Today I’ve finalised the majority of the UCAS form all that’s left is the pay/send section that I’m doing over the weekend with my mother and then letting the main lecturer Tobie know next week then he will sort a reference out. This has made me more relaxed and confident about where I am in the coursework.    

Choices

I researched each course with detail to ensure I’d have some interest in them. The first I decided on was Media and Cultural Production with foundation year over a month before the deadline for UCAS applications. This was when the teacher Tobie suggested the course after hearing what creative achieves gave me enjoyment then he asked me which I wanted to become an expert in mostly. Films leave me massively interested afterwards, therefore, Tobie figured this course was well suited for me as it involves producing your own experimental and socially engaged projects using photography, more importantly, things new to me like video, sound, web content and design, writing and analysis. I choose to do a foundation year on this course due to wanting to be fully prepared for it before the start also it says when finally completed the course I am graduated to become skilled, confident and ready to take your place in the fast-paced, exciting media industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial Enterprise

I have found a definite client who is the lead singer of a band Tempo May Vary which pretty keen for promotion of their website and facebook page. The lead singe Ian Meaker has sent me an email giving a specific date 26th October and location, Launceston at The New Market Inn. I can’t wait to see and capture pictures of the band again only seen them perform once but not in a great gigging circumstance. 

 

The client was very straight forward in asking for promotion so I replied in the same fashion, as I assume presently Mr Meaker might have a busy schedule.

The shoot went well & I’ve sent all the images to the client using google drive shared link, we also both went through together in person yesterday and he was very pleased. I told the client if he was able to share any images of the gig on their social media page I’d help him figure it out another day. I will evaluate the chosen images for my products after editing, same for all shoots.

The Gig C.E.

Overall the shoot went ok but I felt I could have done better if I applied myself more because I wasn’t 100% didn’t use the best of photography abilities due to not being in my comfort zone fully. The things I find didn’t go as well as I wanted were the angles I choose due to the amount of space available also I should have tried more captures with the camera pointed upwards when being in a couch position.

Contact Sheets

Edits

I was able to do 26 edits in colour and 11 in black & white because of the circumstances surrounding my design to sell idea I needed a large selection of pictures ready from all the shoots.

  Although I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad image I felt I should choose better angles, for example, a lot of band and performance photography is took as the person is in a crouch position with the camera pointed upward at artists. I realize I did chose some interesting angles throughout the shoot which more than a few were successful in my perspective but due to small space and lack of feeling comfortable, I couldn’t attempt nice angles suitable for this style of photography without being distracting or damaging equipment of the band. I like the face positions of each band member especially the two singing as their heads are pointed different directions.

 

I tried after some time getting closer to the band so I got in the left side of the setup to try to capture all four members performing which was unsuccessful for the majority but still produced some images that pretty good. This photo captures the ending of a song sung by only the main guitarist.

In this image, you’ll notice that all four members are just within the frame but that’s not the first thing which grabs your attention. The bass player had his eyes closed quite often while he was playing as he was a very talented musician also the lead singer and he is in a lovely relationship. The lead singer would look at him now and then half happily and the other half trying not to laugh, as he would be concentrating on the rhythm of the bass so calmly he’d close his eyes a lot. 

This one I found a tiny bit frustrating in photoshop editing because of light and shadows, I wanted to add light only on the lead singers face leaving the rest of the frame as it was but didn’t know-how. I knew there was a way to but didn’t feel like disturbing anyone with such a small issue, I really would like to become an expert in photoshop or at least close to one before the course is finished. I like the angle I took this in due to the position of the lead singer way up in the right corner also how the bass player is stood behind her again eyes closed.

This is Ian Meaker the contact for my commercial enterprise also the main guitarist in the band. I am happy with the mixer of light and shadows on Meaks all the way from the bottom of his legs to top of his head, especially his hair the dark shadows transcending into his white coloured hair works well in my opinion.

 

The start session of Today we’ve been tasks with understanding what makes a good business cards by choosing two from pre students designs and defining why like one more than the other.

Bad

The card I dislike is too simple for me, the students’ name Rachel Elliott is on the back of the card with a line below & underneath that states photographer adding contact information beneath that, words in black & white background. The front just has initials R.E in white and background black. Despite the simplicity of the card, it still has all the useful things you’d expect which I would add ( Phone Number, Email Address, Facebook Page) but being a photographer myself my only adjustment would be at least one image perhaps in Black & White. 

Good

The reason why I chose the card I like is that the photograph presented on the front drew my eye the most out of the rest. It is of a studio portrait of a man missing one arm & both legs replaced with robotic looking prosthetics I find this brings a lot of emotions which is great when shooting a peer or admire extremely better to a possible client. The back of the card has a grey background with a small white border around it & camera lens logo with name Chole Collick & photography. I don’t think I’d change much with this one maybe the positions of the back info but I could mess that up greater than the student. Contact details are below the logo that includes (Phone Number, Email Address, Website)

My Planned Card

I like the idea for the front exterior of my business card is using multiple photos from previous projects I underwent in my time spent at college that are a range of different styles (studio, street photography, musical). On the back, I’d make it quite simple in terms of personal info (Phone Number, Email, Name). If doable I make it look old fashion brownish yellowish colours.

 

 

 

I decided to research three well-known music photographers as I do not fully understand the dynamics of this style and hope to improve by learning the techniques of them also how they became so accomplished in their work. The three I am studying are Tom Barnes, and two have been previous students of PCA Andy Ford & Tom Oldham.

Andy Ford

I’m going to start by explaining this photographer first as I like his multiple styles and tactics of the work he has produced over the years. On his website, Andy gives details on where he based currently in East London, also letting visitors know he was raised in the west country.

Andy says that his expertise lies in editorial & music industry mainly shooting for magazines such as The NME & Kerrang, labels like XL & Sony. On top of that, working for major brands including Red Bull, Peugeot, Converse & Disney.

In his free time, he can be found pursuing personal projects, focused on RAW landscape & coastlines. Photographic roots begin in surf culture he returns to the style when time allows. 

There are a few reasons why I choose this image to evaluate first out of Andys wide collection of live music, mainly due to any work invented by Donald Glover or better known for his stage persona, Childish Gambino having a massive influence on me as I am a huge fan. The artist captured jumping on a stage at Shepherd’s Bush Empire was taken by Ford for the NME.

Firstly I like the use of stage lights behind Gambino, I find this illuminates his front exterior also the extension of his arms helps with that and makes it seem as if he’s popping out of the picture. I feel that Andy capture’s in majority of his live music assembly, the best possible decisive moments of the artist’s performance. Anyone can see from Donald’s facial expression and body language that he is in the exact right frame of mind and loving every second of it.

This band image was taken at Eden sessions they are named crowns and unknown to me but I like how Ford chose to take the image for the from the back of the performers set up, I find the drummer is the main focal point of the image because my eyes were drawn to him, on first glance of the photo. Same with the image above, facial expression derived for the drummer says to me that he’s almost completely one with the music this moment in time, another well-executed decisive second in performance. I wouldn’t be surprised if andy had decided on it being a great opportunity as it could have been during one drum solo. 

For an NME piece, Andy has captured the back of Oliver Sykes the lead singer to Bring Me the Horizon whilst they were touring in South Africa. I’m fond the timing of this image timing of the moment he has taken yet again but also the composition of Oliver makes the photo even more gripping. The way his head is tilted so you notice one side of his face and release he is singing with the audience which I find pretty intriguing due to their mouths being open.

 

Tom Oldham

An ex-student of PCA taking the same photography as me proximity 20 years ago and is now a well-accomplished portrait photographer based in London specializing musicians, sports stars and more talented people in locations all over the nation and worldwide.

Tom has been won awards in multiple international and English competitions such as 2018 BJP Portrait of Britain with Son 2, 2018 Sony World Photography Award for Portraits in the Professional Category. Other than that he’s exhibited plenty of self inventive work, for example in 2018 he did a showing of Eldmodur a project based on documenting the correlation between the brutal yet darkly beautiful landscape of Iceland.

I find in the collection on: off displayed on Oldham’s website, he does an excellent job of demonstrating the personalities of famous people whilst quite uniquely making them do every little at all. In each celebrity photographed in this album, Tom takes two captures I feel he does this for one being more outrageous than the other. This can be seen in the image of Snoop Dogg the right image he’s wearing sunglasses keeping his eyes unrevealed which makes it difficult to get a clear definition of his character.

 

 

Hello, my name is Joshua Doyle, I am a student currently studying a level 3 extended diploma in photography and next year I would enjoy my time at your university so I can achieve a full degree if my application is accepted. I seek to undergo degrees in either Documentary, Photography, Film, Media, and possibly English Literature or a type of writers courses alongside the main subject I will have chosen.

I’ve had a considerably great deal of experience in music, writing and photography from an early age. My stepfather educated me at seven years old onwards in many genres of music due to being a sound engineer and more importantly, an incredible guitarist. He decided not to teach me much of guitaring at the start as he thought it would affect jamming sessions later in life, so at age ten my mother paid for a private tutor for five years every Wednesday. I started to write some point in year 7 at Callington Community College, I found it was a good distraction from peers that bothered me and always having the enjoyment of poetry it was just a matter of time. During my first lesson of English Lit, I remember thinking I’d had never loved a class so much before in the whole time of schooling.

I began studying photography whilst at Callington, but it’s been a big part in lots of my family relations past and present generations. To have a career in the film industry would be a dream come to true for me as I am a massive movie buff. As a youngster, I’d spend most of my time watching different types of movies and television and getting older only made my enjoyment of it even better.

My first part-time job was at Tesco’s when I finish year 12. It made me understand how a workplace operates and how one should behave whilst there. Having a few jobs come and go, I’d say in any professional place of business communication is without a doubt the main key piece.

I hope to eventually gain a career in any one of these areas such as a screenplay writer, journalist, Documentarian, filmmaker, sound engineer, accomplished performer, well-fulfiled freelance photographer, working for a major company that would need any of the skill sets I mentioned that relate to selected courses.

 

Manifesto Day

The task which has been set is about what I’ll aim to achieve in this year’s projects including the second FMP. By looking back on last year’s Targets and projects I will be able to determine what’s going to change, improve on, aspirations probably half maybe less shall relate too last year’s Photographers even artists also I’d want to involve different tactics so finding new inspirations is key.

Throughout the first year well back when I started photography I’ve always tried to get used to the manual setting but thanks to the summer task and all the help from the first year, my last shoots in manual were very exceptionally up to my standards. Now I can only see myself excelling further in the second year.

I’d like to try more fashion portrait photography using the same settings for the camera I used last year in my David bailey project but I’d research a few other fashion photographers I hadn’t seen before to combine two styles together. I would experiment with settings that I will have to learn from the unseen fashion photographers.

Another idea I have been planning is based around three unique street photographers I follow on Instagram (monaris_, dcim.ru, alan_schaller) two of them capture their idea of how they perceive the essence of New York and the other Dmitry Markov who lives in Russia.

Art & Design

I really related to this drawing of a person struggling to write a manifesto as I felt we all were in my class and three different courses were most likely doing what the student Nikki has created. The gears represent a struggle of trying to explain to everyone else how one encourages him or her to do better in their creative process. The light bulb showing when this happens and then writing it down.

This was also a piece in the art and design class, I like it because it’s not really clear on the point of what a manifesto is about. Not using any words but there’s the use of repetitive drawings, instead of a new improved Micky Mouse, each time showing by being resilient at trying the same activity again & again through perseverance you will eventually get your work to the standard you hope for.

I like the mixture of the child-like drawings with encouraging sentiments. Although I agree with the students’ motivated work ethics I feel that one crucial perspective is left out. This is taking time to stop and reflect in order to gather thoughts otherwise the thing you are working on could potentially crash and burn. Having time to chill, relaxing allows you to unload stress and then come back to your project in a stable piece of mind.

This one speaks to me the most out of all the manifestos I saw. The sketch of a skater balancing on a rail with the artist’s own inspirational definitions shows his determination of persevering goals such as ‘take risks’ ‘widen my knowledge’ ‘explore new things’ ‘create something that gives me purpose’.  I appreciate the personal reflection he has written on and around the figure the student has drawn, as it seems he has explored his deeper most inner thoughts.

My Manifesto

I choose to only pick words of wisdom from myself and some favourited influences. These words are developed from my own ideas giving me motivation and inspiration from learning important lessons received by peers in childhood and continue in life as I grow and develop. One of the pieces of information that has stuck with me ‘never will figure out myself fully, only hope to find out more new things within me every day that I didn’t realise I am capable of before’. I feel this is an entrepreneur guide to opening future alternative outcomes and pathways.

Improved Five Year Plan

This is an addition from last year’s Progression blog, there are four targets I have interest in, one that I thought about considering in today’s morning lecturer when a new teacher mentioned a course in documentary at one of the five universities in Plymouth. Another reason why I have curiosity in studying how documentaries are made is that over summer I watch some Louis Theroux’s I hadn’t seen before where he makes great points on the media and the negative remarks towards journalists due to how they portray some public figures.

Another part of progression is my writing, I have signed up to one of three workshops Wednesday called creative writing 11th December. I aspire to do a year course connected with writing alongside the additional degree I choose.

Styles of photography I would investigate further in the second year are music performance, promotion of other businesses, fashion studio and possibly if given time and the opportunity street photography.

Design To Sell Product

I’ve decided to surround my product basest on Guitar accessories as I have enjoyed playing the instrument throughout the majority of half my life also I’m in high spirits it’ll sell reasonably if I contact enough correct clientele which may not even be too hard.

Understanding *market research helps for my self designed products by gathering correct information about the target audience, consumers needs and preferences shall be key as learning how to professionally promote will be as well. Once I’ve learned the objectives for these two topics I’ll add the answers near the end of this section.

The accessories include guitar plectrums, straps, cases or bags, capos, slides, maybe stands or hangers but unsure this last one and even maybe a cheap guitar. Now I’ll go through each one describing the arrangements of photographs, materials that I aim to use and ones I am most confident in creating.

Orginal mind map

1. Plectrums/Picks: I’ll use one single image on each of them that each will include many but non-identical settings, surroundings, and styles of photography. All imagery being musical less I’d fancy any other topics which come to mind further down the project’s road like animals etc. After shrinking down selected pictures I’ll choose the materials I considering either plastic or cheap woods. I am mostly positive of this item from music-based outcomes then the rest due to the more I think on it also explaining it to my peers more comfortable I become with how ideal it is for trend. I think a lot of close associates of mine would definitely be interested in purchasing as a lot will be used as models. 
2. Guitar: I’m planning to buy or find a cheap guitar from either a charity shop or in my house someplace, once organized I’ll sand it down at college or at home then bring it in on the day when are final pieces are ready for the photo transferral. I’d like to do a collage for this piece that’ll cover numerous music events I’ve been too such as gigs, jamming sessions, solo artists at open mics or buskers. The images will be from past tense but also shoots I going to arrange soon. I’m very excited to be designing a guitar like this, in fact, I’m not sure which out of the first two I am more happy about.
3. Case’s/Bags: Basically the same idea for a guitar, use of a collage, but there are two separate types of guitar holders, a case made from hard materials and bags made from fabric but both are usually expensive so I doubt that this will be an option but I do find captivating to see the result.
4. Straps: These are accustomed to keep a guitar from falling whilst the guitarist is performing when standing up. Again use of a musical collage on the outer side of the guitar strap so its visual to the eye and the inner side blank presumably black, materials either fabric or leather. I have an interest in the conclusion of this product but I am mainly concreted in the first two.
5. Capos: I’m not sure how I’d produce images on this attachment, at this point was thinking of as many guitar accessories as could. Many materials are used to make capos, such as plastic, bone, metals, graphite, and other carbon composites. A capo is meant to raise the pitch of a fretted instrument so they can play in another key from moving the capo creating a new nut of the guitar further down on to a closer fret.
6. Slides: This addition is meant for a specific technique in blues style genres, you use it by placing an object against the strings while playing to create glissando effects and deep vibratos. Anyone who can’t play guitar can still use it just from sliding it up and down when hitting the strings, the materials to manufacture this item are glass, metal, and ceramic personal I’d like to use glass. If I was to develop images on the product it would a blend of collages and single’s in each one.
7. Back-Up Plan: My original idea came to me as I paid attention to the project crit in a lecture from the second year’s beginning week and wrote many notes down for all the concepts. This one was transferring many styles of photography generally street because I feel it would fit well with inner and outer sides of types of hats, bucket, snapbacks, beanies but I’m only writing this as a backup plan.

slogan: I say you can never have enough picks, especially some with your own face or band on it.

Musical Imagery

These are all the ideas for the possible shoots connected to my design to sell products.

1. I am currently searching for bands/solo Artist for promotional photos for the commercial enterprise unit & to help build their social media platforms more. I’ve got in touch with two bands already known as Methods & Tempo May Vary, one gig of which is taking place on Saturday 26th in Launceston at a Pub called The New Market Inn.
2. I’d like to capture Musicians in their natural music environments such as bedrooms, practising/jamming spaces. I have a fair few ideas on people to ask.
3. Me & two other friends are playing guitar in a recently new pub named Tapped In at Tavistock on November 9th. Being kind of an open mic night the pub will be filled with many guitarist playing, this will be a perfect opportunity to get lots of images. I will share the photos with the owners for promotion to their social media accounts.
4. I want to get pictures of people wearing their guitar cases on their backs outside walking around my hometown also I’ll ask to borrow a shutter bottom from a peer in class as it comes in use.
5. Me & the two friends previously mentioned play a fair bit outside in my hometown places anywhere we’d like, the park, square so on. If the opportunity appears again hopefully soon I’d bring my tripod, filters and shutter bottom.
6. I’d like to use a studio session for possible images so I’ll either book equipment I used for last years David Bailey project or a peer in the class said he book free studio time for me in Plymouth. I’d involve the use of fashion mixed with musicians and their instruments.
7. I’d like to experiment with different arrangement of all the instruments in my house in many ways separate also try some together with inventive backgrounds and colourful fabrics.
8. I feel random images unrelated would be good to throw into the collage for the guitar or single image pick products. The only one I’ve thought up so is a camera pointed down at multiple models shoes, boots and sandals whilst road lines underneath them between the legs.

Action plan

Here I’ll determine what is set for the following weeks leading up to the end of the design to sell. This weekend and the two days after (11th – 15th) I am going to reach close friends by going to there house’s capturing them in their natural musical conditions.

Now I will go into details for the rest of the photographs I hope to get finish within 4 days before the start of next weeks lessons starting on Wednesday 6th. I am going to an interesting music event on November 9th as well so If possible I’d want to add that to the guitar product when it’s done.

Weeks 14 & 15

I’m going to reach out to close friends about all the musical imagery starting with capturing musicians in there natural music environments such as bedrooms, practising/jamming spaces. I have three people in mind right now which are two friends bedrooms & one of their dad’s in his office space. I’ll be able to do and find more when at home which I will probably do today.

Second is people wearing their guitar cases on their backs outside walking around my hometown & playing anywhere we like would be done at the same time bring my tripod, filters and shutter bottom as equipment. I’d do this on Friday & Saturday. 

Thrid will be doing the David Bailey studio style session, I see myself doing this at home like last year from Sunday – Tuesday so I am booking out all the equipment from ERC tomorrow on Friday. I didn’t end up booking out equipment because of a peer in class who works at community photographic studios in Plympton is getting me a free session

Forth & Fifth will be done between all the other shoots and are experimenting with arrangements of instruments using inventive backgrounds and colourful fabrics and Random images.

During week 14 & 15 I and my stepdad are crafting the picks & sanding down the guitar I’ll make sure to take pictures of the whole process step by step. When back at college for week 15 I will be starting the Mogpog glue transfer for the collage on the guitar and the single shots for picks. I’ll most likely leave a couple spaces empty on the collage due to the event I’m attending on the 9th.

Identifying & Approaching CE Clients

Photo Transferral Product: Guitar & Plectrums

Grasping who clientele may be quite straightforward, any individuals or groups who have interest or beginning curiosity in music, generally guitarist and bands. I’ve grown up surrounded by lots of musicians due to the influence of my stepfather, so I have easy access to people I can inform about these products. Either family, friends & musical associates at home or in my local area also I shall investigate any places known/unknown to me in Tavistock as well as Plymouth such as normal/musical bars, cafes, deep blue sound (music college).

30 Minute Writing Task

Dear Jane doe

Hello, I am a student at Plymouth College of Art undergoing the class’s first project of the second year, design to sell, this involves photo transferral’s on too object’s of my own choosing. I have decided on a guitar with a collage from different musical events that I’ve attended in the past also future ones I’m in the process of planning right now. I’m also creating plectrums with single images from bands, musical settings, etc.

I feel your four-membered band (Danny day sayers) which is very talented are ideal to be a part of either both of these products I’ve planned to sell at the reasonable asking price.

This will not just be benefiting the end result in my pre-degree but from offering my photography services freely, your sponsorship on the many social media accounts regarding Danny day sayers will prosper in fans and possibly more noticeability towards your road to musical success with a good advertisement of the product.

Plus wouldn’t it be nice to have extra plectrums with you and the rest of the band on them, I’d say you can never have enough picks. My services include studio sets with a white backdrop where I can mess with lighting & shadows, if you are not keen on that idea I can cover gigs, maybe the place your band records and practices. We can go over more idea’s/details further on if you are interested I’m hoping you and the extreme grunge band come to a conclusion and get back to me, if not thanks for taking the time to read my proposal.

all the best.

Joshua Doyle

Hannah Hoch

Surrealist born in Germany 1st November 1889 – 31st May 1978 best known for her extraordinary provocative photomontage formations which have been conceived as if they explore Weimar-era (german government from 1919-1933) perceptions of gender and ethnic differences. I am researching this photographer because of today’s photoshop technique assignment where we are going to learn how to make our own surreal image using our pictures we select. This would have been very useful for me in last year’s FMP as I had just started studying Salvador Dail and many more surrealist’s alike for the content in that project.

I’m fond of how she has taken an older looking portrait of a man and half him down the middle putting a woman in between where his face separates, gives a creepy yet mocking vibe. The breaking up and mixing of a multitude of people is what I’d like to accomplish in the set task also is the reason for picking Hoch as my artist’s influence.

Photoshop Surrealism

I and the rest of today’s class were set a photoshop task involving many edits which I could not understand as I am useless when it comes to photoshop, it’s an area I need improvement on greatly, and once buying it for my MacBook I surely hope I shall. The influence I chose to be best for the image I would be designing was Hannah Hoch’s because I found her pieces the most intriguing yet simple in terms of surrealism.

Four Previous Student Portfolio’s

Today we are discussing the creation of a brand new portfolio so it’ll help me when applying to interviews for next year’s courses and in employment for the photography industry. We all have the choice to do either a website or a physical portfolio even both, I expect I will do both as it’s important to have them each when applying to uni which I intend on. I will produce this portfolio during workshop Wednesdays: Digital Print and Website Creation with WordPress re-run. You contain the physical portfolio in a black box, can get these at a place called the Art-side in Plymouth.

There are four different types of printing out images in a portfolio that must be between ten to twenty images.

• Traditional: Images printed then each put into a window mount which is double mounting with a card on back to front, with bezel edge around outer angles of photographs. asking price is £100 – £200.
• Fine Art: pictures printed on specialist Inkjet paper. Developed much bigger, white borders all around chosen photos. Mounting is non-optional for this decision, cost proximity £150.
• Hot Press: A more modern and professional standard Printed selections mounted on aboard, white spaces again going around the interior of the image. Price is £150 including a black box this will expense but guaranteed to last along time.
• Simple: Collection of favourite captured images sizes 8 x 10 printed on photographic paper a source to do this is named TruPrint. The unmounted and cheapest option at presumably £20 box included.

Professional conduct

A field of regulations that are vital in every specific line of work set with clientele and by employers some of these are demanded when realising how oneself act in a work environment but a lot goes unmentioned by these people and is just common decency. This is very crucial if you’re aiming to maintain a job. Another critical use of information is to always put the best of your abilities so a reasonable outcome for a suitable environment is produced for colleagues and customers. 

Giving examples of how to behave can be seen as a willingness to be great whilst put too work, this is noticeable with the amounts of please and thank you’s received by the boss. Being honest will most definitely take too further paths in your road of employment.

Consequences of not following professional conduct could potentially lead to losing your base standard part of a business, your job would be in jeopardy and could mess up any future pathways too better jobs depending on how good of terms you and the boss left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research

I started saving albums in October 2018, when I began the abstract thought process of a project idea regarding what technique of practical work I would plan for the FMP. Here, I discovered different photographers that achieved iconic album covers. Instead of one or two artist influences, I researched five or six to get a broader picture. Through discussions concerning my inspiration, evolved the theme surrealism, especially Salvador Dali and photographers Philippe Halsman and Dora Maar. Looking at surrealists gave the comfortable perception to a dreamy abstraction I had invented, allowing inner-sense on illustrated photography to grow. By analyzing the albums I wanted to recreate, for example, the shoots I attempted, helped achieve the right angle and perfect composition of my subject as similar to the original.

I had to investigate certain fonts used in the albums and then added to the recreated versions. This improved my work and in reflection, greater than what I was anticipating whilst doing the shoots.

Context

My proposal was helpful when doing further exercises involving the criteria and practical part. Writing the original proposal assisted organising the goals I had visualised and kept me on track.

When explaining my album concept for the first time in a mind map my ideas developed to another idea which worked alongside the plan. The mind map consisted of two different ideas and worked well together.

Understand the chosen subject is paramount for reaching the set targets and I stood by my topic completely even during times of doubt from peers, who gradually agreed after an adequate description of my aspiration.

Planning

I stuck by many of the time plans although few became successful in completion either when following set goals from an action plan and feeling positive in the midst of the certain objective. Or, way after in photoshop editing. There were two concepts I couldn’t organise in models, and timing with respect of deadline from my plan, although certain shoots moved to later dates.

Contemplating on how close I was to the deadline, I know now pushing shoot dates earlier at the beginning of my FMP would have been beneficial to gaining exceptional edits.

A week before final edits I stumbled on a thought that all album covers had always been cropped to a specific size of 4.724, a perfect square shape. I demonstrated the precise old fashioned adjustment as a finishing touch on three of my albums two were re-creations and one being my self-interpretation of a cover. 

Problem Solving

There were various challenging problems that concerned control over models and distractions from other people in the set area where I had decided to capture pictures. Firstly pursuing a Shed Seven album re-creation whilst a person’s birthday was happening interrupted the entire shoot. I called quits on the idea when a car window would not go down to extent I needed to capture the initial photograph.

Another mistake kept occurring whilst a few subjects felt I did not have confidence, in multiple efforts of my intentions. I overcame this transgressional period in the course toward my last pictures pacifically the final one titled Confined Lyricist. I’m certain this went smoother than previous outcomes because it was one to one with the model.

Techniques and processing

Capturing the pictures I didn’t use special equipment such as flash kits, softboxes or any photographic accessories which were planned for one image. Even, despite booking out equipment for a studio style image I neglected to arrange a suitable time to use the items.

Learning the important values that are additional to the image through the means of photoshop, fonts, cropping accurately and different edits assisted in getting almost duplicate to the album covers.

I learned a lot of new aspects through investigating surrealism for the first time which progressed my academic side of the project but practically I struggled with taking control and communication outside and inside of college. However, near the end, the shoots became more successful and I felt abler on some of these, to communicate what I was looking for from my subjects.

Evaluation

I recognise that these final pictures communicate my concept of music and art co-existing well together entirely by showing two artist’s distinct messages from their albums, in attempts at recreating them. Later providing two invented self-independent covers that revealed my personal messages and stories.

Although there are many things I would redo, narrowing it down, the first thing, which leads on to all of the things, would be acknowledging the deadline and organising a tighter schedule. By mapping out precise given weeks would allow more growth and confidence putting energy into other ideas I felt I could not complete.

Thinking back through this project there are moments that I was and wasn’t fond of. Such as Working with individuals I hadn’t seen for quite a while which was favourable on the production. As well as people not understanding it was a great achievement to change minds so they caught up and eventually understood my aim. Furthermore, researching surrealism brought the theme to the concept. I found engaging in all of the research was most enjoyable. On the other hand, there were incidents where people bombarded shoots which were disrupting. Also, a lot of stress over the amount of given time, especially near the end put me under a lot of pressure.

The support I received from peers, staff, and family helped me engage with the project. That said, at times this became too overbearing and had the opposite effect.

Right from the beginning, I was excited about my idea and was proud that I was able to follow this through as my final project. I felt that this was an interesting idea but complex and worried about how the final results through the images would appear.

Next term I would like to work on street photography and different camera and photoshop techniques. Furthermore, becoming more confident in approaching peers and staff would hopefully improve my success as well as theirs.

The most significant thing I have learned during this time is having more awareness of action plans and timekeeping. Without these everything falls apart and becomes utterly stressful.

Core Skills

My English skills have greatly improved, such as jotting down ideas in a simple form in my own dialect from my notebook and then contributing it further to the blogs in a more sophisticated manner. Being in tune with certain types of white balance, the aperture, and different camera settings were enhanced by using my math skills. 

Character Development

Communication: This is an area where I feel I need to develop more, however, during the shoots, I found by the final creation, due to better communication with my subject and his understanding of my intention and having daily conversations about photography it fell effortlessly into place.

Grit: It was of great importance to maintain grit through all doubting moments of the project even despite when feeling it would be impossible to meet deadlines. Understanding consequences, I’d just remembered gratification that came from the completion of earlier projects this would give the encouragement needed.

 

Album Recreations

Lyric Transformation

Self-Interpreted Albums 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale 

I chose the history of album covers as a project concept because my enjoyment of music is very important to me and artwork in the music industry had given me inspiration for a project idea early last year just before the beginning this course. I was hoping of achieving 2 ideas in total first a couple recreated albums around 3 to 5 all selected from personal taste then producing a self-interpreted album which related to my persona and way of life. The second objective was mention by a teacher whilst doing the mind map near starting the FMP so I considered adding it as a side project because I felt it would fit alongside my original album cover idea. Also, if I became frustrated with the progress of recreating album covers this would allow me to have enough images that fit together.

Project Concept

The project I have ultimately decided to do is about the connection between the music industry and art; dating back over eighty-one years through the invention of album artwork by Alex Sweinweiss (Berman, R. 2008). The theme of this project is how most, if not all, albums have a distinctive message derived from the artists perspective. From recreating album covers pushed me towards inventing my own album with an individual message from my own experiences. During the process of filling out the proposal form, there was a section, project title, which is where I conclude on Album Art Work as my title. 

I started for inspiration, researching different photographers who had captured iconic album pieces. The ones I decided most appropriate are:

David Bailey’s ‘The Rolling Stones’ no. 2 (1965)

David Bowie Aladdin Sane Photographed by Brain Duffy (1973)

Fleetwood Mac Rumours Photographed by Herbert W. Worthington the 3rd

After discussion with a teacher, we both agreed that surrealism played a big part in all of my practical work and the whole concept of album covers. From this, I then discovered surrealist in art and photograph such as Dora Maar, Salvador Dali and Philippe Halsman.

Evaluation

Whilst planning the original idea through conversations I added another project which was a project to fall back on if the album covers concept didn’t go to plan. However, I felt that this would enhance the original project as both ideas fit well together.

After researching various photographers, other discussions with staff lead me to further research into Surrealism which I found related to the mental picture.

To start I found that the activity of recreating the albums was the trickiest part of the idea as it is impossible to get it exactly identical. This was very frustrating and made me lose faith in the whole project. However, I realised during the editing process that some of the recreations worked much better than I had previously believed. This gave encouragement in the other ideas of lyric transformation and especially inventing my own album.

Originally I had set out to do five out of ten chosen albums:

The album covers were:

1. Tom Waits – Closing time
2. Bob Dylan – Nashville Skyline
3. David Bowie – Low
4. Smiths – The Queen is dead
5. Thundercat – Drunk
6. Jamie T – PANIC PREVENTION
7. Ten years after – A SPACE IN TIME
8. Placebo – Placebo
9.  Childish Gambino – Because Of The Internet
10. Shed Seven – Let It Ride

However, after attempting three, two of these turned out reasonable.

The two lyric songs:

1. Tom Waits – Tango Till They’re Sore Song Lyric: Let me fall out of the window with confetti in my hair.

2. The Smiths – Cemetry Gates Song Lyric: All those people, all those lives, Where are they now?

Although I attempted both of these I was only happy with one, The Smiths.

The five images that I produced I pleased that these were close to what I was setting out to achieve in terms of my theme of how music is related to art.

Looking back at my five images I feel that the cemetery gates idea was my least favourite, due to confusion on how I should implate the lyrics into the surrounding area through photoshop. I was not unsure of the placement and the colour of the text.

The image that I feel was the most effective, which concept was to define myself, was the model in the bedroom surrounded a collection of material items that I have a major interest in. The concept was to show how I and many other people can feel trapped and scared to go anywhere but having the sense of security within my own personal space allowing different aspects of creativity to be explored. The reasons I feel that this shot went well because I had 1:1 with the only subject in the image. This made for a more relaxed atmosphere. The subject involved was someone I knew really well and also has experience in photography, which contributed to the shoot. I found being with just one person made it more simple to direct and explain without having others interfering.

Bibliography of references

Websites

Archive, H. (2015) Image categories dali . [Online] Available from: http://philippehalsman.com/?image=dali [accessed 13 May 2019].

Berman, R. (2008) Alex Sweinweiss: CREATOR OF THE ALBUM COVER. [Online] Available from: http://www.alexsteinweiss.com/as_index.html [accessed 08 April 2019].

Cain, A. (2017) Surrealist Photographer Dora Maar Was More Than Picasso’s Muse. [Online] Available from: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-surrealist-photographer-picassos-muse [accessed 13 May 2019].

Carey, J. (2008) “Pere Ubu” by Dora Maar, 1936. [Online] Available from: https://germanmodernism.org/2008/07/03/pere-ubu-by-dora-maar-1936/ [accessed 14 May 2019].

Chilton, M. (2018) Cover Story: A History Of Album Artwork. [Online] Available from: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/in-depth-features/history-album-artwork/ [accessed 08 April 2019].

Huxley-Parlour, G. (2019) Brian Duffy. [Online] Available from: https://huxleyparlour.com/artists/brian-duffy/ [accessed 12 May 2019].

Lebowitz, R. (2018) 8 Surrealist Photographers You Should Know, from Dora Maar to Man Ray. [Online] Available from: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-8-surrealist-photographers-dora-maar-man-ray [accessed 12 May 2019].

Palumbo, J. (2018) The Story behind the Surreal Photograph of Salvador Dalí and Three Flying Cats. [Online] Available from: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-story-surreal-photograph-salvador-dali-three-flying-cats [accessed 11 May 2019].

Shah, D. (2016) The Importance of Album Artwork Considering the relationship between art and music in a digital age. [Online] Available from: https://humanhuman.com/articles/the-importance-of-album-artwork [accessed 12 April 2019].

Surrealism Movement Overview and Analysis. (2019) The Art Story. [Online] Available from: https://www.theartstory.org/movement-surrealism.htm [accessed 11 May 2019].

THE ART STORY FOUNDATION. (2019) IMPORTANT ART BY DORA MAAR. [Online] Available from: https://www.theartstory.org/artist-maar-dora.htm [accessed 14 May 2019].

Typography, P. (Date unknown) Fancy > Distorted. [Online] Available from: https://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=108 [accessed 28 May 2019].

 UDiscover Team. (2015) The 100 Greatest Album Covers. [Online] Available from: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/the-100-greatest-album-covers/ [accessed 14 April 2019].

UDiscover Team. (2018) The 25 Most Iconic Album Covers Of All Time. [Online] Available from: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/25-iconic-album-covers/ [accessed 12 May 2019].

Waddell, J. (2005) Père Ubu,1936. [Online] Available from: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/286239 [accessed 14 May 2019].

Walsh, J. (2016) Dali’s Moustache. [Online] Available from: https://www.magnumphotos.com/arts-culture/dalis-moustache-philippe-halsman/ [accessed 13 May 2019].

Future ambitious

Since after writing my first draft proposal and thinking on the future enterprises I would still like to study or work in any of these areas previously mentioned such as the film, photography, music, and literature. However, I also have a desire to travel to different countries where I would hope to continue on my educational journey.

 

 

From the feedback I’ve received by teachers, I’m doing a final time plan for a few of the ideas in which extra elaboration will be explained. As I have done three shoots so far a teacher has decided there’s only really need for three more which in this case I am certain of doing one of each Album recreation, Lyric transformation, and self interpreted Album cover but will plan others as well to achieve a larger range of final pieces for deciding what three I’ll want to display at the end of year expedition.

Self Interpreted Album Cover

I actually have imagined two ideas for this final piece neither take too much preparation and can happen in the confines of my home.

The first idea will be done throughout today 22nd and tomorrow 23rd I’ll be using a close friend as the only subject in the image facing my bedroom window looking outside while I’ll try out different angles with the camera on manual being placed on a tripod and without. I want this self interpreted cover to be as remarkably personal to my character and way of life as plausible so I will add props, objects, material things added to the frame slowly over each capture. The overall message in my album will be a depiction of how I struggle with being confined in my room almost feeling trapped, insecure and not wanting to leave but also simultaneously being left to my own creative devices such as Photography, guitar, poetry Ect. Basically slowly but surely adding items which each have affected me in terms of interest. I’ve thought about replacing the main model with myself after feeling satisfied with his pictures due to the abstract idea being based purely on the realities I have lived.   

The second idea is located in either my living room or again upstairs in any of the bedrooms. The message is simply why also how music has always been my biggest eventful influence by taking photographs of a usual jamming session with my stepdad and his close friends. I shan’t be included in this image my presents is only behind the camera where I can switch between settings manual and as I’ll change to capturing images in black & white by selecting monochrome in aperture-priority auto. Models that I’ve settled on are 5 musicians all will be guitarist’s, one also being a pianist but shall be searching for other instruments in my house as I figure more the better. 

Lyric Transformation – Tango till they’re sore 

This is a mental picture where I take lyrics from a favourite suggested song, translating it into what I have interpreted and depicting the message that the artist is trying to reveal. My parents will be the models as they fit the description suitably, located inside my leaving room martin (stepdad) is sat on the counter near an open window giving off an impression he’s falling out backward with confetti in his hair. Meanwhile, my mum is close laughing at him or helping him in other takes I’ll remember about considering different strategies of composition but general emotions within both subjects are meant to be a happy silly drunk celebration when also showing the type love for one another. Alcoholic drinks and empty bottles are included amidst the scenery

 

                              

 

 

 

This blog will demonstrate shoots I’ve carried out so far for my FMP. Final edited pictures shall be put on a separate blog where I’ll evaluate each one.

1. Bob Dylan Nashville Skyline

Out of the three recreations, this one I executed came closest in similarity and took time choosing which was best suited for editing and even after a whole day of edits finally finishing in photoshop I still wanted to do the same edits to another image so I could determine the best between both.

Contact Sheets

As you can see for the entirety of shooting this recreation, I had gotten it more similar in terms of composition, different lighting, and choosing the correct angle which was near also low by the subject, pointing the lens upward in a crouched position. The composition was a constant rearranging difficultly but prevailed during the end, my biggest regret is not taking enough photos as I’m aware now of how well this one went.

I edited this one Monday out of the two I picked for further adjustments in photoshop from the whole shoot due to time shorted, I’d originally planned to edit both then selecting which would have been a better option. What really makes me wish I had continued catching more photos is besides not only how comparable it was becoming to the album in question but also sun flare made its way within most images. I’m happy about how much reflection, consideration, and preparation I gave to designing the picture but I sufficiently recognize now because of this project and a lot of past ones that I need more confidence or belief about the concept for each project whilst in the midst of practical working so I can get the best result I hoped for. I’ll exceed myself in these strategies over the summer break in expectation of transpiring into a better photographer.

Would have been excellent to of photoshopped this image, in fact, seeing it presently I think that its a better alternative hopefully if having time throughout next week after editing the additional images I will.

 

2. Tango till they’re sore tom waits – Lyric transformation

This experiment did not go according to plan. I originally wanted to have a young couple who I had discussed with but in the end, they weren’t available so I replaced the subjects with my parents. Though I thought this may help the concept it didn’t, I felt that at least one the models wouldn’t take my idea seriously, or maybe not enough explanation on my part.

I suppose this image out of the rest came close, with accurate editing it could be passable enough. Still, due to poor management of timing, I was not aware if there were any satisfactory pictures by observing all the photos correctly from what I’d shot.