FMS404ShootingBeauty: Research

Showing posts with label Research. Show all posts

Bibliography

ANON., n.d. 1940s lipstick kisses to servicemen | Glamourdaze[viewed 4 February 2016]. Available from: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/161918549074863422/

ANON., n.d. ADS: Givenchy [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwim5ZCi5ZXMAhXJ1RQKHbybBREQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F7810999329557475%2F&psig=AFQjCNGhvh6bOt8nkHdwaBeRQoztslIq3w&ust=1460986371466364

ANON., n.d. Art + commerce - artists - photographers - Craig McDean [viewed 18 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.artandcommerce.com/artists/photographers/Craig-McDean/bio

ANON., n.d. Art + commerce - artists - photographers - Steven Meisel[viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.artandcommerce.com/artists/photographers/steven-meisel/bio

ANON., n.d. Chic-gothic-glamour: Ruby aldridge and arizona muse by craig mcdean for vogue italia september 2011 [viewed 18 April 2016]. Available from: http://visualoptimism.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/chic-gothic-glamour-ruby-aldridge-and.html

DUNAND, N., 2015. Une nouvelle publicité Dior crée la polémique. In: 28 September 2015 [viewed 20 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.ma-cigarette.fr/une-nouvelle-publicite-dior-cree-la-polemique/

FEUDI, M., n.d. Givenchy spring 2016 ready-to-wear fashion show beauty [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/givenchy/slideshow/beauty#23

ANON., n.d. Givenchy spring 2016 ready-to-wear fashion show[viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/givenchy/slideshow/collection

HIX, L., 2015. How a makeup mogul liberated women by putting them in a pretty new cage [viewed February 2016]. Available from: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/how-a-makeup-mogul-liberated-women-by-putting-them-in-a-pretty-new-cage/

Italian vogue beauty editorial, 2016 . Vimeo

JANE, S., n.d. [viewed 4 February 2016]. Available from: http://sweetjanespopboutique.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/quant-cosmetics-1967.html

Lady Gaga - Alejandro, 2010 . YouTube

ANON., 2011. Liv Tyler in new Givenchy beauty ads [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjZs9_w5JXMAhWBlhQKHfHaBygQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.luxuo.com%2Fbeauty%2Fliv-tyler-givenchy-ads.html&psig=AFQjCNGhvh6bOt8nkHdwaBeRQoztslIq3w&ust=1460986371466364

ANON., 2013. L’Oreal false lash telescopic mascara [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjl453C5ZXMAhUG1hoKHYNnBacQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcosmetics.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu%2F&psig=AFQjCNGhvh6bOt8nkHdwaBeRQoztslIq3w&ust=1460986371466364

MARGHERITA, 2012. Entertainment [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi96aGB5pXMAhWEDxoKHVpXAZkQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fashiongonerogue.com%2Fmariacarla-boscono-fronts-givenchy-le-rouge-makeup-campaign%2F&psig=AFQjCNGhvh6bOt8nkHdwaBeRQoztslIq3w&ust=1460986371466364

ANON., 1964. Miles Aldridge [viewed 18 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.artnet.com/artists/miles-aldridge/

François Nars and Steven Klein celebrate the NARS Steven Klein collection, 2015 . YouTube

ANON., n.d. NARS x Steven Klein | LOVE [viewed 18 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/posts/5889/nars-x-steven-klein

NAST, C., 2016. Vogue [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/photographer/steven-meisel/#13255168

ANON., n.d. No title [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjpxInT5ZXMAhWEUhQKHS0wAZgQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Felitemodelsblog.wordpress.com%2Fpage%2F14%2F&psig=AFQjCNGhvh6bOt8nkHdwaBeRQoztslIq3w&ust=1460986371466364

REX FEATURES, n.d. Hubert de Givenchy [viewed 23 February 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/hubert-de-givenchy-biography/gallery/696959

ROFF, C., 2011. Hubert de Givenchy [viewed 23 February 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/hubert-de-givenchy-biography

ANON., 1942. Sealed with a kiss – 1940s lipstick kisses to servicemen. LIFE, 20 July

TREND, n.d. Mystical mermaid photo shoots: ‘Mermaid’ photography[viewed 22 April 2016]. Available from: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/540783867737472888/

VIGANÒ, S., 2011. Avant-garde [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.it/en/fashion/cover-fashion-stories/2011/08/26/avantgarde/

ANON., n.d. [viewed 4 February 2016]. Available from: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/11/b4/2c/11b42c204a224c2d04cee8e6d4e21780.jpg

ANON., n.d. [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi61dHL5JXMAhUH0hoKHZQqDjYQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F36169603234173639%2F&psig=AFQjCNGhvh6bOt8nkHdwaBeRQoztslIq3w&ust=1460986371466364

ANON., n.d. [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjo-7ne5ZXMAhXIWRoKHcOEDs4QjRwIBw&url=%2Furl%3Fsa%3Di%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dimages%26cd%3D%26cad%3Drja%26uact%3D8%26ved%3D0ahUKEwjo-7ne5ZXMAhXIWRoKHcOEDs4QjRwIBw%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.antimonide.com%252F2011%252Fpage%252F4%252F%26psig%3DAFQjCNGhvh6bOt8nkHdwaBeRQoztslIq3w%26ust%3D1460986371466364&psig=AFQjCNGhvh6bOt8nkHdwaBeRQoztslIq3w&ust=1460986371466364

ANON., n.d. [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://i.mdel.net/i/db/2011/8/57271/57271-800w.jpg

ANON., n.d. [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://03fcd67fd51850d3ba6b-6cb392df11a341bce8c76b1898d0c030.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/large/9780/8478/9780847843510.jpg

ANON., n.d. [viewed 20 April 2016]. Available from: http://images.fashiontimes.com/data/images/full/61911/jennifer-lawrence-for-dior-addict-lipstick.jpg?w=600

Citations, Quotes & Annotations

ANON., n.d. 1940s lipstick kisses to servicemen | Glamourdaze[viewed 4 February 2016]. Available from: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/161918549074863422/

(Anon., n.d.)

ANON., n.d. Art + commerce - artists - photographers - Craig McDean [viewed 18 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.artandcommerce.com/artists/photographers/Craig-McDean/bio

(Anon., n.d.)

ANON., n.d. Art + commerce - artists - photographers - Craig McDean [viewed 18 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.artandcommerce.com/artists/photographers/Craig-McDean/bio

(Anon., n.d.)

ANON., n.d. Art + commerce - artists - photographers - Steven Meisel[viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.artandcommerce.com/artists/photographers/steven-meisel/bio

(Anon., n.d.)

(Dunand 2015)

(Feudi n.d.)

ANON., n.d. Givenchy spring 2016 ready-to-wear fashion show[viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/givenchy/slideshow/collection

(Anon., n.d.)

(Hix 2015)

Italian vogue beauty editorial, 2016 . Vimeo

(Italian vogue beauty editorial 2016)

JANE, S., n.d. [viewed 4 February 2016]. Available from: http://sweetjanespopboutique.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/quant-cosmetics-1967.html

(JANE n.d.)

Lady Gaga - Alejandro, 2010 . YouTube

(Lady Gaga - Alejandro 2010)

(Anon., 2011)

(Anon., 2013)

(Margherita 2012)

ANON., 1964. Miles Aldridge [viewed 18 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.artnet.com/artists/miles-aldridge/

(Anon., 1964)

François Nars and Steven Klein celebrate the NARS Steven Klein collection, 2015 . YouTube

(François Nars and Steven Klein celebrate the NARS Steven Klein collection 2015)

ANON., n.d. NARS x Steven Klein | LOVE [viewed 18 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/posts/5889/nars-x-steven-klein

(Anon., n.d.)

NAST, C., 2016. Vogue [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/photographer/steven-meisel/#13255168

(Nast 2016)

(Anon., n.d.)

REX FEATURES, n.d. Hubert de Givenchy [viewed 23 February 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/hubert-de-givenchy-biography/gallery/696959

(Rex Features n.d.)

ROFF, C., 2011. Hubert de Givenchy [viewed 23 February 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/hubert-de-givenchy-biography

(Roff 2011)

ANON., 1942. Sealed with a kiss – 1940s lipstick kisses to servicemen. LIFE, 20 July

(Anon., 1942)

TREND, n.d. Mystical mermaid photo shoots: ‘Mermaid’ photography[viewed 22 April 2016]. Available from: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/540783867737472888/

(Trend n.d.)

VIGANÒ, S., 2011. Avant-garde [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: http://www.vogue.it/en/fashion/cover-fashion-stories/2011/08/26/avantgarde/

(Viganò 2011)

ANON., n.d. [viewed 4 February 2016]. Available from: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/11/b4/2c/11b42c204a224c2d04cee8e6d4e21780.jpg

(Anon., n.d.)

ANON., n.d. [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://i.mdel.net/i/db/2011/8/57271/57271-800w.jpg

(Anon., n.d.)

ANON., n.d. [viewed 17 April 2016]. Available from: https://03fcd67fd51850d3ba6b-6cb392df11a341bce8c76b1898d0c030.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/large/9780/8478/9780847843510.jpg

(Anon., n.d.)

ANON., n.d. [viewed 20 April 2016]. Available from: http://images.fashiontimes.com/data/images/full/61911/jennifer-lawrence-for-dior-addict-lipstick.jpg?w=600

(Anon., n.d.)

I sat down with Sharon last year during a drop in session and a conversation we had went like this:

Sharon: "So what are you picking for next year?
Me: Special FX
Sharon: .....
Me: *trying to defend my choice*
Sharon: We shall see Nikerlina.

The conversation was then reignited during a drop in session this year and it went a little differently.

Me: So I did my options last night
Sharon: Oh?
Me: Digital Image and Beau- *Interrupted because I'm receiving the biggest hug ever*
Sharon: I KNEW IT...

I'm so sad that this unit is over. I'd love to do it all over again with another word. I really enjoyed all of the challenges that it brought me.

The Challenges:

New lighting set ups at first. They seemed so daunting!
Readjusting to Chris' lesson pace after being off for Christmas. I forgot how quickly he teaches.
Not loving my brand to start with. I let this bother me more than I should have. As the unit progressed I just realised this is the industry I'm in. I might not get the luxury of picking and choosing what I want to do.
Not getting 100% attendance this term, I was really ill at some points :(
Having to adjust when you can't get the equipment you are comfortable using.
Being reined in by a word and a brand but it's just a mental block more than anything. You can stretch it as far as you want. You just have to be really creative to get there.
Photoshop. I don't need to say anything else.

The Successes:

Making friends with a solid bunch girls who are there to help me when I need it and vice versa.
Seeing the quality of work improve. It gives you such a feeling of pride and I'm never proud of anything I do.
Being the person people ask advice from on their shoots. About lighting, composition etc.
Being more confident. It got to the point when I'd go to the Hatch knowing I didn't have a chance in getting a 550D but I was completely fine with whatever they gave me
A successful tutorial with Sharon. I say this because previously I would have been told to research more, or that my photos could be improved by 'X' I'd thought ahead during my shoot when I was looking at the images and I remember thinking "Sharon would say do this" and I did it during the shoot.
Stepping out of the safety of my comfort zone and doing things I didn't think I was good at. I tried lighting with gels, but it didn't work but I was willing to try just to see how it would turn out.
The support from Chris, Sharon and Peter. It's unbelievable. I can't see how people can complain when I haven't been turned away once. Everyone has been so willing to help me even if it's only for 5 minutes or as they walk past a studio.
The layout of this unit was perfect. All the lectures were really helpful, our seminars were great. Long live R.Kelly Trapped in the Closet.

I came into this unit with Chris' feedback ringing in my head. "Just because you got a first doesn't mean you can stop trying as hard" I don't think I have. If anything I think I've matured more, stayed humble and kept working as hard as I can no matter what challenge has come up. Now Chris' advice is normally "Sort out your shoelaces" I just hope I've done my tutors proud.

Thank you x :)

This 3 part video gave a really nice insight to the terrifying world that is fashion. I mean, I'd be too scared to do that. At one point she pulls out a mood board that has the outfits on it as is asked that if she really likes it that they would pull the outfit from an international cover shoot.

WHO WANTS THAT KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY?! I'd be too scared.

I found it really interesting how they pick the models, and the reasoning behind it and before they are even in their outfits they are planning on which model is going to model with who. I've still got to understand the art of 'forward thinking' I'm terrible at it.

I love how they have rails of clothes and then the Scary Lady (Anna Wintour), walks past and just doesn't seem overly enthusiastic about it. She's already saying no to outfits. I'd probably cry at this point but then again, the lady know what she is talking about and she knows what is good for her Brand.

I liked seeing what a shoot for Vogue looks like. It was every bit as bonkers as I imagined. There were so many people. I had no idea there were as many people involved as that. There were so many make up artists as well. I like how you see them working and the interaction there was between them and the Fashion editor.

I love the model compositions that they had the models in. They were really interesting and the use of wind made their hair look really interesting.

I never knew how they put together a magazine so seeing all of the little images moved around was all new to me. It was nice to see Anna look a little bit happy about the photos as she seemed skeptical about the entire process.

I've learnt loads and it all seems pretty terrifying.

What is fashion?

- Is about selling a lifestyle.
- Through hair, make up, accessories or clothes we make decisions.
- Fashion is aspirational

Beauty follows the the same rules as fashion, but does it?

Editorial photographs don't have product placement.

https://vimeo.com/28348685

What I loved about this video first was the music. And I'm actually listening to it now I'm typing up my notes from this lecture. It really set the scene for the video.

I'm fan of how the video was shot, it looks beautiful and there's a few scenes where it looks almost 'behind the scenes' It's the first time I've ever watched a Vogue Beauty Editorial. I'm pretty blown away by it in all honesty. You never really see so much attention paid to make up, there's so many changes and a great variety of looks.

"Great Image, how can you push it?" This is what I always have in mind when I'm shooting or i'm helping something with their shoots.

Comercial Photography= Product

Fashion Photography= Lifestyle

Editorial Photography= Story

Beauty= Can be editorial but it can change.

Lighting, styling and background are important.

They are normally plain, so it doesn't distract from the product.

Beauty advertisements must always have the product in the ad. How blatant depends on the brand.

Ads are made for certain demographics.

Rimmel= Brand
Dior Addict- Is premium and sells a lifestyle.

It is always important to bear in mind that the advert has to be the right ethos for the magazine.

Fine tooth images on set instead of relying on post production. It can't always save it.

Get a team of people to help you on set. Delegate the responsibility so everyone is accountable for something and it gives you more time to focus on capturing the perfect image.

Pay attention to the model's skin. You want someone with really good skin for these kind of photoshoots.

EDITORIAL BEAUTY

Interesting background
Complex lighting set ups
In some shoots there are as many as 7 lights being used.
However, less can be more.

MAC is famous for it's edgy editorial shoots and being really 'out there'
Beauty images are to have no shadows on the face

I remember talking with the squad about this and I know they didn't enjoy theirs because they felt it didn't flow very well. I tried my best to make mine look more than a bunch of photos thrown together. I put pictures of poses that I liked in it and as well as the make up and props that I intended to use.

I was really happy with the outcome of this first attempt of a storyboard. It's the first one I've ever done. I think it reflects my final image well and it was helpful to have on my shoot when I began to falter and maybe deter from the original idea.

I'll be making more of these for future shoots. I'll probably keep them on my phone as that's just a handier method.

After racking my way to tie my word in with my editorial idea, I turned to mythology. I'd been watching old gameplay of the God of War series. Then it hit me, I wanted to do a daughter of Poseidon because I felt that a fairy wasn't where I wanted to go. So I went with the idea of a strong, warrior daughter of this God. I mean it would have been easy to find one of his daughters but where is the originality in that?

I found a fair images for my mood board but I didn't want to clutter it too much, as I have a habit of letting my creative side get the better of me and it just becomes a mess instead of having some direction to it.

I feel as though my mood board is pretty good but Sharon might not like it :D I've mainly expressed the inspiration for the character I've created and the colour schemes I want to include. I would have loved to have done a shoot with water but I don't have that technical skill...yet.

Now, where to start. I love Dior Adverts. They are some of the very few ads that make me want to be the person who is in the ad. I've never really had any of that celebrity envy. Especially when growing up. My dad dabbled with modelling for a while and he caught me comparing myself to a model once that I'd seen in magazine. He sat 12 year old me down and told me the truth about the photos I see. All the retouching and all the make up. I'm thankful we had this talk. It taught me loads.

I love Ms. J-Law. I think she's great. She's a great role model for kids, but is this ad too much? Let's break it down. The pose she is recreating is that of Sharon Stone in 'Basic Instinct' Instead of being sat with a cigarette, she's posing with Dior Addict lipstick instead. Interestingly, I think that the packing for this product actually looks like part of a Vape that used by people who try to give up smoking.

The whole idea of using a cigarette style to sell this product doesn't bother me, because I smoke. I can see why it may have caused some issues for non smokers and people who are concerned about their child's role model advocating something like this. I say this as this was shot not long after the 'Hunger Games" and Katniss Everdeen was someone who younger girls started looking up to. I couldn't really find negative posts about this image. I'm actually really surprised. I would have thought there would have been considering that Dior photoshopped a cigarette out of a model's hand in one of their photoshoots previously.

I think it's a really clever advert. Comparing one addiction to another was stroke of genius. As someone who loves buying premium make up, it's safe to say that once you stop you can't really stop. They bring out a new collection, with new shades and you NEED them. Or a new lipstick colour comes into trend and then you have to go and buy one from your favourite premium brand to keep up.

The make up in the photo is beautiful. Clean and classy, just like the brand. It's important that a advert displays a brand's ethos. They need and 'it' girl and their signature products and you just know who is selling it.

The lack of text screams premium make up. It's only in ads like Rimmel, where they pretty much treat you as a layman. That you see SO MUCH WRITING. It's literally spoon feeding you the product. I can't actually stand looking at them because they make me cringe. I feel as though the brand treats their customers like idiots with the need to put as many verbs as possible on there in the hopes you'll by their products. The lack of typography on a premium ad gives the impression that their audience is in the know and there is no need to give you 9 verbs in a row to make you buy it. You're a faithful customer and you probably will buy their products, if not just for the name. After all, there is only one Dior.

It's cool to see how brands are keeping up with social networking. I mean, just google that hashtag and you're drowing in Dior.

Well played Dior, well played.

I feel a little more confident in my shoot now, I've done a fair amount of research into Givenchy and how the seem to advertise their beauty and perfume products. I think I can take the photo I've got in my head. In theory it should be an easy shoot. I just need to make sure I nail the lighting.

I come in early at 1:30pm to set up my workstation. I learnt from the last time that I need to give myself more time to make sure that I've set up ok. Justine is bang on time which is always good. I hate running late. It also gives me a bigger margin for error (forever the pessimist)

The make up application goes really well. I had wanted to make sure that the skin had a nice glow to it so I mixed up the Illamasqua Satin Primer with Revlon's Photo Ready Liquid highlighter base and DAAAAYUM did her skin have a lovely glow. I gave her nose light powdering because we don't want a shiny nose.

The liquid liner needs some assistance from Harriet because I got the shakes really bad and with a team effort we get it done.

As soon as I put on the red lipstick I knew that Justine was the perfect model for this shoot. All the Givenchy models ooze class and elegance and she was nailing it.

Harriet asks me what equipment I need from the Hatch and she nips off to get it. I then get a message not even 10 minutes later:

Well crap. I've gotten used to using my nice 550D...not today. I managed to snag a sync lead, so it wasn't all lost. At least having an 85mm wasn't so bad. I think that if it had been a 60mm lens I would have had a mental breakdown. We'd shot with it before and it hadn't focused to well.

I come into my studio and the girls have worked their magic. I grab one of the white boxes for Justine to lean on and somewhere to rest the roses.

After a few test shots to work out the lighting, I discover that I'm having real difficulty to get the right exposure. I think it's partly because Justine has very fair skin and I'm shooting on a white colorama.

The shoot starts off well. I'm thinking my photos are mediocre. I ask my amazing bestie Peter to come and have a look at them. He tells me to move my model away from the colorama as it's casting a shadow. I hadn't even thought of this. Peter works some magic and helps me get my exposure right and then off he disappears.

I continue my snapping away, always taking note of any minor adjustments that need to be made. Like, moving stray hairs, lipstick touch ups, adding more highlighter.

Something I've learnt is that shooting with hands touching the hair or face can be one of the most awkward things in history. Sometimes they can just look so unnatural, it's in these moments you try and catch the model as they are moving their hair in between posed shots.

I nab Chris and ask him if he thinks that my images are OK, he's says they look OK, so I'm pretty happy. Chris tells me to shoot further back, he opens up the curtain next to my studio and tells me to stand there and shoot. I have to admit, the photos that I took after this looked cleaner somehow.

I managed to do the shoot in a little over an hour and this is a new record for me, I normally take forever. Better be safe than sorry. You know what I mean.

I'm really happy with these photos. I'm just praying that I got the brand ethos right.

Nikerlina: Givenchy Ad

CALL SHEET

PRODUCT: Photo shoot
TITLE: Givenchy

DURATION: 180 minutes

SHOOT DATE: 15th April 2016

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Nikerlina Make up Artistry
Email: nixxiie.mua@gmail.com

LOCATION

Studio 7
Floor 0

JM Building
Solent University

CALL TIMES

Filming - 1 Set Ups

2:00pm: Justine Arrives for Make-Up
3:10pm Hair and Make-Up finished
3:20pm Start shooting for Givenchy Ad
4:15pm Wrap up Shoot and Break down studio

UNIT

Model: Justine Whitehouse

Make Up Artist: Nikki Thorpe
Hair Designer
Lighting
Photographer
Director

Photographers Assistant: Harriet Gulliver

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

Cannon 1000D
Hot Shoe Adaptor
SD Card
Tripod
Tether Cable
Sync Lead
Prime Len 85mm

Mac

LIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Beauty Dish
White Colorama

SET

White box
Black Satin
White Roses
White Petals

MOVEMENT ORDER

Location 1:

Full Address

Studio 7
Floor 0
JM Building
E Park Terrace, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 0YN

It had been a such a busy week. The Squad (TM) had decided we'd try and get as many shoots in as possible before we broke up for Easter. It was a great idea but it was exhausting. In this week I became really confident with setting up studios according to a brief. This was something I struggled with last term as it was all new to me. I'd take my brief and do it accordingly but I'd be able to fix anything if the any of the girls weren't happy while they were shooting. So it felt a bit odd leaving it in someone else's hands as it had become my norm now.

I didn't really know for sure how I was going to be doing the make up. I felt really intimidated because I'd see the girl's shoots and they were really good. I was like " How am I going to live up to this?" So in the morning when I was packing my kit I knew exactly what I was going to be doing and how I wanted my photos to look. This already, was a more promising start to my shoot unlike the meltdowns I'd had with my shoot last semester.

During the shoot, I had decided I wasn't happy with the blue gels or the green ones for that matter. I didn't like how it was making my make up look. I was going for 'Sea Nymph' and it made her look more like an Ice Princess.

When I was happy with the first set of pictures I had taken, I added loose pigment to her skin. I didn't want to make it look like the Holi festival so I was careful about how I went about applying it. I gently 'tipped' it onto her skin so it wouldn't look like it had been thrown on. It looked like tears if anything.

I started realising my inner Rankin/Bailey hybrid. Offering gentle direction to Harriet who listens really, really well. Looking at my photos on Capture One I wasn't completely happy. I politely ask the girls if they would might moving the lights around, I do a few more test shoots before I get back into the swing of. I like the lighting more now, I don't think I needed to try and add the gels. The contrast of the lights making her skin look warm and the cool colours I'd chosen to use.

Thinking back to my tutorial session with Chris last semester I tried to bear in mind the feedback. I thought more about my composition. I tried harder to make sure my photos weren't under/over exposed. When I looked through my photos on the Mac, I noticed that one of my shoulders was slightly bare. I added some of the pigment to the shoulder because I was almost certain that this would be something that Chris would pick up on.

Using the Evian Spray I've got halfway through the shoot, I spray water onto the pigments to make them start running. I love this! I tried to shoot with a lower shutter speed to try and capture the water as it's being sprayed. This it seems, is a little above my skill level. So I scratch this idea until I know how do it.

I spray more water into the hair and I love how the droplets are sticking to her hair and she literally looks like she's stepped out of the sea/magical lake. YES! I feel so confident with these photos. I don't actually feel dread when it comes to showing Chris. Maybe Sharon, but there's always going to be nerves there.

Overall, the shoot goes without any hiccups. All smooth sailings which feels like novelty because we had hit little roadbumps in the other sessions. I feel so proud. This is what I'm passionate about.

Here's just a few snaps from my phone:

Dennis, it a very dear friend of mine. I've known him 13 years and he's one of my favourite people that I follow on social media. He keeps me up to date with what's going wrong with the world. He manages to eloquently express his feelings with out coming across as an idiot.

One thing I've noticed is that shoots in film and how I love this. It makes me sad that film isn't a popular choice for photographers but I can understand the appeal of digital. There are pros and cons.

There is something really special about film photos. I think there's a feeling that can't be recreated with digital. To me, I have memories of being younger with the freedom of a disposable camera or my nan's camera if I was lucky. The chances were that you weren't doing a photoshoot; you were more likely to be snapping away memories and fun times that you were participating.

I know he isn't a 'famous' photographer, but this is about what inspires ME. He's really easy to get hold of and chat to for the most part (when he isn't being useless and not looking at Facebook) so it means I get an opportunity to ask him questions about his art.

I asked him really nicely if he would send me some of his photos and he kindly obliged.

So here they are:

To me, these look like they could have been ripped out of i-D magazine. I'm not saying that because I'm biased because I'm always honest with my friends and I wouldn't be putting time into writing about something that I thought was rubbish.

There's something magical about the photos he took at the fashion shows. It almost looks like they have been taken out of a capsule, what makes me like them so much isn't necessarily the models or the clothes they are wearing but more that the people watching it are taking photos on their phones and yet, there is Dennis. Taking photos how I remember them before we went digital. They give a feeling of nostalgia that can't be recreated from digital.

My favourites from the ones I've posted are below

To me, Dennis captures the essence of my home town, not the tourist attraction that is one of the fashion capitals of the world. There's a grittiness to these that gets glossed over when people do fashion shoots in London. The truth is, there are hundreds of hidden gems in London. Dennis and I grew up in different parts of London, both as notorious as each other. Not the pretty London you see glossed across pages of magazines but it's still somewhere we call. Dennis captures what it's like seeing London as someone who was born and brought up there. There is something so raw about them, even though some of them are posed, there is a natural feel to them.

It reminds me of a video I saw of Mario Testino's creative process. I saw the video on Vogue.com he was in Japan and down in all the streets and the markets taking photos on a camera. He likes to take influence from the culture of the country he's in. The way he sees it. To me, Dennis does the same thing. He captures the essence of our culture how he sees it.

I took the liberty of asking him some questions. Why not?

N: How do you get the person, place or thing that is in front of the camera onto the film, chip or paper in just the way you want?
D: I don't plan. That's pretty much how I do it. I'm impulsive. I just frame the image how I want, take a look at different angles and whichever gives me the most feels, I just take the pic. There's loads of pics I thought turned out trash so never posted lol.

N: Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking, photographing, and career path?

D: The photographers that influenced are more local, not so much known. I genuinely can't say I'm a fan of a photographer but there's random pics I'd see on the Internet and just felt. I'll say this though, one photography series called The Gods by Ivar Wigan is extremely influential to me. He is maybe the one person whose work I'll come back to. I knew I liked film photos more than digital though, they have a mood and a feeling to ten that digital absolutely cannot capture. I do spend a fair amount of time on I-D Mag photography section though. N: Exactly what it is you want to say with your photographs, and how do you actually get your photographs to do that?

D: In my photographs, most of them have actually just been me testing my camera. I know what kind of images I want to take, but not right now, once I'm more confident. I have ideas for various series, focusing on different things, from social and political issues to sub-cultures within music. I mostly want to document moments, rise and/or fall of things.
N: What was your career path? How did you get from being an aspiring photographer to actually doing it full time, for a living?

D: My career path? Hm. It was and remains a filmmaker. I'm just an aspiring photographer at the moment, but things have moved very fast from the moment I started posting pictures. It was easier to do than the hassle filming and setting up shoots. I could just see something I liked and would take a pic, but then I start arranging shoots and people started messaging me for shoots. It's pretty weird. I've never received money for it but I've been offered which is cool. I mostly just ask for travel reimbursement and the money for development.
N: What motivates you to continue taking pictures economically, politically, intellectually or emotionally?

D: Nothing whatsoever. I just enjoy taking pictures. The attention that comes w/ it is cool but I can see the issues it can cause in personal life as it already has lol. I just like to document things and I like to be in control, and I can do both w/ photography. You see what I want you to see and I can put any message I want to in my imagery, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. If I had to say anything is a motivation, it's that money is going to come from this, I can feel it. N: What's your favourite thing about fashion photography?

D: I guess my favourite thing about fashion photography is being able to show people someone's collection in a way that I want to, they can associate the clothes w/ your photography. If I can convince someone to wear another person's clothes based on how I took the picture to make them seem cooler than they are then I am pretty chuffed.
N: What struggles have you ever found?

D: A person not looking very nice once I look at them through the viewfinder and trying to find a nice way to tell them to fix their face.
N: What's your favourite photo you've taken and why?

D: My favourite photo is one that I haven't actually posted anywhere yet. But of the ones I have posted, it's probably one of the mandem or of a sunset I managed to capture. It's difficult. The one of the mandem is cool cos it's so perfect a depiction of what life is to us, there's a mood that comes w/ it and you can feel it even if you see the individual pics I took of them. We were just messing around. And the sunset is just beautiful, I captured the sunset, the red sun so perfectly. I'll probably hold onto that pic as long as I live. N: Any advice for budding photographers ? Wink Wink x
D: I'll say do exactly what I do. Just take pictures of anything you like, you begin to just pick up knowledge along the way. I still like to tell people I don't know what I'm doing cos I don't. I just know what I like and I'll do what I have to to get it.

A massive thank you goes to Dennis for letting me use his work. I really hope that some day soon we can collaborate. :)

You can find his Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/callmerakim/

All photos used were taken by Dennis Rakim-I Angelou

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Pages

FMS404ShootingBeauty

Navigation Menu

Bibliography

Bibliography

Citations, Quotes & Annotations

Evaluation of Shooting Beauty

The Challenges:

The Successes:

Petal Pushers

Editorial vs Advertisement Lecture Notes

Story Board: Advertisement

Final Mood Board: Editorial

Beauty Advert Analysis

Shooting My Advertisement

Call Sheet: Advertisement

Shooting My Editorial

Dennis Rakim-I Angelou

Custom Featured

Instagram