Evaluation
I began my final major project focusing on the idea of translating a diary page into a photograph. I wanted to do this because going into fashion I feel like people see the images of having no other meaning that advertising. As I prefer to have a concept behind my work, as I feel this enabled me to be much more motivated, I decided I wanted to keep this aspect but show the images in a commercial way. This idea originated from the use of layers I used in my previous work and how a connection between my work and my personality can be made. I feel like I have successfully completed what I set out to do with almost no problems along the way.
In my proposal I explained how I wanted to create my own garments for my images so that I could translate different shapes and feelings from each diary page. For my first two images I succeeded in making garments that did this although the process and the cost of buying the fabric did create difficulties. For my third image I was against time so I didn’t get chance to make another garment. I feel like my third image is just as well planned and constructed as the other two images, so whether the garments were constructed by me or not, it wouldn’t have made a difference. I feel like if I had only styled my models outfits then I could of put the time and energy I used into making the garments into researching more into theoretical fashion photography and editorials which would have enabled my photographs to be more sophisticated than they are now.
I also wrote about experimentation with coloured lighting in my proposal. To translate the diary pages into my image I had to research into colour theory and the psychological effects of different colours. At the time of researching I didn’t feel like it was necessary but after the photo shoot and seeing my images printed out and hung in the exhibition, I feel like if I had used the wrong colours my images wouldn’t have anywhere near the same effect that they do now. I feel that the colours create a much more emotional feel to the images but still allow them to be seen as commercial fashion photography.
Although the projection caused a few problems with taking my images, as the colour was cancelling out the projection and vice versa, I am really glad that I experimented with it and controlled it in the end. I feel like it really finishes off each image, and reflects on the whole concept of ‘layers’. I feel that if my time wasn’t consumed with colour theory research and then making the garments for each of my images then I would have been able to research into artists that use projection and my knowledge of projection would be more advance therefore creating a better image. Although I could have done this I still feel like I have succeeded in using projection to contribute to the several elements of my images.
In my proposal I wrote about how I wanted my images to be printed large scale and place in a way that enabled the viewer to become emerged in the exhibit. I was still focused on this idea while we were setting up the gallery but once my images were framed and hung in a three walled booth, I decided that they didn’t have as much as an impact as I thought they would, and preferred them much better simply hung in a row on a white wall.
I received feedback from peers and tutors throughout my final major project but having a group critique once the exhibition was hung was really useful. During the critique I was able to explain my work fully and get feedback from peers that hadn’t followed my final major project with me along the way. Everyone in the group agreed that the images achieve the look of commercial fashion photography although they do have a personal meaning behind them. One comment I received was that you can see in each image that every detail had been thought about. This made me really proud of my work and that it had come across in the exact way that I initially wanted it to as I have put a lot of hard work into every small detail of the image, and every element of the photographs. The colours, garments, projected images and model positioning, all had different meanings to them.
Overall I am really happy with my final major project. I feel like I overcome the problem of time in a really professional and calm way, and my work reflects this as there is no difference in quality between the third image and the first and second. I also feel that the snap decision of relocating my images really gave my images the impact that I wanted and that they needed to have.