Scarlett

Studio Lighting!! Serious stuff :D

I finally went to look at this ‘art’ the other day, at least I think it’s art? It has no statement or title, no information that I could see...

I found it of interest though, to me this piece is about the environment and waste. My latest project was all about the environment: pollution and littering and so it was nice to see something on a similar.

Again I’m assuming, but art is all about interpretation! 

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The things you end up Googling when trying to be creative! 

I’m currently working on a new project looking at the environment and the concept of house verses home (if that makes no sense then it’s probably for the best as I don’t want to give too much away!)

One of the problems of working in a studio, especially someone else’s studio is mess! I wanted to something on a larger scale, but I’m very limited. Not only is it not my studio, but there’s also props to consider, how to get them, where, cost and transport! Sadly all these things severely limit the original concept and I’m having to rein it in... So I guess this post is about frustration, but necessity is the mother of invention and a simpler concept is what I need.

Luckily I think I’ve found one, or I’m getting close, close enough to start researching how to make fake oil anyway! My idea was food dye and sunflower oil, I wasn't too far off from these guys.

Shoe tossing, dangling or flinging.... I never knew this had a name, to me it’s iconic of street life, a well known image, a semiotic, but of what? I never considered what it meant until I decided to use it in a photograph.

This photo was shot in the studio last week (it hasn't been ‘shopped yet, so please don’t judge!) it’s just the first experiment for a rather messy photo I’ve been planning, but more on that later... 

It turns out there are many possible interpretations for this iconic bit of symbolism and it varies according to location: walking groups, bullying, drug dealing, gang turf, the end of the academic year and even a forthcoming marriage. The practice possibly originated in the military, a rite of passage upon completing training. 

The internet offers many interesting possibilities, but for me it’s simply a throwback to childhood, visiting family amongst rows and rows of back-to-back houses connected by washing lines. Undoubtedly it wouldn't be long before you saw a line featuring a pair of dirty kicks. Luckily I never met any drug dealers or ended up in a turf war... 

These head shots were taken for drama students at Leeds City College (to be featured in a theatre programme). Above are just some of my favourites.

This was a great chance to work in the studio, but also to work with people - something else I love! Although I only had a minute or less with each person, I'm very comfortable interacting with people, rearranging their hair, tidying their t-shirts, etc. It’s very important to be able to work with people and to be able to have fun with them (even when you only have a minute!) and luckily this is something I’ve always been comfortable with. 

In a previous blog I spoke about long exposure in black and white, but how I was drawn to colour. Today I found Stephen Orlando, a photographer I now find hugely inspirational as he has mastered the capturing of motion and colour, in a way that goes beyond simply setting a long exposure. 

Orlando is creating images through the innovative use of LEDs. Beautiful patterns are also captured as the LEDs track human motion.