Blurb

Here is what i am putting in my blurb to accompany my photographs in the exhibition.

 

Zoomorphism

 

This project was an attempt to create some fashion images with a difference. Rather than styling my models with clothes and props, I decided to project my ideas directly onto their skin. The use of animal skins came from thinking about how we often use animals to personify human traits.

Zoomorphism : The tendency of viewing human behaviour in terms of the behaviour of animals.

Evaluation

   Overall i am pleased with how my final major project has turned out. When looking back at my project proposal and research, i think i have achieved what i hoped to achieve. I am paticularly pleased with the way the projections turned out, after discussing my ideas with various people and generally feeling that the technique i was planning on using was not going to work.

    If i were to re-do my project, something i would try would be to use the slide projector rather than a digital one. This would mean projecting higher quality images onto my subjects, meaning clearer, sharper images that would look perfect when printed large.

I would also practise more, as although i am very happy with my images there are a few small faults in them technically, such as the high ISO i used has created quite a grainy appearance in some.

   I would also perhaps use more variation in my projections, perhaps going for images with more connotations than the animal prints i chose. I do not regret this decision though, as i feel the images are visually very interesting and appealing.

Presentation of my final 4 images

  Above are my final 4 images. I think they work together as a group well because they are consistent in theme and style without being too similar. They are simple and i think keeping the background white on all four was a good idea because it gives them an impact. 

  I have chosen to present my final images for the exhibition as A2 prints onto MDF. I chose the size A2 because it is large, which will draw attention and show detail, but without being too large, which would be impossible due to the nature of the projections (the resolution of the projected images was not high enough to be stretched too large). I considered mounting them onto aluminum however i like the thickness of mdf, which will make the photographs stand out from the wall. I think the painted white images will add to the emphasis the white background has created on the subjects in the photos.

  To mount my photographs i am using a Hot Press, which uses a hot panel of glass and a vacuum pump to mount images onto many different materials.   

Shoot 2

I decided that for my next two images i would use a different model and a different angle, to add some variation to my images. I chose to frame them as just head and shoulders.

For my snake image i tried to make my model look snake-like with the styling of hair and make-up; i wetted her hair to flatten it and chose very dark eyes and lips to give a more sinister look. I kept her pose simple, telling her to simply stand in a sideways position with her arms by her side to make her body look more long and snake-like. I also told her to keep her facial poses simple. I think this works because the projection makes the image interesting on it's own, i wanted to keep the rest of it very simple and straight-forward.



For my final image from this shoot i am using the bottom one. I like this photo best because i feel that she looks the most snake-like in it. When looking through my photographs after taking them i realised that i preferred the ones which had eye contact- snakes when used in imagery very often have their eyes emphasised. I also think she has the right emotion in her face in this image- there is something quite sinister about her expression.

For the bird image i framed my model as head and shoulders, to be consistent with the snake photos. I instructed my model to pose in quite a serene way, keeping her eyes closed and expression relaxed.



This is my favourite image from this shoot. I think the face in profile works well in this image because the peacock is quite a regal bird and this facial position gives a similar look. It also emphasises her nose and mouth, giving a more bird-like appearance.

Shoot 1

In my first shoot i planned on taking 2 of my final 4 images. I did a set of images with the zebra projection, and a set with the leopard projection.
Here's a photo of my lighting setup

First i took some photographs using the zebra projection. I positioned my model with the projection on her back- this had to be quite precise because the image i chose was a zebra's back, which had the line which runs down it's spine in the middle. I therefore had to make sure this ran down the centre of my models back, and adjust it for different poses. I instructed my model to do quite simple poses, perhaps bringing a sense of vulnerability.

The last image was my favourite image of the shoot. I think it works best because it is simple- some of the more exagerated poses caused the projection to miss parts of her body, leaving them as black silhouetted areas. I also like the face being lit and the eye contact in the image, as this creates more of a connection with the viewer.





I then took some images with the leopard projection. For this image i wanted the front of the models body, as opposed to the back in the zebra image, for variety. In these images i instructed my model to be like a leopard, and to do simple, strong poses.

I took most of the photos with a lit background but also tried some with a black background- i felt that the white background worked better as it showed her body shape more clearly. I am using the bottom image as my final one from this shoot as think it has a regal, powerful look which is paticularly emphasised by the face in profile.

Lighting Test

I am currently planning on doing two images against a black background and two against white.


Black background


Set up:

Here are some test images i took using a black background. I used a mannequin to test these. Some things i discovered when testing this is that the easiest way to ensure i kept the background completely black was to have the projector from an angle. This has to be tested carefull to ensure there aren't too many shadows on the model. To make the projection really stand out i also had to use quite a slow shutter speed, meaning that my model will have to be very still.

White Background

Set up:

Here is one on the mannequin. I think i preder this look compared with the black background shots, as in my opinion the lit background looks more professional. It was also possible to use a slightly faster shutterspeed, meaning my model will have more freedom.

A couple i tried using a model.

After testing the lighting i have started to think i will use only white backgrounds, as it does look more professional. I will however try some of both when i do my final shoot, so that i can decide which i prefer.

Lighting

The next thing for me to consider is lighting. My idea of using projections means that i will have to test my idea out in the studio to figure out what lighting setup i can use to create the best effect. I am currently planning on using a digital projector either against a black background, or with a lit white background. When trying to sketch a lighting set up i have come up with a few possible problems-

• Flash lighting with a projector- the energy output from the projector will be tiny compared with that of the flash. Will have to use a slightly longer exposure with the house and modelling lights off to counter this.
• Images to project- i will have to find images that are sharp and with a certain degree of contrast so that they can show up clearly on the body.
• Projection on background- when using my black background set up it is possible that some of the projected image will hit the background- i will find a way round this by perhaps aiming the projector from the side.

Textures to project

Leopard/other big cat print.
When leopards/tigers/lions are used in photography and art they are often used to represent power, strength and health. They are usually very positive comparisons. I am going to use a leopard/cheetah print in one of my 4 shoots. For this image i will encourage my model to pose in this way, in a strong and powerful position.

Zebra print

I am going to use zebra print in one image because it is visually interesting and would stand out against skin. I think for this image I would try and give the model an elegant pose- strong but with some vulerability.

Snake Skin

Snakes are often used quite negatively when compared with humans. They often represent sneaky and sly traits in people and are also associated with serpents, which are linked with the devil. This is something i will consider when instructing my model on how to pose.

 Feathers
Birds are often used in art and photography, and are always represented as quite beautiful, still creatures. In this shoot i will instruct my model to be serene and elegant, hopefully giving a birdlike appearance.

Zoomorphism

    When thinking about what i am going to project onto my models in my images, i have considered what will be aesthetically interesting, as well as having connotations and meaning. I have decided to use an animal theme, using animal skins/patterns and projecting these onto the bodies of my models. Initially this thought came about because i imagined that animal prints will be a simple theme to keep- i can choose 4 very different animals, with distinctive patterns, that will be easily recognisable. Similar to in Solve Sundsbo images, where the spots and stripes look animal-like, however i am going for a more clear look as in Eva Muellers work. 
   
     I then thought about which animals to use, and realised that animals are interesting in fashion photography because they can be used to give the model a character to play. Certain animals are often used as symbols/metaphors for human traits.When researching this i came across the term 'Zoomorphism' which is defined as 'The tendency of viewing human behaviour in terms of the behaviour of animals'. This sums up exactly what i think i can represent when using animal projections onto human models. Zoomorphism is very present in religion. Examples of Zoomorphism in Christianity include the common representation of the Holy Spirit as a Dove, and Mark as a Lion. There are also many Gods whose images are represented as animals- the hindu God Ganesha has the head of an elephant, and the Ancient Egyptian 'Horus' who is often represented as a man with a falcon's head.

Zoomorphism in Fashion Photography

   I found a set of images by 'Helmo', a photography group, called 'Betes de Mode (fashion animals'. These are an example of people being likened as animals in fashion images- the models faces have been carefully posed to correspond with that of the animal. In the two images below, it is interesting to observe how although the models have a similar pose in each image, the cheetah photograph has a powerful, defiant look whereas the bird looks more elegant and delicate.
I will consider this idea when choosing which animal skins to use in my images. 
 

Examples of fashion photographers who use projections

Eva mueller

Eva Mueller is a fashion photographer who has a wide range of work that uses colour projections of images onto nude models. These images are striking because the sharpness of the images against the skin of the models sometimes looks as though they have been painted or digitally manipulated. The projected images vary widely- fruit, industrial patterns, flowers, money, pills. Often the model's pose corresponds with the projection, for example the flower images often have simple, delicate, quite vulnerable poses, as though the women in the images are flowers themselves. The money projection has a model holding lots of bags which gives the impression of power and wealth. Some of the projections are of industrial patterns, such as sides of buildings with bricks and windows- these are interesting as the quite masculine industrial images contrast with the female form.

These images are interesting because they have a surreal look, differing from most fashion images that have been made in a studio. They are eye catching and different. I hope to create something similar in my images. It is difficult to tell how Mueller achieves the look she has created in her projection images- my guess would be that she uses slide projectors within the studio, paired with a lit background.

Solve Sundsbo

Solve Sundsbo has used projections/shadows in some fashion/beauty shoots. The two images above are from a shoot for Numero magazine which used patterned shadows onto nude models to give an interesting, abstract look. The use of stripes/spots gives the impression of animal prints on first glance, and when combined with the contorted positions of the models in some of the images there is quite a surreal and unhuman look

This image above is an example of projections being used in fashion photography from less recent years. This image is by John French and was taken in London in the 1960's. The image is very typical of 60s fashion photography in the styling of the model, and the floral projection has been used as a replacement for clothing. Although i have not found a great number of examples of projection photography, it is interesting to see that it has been used for quite a while.

This is an image i found when researching shadows/projections used in photography. This photograph is by Hannah FitzGerald, an amateur photographer i discovered on flickr. Her images are interesting because unlike the other artists i have looked at, hers cut out the head of the model and focus mainly on the torso. This gives an anonymous element that changes the image from being of a person to just a female form. This gives it an abstract and unreal look, as the body looks more like a statue or sculpture than a living breathing woman.

Project Proposal

Proposal

Section 1

·         Working Title or Theme of Final Major Project

·         What you will work towards producing

    For my final major project I am going to do a fashion shoot in the studio.  I plan on using techniques to make these images both technically and conceptually interesting, giving a surreal/abstract element as well as fashion. At the moment I plan on using a projector to project images onto the bodies of my models, rather than clothing. Currently my plans are purely aesthetic however I have thought about what to project and what the connotations of this will be.

Section 2

·         Influences, starting points and contextual references

·         Early ideas, research and sources (you must include a short list of research sources and bibliography texts). This list can be attached as an appendix

    Since I began researching I have found a few fashion photographers who use projections in fashion photography (Eva Mueller, Solve Sundsbo) which has given me ideas of how to compose my images. This will require some experimentation in the studio with the colleges facilities to see if what I am visualising is possible and effective. I am currently planning on projecting animal prints/skins and giving my models different animals to represent in each image. This is mainly for aesthetic reasons but I do also like the idea of people playing animals because of the links we find between certain personality traits and animal behaviour.  

Section 3

·         Intended techniques, media, processes

·         Timescale. An action plan is required

    At the moment I am planning on using a digital camera. Because of the nature of projection photography I think I will benefit from seeing the image on the display of the camera, so that I can judge that I am achieving my desired affect. I might also use 35 ml colour film at the same time, so that I can later choose which images I prefer. 

Section 4

·         Proposed method of evaluation (how you will review your FMP in critical and analytical ways For example self and peer review, tutorials or critiques

   I am going to present my final major project to a group of peers and tutors.