As I've continued working this term I've become very unsure what my final project will look like. My latest brainstorm uses the portraits I've taken and working over them directly on the gallery wall, and as backup using just the portraits. It's hard for me to visualize the outcome in the gallery, but I suspect it will be attached directly to the wall of the gallery

The reality:

Print portraits (13x19 paper)

Hang portraits (how?)

I have two options, which have very different messages: I may decide I want to photograph bi-racial subjects and use my words and my poetry to convey my experience being bi-racial. I could also let my subjects take me on a journey. Treat this as more of a documentary portrait project. Let bi-racial subjects tell me their stories. And, in that case maybe I don't need to know exactly what it is I'm going to do with my final photographs. They will tell me.

When it comes to subject I'm also stuck in between. Are they all unknown (from outside of the Beaver community)? This means everyone will have an initial reaction to the face they see. Everyone will form an assumption only to have that broken by whatever story I chose to tell. Or, are they subjects from within Beaver. Maybe the audience will learn something new, unexpected. Maybe they will see familiar faces and still be surprised by the stories being told.

It's time for me to decide what Amani wants to do, take a break from looking at other artists and just DO. This could mean talking or photographing. It might also be writing, my writing has been another source of exploration and ideas.

Ultimately what do I want this project to look like visually. All these are ideas I am going to be exploring for a long time. So, right now, it's time to focus on senior studio.

Passport/Identification. What if I showed some sort of identity card for each subject I photograph? Of course omitting private information for security.

Location. What if I asked my subjects where THEY want to be photographed. Choose a spot that holds some meaning to them and let them take me on a journey. As long as the background is fairly blank this could be anywhere.

Lighting. Use windows, try for daytime. Natural lighting is best

What do I want to ask my subjects? What kind of conversation do I want to direct? Do I want them to scribe, do I want to scribe, do I want a voice recording? All these are things to think about in terms of the content of the message I am trying to send.

Think about how I want to use maps/words. People may not be willing to have me write on their bodies, and is this what I really want? Writing directly on the portrait can also distract for the photographs. Is it taking away from the connection I want my viewers to make? For example, Emma is quiet, her portrait is quiet, the words across her are making noise. Does the map take away from seeing Mr. Yeoh’s face? What is I write/print on transparency that is hung with a few inches separating it from the photograph… this might help see both the photo and the message.

Maybe stick with the natural straight on pose, hands clasped together. Keep the hands. Hands can tell you a lot about a person, they are interesting.

Carry a stool around? Regardless of location everyone will be sitting at the same height

I've been thinking some about the logistics of my final project and what potential challenges I need to consider. I love the idea of taking portraits of previously unseen or unknown subjects, but this most likely means I cannot take my photographs at school. This poses several challenges.

Background? My initial thought was a white backdrop so as not to distract or take away from the rest of the piece at all. Where will I find/how will I create this?

Lighting. I don't own my own lights so I have to consider how it will be possible for me to create an environment where I can produce well lit photographs

Projector... I've been thinking about projecting directly onto my subjects. Is this still something I want to try? How?

Subjects. Who? How will I get access to these people? Where and how will I make time and space for them? All things I need to start thinking about and brainstorming now. Possibly talking to family friends, members of my synagogue, friends of my parents. How can I reach further than this?