Interim images

The two images below are what I have submitted for the interim deadline.  Although they are not ideally what I want, they still show the early developments of the brief and of my ideas.

I edited down and chose the image above because I feel it works better than ones where she is smiling.  There is more a look of worry or concern about her face, which I feel is more visually interesting.  The crop is also better than most of the other images, as her full face is central to the frame and is the main focus.

With the image below, I chose it because his expression is a far more animated one than it is in some of the others.  It is quite an interesting outcome, however there are many aspects of both images that need to be worked on.

I need to define more what it is that I want my subjects to do, how I want them to react and respond.  I also need to change the lighting; make it not so flat, and more striking.

First experiments

The images here are from my experimental first shoot, where I simply wanted to play around and get a feel for my idea.  They are only preliminary shots, and the models I have used are not going to be used for any final images.

For the shoot I wanted to see what reactions I could get out of my subjects, and so I chose to project a slideshow of images in front of them.  The slideshows each contained 4 images that changed every 45 seconds, and lasted for a total of 3 minutes.  Of the 4 images shown, the first 3 were of the subject that was viewing them, and the final one was a shocking image of pornography.  I wanted to show them these images to see if they would become uncomfortable at what they were seeing.  

The models were unaware of what was going to happen, told only to stand in front of the projection screen for the 3 minute duration.  I thought that this would keep them unprepared, helping to achieve a more honest reaction.

As you can see from the images above, and the contact sheet below, I did not achieve the results that I wanted.  There is too much humor in the face of my subject and he is too relaxed, which is most likely because we know each other.  I feel also that the images I projected in front of him were not at all effective, and to be more successful in the future I will need to re-think what I am going to show people.

Again with my second model, I didn't seem to achieve the results or reactions that I wanted.  For the same reasons it didn't work, and I really need to re-think what I am going to show people, and re-define what it is that I want to get out of my subjects.

There are some interesting results where she appears to be more shocked with a blank expression over her face, however I feel that these only came about through chance.

Another thing I need to address is how I am going to technically construct my images in the future.  These are only tests, and it is clear that I need to become more competent in the studio.  I need to find a way to make the images more exciting, and really find the best way to show how my subjects are reacting.

Ideas

So at this early stage I know that I want to continue experimenting with how people react to situations they are placed in. To move on from the previous brief, I this time want to really shock my subjects so that they express strong emotion in the photographs. This will be far more interesting for me and also look much better in an image.
A lot will depend on what I show, or do to my subjects when looking for particular reactions. For example if I were to show them grotesque images, then they would most likely look disgusted and scared. And if I were to show images of a sexual nature, such as pornography, then the reaction could again be one of disgust or instead one of humor and embarrassment.

There are so many varying factors to take into consideration if I am to progress with this idea. Firstly I think it would be a good idea to experiment with some simple situations to place people in and capture those. Also I need to look at how I am going to technically construct my images, taking into consideration elements such as lighting, composition and framing.

So to begin with I am going to ask my subjects to view images that are projected in front of them, and at regular intervals I will capture how they are responding/reacting.

Following on...

As we are asked to follow on from the previous unit, I thought that it would be a good idea to look initially at some of my final images from that project.

With these images, I wanted to explore peoples reactions to being placed in a dark room.  I was interested in capturing these various reactions and facial expressions that different people had when being in the situation they were in.

This idea/concept is something that I find particularly interesting, and for this unit it would be good to explore new ways in which to evoke a reaction and then capture it.

These images have quite a dark feel to them, which I expect the images in the new assignment will not have.  I will also have to improve technically, as the images here are not quite correct with my exposures and focusing slightly out.

Briefing

So this is the last brief I will receive, which is entitled 'Synergy'.

We are asked in this assignment to follow on from seamlessly from unit 303, which was concerned with finding a personal theme.  The work must progress and come together in the end to form a final piece/body.

As another part of the assignment, we are asked to prepare ourselves for the industry by completing a marketing package and making a professional portfolio.  This should be aimed at where I want to go with my photography, and where I see myself when I leave university.

We have only 8 weeks for this final major project, and it is going to be very difficult to fit everything in alongside working towards the two exhibitions at the end of term.

However it should be an interesting assignment as it will allow me to explore and experiment with some of the ideas I had towards the end of the previous unit.