Shoot 5 Work Record

Plans for shoot: 
The plan for shoot three is to move towards record covers as well as CD covers and this time instead of recreating the art within the case, I will be implementing them onto the covers. The shoot will therefore require me to take two separate images to produce one final image. 

Research influence: 
I have been influenced by the 'sleeve face' movement, which was an internet phenomenon. I liked the way it linked with the idea I had from my previous shoot and I thought it was a logical influence to use as a step forward in my work. 





Contact sheet:







My Best images (target 4 - 6), 

Images that require improvement., 

AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and
progress.
Upon shooting I knew that I would have to shoot two separate images and superimpose them to bring it all together. I used the 'sleeve face' movement to inspire how I set up my images, however because I wanted to use the record itself I couldn't have someone hold the sleeve in front of their face. I also wanted to develop the idea by imposing the image on the record so that it gave me a nice frame for my image. At first I couldn't get a straight shot of the record as I had laid it flat out on the table. This made it difficult for me to get the camera over the record to take the image. I then had the record stood up with the sleeve placed behind it to keep it propped up. Some of my images did not work as I had not set the tripod up properly and so I failed to fit my subject in the frame properly. I would say that from looking at my images individually the ones of the sleeves don't look strong on their own but my portraiture shots are quite interesting.

AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
When in the studio I shot with a CANON 1300D using an ISO of 200 an aperture of 8 and a shutter speed of 1/125. These setting weren't chosen randomly, I used a light meter which measures the light from the flash of the soft boxes to give me the measurements for my camera settings. The soft boxes are a piece of electrical equipment that is designed in a way that it transmits a even and diffused ray of light. This created even tones which was useful for some of my images. On occasion I adjusted the light being emitted from one of the light boxes to create shadows o one side. 





Above is the studio setup I used when shooting the record and then my models. 

EDIT 1 - 'Broken Machine' Nothing But Thieves

The first thing I had to do for all these edits was cut a hole where the CD was using the magnetic lasso tool and then place my image behind it.


My next step was to apply a black and white filter onto the image to get a closer representation of the CD cover I was emulating.


The image on the CD cover was really bright and over exposed so I ever so slightly adjusted the exposure tool so that the exposure was higher but still natural.

The model used in the CD cover had very bright blonde hair and so I needed to adjust the hair colour on my model I started by reducing the black with the selective colour tool.

To further increase the exposure of my image I added a colour overly which was white, an inner glow on my image and an outer glow this gave the pale complexion I needed.


To make the hair white I introduced a mask onto the image and used the white paint brush tool so that the hair became lighter on the selected areas.


I then cut out the scarring from the CD cover and placed this over my image.


As the scarring I used as not my own I decided to take my photo into a design software on the iPad. This allowed me to paint over the scarring in a separate layer using an iPen.

I then removed the cut out layer so that my painted layer was the only one that remained. It was a learning curve for me as I had never used this software before and it has developed my editing skills as I am no more aware of a new ways to edit my images.

EDIT 2 - True Blue 'Madonna'

Again the first step of my editing was to cut out a hole using the lasso tool and replace it with my own.

I then used the curves tool to smooth out the skin by making my image more exposed. This coincidentally made my models hair lighter which was helpful as I was recreating an image of Madonna who is blonde.

I then followed the steps from this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OFBUOXoWNE&t=31s which allowed me to change the hair from brown to blonde.

I then took the image back into the iPad software ad painted the red lipstick on. I learnt a lot from this edit as I developed a new technique in chaining the hair colour from one extreme to the other whilst keeping it natural.

EDIT 3 'Demon Days' Gorillaz

 Firstly I had to cut out the hole using the magnetic lasso tool and place my images behind it. Using the alt tool to check the dimensions of my images, I pieced them all together making adjustments where necessary so that they fit the squares behind the image. As you can see this meant that I had some gaps between my images.

 Because of the way the case frames the models individually I needed to put the lines through to divide my images. This as you can see covered up some of the gaps left where my images didn't fill the frame. I also had to use the paint tool to fill in any gaps the shapes I put on didn't cover. To do this I used the colour swatch over the backdrops my models where behind so that when I painted over the gaps it blended perfectly.

The last step for me was to scan in the drawings and position them so that they fit over the image proportionally. This goes back to the edits I had done in the previous shoot, I decided to this because I wanted to experiment with it further by using the drawing technique cross hatching with a pen.

AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

I believe that my influence is very clear and that it is also clear to see the development I have made to the style, where instead of the record sleeve covering the model, they become the record sleeve. I have taken influence from Ben Heine too as I have taken to further implementing drawings and now painting into my work. 

AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements. 

I believe that I have produced a strong series of images that reflect well the movement that influenced me in the first place. Furthermore, I believe I have developed the style in a way that suits the exam title well using the records and CDs themselves as a platform to frame my images. I decided to re produce the 'Broken Machine' image as I thought I could develop the final outcome further using different editing techniques.

Progression: you must refer to what you will do next to improve on either the shoot you have done or how you will develop your project in the next shoot.   
From my previous shoot I believe not only have I further developed the idea of using CD cases as a means of framing my images so I am now using the Record sleeves and the record itself, but I have learnt new editing techniques when it comes to manipulating the physical elements of models, for example their hair. I have also developed my skills in terms of using a new software on the iPad. This has also meant I that have also increased my use of experimentation, now using an iPen to draw and paint on my images. This at first did not go well as I was not used to the sensitivity but after drafting a few drawings I was able to use it well enough to create decent outcomes. For my next shoot I will look to again be influence by sleeveface but have the final images be a more personal response to my models.