Test Images

Test Images

Here is some test images for the shoot. Unfortunately due to quality constraints, I have to plug the links from my Flickr account

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronsrailwayphots/8734257141/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronsrailwayphots/8734258235/in/photostream

These are completely un-edited, and to show the framing of the shot and the positions of the subjects. I feel the mood created by the chiaroscuro effect worked incredibly well in my favour, although it was hard to distinguish who was the villain and who was the victim. We needed to completely single out the characters into their respective roles, and the best way to do it is to add makeup and similar effects.

It was important to take safety into heavy consideration during these tasks. There are many wires dotted around the studio, which all members of the team have to be fully aware of at all times to avoid any trips or falls. It was also essential to keep an eye on tungsten red-heads, as these can get extremely hot and may cause burns to anyone nearby. We also had an issue of one of the tungsten red-heads smoking when in use. This not only caused a potential fire hazard and a nasty environmental issue in the studio regarding the smell, but also the fumes emanating from the light could have lasting damage on team members, or even people who visit the studio afterwards.

Music

Music

 

In my studies of film, in most an innocent soundtrack has been turned into something very sinister. For example-

 

 

This clip was taken from the film A Clockwork Orange. It is an incredibly disturbing and violent scene, yet a relaxing and jolly soundtrack is used. This has made it more sinister.

 

Also-

 

 

This was taken from the film American Psycho, where again the clip had a jolly soundtrack whilst the murder took place.

 

In my exhibition, I will aim to play music next to my image. At the moment I haven't decided on a soundtrack, however it will be jolly and happy. Thus attempting to make the image more sinister.

 

My Ideas

 

I will be using "Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz. It is an incredibly jolly theme, and combined with a horrific and brutal theme it will most definitely direct a disturbing feel on the audience.

 

 

Ones That Didn't Make The Cut

 

The following songs I deemed to be extremely sinister given the theme, but wasn't as good as the above song.

 

 

"Footloose" by Kenny Loggins

 

 

"Dancing Queen" from Abba

 

 

"Especially For You" by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan



My Project Is....

The title of my project is called "Crowbar". I will be working to create a story using one image, which will hopefully create a narrative involving a burglary. The main aim of the project is to basically create an image that is both visually appealing to the viewer, but also can easily tell a story in what they see. In the past I have created images to raise awareness involving matters within the press, such as drunken violence. I created a poster last year highlighting the issues of fighting on nights out, and the damage it can cause by having two people shaking hands. Using photoshop with this image, I blurred out an arm to sort of signify that one person 'isn't all there', as if they had been damaged. Although there will be a photoshop element within this, I will aim at using props such as makeup or wax to assist in creating a powerful image. A main influence for me involving this is David Bailey, and his many portraits of himself and stars. One of my favourite images in photography is of Jack Nicholson, and a portrait of him created by Bailey. It was perfectly exposed, the lines and texture on Jack's face together with the chiaroscuro-esque style of the image gave a sinister feel, and this is what I would aim to create. As it is to be a dark image, the use of tungsten will be recommended. I intend to thoroughly research clips from films, such as the 'snippets' from the back of film cases. These snippets are to be used to demonstrate the film itself to the potential viewer, and need to suggest a story to this viewer (examples on my blog). I am unsure as to whether museums and galleries would influence my idea, however I will be visiting all galleries in Liverpool soon to help broaden my ideas. Crimestoppers, Crimewatch and other advertising campaigns frequently create images to raise awareness of burglaries, however I feel these images aren't powerful enough. You need a really powerful image to make people think. I intend to use wax and makeup for the project, which will cost no more than £15. I am influenced by the films A Clockwork Orange and Batman (1989), where a lot of effort was gone through by the directors to create villains that stand out to the viewer. As said earlier, to create such a more powerful image I will be using tungsten lighting, making a chiaroscuro effect. There will be a victim in the image, as will the villain. The villain will have a crowbar, which has been used as a weapon aswell as a tool for the crime (or rather both crimes). I aim to have a test shoot all complete before the 9th May 2013, with a final shoot completed for the 16th May 2013. This allows plenty of time for thorough editing of the image. I will be critically reviewing my final image by firstly comparing it with existing anti-burglary programmes, such as images created by Crimestoppers, Crimewatch and also to some extent, companies such as ADT and others frequently use images to advertise their security items such as alarms and locks. I will then show the image to the rest of the class, and to contacts on Flickr. Flickr is a fantastic way to show your work, as you don't neccesarily need to be a 'contact' to comment on someones work to offer feedback. In the first year of college, we were required to create an image and really drive for feedback from many people. I created a slow-shutter image of a train leaving Carlisle, and recieved a lot of feedback for it (some good, some bad. The happy medium!). Hopefully I'll be adding to this as I go along, especially the final part.

Although there will be a photoshop element within this, I will aim at using props such as makeup or wax to assist in creating a powerful image. A main influence for me involving this is David Bailey, and his many portraits of himself and stars. One of my favourite images in photography is of Jack Nicholson, and a portrait of him created by Bailey. It was perfectly exposed, the lines and texture on Jack's face together with the chiaroscuro-esque style of the image gave a sinister feel, and this is what I would aim to create.

As it is to be a dark image, the use of tungsten will be recommended. I intend to thoroughly research clips from films, such as the 'snippets' from the back of film cases. These snippets are to be used to demonstrate the film itself to the potential viewer, and need to suggest a story to this viewer (examples on my blog). I am unsure as to whether museums and galleries would influence my idea, however I will be visiting all galleries in Liverpool soon to help broaden my ideas.

Crimestoppers, Crimewatch and other advertising campaigns frequently create images to raise awareness of burglaries, however I feel these images aren't powerful enough. They don't catch your eye, they need to be brutal, there needs to be more action and devotion in the image to make people look further.

You need a really powerful image to make people think. I intend to use wax and makeup for the project, which will cost no more than £15. I am influenced by the films A Clockwork Orange and Batman (1989), where a lot of effort was gone through by the directors to create villains that stand out to the viewer.

As said earlier, to create such a more powerful image I will be using tungsten lighting, making a chiaroscuro effect. There will be a victim in the image, as will the villain. The villain will have a crowbar, which has been used as a weapon aswell as a tool for the crime (or rather both crimes). I aim to have a test shoot all complete before the 9th May 2013, with a final shoot completed for the 16th May 2013. This allows plenty of time for thorough editing of the image. I will be critically reviewing my final image by firstly comparing it with existing anti-burglary programmes, such as images created by Crimestoppers, Crimewatch and also to some extent, companies such as ADT and others frequently use images to advertise their security items such as alarms and locks. I will then show the image to the rest of the class, and to contacts on Flickr. Flickr is a fantastic way to show your work, as you don't neccesarily need to be a 'contact' to comment on someones work to offer feedback. In the first year of college, we were required to create an image and really drive for feedback from many people. I created a slow-shutter image of a train leaving Carlisle, and recieved a lot of feedback for it (some good, some bad. The happy medium!). Hopefully I'll be adding to this as I go along, especially the final part.

The End

At the end of this year, we will be doing a photography exhibition at the Citadel in St Helens. We will be displaying two images each. For the first image, I aim to create a nine-image grid of a self portrait of myself in the studio, which will be a narrative that I will star in but also direct. After a few practice shots, I took my full first 'draft' last week.

I aimed for this image to create an image where I wasn't looking at the camera, but a reflection was. It was kind of inspired by the film poster of 'American Psycho', but in that image Christian Bale is looking away from the camera (as is his reflection in a blade).