Research - Tom Allen Photography

Tom Allen photography

This is another photograph from the magazine Wonderland.

I like the use of the backgrounds that this photographer uses. I think they are quite urban and the use of the graffiti in the background. I like the idea of using a similar background for my own images.

I want to create casual photographs and think the use of the simple clothing and quite pedestrian poses of the models.

Research - Photographer Tom Allen

Tom Allen Photography

I found this photograph in a fashion magazine - Wonderland.

I really like the use of the simple brick wall background. The simplicity of the props and plain clothing i feel makes quite sophisticated photograph. It makes me wonder what is she waiting for. When i take my own photographs i am going to use causal clothing similar to this. I like the lighting and contrast of tones within the photograph.

I stated in my proposal that i was going to consider using text within my final images. I'm not too sure if i like the way the text has been included within this but i had to consider the fact hat it was used as a title page and not a final print.

Proposal

PHVP 2406
Research & Practice
In Still & Moving Image
Production

NEGOTIATED PROJECT PROPOSAL

Your Name…Bethan McMahon


De Montfort University
Department of Imaging and Communication Design
_______________________________________



February 2009



1. What is the idea behind your project?
You need to consider and discuss the theme, topic, focus or perspective of your project and why you are interested in it.
For this negotiated project I want to create a series of fashion photographs. My topic will be a selection of male and female models in casual fashionable clothing in an outdoor setting. I want the photographs to be taken digitally .I am interesting in this theme as I have a strong interest in fashion. I decided to create black and white images after researching through lots of fashion magazines I felt I preferred these such images. My perspective on this project will be created by setting myself a brief for a clothing brand and creating the images as if I would be for the brand. I want the clothing to be casual and all within the same style. I considered creating high fashion photographs but I felt that it would be difficult to get the clothing I wanted on a budget and also in the time scale I have. I will still include some colour images and make split into into half colour half black and white. This will be decided during the final presentation stage.

2. What do you want to achieve through this work?
Discuss your artistic and personal aims of your project and comment on how you think it is likely to affect the people who experience it.
I want to achieve a series of black and white and some colour casual fashion photographs. My aims are to create photographs that could be used in magazines advertising for a clothing brand. For my final images I may consider using small amounts of text. I want it to be created for a brand so the people who will experience it will hopefully want to buy the clothing.

3. What is the context of the project?
You need to consider how your project relates to contemporary and/or historical theory and practice in the subject area.
Black and white fashion shots are often used to create classy and sophisticated images. I will consider costume, facial expression, hair styles, make-up, positioning of both camera and model and the lighting. I will research deeply into other fashion photographers that have used black and white images.
I will consider using a studio for some colour photographs to create a complete contrast.

4. What research and development strategy have you defined for the project?
How will you set about achieving the goals you have set for your project including your working methods, artistic, technical and ethical considerations?
My research will consist of looking at fashion magazines, trend books, advertisements, websites and books. I will achieve my goals by giving myself enough time to have several shoots and be able to go back if needed. I want to allow myself time to be able to consider text and also small editing and retouching of the photographs. I want to allow myself the time to be able to be able to get my photographs printed up in a high standard.

5. How feasible is the project?
Identify the risks/problems that might arise in the development of you project and provide a proposed timetable of activities. This will enable both you and your tutor to monitor progress.

The problems I feel may arise during this project may be the clothing used. I think it may be difficult to get the models to wear clothing that all has a similar style and that looks of good quality. I will ask the models to wear their own clothing as a budget would not be possible to afford to buy clothing for the models to wear. It is a possibility of asking shops to lend clothing but I think this would be a big problem.
As I want to use an outdoor background the lighting may be difficult to create. However I feel it will be slightly easier as I want create black and white images. The use of contrast will be important for my photographs.

Timetable

Week
Activity
1
Research
2
Research – continuing looking for styles
Starting taking a few practice shots
3
Female model shoots
4
Male model shoots
5
Photo shoots if needed, or start editing an retouching if needed
6
Editing process - Consider text? Any retouching? Contrast?
7
Editing process - Consider text? Any retouching? Contrast?
8
Print up images and hand in

6. What are the influences that have helped you in thinking about the project?
Provide a bibliography of reference materials in an alphabetical list. This can include but is not limited to:
· Written material from books, journals, articles and conference contributions or interviews.
· Digital and broadcast media.
· Performance and or live presentations.
· Artefacts, designs or exhibitions.
· Films, videos and other presentations.
· Advisory reports.
· Archival or specialist collections.

INITIAL RESEARCH PROCESS
Fashion magazines:
Qvest – Feb 09
Wonderland – Sept 08
Dossier – 08
H&M fashion magazines
ASOS magazine
Websites:
http://www.jameslohrey.com/
http://www.marcotenaglia.com/
Books:
The fashion book


7. Additional information
Include any further details, which you feel are relevant to the successful completion of your project that havn’t been covered in the previous sections.

FINAL NEGOTIATED PROJECT

You are required to produce a Negotiated Project Proposal, which will identify and articulate the following criteria relevant to the ideas, development and outcomes of your project.

· The idea behind your project
· What you want to achieve through your work
· The context of the project
· A research and development strategy
· A feasibility assessment
· A proposed timetableThe influences that have helped in your thinking for the project

Process

Our group met up on monday each having created a few vox pops of our own. We completed most of the editting with just the voiceovers and opening music, which Jess is going to create herself on her computer. We also discussed our production folder and made sure we all had completed as much as possible. We decided to meet up again today to finish of the film and complete the production folder. Once we had recorded the voiceover it was easier to edit and cut ou things that were no longer needed. We found that if there was no voice over the reconstructions they got a little boring so we decided to edit them into a smaller clip. This also helped cut down the final length of the film too 5 minutes 4 seconds.

Treatment

This is the treatment for our film.
Key: V- Video, A- Audio.
V- Title Screens
A- No audio
V- Start with location shots of DeMontfort University, busy streets, campus building, halls etc
.A- Voiceover explaining the purpose of video; the things you dont know before you come to uni, what its really going to be like.
V- 1st Reconstruction Title Screen
A- No Audio
V- First Reconstruction, slightly desaturated like flashbacks, no sound from video
A- Voice over from person actually explaining what happened, possibly person who told story
.V- 2nd Reconstruction Title Screen
A- No audio
V- Second Reconstruction, slightly desaturated like flashbacks, no sound from video
A- Same as before, voiceover actually explaining what happened, possibly person who told story.
V + A- Vox Pop style interviews with five questions (about the first year of uni):
1. What was the hardest thing you have done at university?
2. What was your best memory from first year?
3. What is the one thing you never thought you'd do?
4. What did you do the first night you moved to uni?
5. What advice would you give to new first years?
V- Credit Screens
A- No audio

Filming first reconstruction

Thursday 29th January
Filming of the first reconstruction
Location: Student flats above Polarbear
Equipment: Camera, mic, Tripod
Actors: Dan Peet - Drama student

Storyline: radio in student flat being broken then stolen and found at the end of the year in the bin. Therefore must have been another housemate - can't trust anyone.

Editing: lots of close-ups and out of focus shots