Concept/Subject:
For my final, I plan to convey the feeling of extreme frustration. Frustration of not being able to do what we love and be with who we love; frustration from being confined. I feel this is very fitting for the time we all are going through and I want my audience to relate to it. In my portraits, I plan to make my subjects display anger, pain and helplessness. To convey raw emotion, I will refrain from using any excessive styling or makeup. My subjects will include my friends and my family.
Technical Approach / Input:
Natural light is essential to the work I create. For this project, I will be challenged with using only streaks of strong window lighting or an even lighting on my roof. The limitations of getting only a few hours of strong light will push me to be quick in directing my subjects. The camera I will be using is the Canon EOS Rebel T5i. I plan to be conscious of where I place the camera and try different points of view or even try taking close-ups on specific parts of the face or body to create an almost abstract image. Playing with lighting and having moments where only on my subjects’ faces as the rest of them fade into less detail is also one of my goals.
Technical Approach / Output:
After the shoot, I will test my images with monotone processing, perhaps a sepia look or even a black and white conversion with a strong contrast. Ideally, I would be making consistent large-scale prints of the final series of at least four and above. Since that seems unattainable, I plan to find a way to present them as a series digitally along with a brief song, poem, or write-up.
Rania-
I can’t wait to see your final project. I like the way you are using your current circumstance to push you creatively (moving away from highly stylized portraits). Rebecca had suggested that I explore Richard Avedon’s work and I watched the video ‘Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light’ . Avedon talks about how he captures extreme emotion in his portraits; if you have access to youtube you may want to watch that part of the video, it’s about 30 minutes in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XElT1udbFM
It was good to see your face and hear your voice. best of luck on your project.
Hello Maryalice,
Thank you so much for sharing the work of Richard Avedon. I just finished looking at the video and am absolutely inspired by his raw imagery and his concept of photographing what he is afraid of. Definitely a very different approach on the fashion photography we see these days.
It was so nice seeing everyone after so long, i miss all of you too!
Hi Raina!
What an opportunity to be able to capture such a unique moment of history. With limited lighting, subjects, and environment, and through your personal experience, I think your work will tell an important story for years to come.
Through the portraits we’ve seen from you so far, I am confident we will be moved by your work. Looking forward to seeing it!
Maggie
Hi Rania,
I like the idea of developing/printing in B&W and sepia. The idea of not using color will give the photos a “clarity” of the bleakness of isolation.
I’ve enjoyed viewing your past photos specially the recent completed color assignments with the iphone.
Bill