Shoot 2- Work record

Basic information:
Date: 21/04/16
Camera used: College macro camera
Props or subject: Subject
Editing software: Photoshop CC 2014
Camera settings: 1/200, F11, ISO 200

Shoot plan:
In this shoot I will be using a macro lens and table top shoot set up in order to capture a variety of different scenes composed from toy soldiers and makeup products in the studio against a white backdrop with a table top set up.

Aims for this shoot:
My aims for this shoot are to focus on the way in which many women feel the need to conform to societies standards of beauty in order to succeed and be successful in society.

I will be using a high F stop of F11 in order to create depth to my images and make them more interesting to the viewer.  I will also be using a white backdrop in order to make the props stand out and a macro lens to provide enhanced detail and otherwise unattainable close up shots.

I have been heavily influenced by the work of Slinkachu as he photographs miniature figurines in his own distinctive style which make his images striking and intriguing. The use of human sized props creates and intriguing and dynamic element to his images which engages the viewer fully.  I have attempted to create a more socially charged interpretation of Slinkachu's work by incorporating military figurines opposed to civilian figurines.

I have also been influenced by Phebe Schmidt and her use of iconography in her images in order to create a bold series which make the viewer question they beliefs on the subject matter at hand.  Schmidt's work is extremely striking due to it's somewhat controversial subject matter for example a shirtless woman carrying two glasses of milk on a tray which cover her breasts.  Images like this stick with the viewer and make the think about the issue which the images was focusing on after they have stopped looking at the image.

This series is of course focused on shoot 3 from my preparatory shots "Battleground beauty".  I chose to revisit this shoot concept as it was one of my favourite shoots and I wished to explore the ideas which I had laid out in my work records progression section such as experimenting with more dynamic composition.  I feel that if I focus on composition particularly in this shoot that I will gain a high calibre and striking series.

Outcome of this shoot:
This shoot was successful as I was to create a string series of images due to my reference to the progression notes from my previous attempt at a shoot of this style and set up.  I feel that these images are of a higher quality then those which I created for "Battleground beauty" and for this reason I fee that this shoot has been a success.

When editing these images I first cropped the images so that the subject matter was in the images centre and then proceeded to increase the images brightness and contrast and to increase the images saturation as well as decreasing the images lightness before altering the images curves.  For more information on the images editing process visit the blog post Shoot 2 process.


Favourite image:

I like this image because of the way that the images composition engages the viewer through the use dynamic composition and the fact that each element on the image has a different tone, height or shape which creates an interesting image.

The use of the macro lens has enabled me to create a very detailed image with interesting textures this is particularly noticeable on the plastic of the toy soldiers and the shattered eye-shadow palettes.

Denotation: This image is of toy soldiers fighting in a landscape made from makeup supplies.

Connotation: This image represents the way that some women may feel that they are fighting a war against societies rigid beauty standards and the way that they are pressured into looking and acting a certain way in order to be deemed "beautiful".

Context: This image is culturally relevant now due to the fact that people are beginning to move away from the rigid ways in which society tells them to express themselves and are becoming more free in their personal expression whether that be through makeup or otherwise.

Least favourite image:

I dislike this image due to the war in which the soldier in the images background is focused opposed to the soldier in the images foreground, this was a result of the use of a high F stop of F11 and whilst I desired to add depth to the image this is not what I hoped to achieve.

I also dislike the positioning of the soldiers as the lack of props in the shot make the image appear somewhat empty.  I feel that the use of sleeker mascara brush may have helped the image as the toy soldiers face is blocked out and I feel like the removal of the soldiers face removes some of the personality from the image.

Denotation: This image depicts two toy soldiers carrying a mascara brush.

Connotation: This image depicts the way that some people struggle under the weight and social pressure of societies pre-defined beauty standards and may struggle to break free from societies constraints.

Context: The social context for this image is that even though people are beginning to take more authority over their appearance through gender expression many still feel trapped by societies harsh beauty standards and to some it can seem like a war.