Showing Personality in Portraits

Here are some portraits I did to try and show personality through clothing,location and also the items in the photos, i think they went quite well overall!

Statement of Intent

Personal Confirmatory Study – Statement of Intent

Personality and Identity

During the course so far I have gained many new skills as well as improving on existing knowledge.  Since starting the pathway stage I have learnt many traditional photographic techniques for example, how to develop and process films, create photograms and solarisations and also using pinhole techniques and the use of various other sorts of cameras. I have also learnt many digital skills like an improved knowledge of Photoshop and digital techniques and also studio setups and location work. I also think that from the start of the course my final work and my experimentations also have benefited from the research and knowledge gained throughout the course.

I chose Photography as my pathway choice as I have always had a keen interest in Photography and photographic techniques and so this pathway enabled me to develop those skills and gain new knowledge in the subject.   The development throughout the course working with many subjects and thinking more about what actually goes into a photograph led me to my personal confirmatory study, as during my final project I want to focus more on the aspects that I need to think about during the taking of the photograph. I want to focus on identity and personality in my images and showing those through my image making.

The aims of  my project will be to create a series of images that how both identity and personality. I want to create a set of images that are quite quirky and eye-catching.  I also want to experiment with a range of photographic techniques including both digital and film techniques.  My project will be based around animals as I think they are interesting to observe and will be quite interesting to try and photograph to my brief, showing their individual personalities through the images, like the weird and wonderful side of animals.

During the course of the project I aim to:

·      Collect relevant information and research from artists and about various techniques I am planning to use.

·      Experiment using a range of techniques and processes.

·      Visit exhibitions on my theme and also later on, to see how would be best to present my work in the exhibition.

·      Keep a journal.

·      Use a range of different cameras both digital and film.

·      Display a series of edited finished images.

For my project I aim to create a series of images working to my theme, I will also have sketchbooks and a journal documenting my work.  Also I will produce a written and illustrated evaluation at the end of my project as well as self evaluation throughout the course of the project, which I will put in my sketchbooks.

Timescale:

Week 1 – project introduction start initial research and project ideas. Agree statement of intent

Week 2 – Plan project and start initial experimentation and develop research, review research and development so far
Week 3 – develop experimentation and research, review research so far

Week 4 – develop experimentation and research, develop and re-evaluate final ideas

Week 5 – experimentation and decisions for final outcomes

Week 6 – start production process for final outcomes and develop research

Week 7 – final outcomes production

Week 8 – final outcomes production

Week 9 -  final outcomes production and development of final outcomes

Week 10 – Production of final pieces, get pieces finalised for exhibition

Week 11 – Finish sketchbook and journal and start finalising project

Week 12 – exhibition presentation and finalise project (put up exhibition)

A window of my Own Final Pieces

For thi project I decided to show my perspective on the world through re-creating old photographs of my family. Below are the original images and my take on them. I wanted to create a modern feel to my images by using digital.

Pinhole photography

I used a biscuit tin and light sensitive multi grade paper to create this pinhole photograph. I really liked the high contrast effect of the image created by exposing it for 90seconds.

Photograms and Solarisation

I enjoyed experimenting with solarisation and photograms in the darkroom and liked the effects created by them. i don't think i will use them in my final pieces as I prefer to work with digital but I still enjoyed creating these pieces.

Solarisation

Photograms

Testing Altered Lenses

We tried altering the lens using various items to distort the image slightly and create different effects. We used tights over the lens to create a softer look, Vaseline to create blurred edges and a lens baby to distort the faces.

Lens Baby

Tights

Vaseline

Self Portraits

We were asked to take self portraits for the focus and framing project we are doing at the moment. The only rule was that they had to include an element of personality and identity in them. I chose to include my personality through hobbies (photography and music) and these are the self portraits I took. The neighbors goat made an appearance half way through the shoot which was interesting as another love of mine is animals so it kind of fit in with the shoot! The location for the shoot was near to my home and I used an old photo I have of my Granddad that I especially like to use as the scene and the photos where I am standing are where my granddad stood in his photo.

My Granddad