My Essay.
I am interested in fashion photography but particularly abstract fashion photography because In like to capture photographs that don’t just represent our external self which sometimes could be about our physical appearance. I like to photograph people by using colour, texture and movement to create interesting images.
Growing up in Cameroon I was surrounded by my mother and 8 sisters who were all into dressing up and looking as colourful as they could. Diverse fabrics with lots of colour and different textures surrounded me. It was always hot in Cameroon and we wore minimal clothing with light layers. This love of clothing naturally influenced my taste in fashion. I am very expressive and I love colour.. It was natural therefore for me to be interested in fashion photography. I am also interested in movement and dance for similar reasons, as I love the way the body is able to move without restriction. My main influences therefore are photographers such as Viviane Sassen, whose work is known for her use of geometric shapes often abstraction of bodies; her love for vibrant colours come from the time she lived in Africa. Africa has definitely been an influence especially the light, as she loves to work with very good quality light, which creates the very crispy and strong shadows in her work. Photographs are never ideologically neutral. Their ability to make things look attractive can make them particularly susceptible to the abuse of power. Therefore, students of photography must be very suspicious of making superficially beautiful images or seeing beauty as either desirable or neutral. This was one of the threshold concept that I was looking at throughout this investigation.
Viviane likes the idea of objectifying the human body and making it into a shape or sculpture as she sometimes see herself more as this sculptor than a photographer; her main concern is when she does fashion photography is not just fashion but making an interesting image as a photographer. I really like her work because it suggests a cognisance for fashion but you can still see the abstractions in it. Her work to me isn't like most fashion photography that is very commercial and is about a very superficial kind of beauty.
After researching, documenting and analysing the work of Viviane Sassen, I arranged photo-shoots, spontaneously every week. Movement and dance fascinate me as love the way the body is able to move without restriction. Viviane Sassen’s work has had a strong influence; the geometric shapes often are an abstraction of bodies. Her cultural and geographic influences parallel my own and like her I have tried to work with the quality of light, creating very crisp and strong shadows. I was very inspired by how she plays with colour and the shape of the body; so I decided to go up London to the most colourful places and take some images of a model posing in front of them. I wasn't very sure going into this shoot what the overall outcome will be because I wasn't trying to copy her work but instead be inspired be it and use that to create something unique and different. My main focus was to play with light and how the body moves with it. Going into this shoot, I specifically asked my model not to wear any vibrant clothes because I didn't want the contrast between what he was wearing and the background to be very shallow; instead I wanted the black to stand out, almost creating the illusion of a silhouette.
I wasn't completely pleased with the overall outcome of these images because i didn't achieve the movement of the body and how light moves with it. I think this happened because I wasn't trying to create shapes with the body at this moment but was instead drawn to the very colourful background.
The next artist that I research was Tim Walker because of his interest to set design, his work has become very known for its very dramatic and high fashion sets. Walker is very draw to the mistake and beauty, of looking at the photographer trying to find that moment; he could practically see how the camera is being moved front and back, in order to find something with its lighting.
Walker’s work can be quite childish, playful and can suggest that he had a good childhood; his work could be a return to his childhood to capture the naivety and honesty of a kid. However, he thinks people are the hardest thing to photograph because the capture of someone correctly and genuinely is the hardest thing to capture, because we all are human and when we see a picture of a person we are so critical of it because we are so aware of what is meant to be a person. However after Looking at walker's work, I was very fascinated with how he achieves his very high quality pictures and wanted to respond to want I had uncovered throw my research. I wasn't exactly trying to copy his very dramatic set design but was instead trying to capture the simplicity and elegance in his portraits.
Throughout my research and responds to Tim walkers I have discovered that his work is extremely high fashion and it's quite difficult to respond to it however that will not stop me as I am not trying to copy his work but instead, he is at inspirational to what I want to do with my investigation in fashion photography. I decided to visit the photographer’s gallery in which I saw artist work such as Terence Donovan and Dandy black masculinity.
I appreciate Terence Donovan’s love for the body of his subject, although his women were portrayed as elegant and empowering, I would have loved to see more diversity in his choice of women, as they were mostly white upper east women. However the idea shown in the photos like they are in control of the photoshoot. His photos are more abstract in its form, not like an architect photographer. There is no flexibility in it. The key thing in his images was to take pictures that were very external and not internal, and very materialistic. However I thought his work was very stylish as it has 60s images that were very popular at that time. The exhibition comprises a compelling mix of classic and well-known vintage prints as well as previously unpublished material and a selection of his video works. Some rare samples of ephemera including magazine spreads, contact sheets and the photographer’s treasured cameras were also on display.
After researching and documenting the work of the artist that I was looking a, and also responsible to their work visually as I have stated before, I then started to conduct a variety of experiments out of my initial topic. This was because I was looking for other ways in with I could get inspired and create work that i will be proud of. I stated this experimentation by taking a series of image by chance, which is the occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious intention or cause. As anyone who has wielded a camera knows, photography has a unique relationship to chance. It also represents a struggle to reconcile aesthetic aspiration with a mechanical process.
One of the experiments that I did was a class activity in which we had to choose between three different ways in which we could respond to this activity one was taking the pictures without looking at them and having a particular sequence throughout the photos, and the other was changing the position of the camera each time you take an image.
I was really inspired with a particular set of that Images because I decided to take the pictures without looking at the objects in which I was photographing but by also capturing a particular moment which was a reflection of the sunlight. With this particular images I was just trying to experiment with different ways in which I could make the image abstract. I think this experiment was very successful because I achieved what I was looking for by managing to capture moments that are not usually the first thing that I think of when talking photographs.
Other experiments that I did was to create a 3D abstract sculpture by using a variety of different materials which include vinyl, glue, paper, card etc. We had to cut out shapes from the paper so that when light is reflected onto it, there will be creation of very interesting shadows and shapes. i was trying to use different texture of the paper so i could get very interesting reflection of them. After cutting out the shapes on the paper and adding all the other elements, i then started playing around with light by taking the photos in different angles, trying to manipulate the overall form and the look of the initial sculpture. I took my sculpture into the darkroom to create those very high contrast shadows that you see on the bottom roll of the gallery. This activity has showed me how lighting and shadows can ultimately manipulate the images outcome as a whole. It also made me think about whether it would be beneficial to me by shooting more in black and white or in colour. My abstraction form can be made into moving images by placing my piece over photographed images. It also gave me a different outlook about how visually I could present my work and that I don't have to rely largely on just photo taking.
One other experiments that i did was creating a zine. In which we had to take a series of image based on a video that we watch during lesson time; this task was to take portrait shots of different parts of the body the could have been shots of other people or yourself. I chose to take mainly close up shots of people and myself using a canon 100D camera. I felt as though doing this task was much easier to approach than doing full portraiture shots of other people's face The purpose of s as I thought it would be a cliche. However, after watching the video, I thought of doing self portraits instead as I really got inspired by some of the scenes in the video. I chose to take all of the images in black and white as I feel as though it highlights the lines on the skin and any freckles, spots etc. I also used a tripod so I could be able to take the images using the auto timer on the camera; to crop and frame the images in a particular way so that the only key thing in the pictures is what I wanted the audience to focus on.
Some of the pictures are by chance and then some are images where I have posed in a certain way not make the whole image more abstract. I felt as though the mix would work really well together. I chose to combination of images that I thought fit the brief and worked really well with each other. These are pictures that I precisely chose that I thought worked well collaboratively enough to be able to create a successful set of images to put into a zine.
I have documented my images in an orderly manner so it could make sense the viewer and to myself. throughout this investigation, i have learned that photography is an art form and as we all know art is I would say that it is creative expression. In order to understand it you have go beyond what's on the surface, think outside of the box. Art is beautiful because it can be expressed in so many ways. You don't have to be the best, the beauty comes from the creativity of the individual.
Growing up in Cameroon I was surrounded by my mother and 8 sisters who were all into dressing up and looking as colourful as they could. Diverse fabrics with lots of colour and different textures surrounded me. It was always hot in Cameroon and we wore minimal clothing with light layers. This love of clothing naturally influenced my taste in fashion. I am very expressive and I love colour.. It was natural therefore for me to be interested in fashion photography. I am also interested in movement and dance for similar reasons, as I love the way the body is able to move without restriction. My main influences therefore are photographers such as Viviane Sassen, whose work is known for her use of geometric shapes often abstraction of bodies; her love for vibrant colours come from the time she lived in Africa. Africa has definitely been an influence especially the light, as she loves to work with very good quality light, which creates the very crispy and strong shadows in her work. Photographs are never ideologically neutral. Their ability to make things look attractive can make them particularly susceptible to the abuse of power. Therefore, students of photography must be very suspicious of making superficially beautiful images or seeing beauty as either desirable or neutral. This was one of the threshold concept that I was looking at throughout this investigation.
Viviane likes the idea of objectifying the human body and making it into a shape or sculpture as she sometimes see herself more as this sculptor than a photographer; her main concern is when she does fashion photography is not just fashion but making an interesting image as a photographer. I really like her work because it suggests a cognisance for fashion but you can still see the abstractions in it. Her work to me isn't like most fashion photography that is very commercial and is about a very superficial kind of beauty.
After researching, documenting and analysing the work of Viviane Sassen, I arranged photo-shoots, spontaneously every week. Movement and dance fascinate me as love the way the body is able to move without restriction. Viviane Sassen’s work has had a strong influence; the geometric shapes often are an abstraction of bodies. Her cultural and geographic influences parallel my own and like her I have tried to work with the quality of light, creating very crisp and strong shadows. I was very inspired by how she plays with colour and the shape of the body; so I decided to go up London to the most colourful places and take some images of a model posing in front of them. I wasn't very sure going into this shoot what the overall outcome will be because I wasn't trying to copy her work but instead be inspired be it and use that to create something unique and different. My main focus was to play with light and how the body moves with it. Going into this shoot, I specifically asked my model not to wear any vibrant clothes because I didn't want the contrast between what he was wearing and the background to be very shallow; instead I wanted the black to stand out, almost creating the illusion of a silhouette.
I wasn't completely pleased with the overall outcome of these images because i didn't achieve the movement of the body and how light moves with it. I think this happened because I wasn't trying to create shapes with the body at this moment but was instead drawn to the very colourful background.
The next artist that I research was Tim Walker because of his interest to set design, his work has become very known for its very dramatic and high fashion sets. Walker is very draw to the mistake and beauty, of looking at the photographer trying to find that moment; he could practically see how the camera is being moved front and back, in order to find something with its lighting.
Walker’s work can be quite childish, playful and can suggest that he had a good childhood; his work could be a return to his childhood to capture the naivety and honesty of a kid. However, he thinks people are the hardest thing to photograph because the capture of someone correctly and genuinely is the hardest thing to capture, because we all are human and when we see a picture of a person we are so critical of it because we are so aware of what is meant to be a person. However after Looking at walker's work, I was very fascinated with how he achieves his very high quality pictures and wanted to respond to want I had uncovered throw my research. I wasn't exactly trying to copy his very dramatic set design but was instead trying to capture the simplicity and elegance in his portraits.
Throughout my research and responds to Tim walkers I have discovered that his work is extremely high fashion and it's quite difficult to respond to it however that will not stop me as I am not trying to copy his work but instead, he is at inspirational to what I want to do with my investigation in fashion photography. I decided to visit the photographer’s gallery in which I saw artist work such as Terence Donovan and Dandy black masculinity.
I appreciate Terence Donovan’s love for the body of his subject, although his women were portrayed as elegant and empowering, I would have loved to see more diversity in his choice of women, as they were mostly white upper east women. However the idea shown in the photos like they are in control of the photoshoot. His photos are more abstract in its form, not like an architect photographer. There is no flexibility in it. The key thing in his images was to take pictures that were very external and not internal, and very materialistic. However I thought his work was very stylish as it has 60s images that were very popular at that time. The exhibition comprises a compelling mix of classic and well-known vintage prints as well as previously unpublished material and a selection of his video works. Some rare samples of ephemera including magazine spreads, contact sheets and the photographer’s treasured cameras were also on display.
After researching and documenting the work of the artist that I was looking a, and also responsible to their work visually as I have stated before, I then started to conduct a variety of experiments out of my initial topic. This was because I was looking for other ways in with I could get inspired and create work that i will be proud of. I stated this experimentation by taking a series of image by chance, which is the occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious intention or cause. As anyone who has wielded a camera knows, photography has a unique relationship to chance. It also represents a struggle to reconcile aesthetic aspiration with a mechanical process.
One of the experiments that I did was a class activity in which we had to choose between three different ways in which we could respond to this activity one was taking the pictures without looking at them and having a particular sequence throughout the photos, and the other was changing the position of the camera each time you take an image.
I was really inspired with a particular set of that Images because I decided to take the pictures without looking at the objects in which I was photographing but by also capturing a particular moment which was a reflection of the sunlight. With this particular images I was just trying to experiment with different ways in which I could make the image abstract. I think this experiment was very successful because I achieved what I was looking for by managing to capture moments that are not usually the first thing that I think of when talking photographs.
Other experiments that I did was to create a 3D abstract sculpture by using a variety of different materials which include vinyl, glue, paper, card etc. We had to cut out shapes from the paper so that when light is reflected onto it, there will be creation of very interesting shadows and shapes. i was trying to use different texture of the paper so i could get very interesting reflection of them. After cutting out the shapes on the paper and adding all the other elements, i then started playing around with light by taking the photos in different angles, trying to manipulate the overall form and the look of the initial sculpture. I took my sculpture into the darkroom to create those very high contrast shadows that you see on the bottom roll of the gallery. This activity has showed me how lighting and shadows can ultimately manipulate the images outcome as a whole. It also made me think about whether it would be beneficial to me by shooting more in black and white or in colour. My abstraction form can be made into moving images by placing my piece over photographed images. It also gave me a different outlook about how visually I could present my work and that I don't have to rely largely on just photo taking.
One other experiments that i did was creating a zine. In which we had to take a series of image based on a video that we watch during lesson time; this task was to take portrait shots of different parts of the body the could have been shots of other people or yourself. I chose to take mainly close up shots of people and myself using a canon 100D camera. I felt as though doing this task was much easier to approach than doing full portraiture shots of other people's face The purpose of s as I thought it would be a cliche. However, after watching the video, I thought of doing self portraits instead as I really got inspired by some of the scenes in the video. I chose to take all of the images in black and white as I feel as though it highlights the lines on the skin and any freckles, spots etc. I also used a tripod so I could be able to take the images using the auto timer on the camera; to crop and frame the images in a particular way so that the only key thing in the pictures is what I wanted the audience to focus on.
Some of the pictures are by chance and then some are images where I have posed in a certain way not make the whole image more abstract. I felt as though the mix would work really well together. I chose to combination of images that I thought fit the brief and worked really well with each other. These are pictures that I precisely chose that I thought worked well collaboratively enough to be able to create a successful set of images to put into a zine.
I have documented my images in an orderly manner so it could make sense the viewer and to myself. throughout this investigation, i have learned that photography is an art form and as we all know art is I would say that it is creative expression. In order to understand it you have go beyond what's on the surface, think outside of the box. Art is beautiful because it can be expressed in so many ways. You don't have to be the best, the beauty comes from the creativity of the individual.