The documentary genre can portray the topics of environmental, social and political issues depending on the photographers choosing of the story he/she are unravelling with their imagery. You can see in my proposal also other recent blogs, my key inspiration who is partly the reason why I chose this genre is Dmitry Markov. An astounding street/social photographer who documents, since becoming a recovered opioid addict, the occurrences of his life that stand out most and seem major to his continuous story. These images are all posted on his Instagram famous account.

Dmitry Markov

You can read my Bio on him in the blog post Unit 10: Genres but to familiarise yourself here is some of his imagery.

 

Steve Mccurry

Known as one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography for more than thirty years Steve has displayed imagery in covers of books and magazines, countless exhibitions over the world. After he studied film Pennsylvania State University he began work at a local newspaper, and then several years of freelancing. Then he set out on the first of many trips to Indiana equipped with only a bag of clothes and a roll of film, he explored the subcontinent through the lens of his camera. His most prized image is known as the “Afghan girl” and was the cover on the national geographic June 1985 and I plan to do a blog post of this soon this term. Personally, I see the work he’s produces as environmentally friendly to a large some of humanity as it heals our perception of the world around us also the people within it.

Captured in west Bengal, Indiana Steve noticed an incredible shot of how in each carriage of the train holds a person or persons looking out at him and they all have a slightly unique reason for being on it. Each individual owns odd expressions and reactions to the camera mostly blank yet curious I can see in three of them, the grey-haired and fully white-eyed man has a bit of confusion mixed with an essence of anger built in his. Whilst a younger man in the carriage to his right seems happy behind perhaps a friend of his like he’d enjoy seeing the photo of him in it later. One woman looks busy on the far left carriage, obvious to the camera as if she’s wondering when the conductor will start the train moving while her friend covers the lower part of her face and gazes for the shot. The bicycles on the outside of the train remind me of the fact that a country you aren’t familiar with is like exploring a new world due to the governments funding and culture. At second glance I realize there are many more people than you notice probably because they find seeing a photographer with his camera more interesting than say western civilization would. I like this image and feel I could talk about the details within it a lot more.

I prefer this image more than the afghan girl presumably due to it seeming that he had invaded the personal space of the child yet the difference seen is the result of the reaction having a more positive outcome. The background fades to blackness as you look upward. Even though one hand is gripped to an arm, the child’s expression is near blank not showing a sign of shock or distress I find there is a peaceful and relaxed vibe about him like he is content with himself in the present moment. This was taken in Bagan, Burma and I wish to know further information to boys story/background, what does his life and living place consist of, is he from a monk monasteries? I have no clue but would enjoy knowing.

 

Deirdre O Callaghan

I found this photographer recently when researching current artist of the genre for my presentation and became hook with the subjects she would elaborate in the picture collections on her website. Her projects she’s undertaken over the years are massively diverse and engross your attention to understand the narrative. Deirdre’s most recent topic she documented is called “Skid Row” placed downtown Los Angeles where the story focuses on the homelessness, addiction and mental health issues that the residents are struggling with. Many appear to find solace in their music and I think she uses this as her key statement in the portrayal of Skid Row.

Skid Row

This nearly owns most of the traits she delivers within her chosen concepts except addiction I have no sight of that. Tents are seen in the background which symbolize the growing problem of homelessness but who ones maybe this man is homeless as well, I like how his hat matches his portable speaker. In most of the imagery, she displays in this collection on her website majority of the individuals have their own independent model of a speaker or headphones.

 

Richard Billingham

There’s a similarity between Dmitry and Richard in the sense that they capture the darker reality of life that surrounds them but the difference is Dmitry takes then posts separate single framed events that he experiences as a stranger looking in. While on the other hand, Richard invents one project at a time with multiple images focusing on one topic that either he believes in strongly or is personally involved in. The first idea happen by mistake when he captured photographs of his violent and alcoholic parents. These images were intended as studies for paintings but they took a life of their own. A tutor of Billingham’s art course came across them in a plastic bag then convinced him to display them in all their flash-lit squalor. Another project he’s done named Zoo which is an honest depiction of zoo life coming from the other side of the windows or cages. 

I find in his style he somehow captures the honesty of dysfunctional families in Britain. I have noticed that this honesty seemed to be portrayed in all his topics Zoo. All the images are not pleasant to look at for instance his father (Andy) face looks sad while his mother has a very aggressive stance. There’s a sense of hopelessness in this image and in each image of the project Zoo.

Black Country which is a collection of snapshots in his childhood neighbourhood consisting of dissolute urban streets, blocks of flats, car parks and backyards.

Concept

My chosen genre is documentary with a slight mixed sense of street photography so I’ll plan out a couple locations whilst the half of the time I’m given shall be walking around local places finding decisive occurrences of day to day life. Within this, I hope to take photographs as I meet strangers, but also I am planning to use friends and stage them as if they are strangers.

The concept is influenced by Russian photographer Dmitry Markov and it is capturing social happenings or events within the culture that you’re raised in, the way you personally envision it to be.

When adjusting the sliders for the RAW images, the first adjustments shall be lowering the saturation as it seems Dmitry’s does the same effect also I’ll up the clarity due to seeing a sharpest within his imagery.

Technique shoots

My first technique shoot will be a lens test so I can adjust the angle view to fit correctly with the size which is embedded in an iPhone camera. I’ll book the Nikkor 24 – 50 mm tomorrow as the angle of view on an iPhone is 30 mm and experiment over the weekend. After trying the lens it has not worked, I suspect that this was because of it being too old for my camera. However, my lens can go down to the correct size needed for the correct angle of view.

The second technique will be approaching strangers on the street in a polite professional manner so I can ask permission for a portrait of them also this can be done at anytime period when outside walking to places and I have a few people in mind like bus divers and store owners in local markets.

Idea 1 Plan

It’s hard to organize an event to be photographed similar to my main artist inspiration Dmitry Markov as very few of his images are peacefully settling to the eye, their darker and honestly more mundane than that. I would like to find a depressing story to document so my work will relate more to my project concept but I’d have more luck searching for this by simply walking around. My first idea will demonstrate Markov’s more pleasant selections and it shall be a family shoot as they are stood in front of there house then I’ll capture the father in his home office as a second image.

Idea 2 Plan

I’m having a poker night soon with some friends I think shots there will be suitable as I’m concept priority is to capture the way I visualise the culture which I’ve experienced and isn’t life basically a game. I plan to capture close-ups of the hands to symbolize Dmitry’s methods he’s used in his work I also will take other initial shots of the overview of the room, portraits and whatever less is available to my eyes. I will make sure to tidy the scene not too much so I keep some natural integrity of the surroundings.

Idea 3 Plan

There’s a fire duct in Tavistock where suicides have happened in past years, one day I noticed awareness signs for talk/helplines with a couple friends of mine when we went up to hang out. One other day I took a picture of a friend there which looked ok and it has given me the idea that it would be good to reinvent it even better, see what different angles and composition of the model or models I can achieve. The same person who was in the picture also likes to play with a long fire stick. As a prop, I have arranged to include this in this idea.

Idea 4 Plan

There was one shoot I wish I took for a part in my last project when capturing people in their musical domain. I shall pop round the subjects house that I have in mind unsuspectedly to leave surrounding of his room naturally unclean. Then we’ll display his piano where he plays it and put other music materials he uses around visually in the angle of view.

Idea 5 Plan

There’s a scene in a TV series that I enjoy watching called Fleabag and basically its the main character sat alone at a bus stop late at night during the end of the 2nd season. I figured this would be nice to recreate my own version after I ask a person to model.

Idea 6 Plan

On Tuesday morning I plan to arrive at Tavistock Market as it opens just before 9 am. to capture people setting up their stalls for the day. Whilst arranging for permission from the stallholders to attain their images I feel this will be a good opportunity to find out more about their personalities and day to day working lives.

Time Plan

Monday 27th January – Shoot 2 [poker] pm. Arranging with one subject from shoot 2 a convenient time for shoot 3 will plan for shoot 3 when shoot 2 is done. I shall do my first technique shoot here at the same time.

Hopefully, shoot 3 will be sorted on Tuesday 28th when discussing with one model from shoot 2.

I will also make notes of all the things do for 27th and all shoots before beginning so I have instructions in preparation to follow step by step accurately.

Idea 3

I’m going to do this idea today 30th around 4-5 to get mundane lighting before it gets too dark. I’ve arranged with the model and discussed it with the lecturer and it’s all been approved I’ll share my days content with tomorrows lecturer.

Idea 4

Arrange to go to musicians house Sunday 2nd Feb. to take photos from idea 4 eg. piano scene. The technique of having the same angle of view using a tripod and without a tripod.

Idea 6

Tuesday 4th – Tavistock Market 9 am. Here I plan to take images and meet people running stalls for 1 – 2 hours. The technique is just having an angle of view that fits one of an iPhone camera 30mm. Will make a list of questions so I am prepared on the day. I feel this will be an easy way to approach strangers as they will be planning on selling their goods and quite eager to chat.

First I will ensure I obtain their permission of anyone I want to take photos off.

1. Do you like or even tried photography?
2. Do you live locally?
3. Have you always worked here?
4. What made you decide the stuff you sell?
5. How did you start your stall is it your business?
6. Do you enjoy working in the market or do you have another dream?
7. Can I take or are you happy for me to take some photos of you behind your stall.

and then thank them for their time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we did our presentations on the genre we’ve selected for this terms project, I did mine on documentary due loving the genre for a long time. Whether it’s an hour-long episode from Louis Theroux or still frames, I’ll always be intrigued by the what where why and how it is.

I’ll take all my feedback into consideration so I am able to prepare myself for the FMP presentation.

After being tasked with researching a music photographer I was instantly drawn to Jonathan Mannion as I recognised his work on rappers album covers from when I was younger. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the USA and one of the country’s most acclaimed portrait photographers and a singular sensation within the world of hip-hop. In the time spent on his career, he has done 300 album covers ranging from Jay Z to Outkast.

I preferred his edited portraits more so than anything less I saw on Jonathan website as he demonstrates great characteristics of the subjects that you’d expected. This Portrait reveals the sense of intense mystery which you kind of want to understand more, which I think is a good tool for promoting Andre 3000 to unknown people. This could have taken a lot of preparation for composition and probably had some input from the subject as well. The intense mystery can be seen in the composition of the arm, hand and only seeing one side of his face.

This defines the late member of Wu Tand Clan Ol, dirty b******* Individually so well and was captured on a decisive moment as he’s laughing with hands down boxers. He was always seen as the immature joker of the group and I wonder about the full story behind the picture, either or not Jonathan got him laughing or if he was laughing at Jonathan, simply I can’t be certain.

Incredible lyricist mos def stood in front of Brooklyn bridge which is his original home. The positioning of the hand with the hat is a random adjustment I figure it was either suggested by him or Jonathan it took a few moments for me then to notice the other hand where there are sunglasses softly gripped. The posture is straight and is similar to the expression on his face as if he’s a very curious motivated icon whos wanders about others potential. 

 

This week is on the style Event, Steven the lecturer gave us the optional task of using an external flashgun with a subject in close to a white backdrop. Steven is very familiar with the flash-gun as he captured sports photographs of BMX riders for a magazine (ride UK BMXmag) as well using this certain flash with a fisheye lens, long exposure and on-location flash portraits all equipment from a travel backpack.

The external flashgun is useful in event photography for topics such as studio, music promotion, live music, a sports activities like BMX, skateboarding, football, skiing and much more.

Stevens pieces

Fisheye lens

Long exposure

On-location backpacked equipment

Chosen cover shot

Equipment

Before shooting, steven would put a selection of this equipment sometimes majority into his backpack depending on the style he’d attempt at capturing that day.

External Flash Gun Techniques and Settings While in Studio

• Fast Shutter Speed, Low ISO, Small Aperture.
• Flash-Gun close to the lens axis.
• Subject up close to a white backdrop.
•  Flash in TTL mode.

Experiment Shoot

The external flash gun adds more effectiveness towards colour saturation, eliminates harsh shadows and freeze action.     

I did quite enjoy using the flash as it’s given me my first idea on what I could do for my FMP which I intend to start planning either the end of this week or beginning of next. I find it does brighten colour nicer than without the use of one but only when used correctly or figuring out adjustments to the settings. As you can notice it took me a couple minutes to get a better understanding on how to control the amount brightness I’d be happy with. I realized how when lecturer steven said its good to take a photo and wait a few seconds then take one again, I’d like to learn all the necessary tactics of this flash for next terms project so I become perfect.

Reason Why and How It Reflects

I’ve decided on doing the documentary option for the chosen genre of photography due to liking that style for a long time when starting this hobby of capturing still frames. Street photography was my fundamental source of content that I had my great grandad as my first major influence which in my opinion his film images were unquestionably acceptable, he was the reason I started in the beginning and feel there are similarities within both genres. I like how when looking at documentary pictures I have too really try and unravel the meaning behind why a photographer would take it in the first place before finding out by reading the text in the magazine. Street photography kinda does the same without text, it conveys reasoning why that only the photographer knows the truest form of. I genuinely enjoy how Documentary records positive and negative affairs throughout human history, stories big or small then it is distributed in many forms of content around the globe for all to see.

The History Of.

The earliest recorded documentary photography workings can be found in Philip Delamotte 1821-89 who was British and was among the first artists to use photography as a means of recording important events, in particular, the disassembly of the crystal palace.  

There were other doc photographers at the same point in history that are also key beginnings of this genre like Englishman Francis Frith 1822-98 made a travel photo collection from when he saw the pyramids, statues, and locals. This would have been a remarkable time to see the pyramids as barely anyone had been so fortunate enough to have that experience without hundreds-thousands of people surrounding the sites. It would have been incredibly hard to take these images as he used very huge cameras (16″ x 20″) in hot and dusty and to do that he used the collodion process.

Roger Fenton 1819-69 is another pioneer of documentary photography but better known as one of the first war photographers. He started with painting for a while until the new technology of photography entered his life. Fenton with the blessing of the British Government went to Crimea where there was a war going on. He captured pictures of battlefield landscapes and groups of soldiers.

Documentary Photography is such a great genre because it reports diverse info all over the world to people who wouldn’t have a clue that such topics, events, or people could even exist on this planet. Realizing this makes me acknowledge how important photography was when it began and gives me some idea about how it’s grown into the interests of the masses progressively over centuries since it’s invention.

Not long after photographers made a name for themself, this made people become extremely fascinated with detailed imagery of faraway places, famous people and important events, so the success of the genre grew from then onwards to where you see it today.

In present times a mixture of opinion from viewers is available on websites thanks to encasements in technology.

Modern and Personal Heroes Of It

Deirdre O Callaghan

It is obvious of the difference between how the pioneers of the genre documented in the past compared to the current ones of today. They get more up close and personal to the story and the people within it, for instance, Deirdre O’Callaghan. She makes it her priority to get to know her subject’s for the span of time to capture their individuality as well as the story.

W. Eugene Smith and Charles Mohun (My Great Grandad)

W. Eugene Smith is one of my personal favourites. He travelled around the world capturing a diversity of topics from war in WW2 to animals and Jazz bars in New York. I chose him because his photography reminds me of where my main interest in Street photography lies. I also see a similar connection with this artist and my Great Grandads work.

Dmitry Markov

Presently Markov is, in my opinion, the best at documenting his culture with mostly the use of an iPhone since his camera was stolen at an orphanage. Although a recovered drug addict, he believes that this has been a key part of his motivation and turned him into a perfectionist, ‘A drug addict is never satisfied, he always wants more,’ Quote from Dmitry’s book Draft ‘Do not take it as a recommendation, but this kind of thirst might be very useful for a photographer. You are never satisfied with results, you always want to try again’.

Side Note

I hope to interpret the way I perceive my culture by experimenting with Dmitry’s method. I thought about doing this for my FMP originally but figured out a new idea instead. This will be great practice leading up to the FMP.

Techniques

• Accomplished photographers of this style tend to convey one story with multiply imaginary depicting the topic, place or person.
• A visual variety can be invented in your images by varying your shoot distance with feet instead of the use of lenses. Don’t hesitate to get close.
• Socialising is seen as a useful skill as you want subjects if any to be relaxed and revealing. This is also important for building the overall story. Interviews might deem crucial.

Equipment

When deciding on the equipment you have to take into consideration the style, location and formal elements which I’d want to present, the overall story you’d be documenting may affect your decision also. For instance, when shooting outside using the theme street photography, I’d research many lenses to get a feel for the best that’ll suit my topic (a fisheye lens for skate park/skateboarders). For more, still, subjects say in the theme fashion/portrait, a tripod can be very useful when adjusting the level as perfectly possible.

How To Make a Living

Photojournalists tend to report and sell there work for magazines, newspapers and private companies which then gets shared as well as promote small businesses and teach photography. Some photographers that don’t do a lot of text amongst there workings, publish books of content they post online. The rates vary on whether you’re new to the industry making a name for yourself or as professional. 

Side Notes

Rate amateur photographer £25-£75 per hour. Professionals £75-£250 per hour/image. Perhaps way more depending on the content, photographer and company.

 

 

 

My chosen Genre is Documentary, I’ve made this decision due to having applied to media and cultural productions at UWE bristol. I feel it’s crucial to push myself socially with unknown strangers, more importantly, my creative reach could do with being extended further before starting at university.

My project entails taking pictures of locals after interacting with them in Plymouth and Tavistock like marking slightly non-identical chapters within this short period of life. I say slightly because it’s the same location (devon) but separate events, activities or just strangers being their natural selves.

I’m using Dmitry Markov as key inspiration, a Russian Instagram famous photographer who documents his affairs by photographing the persons involved also he captures strangers and animals on the streets. His images are unique yet so captivatingly marvellous but the reason behind why he is so recognisable I figure is because he only shoots on an iPhone camera, since his actual camera was stolen whilst he volunteered at an orphanage. 

I am going to research many facts/techniques Markov uses, firstly acquire correct framing of his iPhone camera, so I can then crop to fit the same size. In photoshop desaturation will be used in all images as Dmitriy sets a grey mundane vibe throughout all of his work. Can ask one of the lecturers for advice on what lens would be best for this style because unlike Dmitry I won’t be shooting on an iPhone camera.

This will be a great learning experience as it’ll make me invest my time going outside searching for special random events and decisive moments to photograph that are within strangers of the day to day life. Like Dmitry has said in the past “they are not just social photographs” as people see them “they are personal encounters and scenes,”.

 

At the start of this term, we’ve been set with completing a research task by tomorrow 1pm. This is to either explore four artists from different genres such as Documentary, Events, Landscapes, Portrait/Fashion. Or picking one genre from the four above and produce critical and analytical research post into at least one historical artist who was working pre-2000 and 2 contemporary artists.

I’ve decided on the first option due to more content variety of research, I find this will give me better direction into what will be my overall idea for this terms project (genres) and also my FMP.

Photographer 1: Dmitry Markov

Genre: Documentary

First heard of Markov just before the start of the second year because of an article on the Guardian website after being suggested by a friend. I was blown away with how unique I felt his style was also made me very intrigued by how the world of Russia really is as a culture in the eyes of a citizen living there. Dmitry is a former opioid addict, he finds art as his best release ‘A drug addict is never satisfied, he always wants more,’ Quote from Dmitry’s book Draft ‘Do not take it as a recommendation, but this kind of thirst might be very useful for a photographer. You are never satisfied with results, you always want to try again’ he continues to write. His book Draft was published in 2018 by Treemedia, it documents the lives of ordinary people in provincial Russia. He has grown a massive amount in his life in terms of success, born in Pushkino north of Moscow, 1982, was known as a street kid and an addict, then becoming, what he is today a social worker, volunteer, and journalist as well as a photographer. He began shooting on his iPhone after his camera was stolen from his room when he worked as a volunteer at an orphanage. Images shot on his phone were used in his book draft and posted on his Instagram page.

This is an eighteen-year-old getting a haircut before being released from an orphanage that Markov had been a volunteer at. This was also where his camera was stolen. Firstly what I really like about this image is the position of the hand over the teenagers’ head so you can’t see the actual haircut. It’s a great moment to take the picture as it leaves the forehead cropped only revealing features of the face. To me, there’s a mystery in this image due to the hidden hairstyle. The tattoo on the barber’s arm is a lucky touch that I find builds tension in the unknown story beyond the image.

There is lots of surly atmosphere within the image-derived from the expression/posture of the main subject which made me question why does the child seem so annoyed yet agitated in this single frame? It started to get me thinking maybe the photographer asked him too seem angry. Then I considered he could of just not been in the greatest of moods naturally. After noticing the wellies, I thought perhaps those are the only shoes he owns. Trying to figure this out made me realize, the only way to know why the kid is grumpy whilst the image was captured, is to go onto Dmitry Markov’s Instagram page and see what he had put for a caption and translate it. I sadly do not know how to do this but I like the mystery of guessing and just his creative style of pretty much all his work even though its all shot on just an iPhone.

I am surprised at the array of activities scattered across the image. Although all the subjects are in the same surrounding they show different states of emotions from the action they portray. He has managed to capture the boy flipping at such a decisive time and dead centre as a focal point.

Dmitry Markov describes his images, often showing unpleasant scenes, this is because he mentions them to be a part of his own life experiences not just being known by admirers as social photography. Markov’s technique, from research, shows that he travels around taking photographs in Russia from people he meets in social situations. Going through his Instagram page it obvious that he has multiple styles such as street photography, portrait and capturing animals.

 

Photographer 2: Annie Leibovitz

Genre: Portrait/Fashion

Throughout her career, she specialised making celebrates looking very dramatic and at the same time trying to capture their personalities. On her Masterclass’s Trailer where she gives lessons in photography, she mentions she isn’t a tactical photographer, continues with if that’s what you’re thinking about when your capturing pictures your head isn’t in the right place. I definitely agree with this statement because of my personal experiences, when I started photography I found the tactical side distracting despite now I find it more useful growing better as a photographer but still I don’t concentrate too heavily on it, as it’s the thing or subject in front which is more important to me.

In the David Bowie portrait, I like the dark contrast around the majority of the interior. At the bottom of the image, it starts dark rising to a lighter shade. I felt the photographer manipulated studio light to enhance the expression which is blank, also stern as if he’s holding a lot of thoughts back. This feels to me as if Leibovitz is portraying a sense of being stuck on the planet.

Image on the right, Uma Thurman shows an almost blank expression again but however, her posture is relaxed and carefree. Within the image, there is a lot more light compared to Bowies Portrait, I feel Annie expresses the characteristics of Uma as casually pleasant from adding a strong use of light as if it’s a blissfulness you’d get from meditation.

 

Photographer 3: Micheal Kenna

Genre: Landscape

An English photographer who specialises in and is best known for his unusual Black & White landscapes featuring ethereal light achieved by getting ready to capture the image at dawn or during the night with exposures of up to 10 hours.

The image has a bright centre fading darker till it reaches the interior around it from branches and trees. There are a few things that make me wonder whether the surrounding is abandoned or perhaps own by a friend, for instance, one swing seems to have broken off, a seesaw Is behind the swing which made me question if someone owns these things. There are also two chairs in separate places of the photo, I really enjoyed when I took notice of how the branches are lit up and how quite a lot point towards the light. 

   

Reflections are always done extremely well by Kenna, it gives me the impression that he’s a slight perfectionist because my curiosity goes to how much preparation he has been put into just this one image. He might have gone a long walk maybe 2-4 hours finding this spot you see in the photograph and then marked down the location and came back another date possibly in the early morning or he could of stay and waited for the sun to start setting.

 

Photographer 4: Tom Barnes

Genre: Event

A young self-taught photographer who studied economics in Sheffield, during his second year his university attendance record dropped considerably because at this time he was becoming more commissioned in photography which lead him to the successful well-archived photographer. He has a massive array of portrait photographs on his website that show a full spectrum of humanity from refugee camps in war zones to the highest arenas of politics. His career has very few dull moments I can imagine seeing he meets musical genius, actors, travels across the globe constantly, and he mentions on his website that he is lucky enough to never had to put on a poorly fitting suit and sit, bored behind a desk discussing numbers.

I like how there are many guitar cases that all placed behind slash instead of an iconic pose of him with a guitar held in his hands and wrapped around his back. It brings a lot of essence to the musician’s background and somewhat an odd way of defining his character.

I really admire the diversity of themes and styles Barnes has in his website, makes me certain he’s not just in the industry for making amounts of money but more for how his talent affects not just him but the subjects within the portraits. This child is one of the patients he photographed at Medecins Sans Frontieres reconstructive hospital he also took images of staff there. The hospital is known as a world leader in reconstructive techniques due to the variety and severity of injuries seen.

My products for design to sell was a guitar covered with musical images transferred with Mogpog glue put on both sides of the body and head of the guitar then removing the paper from the back of the images using water and sponges. After organising which guitar to use, the first step was to remove the nut, bridge, machine heads and strings. Then I had to sand down the parts meant for the photo transfers to ensure a smooth finish. 

It took a couple of days to sand it down taking off the previous lacquers or vanish. To speed up the process I used sponges and water, on the guitar, to clear off the dust left behind from the sander and then continued to sand again. 

Using google docs I was able to size the images correctly to fit the spaces on the guitar. After printing and cutting them out I arranged the photographs facing down with blue tac and carefully cut part of the images to correctly match the curve of the guitar. This was an incredibly long process.

Mogpog

To glue the images on the guitar firstly, I chose the back using black and white images to create a musical collage. I did not realise until after doing the front of the guitar that I did the back wrong. You are supposed to brush the glue onto the face of the image and then place onto the guitar surface and leave to dry. However, on the back after doing this I carried on by putting more glue over the back of the images. Once I took it home, with the thought that I would have to redo the entire back surface, I was relieved to find I could gently peel the dried glue without damaging the pictures. The last set of images were arranged and glued onto the head of the guitar along with the plectrums. For the plectrums I had ordered them from Amazon, expecting them to be regular plastic ones but when they arrived realised they were soft felt pics. I decided to continue to use them. The process of removing the paper off the images was using water and sponges by rotating and dabbing cautiously so as not to remove pieces of each photo.

 

After it dried my stepdad and I used lacquer for a varnish. Spraying the lacquer on it was important to protect the fretboard from being stained and I used masking tape for this. To ensure that dust did not settle whilst the lacquer was drying I set up a tent as shown in the photographs below.

Each side had layers of lacquer and needed to dry before the next layer. On reflection, I feel that I would leave myself more time for this step of the process due to the length of time needed for each layer to dry. When we started spraying lacquer we knew we only had less than two days before the event for design to sell. Although I managed to finish in time, it was in the early hours of the morning and this caused worry and stress to how it would look. I apply less amount of lacquer on the plectrums due to them having soft fabric instead of hard plastic interior.    

When waiting for my product to be ready, this was the time that I discussed and worked out the pricing with my mother as we went through the cost of materials used. The picks cost £4 for 15

Therefore one pick would equal 20p plus 2p for the lacquer used and I decided to sell at £1 per pick.

The Guitar costs added up to Laquer £18, sandpaper and strings adding up to £5.49. Price of the guitar free. I decided due to the work and expense of the make of guitar to cost the guitar at £120.

If I hadn’t done so much crafting to products early on I felt it would have affected making final deadlines also I was lucky due to having done lots of extensive blog work at the beginning of the project. This gave me just the right amount of time to complete the products. 

The part I enjoyed the most was taking the photos on shoots for most of the occasions and the images that I captured have become new favourites which I have decided to add to my portfolio. I also found organising the photographs onto the guitar in a specific order was fun and creative as I structured my own design.

This whole process was a very long, stressful and at times tedious but an ambitious one that I think paid off pretty well in the end.