Kim Stuart

Mixed Media Photographers:

‘With so many photographers toying with different ways to express their creativity we decided to take a look at six of the best mixed media photographers.’

The visual outcomes for this module have taken a while to develop, with there being a few shoots before finalising ideas. However, the final outcome of the prints is overall fairly successful, having the final images printed in a large format (A2 squares) I was able to allow the viewer/audience to get closer tot he subject matter. Therefore they were able to see the beauty and intricacy of the human form. By looking into macro photography for this outcome, I was able to explore genre of photography that I’ve never had the chance to before, therefore improving my overall photography skills for the future. Below are a few selected links and articles about looking at macro photography, both professionally and through the use of mobile phones. These were particularly interesting and informative for this module as I was able to assess the techniques and technical information needed for macro photography.  As well as exploring the possibility of incorporating social media, by extending this project and moving in online with the use of mobile phone photography. 

Overall, I feel the final outcome is highly successful in putting across the sexualisation of the human body in the media. Social media and advertising have taken the female form and translated it into a sexual figure of desire, which through my visual outcomes and essay I have explored and highlighted. Furthermore, I feel my final visual outcomes fully express the issues and points raised within my essay as they explore the simplicity and reality of the human body, as opposed to the exploited bodies seen within the media. 

https://www.enlightapp.com/blog/mobile-macro-photography/

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3193992

‘Feminism around the world’

The Queen, The Chairman and I

Kurt Tong

This particular exhibition gave me a very interesting insight into the use of found imagery and the presentation of the photographs and gallery space. Although the exhibition itself has little to do with my current topics in CoP2, I feel the overall atmosphere of the space and the use of the found images would beneficial for my CoP3. I particularly liked the use of the photo album style display along the one wall, I found this use of sizing and photography to be very influential in terms of the subject matter. By having a mixture of large prints and smaller, more personal prints it engages the viewer and encourages them to interact within the story being told. 

“At first glance her images convey a sense of serenity, inviting the viewer in. Once inside the calmness appears unbearable to her struggling subjects.” Amber Isabel sees the use of beauty as a means to temporarily deny the chaos and incompleteness of daily reality.”

Amber Isabel is a mixed media artist who's use of mark making and photography creates very unique visual effects. Combining mark making with pens on top of her final editorial images creates a very interesting final photograph, almost playing with the idea of identity and emotions. I especially like the relationship between the framing of the model and the colour and type of the marking making. This is due to the interesting visual effect it creates and the potential emotions stirred in the viewer. This is most certainly a body of work to look into for my CoP3 project. 

For my CoP3 dissertation I would like to look more closely into a specific type of photography that has always interested me. Although I have not got a specific direction for this body of work, I hope to narrow my window of research over the easter holidays. 

The topic I wish to explore further is the use of mixed media within photography, and how this reflects emotions and feelings towards a viewer/audience. The concept of mixing medias alongside photography has been an element I had enjoyed and displayed throughout my work at LCA. As mentioned previously, I am unsure as to how I will narrow this broad topic down for my dissertation but I would like to research into the broader concept of mixed media photography also. This will allow me to get a better insight into the genre as well as what the images represent after the addition of mixed media. 

I feel this would be a very interesting topic to cover for my dissertation as it is certainly something I have a connection to and would enjoy exploring further. Due to using this combination a lot over the last 4 years, I hope to create a diverse, interesting body of work to follow alongside my dissertation, exploring the different medias and how they effect the visuals of photography. 

Petra Collins has an online following of just under 500k on instagram alone, opening her body of work’s target audience to a wider range. 

Petra Collins is a feminist social media self-portrait artist, who uses her photography and projects to put across the reality and normality of the human body and growing up. Her online portfolio shows a selection of intimate self-portraits and numerous bodies of work all expressing the exploitation of women. A particular body of work I feel very strongly about is her ‘The Teenage Gaze’ project, which follows a group of teenagers through 2010-15. The work looks closely at the reality of transitioning from teen to adulthood within our society and the issues they face. Despite having her images confronting a very real issue within our online world, Collins has had many images deleted and criticised. This is perhaps due to the growing concerns around her body confidence being posted online, this connotes that the acceptance of the female body is limited to that of the socially constructed body. 

I feel Petra Collins’ work would be very fitting for my essay title as it her body of work ‘The Teenage Gaze’ as well as her personal self-portraiture would benefit the dicsussion. Comparing her work to the advertising industry as well as fashion editorial images produced over the last 20 years would be an interesting and informative evaluation. 

I stumbled across the work of Terry Richardson whilst trying to find historic photographers to reference. Richardson is an internationally known fashion editorial photography, who's highly controversial and ‘hyper-sexualised’ photography has assisted with his rise to fame. Photographing models and celebrities in this manner has collected him wide range of criticisms and hatred from tabloids, online blogs and models themeselves. After being accused of sexual assult on numerous models, as well as unsightly behvaiour during photo shoots within the 90′s, I felt Richardson’s work would be more than appropriate to compare to American Apparel. Comparing these two in relation to my essay title (Self Portriature and the sexualisation of women) would prove very interesting and informative. This would also allow me to understand the differnece between modern advertising and 90′s fashion edititorial photography. 

1:1 Tutorial: 

For my one to one tutorial with my tutor, I wanted to focus on my body of work that we are producing alongside my self-portraiture essay. I particularly wanted to look at this segment of the module as I felt I needed confirmation on which idea to run with for my body of work. Although both projects were met with a positive response, I felt more comfortable developing and continuing the macro skin work. Although I had very few images to show, especially as they weren't the standard I would have liked at the time, I felt comfortable within the project to put this forward for criticism. 

Points/directional advice gathered from my tutorial: 

-Make the images more ambiguous, perhaps photograph and merge male and female body parts to get the point across. 

-Test out printing the images on thin paper to match the texture and delicate nature of the human skin. See James in the printing room for advice.

-Would the images, after testing with the macro lens, work on a larger scale? Possibly an exhibition style print? 

#SocialMediaIsNotReal Campaign: 

I came across this social media campaign through one of my previous articles for this module. I found it to be very inspirational as it proved something was being done about the portrayal of women online. Although it is more directed to ‘fake images’ and highlighting the staged social media celebrities, the morals of why this campaign has come to light is still apparent. Below is a small example of the creators of the #SocialMediaIsNotReal campaign. 

The link about takes you to a range of social media articles posted on Dazed and Confused, looking closely at the rise in feminist campaigns online. 

‘Feminism’

“In honour of IWD we spoke to some of London’s students about their experiences of feminism in 2017.”

“What does feminism mean to you? Equality for men and women and equal opportunities.”

“What does feminism mean to you? Equality for all women, of all race, religion, and sexuality. I also think it's important that feminism focuses on the rights of those in third world countries more.”

“What does feminism mean to you? Means standing up for women's rights and showing equality between men and women.”

‘The Female Gaze’

“In the history of art, women have been relegated – in most instances – to the role of inspiring muses: indisputably loved, admired and revered but almost always in a passive role.”

‘Petra Collins remixes Art History’: 

“Featuring a three-hour live vignette, an Instagram video version of the 19th-century Salon des Independants, and a self-love rap anthem soundtrack.”

Before conducting any research into my chosen subject matter for this essay, I decided to structure and plan what questions I would like to answer within it. This allowed me to get a better understanding of which texts and what knowledge I needed to know before conducting any of my essay. By doing this I was able to plan accordingly, ensuring I had the right academic texts available to me when I needed them. Structuring my essay in this way encouraged my progress to the point where I was able to identify which direction I wanted to take each paragraph in. As well as this I was able to select which specific artists I would look at throughout the structure of my essay. Below is the basic plan I laid out for each paragraph of my essay, including what I would include in each as well as some potential quotes that would fit with the theme/artist. Whilst writing the essay I hope these questions will make it much easier to navigate and complete as the structure is already laid out for me. 

Despite only handing in my essay plan for our first initial feedback session over christmas, it allowed me to give my tutor a better insight into what I still need to research as well as the specific direction I wanted to take my essay. Although having something written would have been more beneficial, it allowed me to see if the topics I was covering would be beneficial for my research or if I needed to adapt anything before I properly began. 

‘Modern Sexist Ads- A small collection of modern sexist ads’

“A group of men in a board room thought these were hilarious, just let that sink in”

Although the adverts mentioned in this article did not particularly inform my essay greatly, they gave me a more in depth look into the advertising industry. Allowing a first hand account of some of the truly grotesque images put out into society by advertising agencies. Although the article itself has been put together by a small tabloid agency, the variation of ads on show it shocking. The horrific objectification of women through these particular examples is precisely why I wanted to target this subject matter for my project. By having these advertisements spread around the media and online it encourages younger generations to believe treating women in this way is acceptable, and worse so, entertaining. This article, although has not informed my essay directly, has encouraged my visual outcomes to make more of an impact on the viewer. It is advertisements like these that need targeting and taking down, to help inform society about how little respect it has for women. 

I have chosen a small selection of the adverts within the article that would have the most impact on society and its standards. Looking through these chosen few, the sexualisation and male dominance is very key, with the male figure positioned in a place of power as opposed to the weak female/females. Although this is a visual representation for all of them, it is a reoccurring theme throughout, leaving the impression that women are being portrayed to be a smaller, objectified figure that can be treated and used by males.