EXPERIMENTAL FILM: TIME

2 weeks ago we were set a mini task to create a short experimental film on the subject of manipulating time. I had so many ideas for this project but not enough time, possibly though I could chose to explore this in more depth and that excites me. I played around initially with the idea of a day in my life starting with me going to bed, and then a dream sequence. However I found that a bit too big a project for 2 weeks. I then thought of using materials to create a pleasing if not calming feel to a film whilst still manipulating and controlling time. This lead me onto my final idea of getting my partner to highlight the features on my face using paint, then start being playful and swirling the paint together all over my face to just create colour. I then reversed it in post production and the result was incredibly satisfying seeing the paint peel off of me.

Initially this idea didn't really have any other deeper meaning that just satisfaction visually whilst still manipulating time, when I showed the final product to the class my feedback was interesting. Some people commented that it could be paying tribute to women accentuating their features with makeup, but instead I used paint to be more creative, or another peer said it could be my partner taking off the mask I show to other people and end up the natural me for him, and lastly another peer commented saying it could be a mask that I put on to society to hide parts of my personality, and the colours being things I would like to cover up, then the video is me removing that at the end of the day and being the true me. I am interested in all of these valid observations, and if I do choose to explore this for my final experimental film piece I shall certainly look into these ideas.

Here is the finished piece:

I hope you enjoy. Thank you.

SECOND TEST SHOOT

After doing some more research I decided to get back into experimenting with my pictures and made a list of things I wanted to capture that me and my partner do. The list includes eating, bathing and brushing our teeth together. I decided to have a little play with bathing and see what I could achieve. I  didn't want to reveal too much of myself so I showered and then laid in the bath tub and took some photos. I staged them to try and look candid and I felt i achieved that. I enjoy the intimacy you feel with these photos without having to reveal too much of my skin. Although I am going to adjust the straightness in Photoshop as the camera was at an angle. Here are the photos:

Time

Giggle

I am pleased with how these images came out, I like the exposure and although the framing could have been better I am still happy. I feel these reflect the fun and silly time me and my partner have together, we never take things too seriously.

More research and pictures to come.
I hope you enjoy. Thank you.

PORTRAIT SERIES RESEARCH II

After getting some feedback in my initial research a peer of mine pointed me to another photographer that had a similar style to what I am wanting to achieve. The photographer is Igor Prorrt. After looking at his website I am hooked by his style. With my previous portrait work on the human form he has opened my eyes to a new perception, colour and style. Throughout his collection called 'Betelgeuse' you see his naked self in various different places and positions as well as landscape and it's so beautifully, you can see how much ownership he takes of his body and when viewing the photos you are reminded subconsciously how natural nudity is. There a few photos of him and his partner that are truly beautiful and some self portraits of his I adore. Here are a few that inspired me:

Betelgeuse II

Betelgeuse VI

Betelgeuse VI

Betelgeuse II

Betelgeuse IV

From looking at these photos I feel a lot of peace. I see safety in his own body and exploration with his partner also.The intimacy with him sharing his body with us too I admire and is something I enjoy seeing people feel confident with their own skin. I adore the lighting too something I am endlessly fascinated with. Especially in the second and third picture they draw me in. I feel I can analyse these photos and see what interpretation I could create with my partner, it has certainly given me a few more ideas to go and explore with.

I hope you enjoy. Thank you.

FIRST TEST SHOOT

After my research I decided to try out some photos and see what I could produce. Tying in nicely with this post I also got a new camera a canon 700D with a standard kit lens, so this makes it more flexible for me to take photos, as my collection is a look into my connection with my partner I need to be able to take photos as and when a situation occurs, so it's good I have a camera now. I went to go and visit my partner this weekend and told him about my project, after my research I had some feedback from Anne asking to challenge me and construct my seemingly 'candid' photos and I tried to rise to the challenge.

Over the course of the weekend I took quite a few photos some I staged and others I did not. I felt the staged photos felt quite robust and you can see through the photo that they had been constructed. Which wasn't the look I was going for. So I tired a new approach, I would just interact with my partner and when I felt like a photo could come out of what we were doing I would ask him to stay where he was and I would reach for my camera. I had a few that came out quite well. Here they are:

Coffee

Quiet

At first I was a little disappointed with not having a lot of photos I was happy with, but I remembered I still have a lot of time, and collections of this subject can take years I just need to be patient with my work. I want to give each photo in the collection a title just to give some context to what was happening as I feel some of my photos may come out a little bit abstract. I am going to do some more research and come back to the project with a fresh mind and try out some more photos. With the photo 'Coffee' I am not all that pleased with it because of the back drop, but i need to remember this isn't a studio shoot and that sometimes background of the home environment can add to the photo. Sadly I am a perfectionist when it comes to my work, but I need to learn to take a step back and come back to my work with a clean mind, or ask a peer to have a look and review some of my work. Sometimes getting someone else to look at my work makes me see things I hadn't seen before. But being a perfectionist can be a beneficial thing as it pushes me to do my best and work hard. 

As for the photo 'Quiet' I adore this photo visually and the story was behind it. It was a rainy Sunday morning and it was nearly time for me to go home, so often we just lie together and hold each other before I go. This week it was peaceful with the rain and feeling his skin always makes me feel more calm and at home. It was nice to enjoy the silence together and listen to the sounds outside. I saw this photo in my head and reached for the camera, I played about with the exposure and shutter speed to create a slightly darker image but I think it's simply gorgeous. I adore the lighting for one, as my partner has a large window in his room. I love the shadows and highlights against his skin create a very beautiful landscape. I also enjoy the intimacy of the photo, him lying across my legs resting feels so calm and peaceful. I hope to produce more work like this. 

More research and pictures to come. 

I hope you enjoy. Thank you. 

PORTRAIT SERIES RESEARCH

As a new term starts, so does a new portrait project and I cannot wait. This term we are expected to produce a series of portraits instead of just a singular photo. The theme is still identity and I am excited to explore a series and see what I can create. For my portrait research in the first term I found a book in the library titled Auto Focus and I loved it so much I asked for it for Christmas. I have had a particular interest in a series by Patrick Tsai and Madi Ju. Both well established photographers themselves, they met online and fell in love. Together they created a series called My Little Dead Dick which received a lot of interest from world wide photographers, galleries, public and artists. I particully adore this series as the photos are capturing their relationship in such a beautiful light. You feel the honesty through their relationship, as you see them so in love at the beginning and it begin to become more distant before they decide to go their separate ways. All the images are shot on film cameras instead of digital, but if I were to do a similar series I would like to use digital and try and achieve the same look. I adore the idea of capturing moments with your significant other, I like the idea of showing the happiness in someones face or life because of another person. I love seeing things couples get up to and how they click. It would be nice to produce a series on things that a couple do behind closed doors when they are alone together. Such as simple everyday things made fun because that person you love is with you. For example, food shopping or brushing your teeth together I find so intimate but so precious and can be a happy moment with your partner.

Here are some photos that inspired me from their collection:

After looking at these photos I have taken some inspiration and thought maybe I could do my series on a day in the life of my partner and I. We often get up to something when we see each other, or have a meal, or go on an adventure somewhere so why not document it? I could turn out with some good photos or I may not be happy with them. Either way I can learn from them. I would like to keep the photos candid, I don't like the idea of staging this series if I am going to pursue this idea.

I hope you enjoy. Thank you.

EXPERIMENTAL FILM WORKSHOP

So today was the first day back after the Christmas holidays, so that means new projects. Anne delivered a presentation on experimental film, surrealism, dadaism and gave examples including students own work. I thoroughly enjoyed today as it has already given me inspiration. Our topic for our experimental films is Transgression. With it being abstract it allows for a lot of room to be creative, push boundaries and explore.

One film we watched today that was really interesting and also really inspired me was Un Chein Andalou a 1929 film by Dali and Bunel. The whole film was about dreams they had had, out together into moving image. Without knowing the context that the film was about dreams then I would have been very confused and maybe not have enjoyed it as much. But I am thankful I was given context. I enjoyed this a lot because of its freedom and lucidity. I like films that you feel the fun, freedom and experimentation in and I felt it in this one. For the time it was made it was well executed, with lots of interesting and bizarre visuals. But dreams and the unconscious are endlessly fascinating to me so it was nice to see some work done previously that supported this fascination of mine.

Un Chein Andalou

We were asked then to research about Bill Viola's films, why he makes them and the themes he likes to use in his films.

After doing a bit of research I discovered that the key themes he likes to focus on are birth,love, spirituality, death and aspects of the consciousness. Focusing on the fundamental human experiences. After reading an article and interview in the guardian, I came to the conclusion that Viola made films to display raw human experiences, he took home videos of his parents after they died and cut them together to make films. I feel it is almost like therapy to him, creating something and setting it free and learning how to grieve for the loss of his parents by creating art for them. Also in the article Viola talks a lot about spirituality and he explores Christianity and Buddhism in his work, as he is inspired by the different spiritual societies and religions. Although I am unsure of the true meaning as to why he creates the work he does, I am only assuming, I will continue to research into his work.

I hope you enjoy. Thank you.