Photoshoot, Pregnancy and Birthday Bub.

This is a collection of 2 photo shoots. The first set is a pre pregnancy photo shoot that I did for a friend of mine whom was due in a month or so (Ironically she had the baby the next week) The setting was at our local beach along the clifftops. It was all her choice, I wanted them to direct what they wanted the photo's as and I would attempt to capture them as they wished. That's generally how I like to photograph, according to the models wishes and attempt to capture and visualize the meaning of it. The photo's have been edited into a sepia tone. Other than that these are clean cut natural photo's from the scene and setting.

The next set were taken about a year later but instead the model is now the little bundle that came into the world known as Cleopatra. Gorgeous and full of spirit, charming and intelligent for her age, inquisitive and active. The setting for this shoot was at a botanical garden where we traversed around whilst Mum got to pick area's that she seemed to like and want to see. Much the same as before I am the medium for the wishes of the models they state what they want and how they want it and I go about trying to achieve it beautifully for them. Unlike the couple shoot these ones have not been edited in anyway at all. It's natural lighting and setting that I was lucky enough to capture on a beautiful day in a beautiful place with a stunning little bub.

Bringing it Back.

So this blog was created as an external way of representing my journal in Studio Art at Uni. Didn't really much like the idea of it and I kinda held back a bit from the idea of it all.
However seeing as things have changed I feel like taking ownership and displaying my art the way I want to.
Generally the lecturer and teachers I've had in Art and Photography weren't keen on my directions. Taking photo's and editing them in an artistic style through Photoshop Or creating a poster with an inspiring type quote. Ah well, can't please em all can we?
My new lecturer however has envisioned my direction and is probing me to continue in that way.
I'd start by telling my interests but y'know what? I'll explain it all in the blog that I write about it.
I'm doing things my way.

So here's some motivational images that I found over the past for now just to bring light to my direction and pay homage to iconic figures and quote etc.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these photo's or quotes! I have merely found them scattered through out the web. 

This one actually I did create. The quote comes from Pirates of the Caribbean and describes the relationship of Jack Sparrow and Will Turner in one sentence. I just loved it because I believe it's statement. So I searched for scroll type background and printed the text on it.

It doesnt always have to but I love the implication behind it. The meaning and message. There are no limit to Art. 

Total coffee addict. Two cups a day. No regrets.

Project Objective and Subjective

Objective: Alot of emphasis on the education setting. Teachers being harped on about not being standard enough due to failing test results from students etc. Students dmemonized by media, titled as rebellious, bad, etc. School setting a place of discipline and punishment.

Subjective:  Currently I am going through a rather debatable in my opinion but to others a discovery awareness type thing.  I never knew my father, my mother has always told me he was a bad person, then my aunt came and informed that he may not have been. Mind boggled, headcase, spun out.

My work is representative of two sides. Two faced bitches, double standards etc. This ties in with education because as a University student there is a lot of emphasis that Australia (Darwin particularly) needs more teachers as we are low on staff. The education department has been cutting down teachers based on a notion of student to teacher ratio to better staff the schools in area's more incremental.

Who the hell do I believe?

So by this I have created a two sided image. Focused on students one side where they are in their school uniform looking like typical good students the other side is the students self representation (What they look outside of school) dressed casually how they like. Typically how they dress seems to make people believe that they are just kids, rebellious and nothing good going on.

Why did I choose students? They seemed to be unfairly judged and this is how I feel with the new discovery of my father I have come across. My mum seems to focus entirely on his bad side and never spoke a word of his good side, this is unfairly judged to me.

Like the discipline and punish notion. I feel I have been entirely disciplined to never think a good thought on my father. To go out and seek him my mother is punishing me with guilt. On an education side students are being disciplined to follow rules codes of conduct etc and if they were to not follow this they are punished wether it be detention expulsion etc.

Therefore I drew on a student's arms a series of barbed wires sweeping along the length of her arm. I added the effect of holding a chain in reminiscence of how lady liberty holds a torch high for freedom etc the student holds the chain, devoid of freedom they are equal to. The use of the ribbon on her arm is an added effect of delicacy, a very innocent gesture.

The satin stained rusty tool fabric is a deeper meaning of staining a delicate item. Done in by chains cut form it's freedom.

Piece one - A4 cut photo onto A3 cardboard paper.

Piece two - 20cmx100cm Ivory satin fabric stained rusty chain

Piece three - A4 photograph onto A3 cardboard.

Each was installed onto a wall at 163cm height from the ground roughly my eye height. Stuck up using blue tack to hold in place.

The first piece was influenced by David Hockney and his 'Joiner" art technique. Where he cut the original image into smaller pieces than stuck them together again with a rather ambiguous or abstract look.

Influenced by Laurie Anderson to add the satin fabric of artwork into my piece. She is known in her work to add these to compliment her atmospheric feeling of the art wether it be a mood of brooding etc.

The final art piece is my own self technique of macro photoshop. Instead of photographing the whole person I specifically chose to photograph part of her arm that had the artwork drawn on, as well as the chains in her arms and the school uniform etc.

I was inspired to do a artwork that focused on the educational side of things and took to look at the prison perspective to form a relationship between the two on of which is discipline and punish.

Working through Project

So I went away for the weekend to clear my head a little bit. Somewhat worked still a bit befuddled and headcase but I'm determined to finish this.
Whilst I was away I thought of how I could create another piece that had the same basis as the first one. Many Idea ran through my head. Particularly looking up things related to prisons. What struck out most to me was barbed wire and chains. Connects with the idea of discipline and punish. So I searched images of barbed wire and chains.

I began by drawing a few barbed wire idea's. An idea that hit me when I saw the tatto designs was that I could possibly draw these on my student model and take photo's. I also though about a rusty tools experiment I did when I was in high school.

 practicing on myself

practicing on myself

 Satin fabric soaking in vinegar

 chain soaking in vinager

Rusty chain on satin fabric

Practicing on myself

 Vinegar, chain and satin fabric for experiment

 drawing barbed wire losse sketches

Going off the prison idea I looked up chains and barbed wire images. Came across some rusty artwork as well as macro photo. One interesting thing I found was a tattoo design. An idea struck that I could draw along my chosen student barbed wire tattoo looking things. Another idea was to soak some chains in vinegar on a cloth and achieve a rusty tool image. Otherwise im going to try some freelance sketching drawing on paper.

One art piece I am trying to create is a rusty tool on fabric technique.  It is silk in vinegar place it in a plastic bag to soak and soak the tool in vinegar as well. After it has soaked place the tool on the fabric leaving plastic bag open as it allows air in which helps with oxidation then put a heavy object on top to press tool into material leave it for 48-72 hours and check it. My rusty tool chosen was small lengthy chain and an ivory satin fabric.

The tattoo idea I practiced drawing on myself first. Do not start with a thick text first, start small and add thicker as you near completion as it kinda bleeds out and becomes blurry. The student i initially took photographs of is my model for this and she will be photographed with the wired tattoos on her body with her school uniform. The tattoos will hopefully run down her arms into her palms and possibly draw some along her collarbone.

A later idea that I could write on her fists like prisoners have tattoos of pain and punish family etc. 

!!!!!!

Took many more photo's than this, portraits, full scale, close up's etc. These were just the more pronounced ones of the lot.
*Due to internet being cut I have to use my phone which is costing me greatly and very slow with uploads.

The Image I like the most is the close up shot of the student holding chains, within it you can see the school uniform, the tattoos, the ribbon on her wrist (A connection with my satin project if it works) and the chain I have gotten her to hold. Which are the key themes I want the image to have. As I already have a piece of the student alone I wasn't concerned too much about getting her face or full scale body involved.

The satin on silk project. Unfortunately did not come out as I had hoped but it did come out somewhat. You can slightly see bits of chains and there is definite rust staining the material. Probably need to use an actual rusted chain instead of one that wasn't. Despite this I still like the effect of rust staining the delicate satin material.