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[practicalcp3]

POSITIONING STATEMENT

I’m working on creating a platform for young British girls buy exploring a range of northern female subcultures, such as girl groups and individual teenagers aged between 15- 16. I’m doing this because when I’ve considered other photographers that are appropriate to my context, they have had a voyeuristic take on their work. Like American Apparel for example. When I’ve looked back at my own and friend’s sketchbooks, I remembered how much pressure there was to conform to sexual activities and I want to portray a positive, honest message of girl empowerment rather than just sex. I’m aiming my platform at young girls by including teen models and I’m going to use relatable fashion and people. 

I also want to raise other themes that are current in today’s youth to make it relatable to teenagers. I feel that when I was 16, my peers were closed minded towards gender, sexuality and culture, where as I’ve found when speaking to my 16 year old sister that her peers are much more open minded towards her sexuality. I defiantly want to push the open mindedness in current British societies. I feel that a film will be the most appropriate, as I can create a narrative to the individual’s stories, yet I don’t what to distract the viewer from the fashion.

The final outcome for my extended practice is going to be a zine publication with a series of photos. I’m going to create videos that let the viewer understand more about the subject. With the corresponding theme is going to be female empowerment because I wish I was more exposed to positive images of other girls that weren’t sexualised when I was younger. I’m going to create films along side the shoots with a narrative approach.

[practicalcp3]

CONSTANT LIGHTING

I forgot to post this when I did it, but I planned to have a constant lighting induction with Matt Burton because I thought it would be useful knowledge for COP3. He showed us different lighting styles and how to used the equipment.  

Typed notes :

Tripod should be eye level with the subject, unless you are looking at different styles of compositions but basic set up is with it at eye level. 

Lights- You want to make the lighting look are realistic as you want, trying to recreate the sun. The ‘key’ light is what is your ‘sun’ (main light) 

The bounce light it indirect lighting, which lights the subject.

Fill lighting, is what fills the areas out where the sun isn’t lighting or if its creatign unwanted shadows. 

3/4 back lighting : light being shown at the back of the subject from 3/4 of the back. Use the reflector to fill the subject.

Edge Lighting- half lighting/ face. outlines the subject from the background. 

Erase the background with lighting . 

3 point lighing - all three together

Think about the time of day you are wanting to present. SHADOWS. 

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The aim of this mock up was to experiment before creating a final product. I wanted to create a film, which young girls could relate and respond to. I wanted it to include a narrative

For extended practice I want to create a zine, with photos and i want to make videos of behind the shoot so that the viewer can understand more about the subject. I feel that i have achieved a relatable fashion film that has catered to the openminded-ness with a positive outlook.

What have I learnt from the project? 

Through the brief I have tried to do everything myself. I have now come to realize that I don’t want to take the photos myself and that I’m going to collaborate with photographers. I think that it has helped me doing this by myself though because I feel that now I understand every aspect which will help me to direct a photographer. I have learnt from doing my mini shoots that I need to be prepared with poses and what I actually want.

[practicalcp3]

This is the raw audio from the convocation that I had with Alice. I wrote her a script (In my journal). 

I had a few problems with recording this audio, initially i plugged my voice recorder into my mac and tired to change the mic from the laptop to the recorder. I then proceeded to record our convocation to the realise that the clip was incredibly tinny and not very good quality. 

So i had to reshoot with the recorder, after having about 5 minute conversation that I thought was now recording (in better quality) I realised that we had not pressed the recording button. SO I had to shoot again and this time I got the final audio. I wanted to cut up the conversation and add in some back ground noise. 

I really like the way that it was like a conversation, and how it sounds and is intended to be personal to the subject. This audio is in place to really allow the viewers to understand the subject. 

(I can’t upload two audios in one post, so I haven’t posted the first attempt that was bad quality)

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Chelsea MuMullan considers the Female Gaze in the way that we dress and present ourselves as women. I really like the concept and also the way that this film has been executed.

MuMullan  has interviewed women about the female gaze and and then montarged their voices together to represent the way real women understand this topic. She has filmed the streets in america, she has filmed women just going about their daily lives. Her casting call for this project was ‘any age, any body type, any ethnicity’ and this is shown throughout the film. It gives a positive feeling to the viewer, which is something that I want to portray in my film. I want to use the same effect so that the film is relatable. 

“If the male gaze wants to possess, or overcome a fear of, women, then what do I want?”

Many of us admire strangers especially people that are interested in fashion yet it’s that mutual appreciation as you walk past someone. I find that being a women we obsess, judge and compare ourselves to other women on the street and on social media.

“If the male gaze wants to possess, or overcome a fear of, women, then what do I want?” McMullan, a self-proclaimed film nerd. “I think I want to be other women, to feel what it would be like to change bodies; to have a different hair texture, eye color, or body shape; to see myself through the eyes of another”

I love the diversity in this film, I love how it has a positive effect on the viewer and I want to embrace this in my film. I looked at this film to influence my script and it has given me the idea to question my subject to see what her response to the issues in the industry.

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EDITING

This was a brief edit of my final film..

The main problems that I found when it came to editing the footage was that the WB was off on the camera and I hadn’t exposed the camera right. Because of the lighting in the fitting room I found it really guard to get the right camera settings on the back of the camera. I have personally found that throughout his module I have developed my camera skills but this low lighting isn’t something i’ve worked with before. I tried to soot at the lowest iso so that the footage wouldn't go grainy when i exposed it more in premier pro.

For this footage I changed the exposer and i had to change the Whit balance because the footage was too warm and orangey.

I have practiced with premier pro throughout this brief and i feel that I am more confident at the editing process than I am with the actual shooting. 

[practicalcp3]

STILLS

I feel that my photos here that are showing the styling really portray my concept. The styling really shows the viewer what I want them to know and I think that if this was shot professionally that the styling would really communicate what I want to say. The styling isn’t sexualised in the slightest and it all resembles a child like theme, automatically making the veiwer nostalgic. 

I like this stance, but I think for the final shoot i want the camera to be eye level. Although i’ve spoken about the compositing and how I want it to be looking down on the subject, now I have tested it I have learnt that that is wrong. 

When I was a teenager because I was small i felt like I was never seen as an equal and people even peers would belittle me, and that is what the camera is doing here, it is belittling the subject. The camera needs to be eye level, and equal. 

Dungarees: Black, Whinnie the Pooh, Urban Renewal. 

Top: Orange stripe. Co-oporative. 

 love this outfit, I think it’s really childlike and playful. This personally reminds me of a toddler, but anyone that is old enough to remember, this would remind them of late 80′s early 90′s when dungarees were popular. These cord dungarees were in the Urban Renewal collection, which is vintage clothes that have been revamped. This range is very popular with teenagers, personally I would estimate the average buyer for urban Renewal would be between 14-19 It is possible that these dungarees could be from the 80′s.

I love how they have whinnie the pooh on them, I think it enforced the adolescence that i’m aiming to achieve. 

Clip, I used to wear clips like this all the time. So this is personal nostaligia 

This outfit was one of my favourites. As she has a little collar pooping out from under the jumper which automatically influences the viewer to think of a school uniform. I love the colours in this picture. I also chose to incorporate slippers because this outfit reminds me of a pupil that has just got home, if she is more casual in her pose. Skirt, collar and jumper, then with some slippers thrown in, I think that this makes me think of someone who has just got home and then wanted to get a little more comfortable so she's put her slippers on.

[practicalcp3]

LOCATION SHOTS

When I did my mock up film  I

I really like these stairs and i love the lighting here because of the big windows, so it might be an option to shoot on the stairs. I like who the paint has chipped off them.

  I like the lighting here as there is an open window, but I don't think the black rain really compliments the couch. 

I love this ares, I love the wall and I love the couches. It would be an option to put hangings on the walls to make it look more homely and relatable. 

The only issue with this area is that there are spotlights on the ceiling, which cannot be turned off, so this is something that i am doing to show the photographer to see if we can work around it to create a nice natural lighting. 

I love this wall, but its the same and the couched area, it is light by spotlights over the mirror which would me it incredibly difficult to photograph a natural lighting. 

I might have to reconsider the location for the shoot, but If i’m going to do that i’m defiantly going to get a stylist in to take the load off me and the pressure.

[practicalcp3]

PLANNING FINAL SHOOT

I have contacted a student photographer to shoot the final Photoshoot. I created some quick board to send him, so that he understood the concept and also the photographic style that I want to achieve through the aesthetics of my work. 

This is the mood board that i did for the photography style. Looking at compositions, lighting and vibe. I love the natural lighting with this, and as i have mentioned this first shoot is going to have to be inside due to the weather being so unreliable. Although I’m shooting indoors, Ben has suggested that we can make the lighting look natural, which I think could look really good. 

This is arranging to meet up to talk about the shoot, he is going to look at the location on Saturday 16th of January to see if it’s suitable and to see what he can do with the lighting.

I have done some model research and looking at how to go about sourcing a model because this is something that I have never don't before.

Eliza:

This model would be perfect for the shoot, as she looks really young, and I think she looks weirdly pretty. I have emailed her to see what her availability is and to see how much she charges. 

[practicalcp3]

FILM PLAN

STORY BOARD

Mock - up

This is a rough sketch of a few clips that I want to show in my film. 

This film is just going to be a mock up of a what I’m aiming to achieve. I’m going to go and shoot on the location so that I can see what the lighting is like in the rooms that I’m wanting to use. 

Throughout the footage I want to show close ups of the garments, so that the viewer doesn’t get distracted by the narrative of the film. I want to show that the model is aware that the camera is there, as I do not want any vouyeristic elements to the subject. I want the model to look directly at the camera, responding to different positions. I also want the camera to be looking down on the model as this is representing a child. 

Storyboard explanation :

 Top of head, which is representing the thoughts/narrative is personal to the subject.

The odd socks are responding to the anti-sterotypes that I am aiming to achieve in the styling. I also want to focus on the shoes as the model is walking around on the wood floor because I feel that this will have nice aesthetic with the film.

The model looking directly at the camera, being aware and confident with it being there. 

Close ups of the clothes so that the viewers cannot get distracted by the narrative. 

I have done position mood boards of how I want the model to pose on set.

I want the first part of the film is to not show the models face so that the narrative and the clothes are what the viewer is focusing on. 

I want the final film to be a behind the scenes of a photo shoot, I want to show the photographer and the subject being photographed, with the narrative of the model over the top. Although the film wont be relatable to the model, the narrative will be personal to the model and with this the viewer can relate more to the photos that are being taken on the shoot. It will give the photos more depth and understanding.

[practicalcp3]

SCANNED IN

These are some scanned in images that I have created. These are experiments with the imaged that I have taken. I wanted them to have a scrap book feel to them.

I aim to create a zine for extended practice so I might make a mini mock - up zine to display these experiments.

Stickers: Child like

Flowers : Feminine

This one is my favourite illustration and I want to work into this digitally and then display it in a zine. I think the felt tip colour looks really effective once it’s been scanned into the computer and I want to develop these further. Maybe make them into moving images, with a graphic element. I think this could be really effective.

[practicalcp3]

STYLING TESTER

Here I am trying different outfits from clothes that I own. I took photos of myself to I could analysis the different garments. 

I have spoken to the store manager at Urban Outfitters and he has agreed to let me shoot in store, and to use their stock. So I will be using their clothes for the styling. Which is really good and usually I struggle with sourcing garments for shoots that I do.

Jacket: UNIF x Urban Outfitters, pink puffer coat. Striped T-shirt: Comme Des Garcon. Denimn Skirt : Urban Outfitters.

I link this outfit, but I feel like it’s too casual, yet i think that this outfit might look good on the shoot and I really like the colour of the skirt in photograph. 

Nike Jumper, Sports Direct. Dungarees, Denim: Asos. Shoe: Adiadas Stan Smith (Pink).

I really like this outfit, I feel like it’s really relatable as dungarees are in currently, which I think is relatable to younger people. It’s hard to imagine what the outfits will look like on shoot, but i think this one could work with a taller model and I love how casual it looks. 

Dress: Denim, black, Topshop. T-shirt: Comme Des Garcon, stripped. 

This dress reminds me of a pinny which you’d wear in primary school, I really like this outfit, maybe not for the shoot though I think it’s too simple. 

Jacket : UNIF x Urban Outfitters, pink. Dress: Topshop. Jumper: Nike, Sports Direct.

Skirt: Denim, Black, Urban Outfitters. Jumper, Nike. Hat: Vintage

This outfit was one of my favourites, I tried to incorporate school wear into the outfit, as the skirt remind me of a school skirt. I then added some black socks which gave the same effect. 

- This outfit reminded me of when I used to get in from school and throw on half comfy and half still school ware, so i’d end up lounging around in my school skit and a hoodie which i’d thrown on. I think it also have the sports/P.e style to it which is something that I could develop on. 

Skirt: Leapord Print, Topshop. Socks: Topshop  

Top : Vintage 

I love this outfit, I think how simple it is could really work well on the location. I don’t want the fashion to be too weird as I want the viewer to be able to relate to it. 

Top : Topshop, Tea and Biscuits. Jeans, Vintage Levis 505s. 

I found this test really useful to see how the garments photographed and fit. It’s hard to imagine what they will look like on shoot but its a step in the right direction. The only thing with shooting with garments that  i own is that they don't look polished, and clean (even though they are) I think when I do my shoot i’d rather work with new clothes from the store and also sourcing new clothes, which is hard because I’ve been looking at vintage items to style my shoots with.

[practicalcp3]

STYLING BOARDS

These are my styling boards, based around the key words, Anti-stereotypes , Masculine, School styling, Sportswear and Colour. 

I have created these initial mood boards to show my influence through styling. After looking at soft pop and the macro trend I have created these boards, and also these pinterest boards 

https://uk.pinterest.com/livraejohnson/as-photog/ - Photopraphy

https://uk.pinterest.com/livraejohnson/as-stylin/ - Styling 

I have used graph paper, which reminds me of being in school and also taking reference from Benjamin Craven

[practicalcp3]

LOCATION

I would preferably like to shoot the film outside, however, the weather at this time of year is too unreliable and dull to plan a big shoot. I have been looking at different locations that might be suitable to shoot as I don’t want to shoot in the studio.

I work at Urban Outfitters in Leeds, so I  am going to speak to my manager to see if I could use the shop while there’s no body in. 

Urban Outfitters  is an appropriate brand for this project and I feel that the aesthetics of the shot could work really well for my final shoot. I want the location to be somewhere that the viewer can relate to. 

[practicalcp3]

POSES

I have found when i’ve done shoots before that if i’m not organised with what poses I want the models to do then it can all go wrong, especially as i find it incredibly hard to express myself. So i think it would be better to show visuals, I have created a couple of mood boards for how I want the model to sit in the final shoot.

The poses are very relaxed and natural. Although my concept is very girly I wanted to contrast that with some ‘masculine’ stances. The top board reminds me of how a man would sit, however, my model and styling is going to be extremely feminine so the contrast should be interesting. 

Even though the bottom two photos in the mood board, the models are looking away this isn’t what i want for the shoot. I want the model to be looking at the camera, so that she is responding to the camera showing that she is aware that it’s there. i think this is very important for my work as I am working with young females. I want them to look confident and comfortable.  

[practicalcp3]

FILM PROPOSAL

What am I going to do :

I’m going to create a film that creates a platform for young British girls to relate to, I want to capture the the identity of young girls, without sexualising the subject. I was to raise the themes that girl worry about when they are 14-15 and I think it’s really important to educate girls with a realistic view, because the media is full of fake women that young girls are aspiring to be like. But this cannot be achieved. i want to help young girls set goals that are achievable. 

How am I going to do it :

I’m going to organise a shoot, where there will be a photographer that is shooting the subject and I am going to create a behind the scenes film so that the viewer can truly understand the model and it will give the viewer a narrative to the shoot. I want to in the future create a zine, but expand on each photo shoot with a film.

What problems might I face:

I’m going to create a mock-up first to text the location and also myself. I want to do the mock - up so that i’m preparing myself for the photo shoot. As I will be directing I think one of the main problems will be that I will give myself too much to do, directing the photographer, model, hair, make up, and styling. I think that this could be too much and not get the best outcome that I want for my shoot, so I might try and get more people on board with the shoot. Maybe a stylist? 

[practicalcp3]

NARRATIVE

CHOCHENG Presents The Art of 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' 

This was another film that I saw at Aesthetica Short Film Festival. This film is another example of the use of narrative within a fashion film.

Unlike Driver I think that the narrative helps the viewer focus more on the fashion and understand the clothing involved, using words and phrases like ‘Flare, Line & Elegance, Colour, Shape and composition’. I believe that the narrative helps the viewer to focus more on the fashion. 

Here they have used close ups of the garments and the use of colour to show communicate the identity, which i think has been done really well.