Sunday, 11 May 2014
Link to Flickr
Even though my final images are all embedded on my blog in posts and labelled correctly thought I would just send a link for my flickr just in case . https://www.flickr.com/photos/zoelangham/ if you just highlight the link and then click go to then you will reach my Flickr.
Merge
I forgot to add these merged photographs in. The reason why I am merging these photographs is because I believe the colour of the flowers and the black and white photographic work really well together. The colour brings out the black and white image and creates meaning to it.
The meaning behind it is that there will always be a better day ahead no matter what. Yellow represents Joy, Happiness and Energy and what these Self Harming victims need is Joy, Happiness and Energy and that is what they will get once they are fully recovered.
The meaning behind it is that there will always be a better day ahead no matter what. Yellow represents Joy, Happiness and Energy and what these Self Harming victims need is Joy, Happiness and Energy and that is what they will get once they are fully recovered.
Revisiting Project Proposal and Research
Throughout the term my project of Self Harming has changed quite a lot. I was first researching into Mental Illness and what Mental Illness includes, I then started by getting an understanding that Self Harming was under the Mental Illness category and my focus then lead me to Self Harming. My first thing with Self Harming was looking at photographers who portrayed Self Harming in their photography work such as Larry Clark who's work was true to life about Self Harming. I thought I want my work to be like this gritty and showing the knife or razor which my victim would Self Harm with.
But that all changed once I realised that my house mate suffered from Self Harming and she spoke openly to me in an interview and told me everything about Self Harming and that it was not just the knife or razor that would hurt but everything would hurt, it would be names that was being thrown at her and what she felt about herself, so I researched into Plastic Surgery and found out that a lot of people want to change things about themselves and they harm themselves because they cannot change themselves (which is horrible to think of because everyone is beautiful in their own way). I did not want to get side track with Plastic Surgery so I just focused on Self Harming.
After realising that my house mate went through such an awful time, I then started adapting things from her interview and trying to make them come to life within a photograph, I tired using a knife and objects which you could visually see scars of but it just was not working for me. I then had the idea of mirror image and the photographer Tom Hussey really made me think twice about mirror image it was excellent the way he was portraying memory loss and I thought I could do it from a Self Harming perspective.
Throughout the interview with my house mate she would always say how no one knew she was Self Harming, she would do it in private and then act as if everything was okay, she would not tell anyone because of other problems so she suffered in silent for a long time, but that gave me the idea for my project in the sense of mirror image what the victim sees and mirror image what others see, and that is what has come to be with my final images.
This project of Mental Illness/Self Harming has really made me realise that Self Harming is a problem and that more needs to be talked about it. Throughout my project and with my Project Proposal things have changed and I believe for the best, because before hand I thought Self Harming was about knifes and razor blades and bleeding and yes of course it is in some cases but in other cases it is not. I have learnt throughout my research that Self Harming victims will do anything to harm themselves until they get help ... Thank god my friend did and she is living and excellent, healthy, fun filled life.
But that all changed once I realised that my house mate suffered from Self Harming and she spoke openly to me in an interview and told me everything about Self Harming and that it was not just the knife or razor that would hurt but everything would hurt, it would be names that was being thrown at her and what she felt about herself, so I researched into Plastic Surgery and found out that a lot of people want to change things about themselves and they harm themselves because they cannot change themselves (which is horrible to think of because everyone is beautiful in their own way). I did not want to get side track with Plastic Surgery so I just focused on Self Harming.
After realising that my house mate went through such an awful time, I then started adapting things from her interview and trying to make them come to life within a photograph, I tired using a knife and objects which you could visually see scars of but it just was not working for me. I then had the idea of mirror image and the photographer Tom Hussey really made me think twice about mirror image it was excellent the way he was portraying memory loss and I thought I could do it from a Self Harming perspective.
Throughout the interview with my house mate she would always say how no one knew she was Self Harming, she would do it in private and then act as if everything was okay, she would not tell anyone because of other problems so she suffered in silent for a long time, but that gave me the idea for my project in the sense of mirror image what the victim sees and mirror image what others see, and that is what has come to be with my final images.
This project of Mental Illness/Self Harming has really made me realise that Self Harming is a problem and that more needs to be talked about it. Throughout my project and with my Project Proposal things have changed and I believe for the best, because before hand I thought Self Harming was about knifes and razor blades and bleeding and yes of course it is in some cases but in other cases it is not. I have learnt throughout my research that Self Harming victims will do anything to harm themselves until they get help ... Thank god my friend did and she is living and excellent, healthy, fun filled life.
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Final Image - Self Harming - FIRST IMAGE OF EXHIBITION
This is going to be my first image of my project of Self Harming. What I love about this photograph is the eyes of my victim, you can tell from which photograph is the one in which she is suffering and the one where she is happy, it is showing the contrast of both sides of Self Harming and that nobody knows what is going on apart from the victim themselves and this photograph showcases Self Harming from the victims perspective. Another reason why I find this photograph so powerful and challenge - able is because there is no object such as knife or a razor blade which they are hurting themselves with, as previously spoken about that Self Harming victims can and will use anything to harm themselves with and that is what I am portraying in my photography throughout this project, I am challenging the stereotype of Self Harming and showing a side that individuals may not know about.
Using her hands as a necklace, I thought was an interesting thing to look at because I wanted to be able to create this mirror affect and instead of the camera behind the victim I wanted the audience to be the mirror and see from the victims perspective how they feel. It is showing the audience what they see for example the victim putting on a necklace to complete the outfit, whereas the victim is seeing herself harm herself and it shocks people to know that this is actually happen and what victims of Self Harming have to go through on a day to day basis.
Using her hands as a necklace, I thought was an interesting thing to look at because I wanted to be able to create this mirror affect and instead of the camera behind the victim I wanted the audience to be the mirror and see from the victims perspective how they feel. It is showing the audience what they see for example the victim putting on a necklace to complete the outfit, whereas the victim is seeing herself harm herself and it shocks people to know that this is actually happen and what victims of Self Harming have to go through on a day to day basis.
WITH MY EXHIBITION - this photograph is going to be A4 and in an A4 picture frame, I am putting the frame up with sticky pads a couple on the back of the picture frame and the same on the exhibition wall. I am having a bit of writing with each photo on card, which then will either go by the side of the photograph or underneath the photograph. The writing for this particular image is 'Many individuals see one side of Self Harming; it is a mirrored issue which the victim sees every day. People see them doing one thing, and they see themselves doing another'.
Final Image - Self Harming - SECOND IMAGE OF EXHIBITION
The reason behind these two photographs combining and being merged together is the fact of this HELP aspect of Self Harming. Throughout my research I have understood that asking for help is difficult for Self Harming victims, this photograph is showing that the victim is upset and hurting but can not ask for help because she is unsure on what others will think when she says she is a victim of Self Harming. Another reason why I decided to create a photograph such as this one is because of the interview I conducted with the victim in the photograph, and she stated that it depends who the person is if they want to ask for help or not but personally she could not ask for help she needed due to family issues, so she suffered in silence where others do not know what they are going through.
I feel that this photograph is really showcasing what individuals do not see in Self Harming victims it speaks to the audience in a way which is powerful and emotional, it makes audiences question what they believe in.
I feel that this photograph is really showcasing what individuals do not see in Self Harming victims it speaks to the audience in a way which is powerful and emotional, it makes audiences question what they believe in.
WITH MY EXHIBITION - this photograph is going to be A4 and in an A4 picture frame, I am putting the frame up with sticky pads a couple being on the back of the frame and the same on the exhibition wall. I am having some writing with each photo, which will be on card and will either be to the side of the photograph or underneath the photograph. The writing for this particular image is 'Asking for HELP! Is something which is a scary process for them nobody hears them asking HELP! they suffer in silence, it is as if they are locked in their own bodies'.
Final Image - Self Harming - THIRD IMAGE OF EXHIBITION
This photography did not need to be merged together in my opinion because it has a lot of creativity itself without another photograph being brought into it. This photograph is powerful and shows the true essence of Self Harming, it is showing what the victim of Self Harming sees everyday in the mirror it will never go away. The victim can put on a brave face and tell everybody that they are okay but they really are not, and I believe that this photograph speaks that to individuals.
Why I did not want to put another photograph with this one is because I wanted my audience members t see a true picture of what my victim went through on a daily basis when she would look in the mirror. Yes I have taken photographs and merged together what others were seeing, but I feel that showing them just her on her own suffering speaks louder to the audience and show more emotion and power.
Why I did not want to put another photograph with this one is because I wanted my audience members t see a true picture of what my victim went through on a daily basis when she would look in the mirror. Yes I have taken photographs and merged together what others were seeing, but I feel that showing them just her on her own suffering speaks louder to the audience and show more emotion and power.
WITH MY EXHIBITION - this photograph is going to be A4 and in an A4 picture frame, I am putting the frame up with sticky pads a couple being on the back of the picture frame and the same on the exhibition wall. I am having writing with each photo, which will be on card and either be at the side of the photo or underneath the photo. The writing for this particular image is ' Self Harming victims never see the best in themselves; they feel unworthy, lost and alone trying to cope on a day to day basis'.
Final Image - Self Harming - FOURTH IMAGE FOR EXHIBITION
The message behind this image can be confusing to the audience. But what I love about the photograph is the Yellow colour of the flowers, they are bright and colourful they make a situation and person feel happy and cheerful. The message I am bringing to this image is that even though she is harming herself she is going to get through it and get better. Yellow represents energy, joy and happiness and flowers are pretty and natural, and this is where she will be once she has become happy again in herself.
I wanted the flowers to stand out and be bright to the audience because having a splash of colour within a photographic image makes the photograph happy and bright, self harming victims will get better and be back to their happiness again. It is also showing that the victim will have a bright future after what she has been through.
I wanted the flowers to stand out and be bright to the audience because having a splash of colour within a photographic image makes the photograph happy and bright, self harming victims will get better and be back to their happiness again. It is also showing that the victim will have a bright future after what she has been through.
WITH MY EXHIBITION - this photograph is going to be A4 and in an A4 picture frame, I am putting the frame up with sticky pads a couple being on the back of the frame and the same on the exhibition wall. I am having written words with each photo which will be placed on card and will either be to the side or underneath my image. The writing for this particular image is ' In every cloud there is a silver lining. Yellow is represented with Joy, Energy, Happiness, even when times get tough things can only get better. My model throughout this project is an excellent example of this.'
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Merge - old and new
Merging photographs is not only to do with everyday things but it is also to do with the old and the new. Eric Nagy is a photographer who looks at merging together old and new concepts. He states that ' I decided to retrace the steps of the original photographers, take my own shots and digitally merge them to create my take on the before and after concept' They are fascinating hybrid photos of Philadelphia.
The reason why I was attracted to Nagy's work is because of his use with a splash of colour within his black and white photography. Even though the photograph is great as black and white, I do believe the splash of colour gives it a bit of life and create more meaning towards it, that is what I have adapted within my final image, I have used a splash of colour to create a deeper meaning towards my photograph and I do like the image with a splash of colour than without it, especially when you know the true meaning behind it.
The reason why I was attracted to Nagy's work is because of his use with a splash of colour within his black and white photography. Even though the photograph is great as black and white, I do believe the splash of colour gives it a bit of life and create more meaning towards it, that is what I have adapted within my final image, I have used a splash of colour to create a deeper meaning towards my photograph and I do like the image with a splash of colour than without it, especially when you know the true meaning behind it.
Merge x1
This merge is something which I find very interesting and clever. It's from a Singapore Fashion Shoot by exposures. They have merged together a model from the Fashion Shoot with Street Photography. I think it is a very clever and amazing way to portray merging two different photographs together.
The photograph is very sophisticated, elegant and smart and it looks as if the photograph was taken as one and not merged together, I love how the photograph is in black and white and they have lit up models face and hair colour makes her stand out a little but also the shadow which she is forming it is as if she is in the picture with the black man.
This photograph really inspired me to look into merge and to create my own merge photographs.
The photograph is very sophisticated, elegant and smart and it looks as if the photograph was taken as one and not merged together, I love how the photograph is in black and white and they have lit up models face and hair colour makes her stand out a little but also the shadow which she is forming it is as if she is in the picture with the black man.
This photograph really inspired me to look into merge and to create my own merge photographs.
Merge
While I have been experimenting with merge, I have come across a lot of amazing photography work which I am impressed with. One which has really caught my eye is a Swedish photographer George Chamoun, he merged together two celebrities from two different era of movie making. Jeannie comments on the photographs and states ' the result is an amazing display of eerie similarities between icons in our past and in our present for example, Scarlett Johansson's sexy features look uncanny familiar when framed by the original blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe, while Natalie Portman's innocent and pretty features are paired beautifully with Audrey Hepburn' classic gaze. The results are striking.
I believe with the quote above, the photographs are very striking and amazing, it is scary how a like some of the icons on from the past and present, but he has done an amazing job of producing merged images. Chamoun states that ' I chose to work with movie icons from two different eras. This project has been a lot about ideals, patterns and anatomy. I named the project Iconatomy from the words icon and anatomy.
With these photographs you can look at all day an never get bored of noticing how amazing they actually are.
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