CLASSIFIED // RECOVERED GLYPH

A sealed machine panel was located on Sublevel B during routine deactivation.

Cold casing.

Warm metal.

No known activity was logged in the area.

The marking appears to be self-etched — no tool residue, no manufacturer ID, no reason for it to exist.

They’re calling it:

THE ASCENDING WITNESS GLYPH.

Further documentation is restricted.

Some symbols don’t speak.

They listen.

THE SHOOT 

This is the ORIGINAL PHOTO we have worked with. 

We had to consider the disappointingly low options to choose from (in terms of both flashes firing at the same time). The main light supposed to be the cyan one but here both looks fairly equal ( can be sorted out in post-production )

Here the clown mask is less visible but the pose is much ‘ ready to jump ‘ / dynamic than on any other photos

Her figure looks more casual and also she is positioned right in the middle of the tunnel; also the hoody implies a more introvert personality  - is she hiding from somewhere? does the creepy clown following her all the time - can trigger narrative in the viewer. 

( this copy is brightened to see the edits )

PHOTOSHOP EDIT

By using layers - enhanced the colour of the flashes ( Photo filter - Gradient )  , brighten or darken ( dodge and burn or Levels )  some areas of the image, also to crop / retouch some unnecessary parts from the image ( Patch and Clone tool on duplicated layer )

FINAL EDIT ( submission file - colour profile altered for printing - therefore it less contrasty and the colours appear flat too ) 

The original photo has been cropped to bring the subject more in focus - by doing that we haven’t considered that Inka’s figure would be enlarged too, although I am very happy with the Dutch tilt - draws the eye to the subject and also adds an extra twist to the scene  

The green cast in the background’s been enhanced - the orange flash looks less significant but it still looks natural ( imitates street lamp ) 

Cyan flash could have been more direct - should have used a snoot maybe? 

We didn’t ask Inka to wear anything specific - unfortunately she turned up in checked shirt and it does look similar to the patterns the Clown is wearing - note for self - more previsualisation needed before a photoshoot!

Next I’ll upload the self evaluation! 

A lot of things went wrong. My friend was an hour late, started almost 2 hours later than I wanted to, loaded 2 films twice in a wrong way, had reshoot and had to paint on my friend 4 times in total, some setting were adjusted on the camera ( I believe when I was taking of the bulky viewfinder part of the camera I have adjusted some buttons, so even tho I had the shutter speed on 1/125 the setting allowed the shutter to close a lot slower) and most of my negs are either blurry or double exposed.

I have learnt to - drink less coffee before a shoot. Track my models. Check how I’m loading the camera. Get to know the camera I am using. 

On the good side - my sweet sweet friend was real patient. Messed up negs can result some interesting outcome. Working in studio and with flash is not so terrifying anymore.

But what do I want to do with these photos? Why do I want to splash paint on people’s body? Am I just supporting the idea of the perfect body idea by choosing ‘fit’ models? I guess I am, but because I have been always self-conscious about myself that’s how I counterweight years of hating my body. I can deal with the subject now but is it real the way? Having no context can be a good thing? 

scans from the shoot