Hannah Furlong

Photography Student

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Evaluation (FMP)

I am pleased with the way that I have presented my final project. I think that the final images that I have produced reflect well on my personal proposal. I have achieved what I set out to do and to a standard that I am happy with. I think that my final images and my final magazine spread have been created to a professional standard. All the research and testing that I have done throughout my project has all been valid and beneficial. I have been able to incorporate elements from photographers I have researched, books I have read and magazines that I have flicked through. I am pleased with the level of research I have done. It helped looking at different forms of media to gain more ideas rather than just looking online. Doing the shoot early on in the projects allowed me be able to refine and improve my shoots. I am pleased with how each individual shoot went. I was able to change the surroundings for each shoot meaning that I could experiment more with posing and clothing of the model. I think that considering I haven’t really done much with fashion photography before I have styled my shoots quite well. It was important for me to have my models in the right clothing for my images to be effective. 

To improve my project next time I would like to shoot more images. I would like to have more images so that I could create a mimi magazine to showcase my work. I am pleased with the outcomes that I have now but to progress my work further. I think by producing a magazine you would be able to see where my images fit into the industry better. To make my work more diverse I could also incorporate studio shoots as well to challenge myself keeping the same styling. Another idea I could have done would have been to create a on location and studio diptych. I feel like if I had of shot more images I would have had more room for experimentation. Because I was so focused on keeping my series consistent I didn’t want to change any of my compositions dramatically. Even thought the images worked themselves they couldn't be included in the series. This is why I think if I had more images the styling would determine the consistency more.

From doing this project I have learnt that I am able to create professional looking images not only in the studio but also on location. Another thing from doing this project I feel I am now more confident in using equipment. I used a reflector in all my shoots and you can see how it has become more effective throughout the series. This is because I have gained better understanding of the purpose of using a reflector and how to use it properly. I also experimented with using a different lens. I started to use a film camera lens Pentax 50mm on my digital camera. This was to help my build a more shallow depth of field this was really effective in my work and helped me to achieve a Haris Nukum style that I aimed to do.  I also learnt that speaking to fellow peers and tutors was a great way for me to progress in my work. Listening to others talk about my work and give constructive criticism I was able to direct my work and constantly refine ares that needed to be improved. I am pleased that I chose to present my work on a blog, this helped me get the most out of my work as I feel I was able to constantly keep adding information as I went along. Also I feel this was a good dissection as this is how I will be working at university and also in the industry. This is now a time were I need to be more conscious on the industry and where my work fits in and how to get it there.

Throughout summer I am hoping to progress with this series further. I want to shoot more models and try new locations and experiment further with my images. I aim to have more images to put into my portfolio before going to university.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Magazine Spread Finals (FMP)

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Magazine Inspiration (FMP)

I really like the composition of having the images on there side rather that portrait. I feel this engages the reader again as they have to move their heads or the magazine to see the photo in full. Having the large amount of text on the other page make the page layout look a lot more neat and less cluttered together than if they had of tried to incorporate the text and images together. i tried this with one of magazine spreads but this didn't work so well. This was because there is now body of text to support my images and also no other of the spreads have images that are landscape.

I really like this page layout and I have tried to make something similar. The uneven boarder around the left photo is something I tried to recreate for one of my spreads. I like that it leaves enough room for essential information or logo but doesn’t distract away from the images.

I think having a lot of negative space around an image work well as this is more dramatic and leads your eyes straight to the image. I also think where I have incorporated this into my magazine it has helped it to look more .

Now that I have all my final images it is time to start creating my magazine spreads. As I said in my proposal my work for this project titled ‘Urban Fashion’ would be commissioned for magazines such as Dazed and ID. Looking at both magazines I gained more inspiration from ID. I looked at various different additions so that I could build more ideas as to what I wanted my magazine spreads to look like.

When I was flicking through the magazines I was looking at things such as : the composition of photos, compositions of text, sizing of text and imagery, what boarders were used, colours and textures of paper. I found it really helpful looking at other magazines before creating mine because I feel like this has helped make my final pieces look more professional. This has also now allowed my work to link in with the industry style. I originally said that I was creating this project for my final images to be featured in an ID or Dazed magazine and I feel as though I have achieved what I set out to do .

I am proud with the standard of work I have created. I believe that my work looks just as professional as my chosen photographer Haris Nukum. I also this that with the help from research I have made four professional looking magazine spreads that fit with the theme and styling of ID magazine. 

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Final Images (FMP)

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Printing Test (FMP)

When I first went to print my images I found that they came out with a lot more magenta hues than what they appeared on screen. This meant that I had to create a separate folder which I named ‘print copies’ in this folder i would have all my original finals but tweaked so that they had the right colour balance once printed. In order for me to have been able to create this folder for the printing copies I had to run tests changing the colour tones, colour balance and paper. 

Printing on matt paper 

This is how I laid out all my printing tests I would print them four or more to a page and write what colours I added or took away. This mean that i was then able to know what to do on my next printing test if they didn’t come out right.

Another example of my printing test, getting close to my end result. (these are photos of photos so the colours appearing on screen here are slightly off to what they actually are. Also quality isn’t as high)

After printing the photos initially I was able to see that there was too much magenta, I had checked the ink levels in the printer and they were all satisfactory. I then thought to myself if it was the paper that I was printing on. In my images there are a lot of vivid colours that perhaps wouldn’t take to glossy paper. So I then tried to print the images again this time using matt paper. This didn’t make any difference, if anything the magenta now stood out even more. I then went back to using glossy paper and had the keep testing my photos. I knew that in order to balance out the magenta I would need to add the opposite colour which is green. Slowly I started to add more green. I had to look at which area of the image where most effected by the magenta hue. Was it in the highlights, midtones or shadow? once I had worked where this was I then added the green tones. I would then print the images out again and compare them to my first print and the images on the screen. This was repeated several times until I felt I had the same images as what appeared on screen to what I had on paper.

This taught me that printing early in a project is vital, you cant be sure how your images are going to turn out. It is always best to assume the worst and be prepared to correct it. Luckily I had enough time to alter my images otherwise this could have ruined my entire project. This is the same for when you enter work in the industry. Just because they images have appeared okay on screen doesn’t nessaseraly mean that is how they are going too look once printed. I also found out that the background colour or display of you PC or laptop can effect your perception of what you are editing. For example I initially had a pink background on my laptop. This could have been a factor that effected my images and the way I edited them. I have since changed my background to a block colour grey. This is neutral allowing my eyes to only focus on the colours i’m editing but also the coloured light cant shine through the programs tab and interfere with the colours of the actual image.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Shoot Five (FMP)

This is my fifth and final shoot of the Urban Fashion FMP project. Shooting Wiktoria again I wanted to keep the same styling with clothes and atmosphere. I have kept the same colour tones as the last shoot. I have changed my location so that I have a different backdrop. Like my other shoot there is a lot of white in the image which means I have similar highlights like I did in my other shoot. This worked well when it came to the retouching stage as I was able to add huge’s in the shadows midtones and highlights and replicate what I did to my first image. This has helped me with keeping the images consistent. I achieved what I set out to do on the shoot and that was to get a more tightly cropped portrait. I am pleased with the way my images turned out I feel like my first image is stronger but the two of them together work well. I would have liked for my model to have brighter coloured clothes on as I think this would have given my images more contrast. Also in my last shoot the model was wearing all black. The posing for my shoot may come across as a little bit obvious but what I was trying to do is show not only the fashion but the genre and styling of the clothes and people wearing them. My models style is in the genre of ‘ravers’ looking at photos from past and present ravers, crouching poses have always been associated with that style and culture.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Shoot Four (FMP)

This is the contact sheet for my forth shoot. In this shoot I was aiming to have an image that was different from my models first shoot but had the same styling and fitted with my series. I thought that the location where I shot was very appropriate and relevant to my theme of Urban fashion. Having the brick background looks street / urban. I shot at different angles to get the patterns and paint work of the bricks. Originally I went out with the intention to shoot more closely cropped portraits but because of the small bricks in the background the images looked too cluttered. I pulled my model right away from the wall so that I could get a slight shallow depth of field on the backdrop. I felt that is I had such a harsh DOF like Haris I would have lost some of the atmosphere and street look I was going for. I am pleased with the way my shoot turned out even though there was some difficulties. For example when i was using the reflector on my model the reflected light was too bright for his eyes to stay open, this meant that I had to improvise with the timings that shot. The area that I chose to shoot in is also quite busy so there were lots of cars and pedestrians cutting across the set, this meant I had to change my angles and the crops of some of my images.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Shoot Three  (FMP)

For this shoot I was working with my angle of shooting. I was trying to use structures in the background for leading lines and more interesting compositions. I moved myself and the models to get the right angles. I also changed the heights at which I shot. On most of my other shoots I have stayed parallel and eye level to my models. On this shoot I tried crouching down to make my models have more of a dominant presence. I stood on a wall to shoot from above having them look away to make it look less staged. I am happy with the my shoot turned out. Initially I wasn’t sure if the setting and images would work with the rest of my series, but with the right retouching I think that they will fit nicely. 

Theses are the images that I have chosen from the shoot. I have picked them on the basis that they have the most successful composition, lighting and posing. They are still in the editing process but image 9045 is a final. I think the  colour tones of the image is really strong and the composition using the steps and railing behind her makes the images more angular and striking. I have tried to use a cluttered backdrop to have the same look as Haris. He puts a very shallow depth of field on all his images. In my other shoots I have used a more shallow depth of field but for this particular shoot I didn't feel the need to. I think having the railings in the background has helped to add texture and colour to my image. From using a reflector I have gained bright highlights along the railing which I think is really effective. 

Now that I have retouched the images I am really happy with my final outcome. By me adding more cyan to the image it has made it more vibrant and the shadowed areas have more contrast. I think the location in which I chose to shoot fitted well with the rave style I was capturing. The highlights on the railing draw your attention straight to the model. The brightness of the railing I also brought to the shoes through dodging on Photoshop. This helped the image have an even spread of light throughout the image. 

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Shoot Two (FMP)

For this shoot I am hoping to come out with a set of images that show rebellion and sell the clothes. I think by choosing to shoot at this abandoned asylum I will be able to get more of the grunge urban feel to my images. This will work well with the clothing that my models will be wearing. 

Here are all the images taken on my second shoot. I shot my images on location at an abandoned asylum. I used the environment around me to help build props for my models. The collapsing roof, ripped wallpaper, shattered glass, broken doors and vandalism all helped to build the look and feel behind my images. There is a sinister vibe about the images that I have taken, yet you are still concentrated on the garments warn by the models. This tells me my shoot was a success because although I want my images to be gritty and grunge, they have the purpose to advertise clothing. One of the challenges I had on the shoot was unwanted beams of light. Where the roof was decapitating pools of light would fall onto my model. This could have been really effective but for the style of work I am doing and to keep my images consistent throughout this project it wouldn’t have worked. I would have to reposition myself and the model. I also used reflectors to block some light. Another issue I had to overcome was the weather conditions. Although my images haven’t come out overly dark it was an overcast day with strong winds and shower spells. This meant I had to use my time wisely and constantly adjust my camera settings to get the correct exposure. With strong winds it was hard to not get motion in my photos. I wanted my image to stay as sharp as possible to that I could get more of that gritty style Haris has.

Theses are the images that I have chosen from amongst my asylum shoot. Still keeping that gritty edge to my images I have edited theses so that my models are flattering. The clutter of the background is what creates the aesthetic of the images. The models and clothing pair well which helps create an atmosphere to my images. The images are still in retouching process, i’m slowly finding ways to improve my images without over editing. 

After processing my raw files from my asylum shoot I was able to pick out a few of my strongest images. I then retouched them all in the same way I did with my first shoot and will continue doing with the rest to come. After retouching I am now going through the stage of picking my final from this selection. Although i think there is more than one strong image I have to take into consideration which one will best fit my series.for example I think the image with all the graffiti in the background is a really strong image but compared to the rest of the locations and colour tones I will be using in the rest of my series it wont fit as well as one of the others.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Shoot One (FMP)

I am please with how my first photoshoot for this project has gone. I fell I have a strong set of images that I will be able to choose from when it comes to retouching. I went out with the intention to get gritty and busy images. This is why I chose to do my shoot in the woods although i’m shooting for urban fashion. I thought that the different trees and forestation would build a busy backdrop which I could then create a shallow depth of field through the camera so that It’s not too distracting, but also so that i’m using a technique Haris frequently uses in his work. 

These are the four best images from my shoot. I am happy with the look and feel I have achieved. I think that you can see the connection between my images and Haris Nukems. Out of the four images I have selected two that I feel are best suited for my series. The first and second image I have now retouched to make them more like Haris’ work and fit with my genre of work. These two images had the the best lighting composition and overall styling. Out of the two images I will be using the first as I believe this is my strongest. The colour tones of the image and the retouching of the eyes have all helped me to achieve a similar styling to Haris’ work.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Mike White Research/ Comparison  (FMP)

Mike White is another photographer that I have looked at. Although his work consist of more nudity the actual style of his shots I am able to gain inspiration from. There are similarities in his and Nukems work that have helped me to build the style of mine. 

Both photographers are shooting subjects that are quirky and out of the ordinary. Their body art and flamboyant styles help to build character in their images. The posing of the models are quite similar. Both photographers shoot at various angles but the most noticeable similarity is that the photographers invade the models personal space. This allows the audience to have a more intense connection with the model. In this instant its sexual, some of Nukem’s shoots have the same intentions but he also does a lot of fashion work where this doesn’t apply. He will still invade their space but this gives us more of a feel of danger or rebellion.

 Bright lighting is used by both photographer. Soft boxes or beauty dishes are most commonly used by Mike as he wants his models to have a clear and smooth completion. Although his shots are very sexualised they are beauty shots, This is why a more evenly spread light source is used so that there aren’t any harsh shadows that may be unfaltering. Haris’s photos aren't unflattering but they have a lot more grit to them. There are harsh shadows and large amounts of grain which lets you see more detail in the skin. This means you can see blemishes. Of course he will be retouching some of these out but in general his images are more natural in the sense that you can see some of the flaws of his models.

Mike Whites Photography has elements that I can use in my work, although he doesn’t have the edgy look I am trying to achieve like Haris’. I really like the softness of Mikes work I think this works really well with his style of beauty work. By using artificial lighting (soft-boxes) there is an even spread of light across the model meaning their wont be any harsh shadows or blemishes showing. Like Haris Mike has used a shallow depth of field. This has proven to be just as effective as when Haris uses it. This has brought all the focus onto the model but it has also created a really nice gradient backdrop. Although these shoots are quite provocative and sexual the styling has been done very tastefully. This is something that has draw me towards Mikes work and I have been able to gain inspiration from him. Mike works with a lot of different compositions and angles of shot. I wouldn’t say that there is a specify angles of shot that he uses this varies between models. This is to help find the models best angles and show off their assets. This is something that I can experiment with while i’m shooting. Shooting at different view points can change the whole perspective of an image. The posing of the models is one of the main focus points for Mike, this is something i need to consider when shooting my subjects. The posing of models changes the look and feel of your images. Their expressions suggest how you should feel about the image. Mikes images are of a sexual natural the girls are very posed and often looking directly into the camera lens which seem quite suggestive. Although this isn’t the nature of my shoot I want to be able to control the emotions of my view like Mike does through the posing.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Haris Nukem Research (FMP)

Since 2014 Haris Nukem has made been making a steady rise with his individual distinctive styled portraits . Nukem’s  documents friendship, sex, love celebration through various models, locations and content. His subjects are full of character which is what makes his images so striking. Haris’ vivacious characters are all shot consistently using vibrant lighting or very shadowed images. Whilst the images are very gritty they also portray vivid emotion. Although Haris shoots provocative images it is offset by the styling and colour palette he uses. Haris says his body of at work is to display a ‘ Work hard, Play hard’ attitude. This has resulted in all his work documenting relationships with ourselves, peers, partners.

I chose to take inspiration from Haris for my FMP because the styling of his work is something I wanted to strive for in my artwork. The look of the images he creates and I have created is something I want to continue in all my photography work. I first saw Haris’ work before he had a large following on instagram. I liked his work because it caught my attention instantly, the grittiness and high contrast levels drew me in. Although I have been looking at Haris’s work I have my own set of images that have been styled by me personally and edited in different ways. One of the main influences I took from Haris was was the focus on the eyes of each model. Haris selects the eyes and feathers them so that all the fine details are more visible. Although I wanted the same effect I used the dodge and burn tool to build the highlights and shadows in the eyes, I also picked out colours from the eyeball and emphasised them. This had the same effect as the way he would edit, I didn’t go to the same extreme as he did as I didn’t feel this would benefit my proposal and the target audience. Haris Has a very unique and distinctive style which is another reason why I wanted to go down the same styling route as he has, I also think this work goes hand in hand with the ‘Urban fashion’ Shoots I wanted to do. The urban fashion culture is about expressing yourself, be bold and standing out. By shooting and editing with the techniques I have the images themselves have a urban documentary feel without the models. I added grain to all my images to give it a more filmic look like Haris, this has helped with adding grit and depth into my work.

This image is the perfect example of what I am trying to create with my images. The image is a portrait of an individual, my images are going to be a little bit different as I am shooting in the genre of fashion my images wont be so tightly cropped. I think this works well for his work as it is very dramatic especially as the subject is looking directly into the lens of the camera. His eyes have been photoshopped to stand out. The eyeball has been selected and then feathered so that the different colours, veins and small details pop out the image. This is whats makes the image look edgy and this is something I want to carry across to my work. I think by doing this to the eyes it helps to add more vibrant colours. The backdrops and the clothing the models wear are usually quite muted or have ashy tones in them. When I do this to my work I will use the dodge and burn tool to get the right contrast in the eyes, I feel this will work better for my images as I don’t want the eyes of my models to be as dominant as Haris has made his. To tone down my backdrops I be using selective colour and reducing the hues brightness. There is lots of light hitting the models face this allows all details to be seen and no harsh shadows to be cast other than under his hand on this specific image. I am shooting all of my images on location with natural lighting, Haris does this but sometime he will also bring lighting kits with him. I am able to know this not only through research but when looking at the images I can see the light sources in the models eyes or reflecting off their clothing. Although I am only using natural lighting I still want the appearance of lot of light. I will be doing this by using a reflector to bounce more light onto my models. I like that Haris uses a shallow depth of field for his background but keeps his model in full focus. I feel like this stops the background from distracting away from the subject but still allows you to know a bit about who they are or where they are from. In this image there is a very shallow depth of field even so much so that you can’t quite make out what the backdrop is. I feel this works well with the colour balance of the image. All the colours in the image are earthy and natural from the backdrop to his eyes to even the tattoos. The composition of the model is strong, because of the tight crop having the the model placed central I think works best. His hand placement leads you eyes to his which are one of the most dominant / striking part of the image. The smoke rising up the left side of his face works well as the most detail is on this side. This has allows there to be a complete contrast from one side of his face to the other. This is something that is going to be important when I am creating my images to know the balance of my compositions and where to place and pose my models.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Retouching Process (FMP)

In order for me to have a successful set of images they need to have a level of consistency. I have struggled with creating a consistent series before so this is something I need to be cautious of in this project. I have started by being being more methodical in the way I work. From start to finish i have been doing the same to all my images. The only difference is the amount of retouching done to most images. For example one image may need to boot the contrast more than another.

method:

After converting my raw files into tiffs and then jpegs Adjust any colour tones and exposure. I then boost the clarity so I get a very gritty contrasty image.

I do any spot healing i need to do getting rid of blemishes, loose hairs, scratches and dirt.

I dodge and burn any areas needed. I concentrate on the eyes, brightening them and darkening around them. 

I add grain to my images to help them get a filmic look to them. This also adds to the gritty grunge feel.

I work with different layer marks such as, colour section, contrast levels, and curves. This helps me to keep the colour tones the same throughout my series.

Some images I will need to adjust the hues of the image. I do this through flicking through the shadow, midtones and highlights.

I like to add a slight vignette around my images to draw the eyes into my model because my backgrounds are quite cluttered.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Full Project Proposal (FMP)

Final Major Project      Full Project Proposal       NDM March 2016 

 Project title

 ‘Urban Fashion’ 

Aims and objectives 

 For this project I am shooting edgy punk youth culture in a documentary/ fashion/editorial style  I will be shooting on location   I aim to shoot 6-8 mages that will be featured in a magazine. I will also create a custom bag that will be available to be purchased alongside my prints at the exhibition. 

Influence

 I want my images to show the individuals and their unique style in the edgy punk youth culture

 My images should be: grunge, edgy, gritty, dark and grainy.

The images show represent: youth, urban, rebellion, edge. 

My main influence is Haris Nukem

  I will be looking at ID and Dazed magazine to gather inspiration for my final piece. 

 Equipment

 Camera (Cannon 600D) tripod, sync lead, hotshoe adaptor, reflector, light meter, colour gels, studio lighting. 

As well as all the equipment I will be using, I will be using props from the surrounding areas that I shoot. I will be using colour gels to add more tone into my images when working in the studio to have a consistent set of images. I will also be bring a reflector with me when I am shooting on location, to help direct the natural light onto the models. A tripod is vital in my shoots so that I am able to keep my camera in place whilst I position my models. Also I am going to experiment with long exposure to get different light patterns I will need a tripod to keep the camera steady.

Experiment & investigation 

 This is the setup of the studio that I have been testing with. I use the white backdrop and have my subject stood away from it. I have a snoot behind them used to back light. A softbox is lighting their face and another small light such as a spill kill with a colour gel. 

 Digital manipulation 

 Iron transfer 

 Location 

 I will be shooting some of my images in the studio so that I can manage my lighting and create more provocative imagery. 

Abandons warehouse- this will show the darker side to fashion, also I think the clutter and darkness inside the warehouse will be captured well alongside my subjects. 

Field of retro motors- I think shooting here will allow me to work with the posing of my models as I I can have them placed on the cars and bikes in different positions. Also this will add more colour to my images.

 Garages – I have found from other projects that shooting against garage doors works really well as it adds texture to your images; also this looks very urban and grunge. 

Genre 

The genres I will be working in are: fashion, beauty, documentary and editorial. These will be rolled into one to create a series of images that will display areas from each genre.

Shooting all these genres together has made me decide to create a magazine as I feel this is the best way to display my work. Also if I were to continue shooting in this style as a career I feel this type of work would be commissioned for magazines such as ID and Dazed. 

All my images are based around the idea of an edgy punk youth culture, I aim to show the rebellious, grunge urban fashion and characters. 

My images will be edgy, gritty, saturated and grainy. 

 Presentation

 6-8 final images

 Magazine feature- I feel this is where my photos would be seen and best suited 

Bag – to be sold as merchandise at the exhibition

Audience

Fashion follower 

ID/ Dazed readers 

 I will make money from being commissioned by the magazine company and also by selling merchandise such as the bags at the exhibition, prints will also be available to purchase.

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Mood Boards (FMP)

Rebellion          

Grunge

Urban

Edgy

punk

Fashion

Documentary

Editorial

Beauty

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Generating Ideas (FMP)

[hannahfurlongwhc]

Photo Analysis (FMP)

This is an image shot by Haris Nukem, its a good example of what im trying to achieve with my series. 

The image is :

Gritty

Urban

Grainy

Dark

Street

My images are a little bit different in the sense that mine are so brand focused. Although I am shooting in the genre of fashion I am also largely basing my images on the models look and personality.

Another Photographic technique Haris uses is shallow depth of field. This helps to bring the subject away from their surroundings. I like this look, especially with his styling. You can see that the images have been shot in the street but that isn't the main focus point. Having the background out of focus allows you to have leading lines and builds atmosphere without taking focus off the subject. The backdrop tells you about the character discreetly, letting the audience build a perception of the person independently. 

Haris has a distinctive style that is kept consistent both on location and in the studio. Although this image has been shot in black and white, it still has the same look and feel as other work Haris has published. His gritty high contrast style is still in this image but he has changed the styling of the photo, by adding blood.