Fashion photography finals

I decided to display a variety of photographs which were produced throughout the processes of experimentation and exploration. By showing a variety of work I am enabling myself to engage with fashion from all angles, ranging from editorial to the studio, I am using these final images as an example of what I can do with just one model.

A few hours of Zoe- Editorial style

This second encounter with Zoe gave me the opportunity to explore the vast concept of editorial fashion photography. During these few hours with Zoe, we decided to be spontaneous and let the locations simply draw us in. Walking around in the bitter cold night we discovered empty laundrettes, sinister alleyways and strikingly photogenic train station stairs.  Being spontaneous, for me, provides the photographs with more life and character simply due to the fact that it was our first time engaging with these unusual locations. I am currently still very into exploring the different natures of expired film and therefore decided to use some e6 film from 1986, although the grain is very excessive, once overlooked it does provide the photographs with a electric array of colours which film the frame as if it were a painting. 

Expired film studio test 2

Further experimentation with expired film within the dark room created some interesting colours, creating an almost vintage style of bold yet slightly desaturated colours.

This photograph however was taken using the D3x, by using a large variety of coloured gels it enabled me to almost paint the backdrop with colour. Being a passionate film  photograph i've naturally added some grain to make the photograph smoother. 

Expired film test 1

This expired film test with Zoe didn't really turn out how I expected it. The film was dated from 1960 which other time must have altered the emulsion. Therefore the photographs came out heavily over exposed. Despite this it was still a practical session with Zoe.

Lara- Contact sheets and experimentations.

Drawing inspiration from the American Apparel advertisements within magazines such as Vice and Dazed, I decided to explore a variety of angles and scanning/editing techniques with Lara. Although my intentions are to mainly priorities my shooting time around Zoe, I still believe I can get a little more out of Lara before this project comes to an end. Different angles can evoke a different atmosphere, thus creating a different attitude or style. Personally I decided to stay away from American Apparel's overtly sexual approach to how the model should be portrayed. Instead I constantly kept telling Lara to do nothing with her face but express all her attitude from just her eyes alone; this within itself brought a variety of facial expressions along with it. 

I want to capture our youths culture at its best, its grittiest and its most rawest...

Fashion and colour- 90's baby

 Kate Moss by Mario Testino.

This week I photographed Rachael wearing a vintage styled jumper. Although this was just a quick shoot I thought it would be practically to experiment further with my final 2 selected photographs. Colour within photography should be treated delicately as it can often  make or break a photograph. By selecting Rachael's face (with the poly magnetic lasso tool) it enabled me to be able to do whatever I wanted to the image without heavily distorting or over exposing Rachael's face. 

Naturally my approach to fashion is to engage with the real and the surreal; I want my work to stand out, it must be bold and it must instantly remind people of myself. I drew a lot of inspiration from Boss modelling agency...Being signed to this agency, I believed it was important to produce work that was satisfying for the model, the agency and myself. I received an email from Boss giving thanks for the photographs. 

Reflection- Documentary 'The real blow up'.

At this moment in time I am very happy with the way the project is flowing; I am constantly producing new work and am seeking inspiration from everything. However, I do believe that there is still progress to be made.  I recently watched a documentary called 'The real blow' which gives you an entire insight into the lives and work of David Bailey, Terrence O'Donovan and Brian Duffy; these being the three gentleman who revolutionised Vogue and the face of fashion photography as we know it. In this I noticed that each photographer had their one model who, as a team, helped the other climb the ladder of success...
I have decided to focus a large majority of my time on a new Model. Her name is Zo Violet, she's an extremely talented singer, model and general character who I have instantly worked well with. Other the duration of this project I will now explore the wonders of fashion with Zo, however, I still may use another model every now and again to keep things spontaneous.

This week's experimentation. Taking the studio to the street

Missing the warmth of the studio I decided to mix things up a little. This is something I have seen been done various times, but bringing the backdrop outside was a highly engaging experience. 

I have been reading a lot of Vice and Dazed magazines recently, all of which have become very creative when it comes to composing a fashion image. However, some still featured models exemplifying very blank and empty faces...is this good or bad? I want these photographs to stare at the viewer, both of the girls luring the reader with their blank yet almost demented stares.

I shot this using 35mm ilford xp2. Personally, I love this film due to it's high contrast and fine grain rate...this is something that from my perspective is more aesthetically pleasing in comparison to other Ilford films which are not a c41 process.

Experimenting with projections...colourful and exciting. These are the kind of clothes you'd wear on a night out...in a dark, hot, confined and atmospherically powerful environment. The visuals simply act as the variety of lights and visuals one would encounter and see during one of these nights.  

Once again I have continued to explore the wonders of fashion photography with Lara and the gramm clothes. By using the same model and clothes it allows me to produce a different styled image every shoot. Thus making my work outlook become far more diverse and new.

Further location work with GRAMM girl, Lara...

Approaching every photographic situation with a more open and clearer mind, I have continued to photograph Lara from Gramm clothing. Using both the street and the studio stairway as new forms of location my desires were to capture the true gritty and raw nature of both Lara and the clothes she is wearing/representing. 

The photograph below, from my perspective, captures the true characteristics of Lara. She's not pretending to be a 'rude gyal'; she is one. Walking past the police van I immediately saw an opportunity present itself; this was something that would make an image immediately engaging from a viewers perspective. I noticed the reflective panels and instantly linked it with a rear flash. After all, a slow shutter alongside the use of this flash style would immediately cause glare onto the photograph; thus making it far more alive. The motion blur reinforcing the candid nature of the image. 

By embracing the moment and being more daring in general I was rewarded. From this I have acknowledged how even the simplest of things can create a unique location to photograph within. Even the slightest change in setting, for example the photographs below, can immediately add to the atmosphere or mood present within the negative.

I strongly admire Lara's modelling capability. The fact that it's her character and that makes the photographs so real and raw; purely due to the fact that she's being herself rather than pretending to be a famous model of film character.

Continuing with the girls of GRAMM- LARA

Lara is the original girl of GRAMM, and therefore this is why I have chosen to focus specifically on her rather than Ruby as well. Drawing inspiration from the previous photographer's work alongside a recent admiration for American Apparel's style of photography I have attempted to explore how angles in general can affect a fashion photograph. Varying from your initial hip-height angle to a more alternative lower angle adds dramatic emphasis to the photographs; providing Lara with an omniscient sense of power over the viewer. 

I also decided to experiment with an array of colours simply just to discover and learn new things about colour in general.

Artist Research- Books and magazines.

As made clear by Lucie Crewdson during one of our group sessions, research into fashion is a necessity if one would like to have an impact on the fashion (photographic) world. Therefore I have decided to only look at more modern day examples of fashion photography, especially looking at the work of those who may not be as popular or well regarded as photographers such as Bailey or Testino.

Unfortunately neither photographers were credited for either photographs. However this is not essential when drawing inspiration from others work.
What instantly drew me in about these two photographs are the models ability to simply not care... there is no hesitation or any sense of awkwardness shown within their faces or poses.
The first photographs candid nature instantly contrasts with the unusual clothing worn by each of the models...they aren't classically posed or feminine like the work of Cecil Beaton. However, they are almost enticingly interesting to look at. After all, each and every one of them are strikingly attractive which is juxtaposed by the unusual yet realistic facial expressions used.

The second photograph, once again, was unfortunately not credited with the artists name. Despite this, I can still admire this photograph for its aesthetic qualities. The slight desaturated nature of the coloured tones allow the model and what she is wearing to sit comfortably in front of a leopard print backdrop (sofa). Personally, I have always loved the look of leopard print within photographs... it provides the image with an quirky style which is essentially reinforced by a cheeky sticking out tongue.

From this I would like to move away from evoking attitude within my photographs. Instead I would like to give the quirky more funnier style of posing a go.

Progression- The girls of GRAMM- GIVE ME ATTITUDE

Moving on from MVSON, I decided to photograph the models who exclusively model for GRAMM clothing, this being a clothing company who I share the studio with. This for me was more of an opportunity to capture a true example of our generations attitude and style; after all, the clothes have been made rather than store bought and the models were allowed to do whatever they want, thus allowing the clothes to match the personalities of the models.

For these photographs I can honestly say I haven't really drawn much inspiration from any photographer's purely due to the fact that sometimes it's interesting to just do your own thing rather than draw inspiration from someone else. I personally decided to use ilfrod xp2 film in order for an initial sense of repetition to emerge; the grid patter matching the background. With only tones of grey, bald and white I was able to almost lure the viewer into the photograph. It's raw and it's real- something i've said many times but it is important, after all, if your photograph isn't a reflection of a culture then it'll just lack meaning and purpose.

This style of fashion photography at the moment is very common, everyone is trying to look like a gangster or a bit rough around the edges. However, what people need to realise is that you don't need to act 'ghetto' to provide the photograph with a real sense of RAW.

Progression of an idea; photographing the fashion of a group- MVSON

A decided to focus my attention on MVSON, a musical collective who are frequently playing around Manchester. Unfortunately Omar (the one missing out of most of the photos) was late so I had to shoot without him. I wanted to capture them relaxed rather than posed; therefore I photographed them in pitch black darkness in order for them to feel more comfortable, thus making the photographs more real and raw. I have slightly drawn inspiration from Grime albums such as Dizzie Rascals 'Boy in da corner'. There must be status within the photographs in order for them to have impact. The second photograph is my favourite...