Statement of Intent
My chosen theme for this project is 'messages' and I chose this theme because I would like to take images with meaning because I believe that it would refine and revamp my website. I aim to produce high quality images and writing to excel my website. At the end of my project I will choose my best photographs and present them in a separate gallery to show off my work, and with my final images I will develop them with Photoshop. To this day people still suffer with depression and suicidal thoughts. I want to create meaningful images and photoshops in which they can relate too.
For my initial research I am I will start to be looking into photographers who take images with meaning. At the moment I have 2 photographers in mind. These are Barbara Kruger, John Cohn . These 2 photographers take a lot of images on the depression effect and express a lot off hidden messages throughout there images.
My initial thought on the theme 'messages' sounded quite bland to me but I realized that I can delve into the theme and turn it into something meaningful which will develop my work and get me the top grade which is what I am aiming for. I wanted to explore the subject depression because It's a challenge to take photographs on the issue and I wanted to signify my website to make it more purposeful and worthwhile. I also wanted to explore things that were more personal to me, an everything I went through in life. I also wanted to take pictures of something that is often fabricated in the media. I wanted to show the reality and truth of all types of depression. I realize that this is a difficult subject to discuss but I feel like we should get past our discomfort and talk about issues like this, and the way I would like to do this is to take photographs of messages that are based on the topic. I will take images that has physical messages and have photographs that have a photograph that has a deeper message such as images taken of depression slightly.
To show progression through my work, I will start to take photographs of the subject around my home to make my website more personal and distinctive. I will also take high quality photographs that show my own twist on the topic of depression. I don't want to take photographs that look like someone else's, I believe that it's better to take photographs that's unique and individualized to one's self, so I am going to explore my own ideas and not somebody else's . This will help to develop my website and to make it more professional. I will start of by taking photographs of the words agony, pain and depression etc. Also talking about how death is a promised thing and everyone will go from this world which is a deep message. I think that this will really develop my website because it will show the start of my progression and then later on I will take photographs of images in the finest state. When I am not in school I will carry on my task and take photographs at home, I will take images of things that can be used to show some sort of depression element and hidden meanings. I think that this will give me a highly developed website because then people will be able to relate with it. 5.9% of people go through depression in the UK. My goal is to reach out to them people.
For the equipment I will use a manual DSLR camera which is what I will take all of my photographs on, sometimes I will use a microscopic lens to get that in depth photography. I will most likely use dark colours which relate to depression and use hidden message techniques such as hiding messages in transparent envelopes. I will do this because I would like to to take photographs with different depths of field, I believe that this will definitely get my the highest grade because it shows my capability to use a variety of different tools that I can use to get me a developed outcome. When I am at home I will use my phone camera which will also show my capability to use different tools. After I've finished taking photographs of these I will transport them into Photoshop and edit them which will evolve my image into something different and unique. I will use Photoshop to turn these photographs into edits such as double exposure. duo tone, or the dispersion effect which is something I'm confident and comfortable with. I will also go up and beyond with the Photoshop effect and use more complicated tool such as the glow effect, the surreal glass effect, and Photo manipulation. I am confident in to thinking that this will get me the highest grade because it will show my ability to try out different Photoshop techniques.
As my project progresses I will annotate everything to show the step by step process of my work, I will mostly annotate my best and worst and my photoshop, I will do this to get the highest grade and this will get me the highest grade because it will show my ability to talk about my work in a critical manner, this will hopefully show that I am serious about my third project and I will do anything to make it the best I can possibly do. I will seek advice from my peers and tutors about how to make my work better and I will also work on my weaknesses to get the best outcome. I will also watch tutorials for photoshop to also get a better understanding of the edit and to produce my work as highly as I can. Then I will write up a final evaluation on the project as a whole, to reflect on what went well and what didn't go well and what I will do differently next time to get the best outcome I can possibly give
For my initial research I am I will start to be looking into photographers who take images with meaning. At the moment I have 2 photographers in mind. These are Barbara Kruger, John Cohn . These 2 photographers take a lot of images on the depression effect and express a lot off hidden messages throughout there images.
My initial thought on the theme 'messages' sounded quite bland to me but I realized that I can delve into the theme and turn it into something meaningful which will develop my work and get me the top grade which is what I am aiming for. I wanted to explore the subject depression because It's a challenge to take photographs on the issue and I wanted to signify my website to make it more purposeful and worthwhile. I also wanted to explore things that were more personal to me, an everything I went through in life. I also wanted to take pictures of something that is often fabricated in the media. I wanted to show the reality and truth of all types of depression. I realize that this is a difficult subject to discuss but I feel like we should get past our discomfort and talk about issues like this, and the way I would like to do this is to take photographs of messages that are based on the topic. I will take images that has physical messages and have photographs that have a photograph that has a deeper message such as images taken of depression slightly.
To show progression through my work, I will start to take photographs of the subject around my home to make my website more personal and distinctive. I will also take high quality photographs that show my own twist on the topic of depression. I don't want to take photographs that look like someone else's, I believe that it's better to take photographs that's unique and individualized to one's self, so I am going to explore my own ideas and not somebody else's . This will help to develop my website and to make it more professional. I will start of by taking photographs of the words agony, pain and depression etc. Also talking about how death is a promised thing and everyone will go from this world which is a deep message. I think that this will really develop my website because it will show the start of my progression and then later on I will take photographs of images in the finest state. When I am not in school I will carry on my task and take photographs at home, I will take images of things that can be used to show some sort of depression element and hidden meanings. I think that this will give me a highly developed website because then people will be able to relate with it. 5.9% of people go through depression in the UK. My goal is to reach out to them people.
For the equipment I will use a manual DSLR camera which is what I will take all of my photographs on, sometimes I will use a microscopic lens to get that in depth photography. I will most likely use dark colours which relate to depression and use hidden message techniques such as hiding messages in transparent envelopes. I will do this because I would like to to take photographs with different depths of field, I believe that this will definitely get my the highest grade because it shows my capability to use a variety of different tools that I can use to get me a developed outcome. When I am at home I will use my phone camera which will also show my capability to use different tools. After I've finished taking photographs of these I will transport them into Photoshop and edit them which will evolve my image into something different and unique. I will use Photoshop to turn these photographs into edits such as double exposure. duo tone, or the dispersion effect which is something I'm confident and comfortable with. I will also go up and beyond with the Photoshop effect and use more complicated tool such as the glow effect, the surreal glass effect, and Photo manipulation. I am confident in to thinking that this will get me the highest grade because it will show my ability to try out different Photoshop techniques.
As my project progresses I will annotate everything to show the step by step process of my work, I will mostly annotate my best and worst and my photoshop, I will do this to get the highest grade and this will get me the highest grade because it will show my ability to talk about my work in a critical manner, this will hopefully show that I am serious about my third project and I will do anything to make it the best I can possibly do. I will seek advice from my peers and tutors about how to make my work better and I will also work on my weaknesses to get the best outcome. I will also watch tutorials for photoshop to also get a better understanding of the edit and to produce my work as highly as I can. Then I will write up a final evaluation on the project as a whole, to reflect on what went well and what didn't go well and what I will do differently next time to get the best outcome I can possibly give
Coggle
Mood Board
Other message types
Quotes Messages
Religious Messages
Hidden Messages
Inspiration photographers
Barbara Kruger
Composition
The focal point of this image is on the girl in the center on the image. This could be to show that the world is surrounding her but she has no one in it. The lighting is very dimmed and it sets the mood to be quite depressed. The soft lighting could be to show the vulnerability of the girls feelings. The photographer has clearly thought about the structure of the image. The detailed photoshops to make it seem dull and dark and giving it a classic theme from the 90's. The girl is the main focus point which is ironic as in my opinion this image is to portray how isolated she is. She then edited it saying be yourself which spreads a strong message across to the audience which motivates them. On the other hand, she is ignored by everyone. The photo is done in black and white to emphasize the theme of having no entertainment in life and given a bright red color only which she stuck with as it is in the audiences face and people who look at it find a meaning behind it.
Content
The artist has created a variety of images, there are a lot more than the ones shown here, she has a image of someone poking themselves with a pin and made it black and white, she then put bright red classic text from the 90's to demonstrate a clear message which is very clear and stands out a lot. Perhaps she does this because she wants to spread a message to the audience and help them with motivation. Maybe the meaning behind the pin image is of someone who is heartbroken and is using pain as a way of grief to get over the person.
Context
Barbara Kruger was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1945 and left there in 1964 to attend Syracuse University. Early on she developed an interest in graphic design, poetry, writing and attended poetry readings. After studying for a year at Syracuse she moved to New York where she began attending Parsons School of Design in 1965. She studied with fellow artists/photographers Diane Arbus and Marvin Israel, who introduced Kruger to other photographers and fashion/magazine sub-cultures where she created amazing images like this.
Comment
I like the key idea to this photo. The photographer has purposely used her techniques to portray this photo to its main messages. The main theme to this is very abstract. I believe that thousands of people can relate to this image. The idea of being lonely and loosing someone connecting it to pain and using the element of self harm which many people do. People who have been through hardships use many different solutions to help them and I feel as though this is a great way to portray that it is not good and putting a big bright message to help them think about themselves and distracting them is amazing. The picture is quite dull and boring but has a element of a deep meaning behind it this may have been the aim of the photographer. The meaning of this image could be to create a sense of feeling powerless.
John Cohn
Compostion
In this photograph, the photographer had taken a picture of a homeless person who was sat on the street with his dog. The picture is taken in black and white with a brown type of tint on it. The idea that its black and white could signify how there is no light and hope left in these people. There life had been destroyed as they have nothing to look up to anymore. The main focal point, the man and the dog, could show how they have nothing else in their life but what is with them. This touches the heart of a viewer as its a main struggle which many are in at this very moment. The mans face is covered with a black umbrella. This could be to show how they would cover shame. Alternatively it could be to express how shade is cast upon them from people walking by. No one has interest in helping them. The word "everyone" is aimed at everyone. There is a thin vignette border which could show how there is just pain crawling to them.
Context
Residents of a Bowery flophouse, patients in a cancer hospice, the subways of 1970s New York City, and, starting three years ago, the homeless of Manhattan.“Walking the streets I began to take notice of their signs,” he says. He’s called each sign “an introduction”—to a story, a situation, possibly a scam. “There was the physical presence of the person, and then there was what was written, what they chose to present: ‘Please help me,’ ‘God Bless,’ ‘Every little bit helps.’ One of them wrote, ‘Why lie? I need a beer.’”He walks up, his Nikon D800 hanging off his shoulder or in his camera bag. “Eye contact opens a line of communication,” Conn says, “and that opens a line of obligation, of commitment. If I’m going to communicate with someone, I have an obligation to find common ground to open up to what they’re feeling or doing. When I make eye contact I’m acknowledging that person as more than a subject. These aren’t one-way streets we’re on.”
Comment
Personally, I really like how the photographer has set out this photo. It express the situations which thousands of people have to go through continuously around the globe. The idea that the dog is in the picture really makes me feel sympathy towards this man as its the only thing he has with him. What I dont really like about the picture is that its quite simple and subtle. The picture is based on a homeless man in a background. In my opinion the background is quite boring. It doesn't show any meaning.
Connection
This connects to my theme of Messages. The homeless man with a sign shows a powerful messages to show how many people need to help the unfortunate. The outward symbol is the written message. My project will be based on powerful lost messages. The sign in this photo seems like a lost message as no one is willing to help him. It is big yet still so small to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, My photos wont be based on homeless people and messages.
In this photograph, the photographer had taken a picture of a homeless person who was sat on the street with his dog. The picture is taken in black and white with a brown type of tint on it. The idea that its black and white could signify how there is no light and hope left in these people. There life had been destroyed as they have nothing to look up to anymore. The main focal point, the man and the dog, could show how they have nothing else in their life but what is with them. This touches the heart of a viewer as its a main struggle which many are in at this very moment. The mans face is covered with a black umbrella. This could be to show how they would cover shame. Alternatively it could be to express how shade is cast upon them from people walking by. No one has interest in helping them. The word "everyone" is aimed at everyone. There is a thin vignette border which could show how there is just pain crawling to them.
Context
Residents of a Bowery flophouse, patients in a cancer hospice, the subways of 1970s New York City, and, starting three years ago, the homeless of Manhattan.“Walking the streets I began to take notice of their signs,” he says. He’s called each sign “an introduction”—to a story, a situation, possibly a scam. “There was the physical presence of the person, and then there was what was written, what they chose to present: ‘Please help me,’ ‘God Bless,’ ‘Every little bit helps.’ One of them wrote, ‘Why lie? I need a beer.’”He walks up, his Nikon D800 hanging off his shoulder or in his camera bag. “Eye contact opens a line of communication,” Conn says, “and that opens a line of obligation, of commitment. If I’m going to communicate with someone, I have an obligation to find common ground to open up to what they’re feeling or doing. When I make eye contact I’m acknowledging that person as more than a subject. These aren’t one-way streets we’re on.”
Comment
Personally, I really like how the photographer has set out this photo. It express the situations which thousands of people have to go through continuously around the globe. The idea that the dog is in the picture really makes me feel sympathy towards this man as its the only thing he has with him. What I dont really like about the picture is that its quite simple and subtle. The picture is based on a homeless man in a background. In my opinion the background is quite boring. It doesn't show any meaning.
Connection
This connects to my theme of Messages. The homeless man with a sign shows a powerful messages to show how many people need to help the unfortunate. The outward symbol is the written message. My project will be based on powerful lost messages. The sign in this photo seems like a lost message as no one is willing to help him. It is big yet still so small to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, My photos wont be based on homeless people and messages.
Quran Messages
Mock edit
I was not able to finish this as my my photoshop stopped working and I couldn't finish it.
Images of the shoot
Justin Photoshoot
From these Images I feel like the two tops ones are the best as you can see through the transparent paper and it has a strong message off agony, the image is also really focused and clear, especially the first one as it shows a part of Justin's face just how I wanted it to.
I feel as though out of all these images I like the image on the left the most as the focus is amazing and lighting and the model is posing excellently , However I don't really like the image on the right as it isn't as good as the rest in regards of lighting and model pose.
Out off all of these images I don't really like the image on the left as the cardboard which I had set up wasn't the best idea and didn't turn out to be as good as I wanted. However the image on the right has the perfect pose and lighting for a great double exposure Photoshop.
The image on the left is the best image as Justin's expression is really good and can set up for a good photoshop, however the image on the right isn't the best as Justin was not ready to take the image.
Photo Shoot Plan
For this shoot Plan my plan was to spread across a message. The message was 'nothing is promised apart from death' and I like this message. So what I'm going to do is get transparent paper and got many different types of envelopes and open them up to get the template. Then fold the transparent paper into the templates to create the envelopes. Glue the envelopes to make them and left the top open. Print out on a A4 sheet off paper the words and letters. Which I will then cut out individually and put them inside the envelopes. Also putting scissors and bloody fingerprints on the envelopes will be a good idea.
F-Stop : As I want the backdrop to be more out of focus then I will try to use different F-stops between F-stop 2 and 5.6.
White Balance: As the shoot is indoors, I will use either daylight, tungsten or fluorescent depending on the light at the time
Shutter speed: For shutter speed, unless I intend to use a tripod,I believe 1/125 would be best.
ISO: I am aiming to keep this low (100-200) as I want my images in focus without too much noise in the photo.
Also using a background ring light and a lamp for different lightings.
F-Stop : As I want the backdrop to be more out of focus then I will try to use different F-stops between F-stop 2 and 5.6.
White Balance: As the shoot is indoors, I will use either daylight, tungsten or fluorescent depending on the light at the time
Shutter speed: For shutter speed, unless I intend to use a tripod,I believe 1/125 would be best.
ISO: I am aiming to keep this low (100-200) as I want my images in focus without too much noise in the photo.
Also using a background ring light and a lamp for different lightings.
Messages Photo Shoot
Best and Worse
I really like the image on the left as it has scissors which indicate a message towards the message I want to put across, the image on the right hasnt and is also very plain and doesn't look as good
Best and Worse
The image on the left isn't clear and the envelopes are getting blown away and it isn't focused and you cant see what the message is however I like the image on the right as it has a clear message and looks presentable.
Best and Worse
I liked all these images to be honest however I liked the image on the right as it has that little message which fits the idea of my whole theme topic. Messages.
Best and Worse
I used framing along with messages and I liked the image on the right as it is focused and has a clear showcase of my envelopes. The image on the left isn't focused much and is blurry as the person holding the mirror was moving.
Best and Worse
I like the image on the left as it doesnt show the background off the light and only shows the envelopes clearly. I don't like the image on the right as you can see the backdrop and light which I didnt want. Doesn't look very professional.
Photoshop Outcomes
Steps:
Photoshop Outcome:
Tutorial
I chose this tutorial because I feel as though double exposure is a great way to spread a message across .