I find Stoddard's work an inspiration to my theme because it's similar and I like that he uses everyday activities in his work to make it seem ghost like.
 In the image below i used stock photography of a forest to experiment with masking layers. I felt the colour image was too bright and unrealistic. My question was paranormal and all the photographers i have studied use strong black and white contrast in their work. I therefore desaturated the image and added a +10 contrast.   I took some photographs of my model in the studio. I later found out that using a tripod and the mask tool , it would be easier to stage a shot like this on location. The models outfit was also not suitable as it was very difficult to blend the translucent material into the background.
 The photograph I have chosen to write about is an image of levitation by Rosie Hardy. She is 19 years old and from Derby shire but her photography is now based in Manchester.
Hardy first started photography when she was 16 years old and became popular from using Flickr. This certain photograph shows a girl levitating in the middle of the road. The road dissapears into the horizon which is surrounded by a gloomy looking sky. The sides of the road look lonely as they are emptied of any trees or bushes. The image is made to look realistic by using post production techniques and compositing images together on a free editing site called gimp. I think the picture makes the viewer feel disturbed. The figure defies gravity and hovers above a desolate road. The choice of road is intersting because it leads the viewers eye through the centre of the image. The figure of the girl has been placed on the bottom third line of the image. This is tradionally called the rule of thirds. The head is thrown back and the hair displaced. This is to create a feeling of 'madness' in the image. I think the photographer has based this image on films such as the exorcist and tried to create a self portrait in this style. The photogrpher has used a limited colour palette. It appears as if she has desaturated the image which has added to the feeling of 'doom'. I would like to recreate a similar image using levitation as the pivotal tool. I will then experiment with different backgrounds to create a similar image and build on this when i have tried out the various technical side in photoshop. I think the most difficult part of this image will be to create a natural body position from my model without it looking too staged. I will also find it a challenge to create the shadow on the floor as it is obviously an unatural pose.  This image is produced by Rimel Neffati and i like it because it looks old and gloomy. I could create a similar effect in post production. Adding a white vignette and blending and blurring various parts of the photograph.
 Alex Stoddard is an inspirational character. He is only 18 years old and is well known for creating his own disturbing self portraits. In this image he has composited various images of a fellow photograher swinging on a rocking chair. The photographer has thrown a ball of wool into the air and captured this in movement. Probably with a high F number (small aperture). I will look further into photographers who have created the feeling on 'insanity' or the paranormal.
 For my first project I have decided to develop the theme 'out of body experiences', preferably looking at being possessed by the devil like levitation and when the soul leaves the body. I chose this as my first topic because the Paranormal interests me and this way I am able to develop my understanding and produce my own photographs inspired by other photographers. I am looking forward to this unit because the edits will be interesting to learn as it will be my first attempt at Photoshop.
| AuthorMy name is Bonnie and on this Blog will be my research and development into the theme paranormal. I would like to look at this interesting subject and attempt to capture the essence of this subject in my work. ArchivesJanuary 2013 Categories |
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