Here's the result of the latest photoshoot. Inspired by another photograph from National Geographic. This time a polar fox with a pray in its mouth.
No feedback yet.
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Becoming-animal #06
Here's the result of the latest photoshoot. Inspired by another photograph from National Geographic. This time a polar fox with a pray in its mouth.
No feedback yet.
Becoming-domesticated #05
Idea for this image is based on a photograph of a polar bear from the National Geographic magazine. The bear is casually tearing away bloody flesh and bones from a carcass while staring directly to the camera with a dreamy look in its eyes. I found it very inspiring.
The image was deemed too empty, though. "The 'animal' looks perfect, but the human part does not clash enough with the animal. The table, plate, cutlery and the light switch are not enough to bring the animal to the focus. This image needs something more." I was even suggested to try something comical like having someone handing me a napkin or just sitting next to me at the table. Perhaps even change the location to some very typically cluttered home full of human presents. Then the animal would contrast more.
So I went away and made some alterations.
Here's Tom's comment:
Good job! I like the alterations you've made but I'd like to see a lot
more! The wall is looking much better, it sticks out less now than it
did before because it is becoming more believable that the animal in
the picture (!) actually lives in this space - the human aspects of
the phone and the teatowels develop more narrative potential as they
suggest that humans live/lived in the space. Remember what Daniel said
about stories! If I were to suggest anything it would be to do a lot
more - maybe add something to the upper middle of the wall (it still
looks a bit bare) and the table still looks a bit empty: Maybe some
salt and pepper grinders and placemats or something? I still think the
key to adding contrast is to make this image look as homely as
possible: isn't that why we love horror films, when the domestic we
are all used to is shattered by the unnerving and unusual? Not that
this is about horror film aesthetics but you could take influence from
that tension in contrast.
The image was deemed too empty, though. "The 'animal' looks perfect, but the human part does not clash enough with the animal. The table, plate, cutlery and the light switch are not enough to bring the animal to the focus. This image needs something more." I was even suggested to try something comical like having someone handing me a napkin or just sitting next to me at the table. Perhaps even change the location to some very typically cluttered home full of human presents. Then the animal would contrast more.So I went away and made some alterations.
Here's Tom's comment:Good job! I like the alterations you've made but I'd like to see a lot
more! The wall is looking much better, it sticks out less now than it
did before because it is becoming more believable that the animal in
the picture (!) actually lives in this space - the human aspects of
the phone and the teatowels develop more narrative potential as they
suggest that humans live/lived in the space. Remember what Daniel said
about stories! If I were to suggest anything it would be to do a lot
more - maybe add something to the upper middle of the wall (it still
looks a bit bare) and the table still looks a bit empty: Maybe some
salt and pepper grinders and placemats or something? I still think the
key to adding contrast is to make this image look as homely as
possible: isn't that why we love horror films, when the domestic we
are all used to is shattered by the unnerving and unusual? Not that
this is about horror film aesthetics but you could take influence from
that tension in contrast.
Adding the human detail
Feedback from 12th of June's seminar went something like this:
The 'home' images are lacking contrast between the animal and the human. Human homes are not pristine and clean like on my images. Humans are messy and my locations lack detail. The animal part of the image is very good, though.
So I went on a little guest. Had another photoshoot and added a detail to the previous images. Just to see how it works. I also got rid of the leaves' shadows on the wall. Here are the edited images:
I reintroduced the kitchen towel, the glass bowl and a drinking glass drying on the side of the sink and the radiator in the bottom right corner.
The clothes' drying rack and the electricity box were not on the image before.
On this one I've only added the jigsaw puzzle of 'School of Athena' on the wall.
The 'home' images are lacking contrast between the animal and the human. Human homes are not pristine and clean like on my images. Humans are messy and my locations lack detail. The animal part of the image is very good, though.
So I went on a little guest. Had another photoshoot and added a detail to the previous images. Just to see how it works. I also got rid of the leaves' shadows on the wall. Here are the edited images:
I reintroduced the kitchen towel, the glass bowl and a drinking glass drying on the side of the sink and the radiator in the bottom right corner.
The clothes' drying rack and the electricity box were not on the image before.
On this one I've only added the jigsaw puzzle of 'School of Athena' on the wall.
Friday, 1 May 2009
More images and feedback
Here are some more images that I've created in the same series of 'becoming-domesticated' and 'becoming-wild'.
Here's one showing the creature making a nest out of all things human.
And here are three more images from the park sessions. I experimented with other people as well, so the first one is with Victor. For some reason it seems that all the outdoor animals become monkeys. I'm not entirely happy with the lighting conditions. On all the days it was very sunny and beautiful, which is a nightmare for this project. If I want to use these image sin the final show, I will have to go an re-photograph them on a cloudy day. London is not what it used to be. It's sunny almost every day now!
Feedback from this week's seminar:
I explained the two sets of images as different yet connected in the meaning. Some saw it as a narrative. An animal is indoors, at home and then gets out and goes to explore the world. I should explore that more and shoot in different locations like the tube or the bus or the street to show the creature in an "unfamiliar" situation. I guess it's something to think about. Personally I still think of these images as two different avenues to take.
Apparently, I've reached a new starting point and the project should take another big leap now towards something new. They are really pushing this development agenda. At the same time I am thinking of going back to the animated portrait, but use a better image for that.
Here's one showing the creature making a nest out of all things human.
And here are three more images from the park sessions. I experimented with other people as well, so the first one is with Victor. For some reason it seems that all the outdoor animals become monkeys. I'm not entirely happy with the lighting conditions. On all the days it was very sunny and beautiful, which is a nightmare for this project. If I want to use these image sin the final show, I will have to go an re-photograph them on a cloudy day. London is not what it used to be. It's sunny almost every day now!
Feedback from this week's seminar:
I explained the two sets of images as different yet connected in the meaning. Some saw it as a narrative. An animal is indoors, at home and then gets out and goes to explore the world. I should explore that more and shoot in different locations like the tube or the bus or the street to show the creature in an "unfamiliar" situation. I guess it's something to think about. Personally I still think of these images as two different avenues to take.
Apparently, I've reached a new starting point and the project should take another big leap now towards something new. They are really pushing this development agenda. At the same time I am thinking of going back to the animated portrait, but use a better image for that.
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