WILL FRIPP

What went well?

With my project, I achieved the kind of images that I wanted to achieve. I managed to successfully get a bright white background and a darker background. I also managed to try and get unique poses in my images so that they would look different and was a little bit outside the box. I think my fashion film was also a little bit of a success as I did manage to achieve it, but there was a lot of area to improve. Also, I did manage to make two test films which meant that I was able to make some experiments and investigate my work further. 

Where do you think you could improve your project?

I think that I could have managed my time a lot better, but that is my own fault. If I had done this, then I would have a better result and my work wouldn’t look as rushed as I think it does. Also, I would have had more time for experimenting which meant that I would have had even more results and could have improved my work even more. Another thing which I would improve was my fashion film, I think that it wasn’t as good and detailed as I wanted it to be, which meant that the quality of it is quite poor. I also think that I could have used more than just one model throughout the project and more locations, as that way I would have had more of a variety throughout my work.

What were your original intentions and did you achieve what you set out to do? 

My original intentions for this project were to create old fashioned looking images with bright white backgrounds and to create a film alongside my stills. I managed to achieve both of these, although not to the standard that I wanted them to be. Throughout my project, the direction kind of changed. I was going to have a really old looking fashion film, but when editing, I thought that it looked better having newer clothing and a modern feel but with the oldish look. This meant that my images are more of a combination between the two - old style images but with modern clothing and feel. I’m not sure this worked out exactly how I wanted it to look but I am satisified with my final images. 

Was your experimentation and investigation valid and useful?

I defiantly think that experimenting was useful as I managed to get a feel for what I wanted and achieved different looking images. Without this, I don’t think that my project would have done in the direction I wanted it too and I wouldn’t like my finals as much. Also, creating two test films with my work defiantly helped as not only did I get to see my footage in two different styles and way, it gave me a better idea and feel for my work. 

What did you learn during this assignment? Identify areas of strength and area’s for development?

With this project, I picked up a few more Photoshop skills, giving me sharper tones and colours but also I picked up a few more editing techniques for video editing. This will help me with other projects in the future and at degree level. Also, I think I managed to pick up a few more lighting skills as looking back at other projects, I would have to play around with the lighting for a long time before achieving exactly what I wanted - this time, I managed to get the lighting I was looking for pretty much straight away. Also, using manual on a camera is a lot easier now as I roughly have an idea on what settings I need. 

How did your practical work relate to your research? 

I think that I needed to do a little bit more research as that would have helped me a lot as I was looking at quite surreal fashion photographers where as I was trying to achieve something a little bit more subtle. Although I did look at fashion films before creating mine to get an idea on what I wanted mine to look like, I should have looked at them in more depth. 

What’s Next?

I will continue to practice my photographic skills, especially with lighting and editing. I will focus a lot more on editing fashion films as I have discovered this is what I really like to make - especially the post production side. I will also try to make some more my work a little bit more abstract and unique as I think this is what really makes your work stand out and makes it different from other work. So, I think I will be looking more at abstract, surreal and unique imagery. 

Summary

These are my final images:

With my shoots, I didn’t exactly have a specific plan of exactly what lighting I was going to use and exactly what settings etc. I just had an idea in my head of exactly how I wanted it to look, so when I was completing my test shots I tried to achieve this idea. I did create a few mind maps, just to help me try and generate some ideas throughout the process so that I wasn’t completely clueless when coming to shoot. 

Mind Maps & Ideas:

My second shoot also went really well, I managed to achieve what I set out to do. When I first started setting up, I was going to do it on a black background but I thought that this wouldn’t work very well with the clothing and the style which I am trying to achieve. So, I used a white background but tried to make it look more grey as I thought this could work really well.

To do this, I pulled the lights quite far away from the backdrop and had my model very far away from the backdrop as well, which meant that the background in camera would go grey. 

Contact Sheets:

With this shoot, I didn’t have as much time which meant that I couldn’t get as many photos that I wanted to get. However, as I knew what I wanted my set up to be and what I wanted, I was able to get some good images out of this. This shoot was a lot better as my model was more confident as she had got used to being in front of the camera and also it seemed a lot more relaxed. In my images, I still had a few errors, either they we’re out of focus or the flash didn’t fire etc. but I was expecting this to happen. Also at first, I couldn’t get the background as grey as I wanted it to be, so after moving the lights around, changing positions and a few camera changes, I was able to get this. When I was looking at the images on the computer, I was happy with the result and I managed to pick out quite a few which I thought we’re the best ones and began to edit them. 

Unedited favourites:

My first shoot I think went quite well, I used a sheer white background and I asked my model to try and wear as old closed as possible - as I was trying to make it old fashioned. 

Contact Sheets:

I think that this went quite well, looking at the contact sheets I was trying to get a variety of clothing so that not all of my images were in the same clothing. Some of the images are blank, this is obviously where the flash didn’t fire or I had made an error whilst shooting. However, the shoot went really well, I have got some images in there which could be my finals. Also, I am really happy with how the lighting turned out in my images, as normally that is what would let some of my images down but I am quite happy with how it all turned out. At first, my model was quite shy but as it went on it got a lot better which meant that my photos turned out a lot better. However, when I was shooting I wish I got myself more of a variety as I have only used a white background. So, I am going to try and get another shoot done where I will use a darker background so that I have got more of a variety with my images. Also, I was thinking of making the next shoot a little bit more modern with the clothing, this could work really well if I was to try and edit my photos so that they look quite old but the fashion is really new. So, I am going to experiment with this on my next shoot.

Unedited Favourites:

I think that with fashion photography, a lot of the images come down to the posing of the model which makes it a good image. Most of the time (especially in Guy Bourdian’s images) there is always a lot of abstract posing which doesn’t really make sense but somehow makes the image work really well. So, when I was shooting, I made sure that I was trying out different poses which might look a bit strange but could possibly work:

Here are my results:

From the beginning of my project, I wanted to create a fashion film that looked quite old but also quite fun. Although originally, I wanted it to look really old with cropped sides, shaky and black and white, with the footage that I managed to get whilst shooting, my idea has changed. I wanted it to be in black and white so that the background was really white but the model and her features stood out really well - which is why I did not make it look as old as I was originally going to have it. 

This is is the result:

FMP: Fashion Film

From the beginning of the project, I have said that I wanted all of my images to be in black and white and quite old fashioned. Now that I have started to edit my images, they look quite modern - due the posing and clothing. 

This is what my images look like in Black & White:

Bio & Information

Viviane Sassen is a Dutch artist living in Amsterdam who was born in 1972, with her work becoming widely published. Sassen is a photographer who works in both the fashion and fine art world, focussing on geometric shapes and abstractions of bodies. She was included in the 2011 new photography exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art and has created many campaigns for brands such as: Miu Miu, Louis Viutton and others. In 2007, she won the Dutch Prix de Rome and Infinity Award from International Center of Photography.

As a child, Sassen lived in Kenya and often goes to Africa to work. She started to study fashion at Arnhem, but quickly changed to photography. She received her first degree from the Royal Academy in Arnhem. Sassen likes to create controversial images, avoiding the stereotypical. For example, includes counterparty elements in her African images like cell phones and automobiles.

Sassen once said “For me, fashion is one big playground, a place to experiment. But I have always had this love/hate relationship with it.” I think that she has got a good outlook when it comes to her work, which is why her images can be so powerful.

Photo Analysis

One: 

With this image, I think that is really unique but it works really well. I think that the use of pale flowers being used as the background and then quite sharp patterns and colours being used on the main subject works well. I also like the depth of field on this image and how the model is really in focus and also the positioning of the model looks really abstract. I think that the colouring within the image is nice as it is not too much and there is not much lighting there which could ruin the image and make it look artificial. I would say that the lighting in this image is mostly natural but I think if there was to be any more then it wouldn’t look as good, also this image wouldn’t be as good in black and white.

Two:

With this image, I like the split background and the use of pale/muted colours. Again, like the other image the use of bold patterns on the model works well. I also think that the colour lines behind the model makes it look very abstract and I think if it was not there then the image wouldn’t be as interesting as it would be quite plain and boring. I also like how there is shadows on the wall, as if it was just completely flat I don’t think it would work as well, as it adds some dark tones to the image but not too much of it. Overall, I think that it is an interesting image, where only little things have been done to make it successful. 

Three:

Bio & Information

Mert and Marcus is a collaboration of two photographers, both born in 1971. Most of their work is influenced by photographer Guy Bourdin and within their work they use a lot of digital manipulation.

Mert Alas was born in Turkey and worked in classical music. Then moving on to become an assistant photographer. Marcus Piggot was born in Wales and worked in graphic design and became a fashion photo modeller. After meeting in 1994, they decided to create a team together with their first photos being published into “Dazed and Confused,” they instantly made the front cover. They are mostly known for their sophisticated and powerful portraits of women – with their main priority of the photo being appearance. Alas has previously said in an interview “The different between us and other photographers is that we care a lot about appearance. We spend most of the time in the make-up and hairstyling rooms.”

The pair have become international and work for magazines companies, such as: Vogue USA, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, Interview Magazine, The Love Magazine, Pop Magazine, W Magazine, Arena Hoome Plus and Numero. As well as magazines, they work for major fashion brands such as: Dior, Louis Vuitton, Missoni, Armani, Fendi and Cavalli. Along with creating the imagery for perfume brands such as: Gucci, YSL, Givenchy and Lancome. Along with working for companies, they have also shot for big celebrities including: Shakira, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Linsday Lohan, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and recently with Victoria Beckham for an Armani shoot.

Photo Analysis

One:

What I find find interesting about there images is the way that they capture so much lighting but all of the images have got similar colour and look like one big series. With this image, I think the colour and detail is excellent and although there is a lot of colour most of them are the same. I like how the bedding is such a sharp red, but the model looks extremely pale within the dark blue water. I think that the contrasting throughout the image is really good but the although the main focus is the model, it is not the only thing that is focused - everything throughout the image is still in focus and I think that this is extremely clever. I think with this image, you really follow it with your eyes, starting at the model and working your way to the back of the image. Overall, what I like the most about the image is how the is so vibrant at the front with such invasive colours but towards this leads you to the back of the image, where it is a lot darker but there is a lot of shadows and reflections. 

Two:

I think that the detail and colour is really nice. I think the the focus and lighting on the model is really good and it looks extremely sharp. I also think that the use of colour in this image has been really thought out - along with the lighting. I also like the reflection on the jewellery of the model and how the red on the front of the model really stands out. I also think that the background looks quite filmic and old and I think that overall, it is a really strong image with excellent contrasting, colouring and focus. 

Three:

I took some test shots before my main planned shoot so that I got the lighting correct and knew exactly what I needed for when it came round to my main shoot.

Here are the results:

I created two fashion films as tests to see how I want the direction of my film to go. I have used the same pieces of footage but have attempted to make them have two very different feels. One of these are in colour and the other is in black and white - with quite an old effect. 

Fashion Film - Test Shots 1 

Fashion Film - Test Shots 2

As a part of Unit 26, I created a fashion film for a chosen brand. Throughout the process, we had to create something that suited the style of photography and the clothing. During this, I picked up a few new filming techniques such as: panning, slow motion, focusing and more. When it came to editing these, I also edited them using Final Cut Pro, which has now given me a little bit more experience with the software and has made me quite confident when using it. From learning all of this, it has given me a vivid idea on what I would like to try and create in my new film.

Unit 26: Experiments

Unit 26: Fashion Film

Ideas & Concepts

For these test shots, I filmed them in an abandoned building. Even though this location does not really relate to my idea of old style fashion, I was focusing more on filming techniques such as: panning, pulling focus, movement, close-up etc. The clips have got a variety of different lighting and exposures, giving me more choice to edit and experiment with. I shot using both people and the surroundings, giving me more footage to play around with. 

In Photoshop, I created what I would like my film to roughly look like:

I think when I am actually editing this in actual video editing software, it will look different to how I want it – as the contrasts, effects and brightness will look different. (Also, I want it to be a bit squarer, as I still think that it looks quite widescreen).

Editing Clips & Adding Effects

My initial idea is to create an old fashioned film – with old effects such as: black and white, square, frame, shaky etc.

To edit my clips, I will be using a programme called Final Cut Pro X. I think that this is a simple piece of editing software which allows me to do everything that I want to my clips.

 I am going to start off by opening the software and importing my clips. 

 Now, I am going to trim the clip down to where I would like it to start and finish.   

Now that I have got the clip in, I am going to crop it down. I am going to go to the video settings, crop and then cut both the left and right side down by 220. 

Now that my clip is now in a square, I am going to add a black and white filter to it. The filter which I have chosen is “50s TV” – this gives me an old style effect, with a bit of grain. I am going to adjust the brightness and amount so that it is not too bright or overpowering on my clips. 

Now that my clip is starting to look more old style, I am going to add a little bit of shake or noise to my clip – just to give it the extra effect.

Now, I am going to add music. I need to add something that is appropriate to the clips but also that fits with the old style of film that I am trying to achieve.

I will repeat this process with the rest of my clips and also experiment with different effects – so that I have got an even clearer idea of what I want my final film to look like. 

Adding Audio Effects

Something else that I think can be quite good about this software, is that there is also a range of audio effects. You can get effects like: underwater, retro, tinny and more. These I think that by having these on your audio can have make a big difference on the feel of the content. To be able to get these effects, you go over to the effects section and I will then either scroll all the way down or you can select Audio Effects. 

For example, I am going to select a random effect and drop it on top of my audio. 

The effect is now applied and I can edit the amount and other types of settings on the settings tab. Sometimes it can be too much to the audio so it is good that you can pick the amount that you want there to be. 

Creating Titles & Adding Text At the beginning of the film, I would like there to be a title. I want the title to fit the style but also not be too much or “cringey.” So, I am going to try and create something that I think would fit with the style.

I am now going to use a sound which works well the “Typewriter” text effect.

 I am then going to change the title to what I would like it too be – which is “Fashion Film.” 

Because this isn’t my main film, I would to show that it is my test shots. So, I am going to copy and paste what I have just created and rename it “Test Shots.” 

Now this has gone on top of the other title, so I am going to select it and drag it to where I would like it to be. 

I have now got my two titles where I would like them to be, but I don’t want them to start at the same time. So, I am going to move the “Test Shots” title along the timeline, so that it starts after the other title. 

Now, that they are separate. I am going to add some sound to them as I think without them, it sounds quite boring. To do this, I am going to select the music icon on the right hand side of the software. I am then going to search keywords for what I am looking for e.g. “Keyboard” and add it to below the title. 

The sound is now alongside my text, but I want to cut it down. So, to do this, I am going to press B on my keyboard (for blade) and cut down the audio. Then I am going to press A, to go back and get rid of the blade.

I am then going to delete the chunk of audio that I do not need. 

Now, I have got my title with sound effects and I think that it works well with the style that I am trying to achieve.

Adding Audio

To add audio to my clips, I can do this in two ways – depending on where the file of the audio is. The first way is to go to the right side of the programme and press on the music note. This will then display my iTunes library and all the other sound effects from the computer. 

 If I want a piece of audio from iTunes, I will press the iTunes folder and scroll or search for the song I am looking for. I will then click it so it is selected and highlighted and drag it over to the timeline/editing section of the software.

 To separate clips and audio, audio displays in green and you can see the sound waves of the audio. This makes it easier when editing – especially if you are looking for a specific part of the song. 

 Now there is audio on my clip/timeline. 

 If I wanted to add from another file (e.g. a memory stick or desktop) you just drag and drop it in to Final Cut and it will automatically turn into the green audio waves and then you can do whatever you need to do with it from there.

Trimming Audio & Clips 

To trim clips down, you can either do it two ways. You can either get the blade tool and cut it right down where you want it to be or you can simply just select the clip and drag it from either the beginning or end of the audio. 

 To use the blade, the easiest way I think, is to just press B on the keyboard and the cursor will turn into a blade. Then, you cut the clip or audio where you want it and it will separate them so you can drag them or move them to where you want them to be. 

 Another way, that you can just cut the end off of the beginning or end is to simply select the clip and then drag it along until you are happy with how short it now is. 

Exporting/Uploading

 To export the footage, you need to go up to File > Export and then I will normally select “To Master File” but if I wanted to upload it directly or burn it onto a disc, I would select another option. I will then go through the options and save it as a .mp4 – but depending on what type of file you want; you can change the file type. 

 Then carrying on through the options, you can add a description, a creator of the file etc. 

 I will then select the location of where I want the file to be saved. For this, I am going to save it to my desktop. 

 Now that I have got the master file, I can upload it where I want, burn it onto a disc, copy it onto a memory stick etc. If I really wanted too, I could drag that back into the software and add on more footage. But, I have kept the edit file so that if I wanted to go back and edit anything, I have still got everything open in my timeline so that it will be very easy to edit. 

These are the mood boards which I have created for a part of my project:

Project Name

Fashion: Now & Then

Aims & Objectives

For this project, I want to try and recreate old fashion style photography, along with a fashion film that suits the style of photography. I want to try and create images in a studio using a white backdrop and a few images from outside – but that work well with the other images. Throughout the project, I want to try and pick up a few new skills and produce a series of images along with a fashion film.

Influences

I want to try and create something like this, where the images are in black and white and are also quite grainy. When shooting, I need to make sure that the clothing that the models are wearing work well with the image also to add effect to the final result. I also want to create a few on location with a background that suits the style/age I am trying to achieve.

Equipment

-               Canon 600D/T3i

-               GoPro Hero+ 3

-               18-55mm lens

-               50mm portrait lens

-               Sync Lead

-               Hot shoe adaptor

-               Reflector

-               Studio Lighting

-               Light Metre

I will be using the Canon 600D as it is my own camera, along with the lenses. I will be using a portrait lens as I will get a better result when taking portraits and I will be using the standard kit lens for filming my fashion film. I will also be using a GoPro just to film the shoot and keep it in a stand still place, as this will give me a variety of clips for my film. I will be using a sync lead and a hot shoe adaptor so that my camera and lights are synced together and the lights will flash. I will also be using a light metre so that I can get the correct settings on the models face and a reflector to enhance the lighting on the skin of the model.

Experimentation & Investigation

As for experimenting, I will be creating test shots - where I will find out what lighting and style I defiantly want to use in my images. I will also create a fashion film so that I will have an idea on what I want my film to look like and what style and effects I will place on my footage. I think that experimentation and investigation is very important throughout the process as not only will I discover what I want to do with my project, I could pick up a lot more ideas whilst experimenting and learn new techniques. 

Location

I will be shooting the studio images in a studio at college but for some outside shoots I am not too sure as to where I want to shoot these. I want somewhere with a nice backdrop and somewhere that fits well with the style that I am trying to create.

Genre

Cinematography, Fashion, Film

Presentation

I am aiming to have 4-8 final images, which I will hopefully be really proud of. I am going to create most of my work on my blog and then I will have my images displayed in a sketchbook or photo book. I am going to be creating more than just photographs, as I am creating a fashion film - which will be available online. 

Audience                                

The fashion industry or the public (e.g. if it was on a clothing website)

Critical Evaluation