Week 9: Project

My focus on my work for the rest of the semester is making more theatrical photographs. This includes using interesting props and focusing on the setting and backgrounds I use. I want the photos to look complete and interesting so I really need to focus on the details in order for my photos to be successful.

I did a photo-shoot last week and continued this week. I was able to use a large range of people because I made a Facebook post and got a lot of responses from people. Everything I used in the photos were from 99ct stores in White Plains. I was able to set up backdrops using wrapping paper from the store. I wanted my photos to be ridiculous and not taken too seriously. I was able to borrow a lighting kit from CTS but after taking my photographs I found the focus was slightly off and that next time I should use a tripod.

These two photographs of Amankae and Maddy show some of the direction I want to take during the rest of the semester. There is a heavy emphasis on enhanced beauty (fake lashes, fake nails) and fake wealth. The money is actually tissues that have fake money on the plastic cover. The props I use are slightly confusing and I want to make my photographs even more confusing as I continue working.

Here is a close up of the fake nails and tissues. The focus is slightly off and I know it is because of the aperture. I should have used a tripod and more lighting next time. I want to also focus on making my photos as sharp as they can be. I have found that while pulling my film I get much better results. I still am very found of this photograph I just wish that you could be able to see the designs in the nails. I do want to use more jewelry in my future pieces. I usually photograph portraits so I want to focus on trying to take more still life photographs that still translate enough emotion or feeling a portrait does.

This last photo is really strange and that is why I included it. I used my friend Julia and put this odd ski mask I had and pulled her hair through it. It is really off-putting but that is why I think it works as a photograph. I like the direction the photo-shoot went because I did not put too much planning into it. I bought all the props and had them laid out on my table so I could easily access them and would randomly pick and chose as the shoot went on. By the end of the days of the photo-shoot the photos would get really odd. I think that was the best way to plan the photo-shoot since so many people were involved I as able to do whatever I wanted and use the props in odd ways.  I want to continue doing photo-shoots for the rest of the semester. I am much happier with my photos when I plan something out.