New York

On the 8th our course took a trip to New York, it was a good few days of Dan dragging me around the streets and the subway and a chance to eat nothing but pizza and cheese burgers for every meal! The main objective however was to meet a couple of photographers and take our own pictures! We met Platon and Phil Toledano who were really inspiring to have talks from.

Balloon Breakfast!

I think this photograph is whimsical, fun and totally gnarly! The plate was commissioned to be made and the breakfast created from balloons! At first I wasn't sure what was going on but when I realized I was amazed! I love the green gingham background as it adds a busyness to the simplicity of the subject. By having an arm left in your see how it was created! I love photos like this! I wish I had thought of it!

Patterns

Steven Meisel: Vogue Patterns

Sebastian Faena: Pop True Faith

At the moment I am quite interested in photographs which blend into the background, looking through Art and Commerce I found a variety of photos that really inspired me. The first is Steven Meisel, his Vogue Pattern editorial is really interesting and feminine. I like the way it takes you through these different colours and well thought out materials, especially here as her dress flows out onto the floor. The women are transformed into the material, their skin is drawn on to with stars and pin-up girl like tattoos which really interests me. I find these photos indulgent, elegant and stunning to look at as they do something that traditionally shouldn't work.

The second image is by Sebastian Faena for Pop Truth Faith, I love how it is the complete opposite to Meisel. I find the image nude, the colours are all very similar skin tones and the model blends into the attire she is wearing. The idea is the model is dressed up like a nun, then conflicting that idea by the implement of nudity. I believe it has some relation to the concepts of rock 'n' roll as she model has a quiff, I find this interesting as the 'bad boys' of rock 'n' roll who celebrated sexuality and ended the age of innocence. Perhaps it is saying true faith is that rock 'n' roll life style. The nude colours could connote sex, the cigarette being drugs and the hair style rock 'n' roll?

Richard Burnbridge

At the moment I am trying to think of ideas for new projects. I want to get into taking fashion images, I have always been interested in looking at them but never confident enough to do it. I am therefore looking at different fashion photographers and how they are taking them! I am more interested in the posing and how to make my photos look professional and beautiful! This photograph caught my eye when researching. I love the movement in her body and hands and how her head is still. The photo itself does not really inspire me but the pose and idea of movement does.

Storm Troopers

On Flickr I found a load of photos by somebody called Stefan! He's not a professional photographer but I found so many of his photos funny and interesting, especially this one (probably because I love the colour red). I think I am being draw to quite simple yet well thought out ideas, such as the balloon breakfast! I love how all of these are just him setting them up and taking the photo! Rather than something unbelievable in photoshop!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/st3f4n/page3/

Ian Crawford

I looked at Crawford's work when exploring ideas for my DISP project. I especially liked this one. His work explores texture and freezing movement, all whilst the models are beautiful and unnerved by whatever is hitting them! I love the shape of this one and the way he has captured that moment the powder hits her face. It amazes me how it has been captured and really opens my eyes to new ideas!

Paolo Roversi

I have always adored Paolo Roversi's work and in the current essay I am writing I discovered I found truth in photos that had a behind the scenes feel. This is what draws me to this image. I love how it turns this 'fake' fashion shot into something real, a real moment showing a real person, not just a well lit, well dressed model. I assume the stool is where she would be sitting for the shoot, it is like this photograph is defying that contrived fashion. I find a lot of his work is like that and this inspires me.

Hello Kitty Lady Gaga

After my last post I was interested in finding other photos based on cartoons. After a google search I found this, Lady Gaga for Hello Kitty. Hey eyes have been photoshopped to manga very well so they almost look real. To me it is quite unnerving, he blank stare contrasted with the glamour of the image. It is surreal, but interesting! The bow is wonderful on her Monroe style hair and the gold behind her illuminates her like a goddess. I'm still not sure if i'm a Gaga fan, I think she's just something to be jealous over rather than idolise, she's something you'll never be and its quite depressing. She does bring alot of inspritation for photographic ideas, as her style becomes recognised and liked, giving opotunities to create something that will be liked by the masses.

Lichtenstein

Again looking through Illusion 360 I found another amazing idea! For halloween Mac looks at creating different make up ideas, one being the Lichtenstein girl! I think you see alot of Litchenstein's work and not enough people use it in a way like this. I love the colours of her hair and it is something I could easily try and re-create in the future!

Lumix

This is my final image for my DISP project, I shot my model in the studio and ink droplets on location and then put them all together in photoshop. It was like making a dress, knowing where to place each part of ink. I then took out the studio background and added a wall, then placing layers and layers of low opacity ink drops over the dress and background. I was mostly happy with this, however I think there is still work I could do to it. It is something I would like to do again, maybe with other materials.


Also today on Illusion 360 I saw this photograph, although the idea is not original I think it works really well here. The tag line is "If it has a face we will find it. Lumix with Face Recognition. Find and highlights your face in the pictures" Telling the consumer that this camera will find you in the photograph! Although from experience I cannot personally understand this function on cameras like this (its rubbish!) I love the advert and the eye peaking through!

Seth Sabal

When planning a photoshoot with my friend Sarah, a make up artist, she told me about a photographer who makes their models skinnier in photoshop. Although Sabal has created some controversy with this concept I think his photos are beautiful. The models are stunning and the lighting could realistically recreated. His photographs really inspire me and I want to incorporate his style in my upcoming projects! Making the models skinnier is in my mind a good idea, although fashion is criticized for doing it perhaps it would make my photos more professional?