzie so I could try editing it using Photoshop.

Artist Inspiration

Susie and friends, 2010

Alex Prager was one of the artists I chose to feature in my '6 Photos and Photographers' presentation. This particular picture 'Susie and friends' was one of my favourites because of the mise en scene of the picture. Something I love about Prager's work is that she dresses up her friends and creates a scene, which makes the viewer wonder what might be going on. The theme of her photos, she says, is 'beauty of the clasp of terror' In the picture we can see seven girls at what seems to be a party in a hot tub, this is apparent due to the girls drinking alcohol and relaxing in the water. Prager uses certain things which I believe suggest what might be happening in the picture such as certain props like the cigarette: which I think symbolises something bad happening to that character due to the bad connotations with smoking. I also think that Prager considers facial expression with her models which gives the picture more of a cinematic feel. 

Untitled film still #35

Untitled film still #48

I am also inspired greatly by Cindy Sherman's work, especially her 'Untitled Film Stills' collection. As I'm planning on making my own film still I've been looking at the techniques she uses in her photos. I've noticed she also dresses up her models, alike Alex Prager, to make them into a character, I think creating the characters is a huge part of making these sorts of images as they are usually the main feature, the characters/ models set up the story for the rest of the pictures. I've realised after researching Sherman's work that the setting and characters pose holds great significance to the story. The first picture 'Untitled film still #35' shows a woman walking through what looks like a street at night. The way the woman is walking and the darkness of the surroundings gives the image sort of a sinister feel as if the woman is running from something. If the girl however was walking normally there would be less of a story. The picture below 'Untitled film still #48' shows what looks to be a girl hitch hiking, we assume she is hitch hiking because of where she is and the way she looks like she is waiting for a car to come up the road. The suitcase is important in this picture as it shows that the character is travelling and she isn't just in this place randomly.

Amanda in the mirror

Johanna laughing, Hotel

The third artist I looked at for inspiration was Nan Goldin. I chose to look at her photography as her work all seems as if it was caught in the moment which was an element I wanted to get in my own work. Something I love about her work is how she focuses on the models facial expression, I find much of her photography quite minimalistic which helps the character stand out. The facial expressions in Goldin's images, in my opinion, are what set the mood of the picture and are what tell the story. The first image shows a young girl looking in the mirror. Due to the pale, sickly appearance of the girl, I imagine the she has looked up, seen herself and how she looks and maybe realised that she is not living a healthy lifestyle. In the second image we see a girl laughing holding a cigarette. Judging from how much the cigarette has burned without her flicking it off, I assume that this model was having a chat with the photographer, then she laughed and the picture was taken. Pictures like these have such a raw, real feel which is what i like most about Nan Goldin's work.

Self Portrait Ideas

My first project idea was based around gender, gender dysphoria and body dysphoria. These are all traits that relate to transgender people. I imaged the photos to have been shot in a studio with dark lighting and heavy shadows, highlighting certain parts of the body which I would then distort and exaggerate, almost making the picture look non human, to give the viewer the feeling of uncomfortability which is the feeling of dysphoria. I briefly made notes on what I wanted to add to the picture, quotes for inspiration and symbolic features to include.

My second idea was inspired by the artist Alex Prager who creates a scene in her photos to tell a story, I liked this concept as it makes the pictures seem almost as if they are stills from a film. I originally wanted my photos to be of me and my house-mates sitting in the garden, surrounded by some of my possessions. However I felt that this was a slightly boring idea, so instead I decided to use a less obvious method to demonstrate traits about myself so the viewer would have to think about the picture and take in all the information, rather than just being given the answer. I believe this will make the picture more interesting.

Although I think the initial idea is interesting and could progress into other projects, for this project I want to create a piece that shows something about me other than sexuality or gender. The brief of self portrait gave me the impression that I should show things about myself such as my interests and personality, which I would rather do. I also think that creating the scene would be interesting and gives me more ability to present my character.

DSLR Workshop - Beyond the basics

My notes from the DSLR beyond the basics lesson.

Mise-en-Scene of Quinten Tarentino’s ‘Kill Bill’ - Opening scene

FIRST SHOT: The very first shot in Kill Bill is a black screen with a quote written in white which say ‘Revenge is a dish best served cold’, this was written in a contracting colour to the background as it is a quote of significance to the movie and gives a small insight as to what the narrative will. ‘Revenge’ meaning someone is going to have something bad happen to them and in turn do bad onto someone else and ‘Served cold’ could give connotations of unpleasantness or murder as bodies go cold once someone has deceased and that ‘served’ means to give implying that the death would not have been of natural cause. Underneath we see that the quote has been taken from an ‘Old Klingon proverb’ referencing to star trek giving the idea that the movie doesn't take itself too seriously and the director was obviously a fan and wanted to include one of his interests in his film. This makes it feel slightly personal. The viewer can hear heavy panicked breathing non-dietetic sound as if someone’s in trouble, we hear this for a few shots during the introduction.

2^ND SHOT: The shot begins with a quick cut from the darkness straight into the scene where the breathing is suddenly louder now. The setting is not completely clear at this point in time as the shot is an overhead close up looking down on a woman’s head and shoulders, all we know at this moment is that she lying down on a wooden floor. This woman is obviously the person who we could hear breathing heavily during the shot of the quote. Her whole body is shaking and moving each time she inhales like she gasping for air. Her face is beaten and she looks as if she is in a lot of pain, she is covered in blood and has tears in her eyes, this shows us that she feels completely vulnerable and pathetic giving us the impression that she lost the fight. Her eyes are looking to the side at first but as we hear the non-dietetic sound of footsteps her eyes start to move around as if she is looking at someone. She seems to panic more in this moment which tells us that she is threatened by this person and that they may have been the one who abused her. Her hair is tangled and soaked in blood which shows that there was struggle during this fight and draping down from her hair is a veil which makes the viewer believe that she was a bride. This makes the viewer feel empathetic for the character as it shows that she has had her wedding day ruined by an attacker. Her make-up is very simple which gives connotations of innocence and purity which would make the viewer feel even worse for this woman as she seems to symbolise a good, family orientated person. There are no colours in this scene as it is in black and white which gives the impression that the scene is taking placing in the past. As the woman has been beaten this matched with the quote gives you the idea that either she will be the one getting revenge or someone will be getting revenge on her behalf. The lifelessness of the colours in this scene also connotes despair and hopelessness giving us and insight as to how the woman feels. The light is coming from right side of the screen as if natural lighting coming from the window, this, matched with the wooden flooring, tells us that the scene is taking place inside. The duration of the shot is 13 seconds where we just look down on this helpless person, this creates suspense and we do not know what is going to happen to this woman and as we cannot see her body we don’t know what condition she’s in.

3^RD SHOT: Straight cut to the next shot and we see a tracking shot of person’s feet casually walking across the floor, from the woman’s eyes I assume they’re walking towards her. The shoes this person are wearing are shiny leather boots, we can hear the leather squeak implying that these are new boots. The books give an impression that this is a wealthy person and from the previous scene we can assume that he had something to do with the beaten woman, like a gang boss. The person casual wonder towards her also implies that he had a hand in the attack as he does not seem to be in any rush to help her.

4^th SHOT: In the fourth shot we are back looking down at the beaten bride. The woman’s eyes look straight up, the tip of the man’s shoe becomes slightly visible and the footsteps stop confirming that this is the person she was watching walk over. A hand leans in towards the woman holding a handkerchief and starts wiping blood from the woman’s face as if cleaning an item. This shows that the man only sees this woman as a possession and that he feels like he has control over her. The handkerchief says the name Bill embroidered in the corner in italics, this gives the idea that ‘Bill’ is an important, wealthy person but it also brings up the question ‘who is bill?’ creating an enigma for the viewer. After wiping the brides face he start poking it as if to taunt and provoke her, teasing her for being beaten up. The scene ends when the man stands back up and we hear him, off screen, loading a gun. The woman shouts ‘BILL’ and her facial expression shows her panic and shock. The gun shot is heard and we see blood splat from behind the woman head and her eyes close. As a first scene this is quite shocking to watch and makes the viewer curious as to who will be getting revenge for her death and who is Bill?  

Six Photos and Photographers

Role Model

This is role model