Final images

Shoot 2

My intentions for this shoot are to arrange with a tattoo parlours close by to go and shoot some photographs of tattoos in the process. Once it is all arranged I will go in and take some photographs, trying to photograph from as many different distances and angles as possible. I will try to get up close  to show more detail, as well as showing the full scene and also shooting from above and all different angles to give off different effects, shooting both from different distances and angles can help me to see which ones work better and which don't. 

For this shoot as planned I went into a tattoo parlours to shoot some images, I started off by shooting up close to the tattoo gun on the skin as it was in the process of being tattooed, this helped for me to show a lot of detail in this process, after this I started to photograph from a further distance, getting the tattoo artist and the other persons arm within the full frame, which shows a lot of interest because it shows the concentration of the artist as they are in the process of this. As well as beginning to switch distances I also switched angles, some worked better than others. In this shoot I photographed two different tattoo artists each tattooing a different person but both tattooing the arm. Photographing from different angles and distances has helped me to determine which ones work and which don't, as well as collecting a large set of images all using different techniques to add towards my body of work. 

The technique that I feel worked the best is to get up close to the tattoo gun as it is placed onto the skin, this gives off a much better effect because it is showing how the ink is processed onto the skin, which is what I was aiming to show through my images within this project. I think these kind of images show interest because it is always interesting to see how these things work, rather than showing the after effect I am showing the process of it, which can challenge the perspectives a lot by doing this. 

Another technique I used that worked was to photograph from a longer distance that the first technique and still capturing the arm and tattoo gun but also capturing the artist within the frame as he is concentrating, which gives off a good effect by as well as showing the process of the ink to the skin, it is showing the concentration it takes of the artist, and in my opinion makes a good successful photograph whilst still challenging the perspectives of portraiture.

One of the techniques I used that I feel didn't work as well was photographing from behind the artist, although it seemed like it would be an interesting angle, using this technique whilst taking photographs with the first artist was unsuccessful as it does not meet my original intentions, it only shows the back of things, which in a way could be a good way to challenge the perspectives of portraiture, but in this case does not fit in with my intentions. But, when photographing the second artist I tried this technique again the position everything was in allowed this shot to be successful, from that angle everything that I wanted to capture is visible and matches my original intentions to create a set of successful images using this technique.

The last main technique that I used was to get eye level with the arm and photograph from there, so that I am photographing straight on rather than above, which I felt worked the most successful from these different techniques as capturing from this height and distance shows a lot of detail and creates an image showing my intentions of what I wanted to capture within the images. It shows the needle of the tattoo gun going onto the skin and the process of the ink going from the gun and onto the skin, as well as how the artists hands are placed, the position of the customers arm, and the tattoo in the process of being done. Photographing using this technique will help me to produce successful images in what I want to achieve. 

Overall, using techniques that worked and some that may not of I feel I have produced a good amount and quality of images that challenge the perspectives of portraiture by photographing the process of body are, which is a thing many people have. Photographing from different angles and distances has given me the opportunity to show a range of different outcomes and produce different images that give different effects. As well as the other odd image, some that include the equipment, and one that includes an image of the customers other tattoos that includes a very colourful sleeve, which I feel was good that I had the opportunity to photograph this as all the bright colours are very appealing and is a way to highlight interest. Within this shoot I have produced many successful images and have achieved my original intention and feel I am able to develop onto creating an even using some of this work as my final images for this project. 

Exhibition Poster

The layout on this poster that has been used is simple but exciting at the same time. They have included two photographs rather than one, but made them both the centre of attention as well as making room for the typeface, without there being too much on the poster. All apart from the names within this poster is in black and white, the images are black and white, the background is white and the typeface is white, whereas the names are red, as well as larger than the rest, and in the centre between the two photographs, I think they have done this to bring attention to this particular typeface as well as bringing in a small amount of colour to make the poster more appealing rather than keeping it all black and white. They have used two completely different images which give of different effects to draw in the viewers and make it look more interesting, I think that using these two images makes this exhibition look fun and interesting, but meaningful. Another thing that makes this poster successful and more appealing is the way in the centre than even though the text underneath is a lot smaller and doesn't stretch out as wide as the larger text above, they have evenly spaced out the different words to make sure is it the same width as the text above, whereas if it wasn't stretched to the same width it would look messy and unappealing. It represents the theme of the exhibition by showing previews of the photographs and using a certain type of fonts within the whole poster and continuing the same theme and colours. Everything is level and not just placed anywhere, there has clearly been thought put into how it will be laid out and made sure both images are level to each other as well as the text being level with it all, which makes the proportion of the image better and more settling which will bring in the viewers.




Unlike the first one, this poster isn't as symmetrical and proportioned, but involves a lot of lines. Having these lines within the poster can help the advertising of the exhibition, as there is a lot of leading lines, they lead your eyes to the text, which includes the name, the place of the exhibition etc, which is a good way draw in peoples attention to the details. Placing the text vertically helps to weigh out the image, with the image being placed on the left of the poster, placing the text vertically in proportion with the image balances out the poster, whereas if that space was left blank there would be too much on the left side of the poster and would give the feeling as if the poster was tipping to the left, as well as having text on the bottom and the top to ensure that there isn't too much blank space left which also helps to balance it out and also brings the image to the centre of attention, as well as the white, bold typeface also contributing to this. Making the typeface white and the background black, helps the image to stand out as it is in colour. I think that using the same typeface throughout helps to create a pattern rather than using different typefaces which could make the viewer feel uncomfortable, rather than attracting the viewer. The design represents the theme of the exhibition by portraying a similar theme within the poster and using that the bring in the viewers and showing them a preview of what the exhibition will include. This poster is easy on the eye yet interesting and different, the text is the same font, but all different sizes and placed both horizontally and vertically, which I think weighs out the image and gives in a good proportion, and I think the way it has been laid out and the colours used makes it look more appealing and will help to attract the viewers.




In this poster they have used one image to cover the whole poster and laid the text over the top in a place that feels suitable. They have kept it simple with the amount of text that has been used, by not including anything unnecessary, which not only works to make the poster look better and less busy, but will attract viewers as it creates a mystery and will make them want to watch this film because they will be intrigued as to what happens. I think that using this powerful image and stretching it out to fill the full poster gives off a better effect rather than having a background and having the image smaller. The image that has been used for this poster is a powerful image and will be guaranteed to attract the viewers. The text has also been placed in a sensible place rather than in the way of anything within the image, its at the bottom where there is less going on, and the main part of the image leads the eyes to the text, where they have used their logo, as well as using an interesting slogan, rather than just the date of the release, which will also help to attract the viewers, as it leaves a big mystery. Using the image in colour and not black and white makes this poster more attractive as well as ensuring there is colour within it, the colour helps to attract the viewers as it stands out. Although there isn't much in the image, it feels rather busy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it can help more to create mystery and interest. I also feel the image is very sharp and there is a lot of detail involved.

First shoot

My intention for this shoot is to take photographs of body parts of my subject that could include body art, which includes parts such as the neck and arms that could include tattoos, photographed in a couple of different angles, as well as parts such as the ears that could include ear piercings, I will do this to get a feel of how to photograph these parts of the body, what will look good and what won't. I will also photograph the piercings and tattoos this subject already has to add towards my body of work.

For this first shoot I photographed images of my chosen subject, following my plan and photographing body parts to experiment with ways to photograph certain body parts once I get into photographing subjects with body art. I feel that doing this as a first shoot will help to develop further with my shoots and know how I will photograph these things, it has helped me to experiment with different ways of doing this, so that I can go into it with an idea of what I need to do. I feel that in terms of what I planned to shoot, I have been successful in photographing images to achieve my aim, whereas in terms of the images being lit successfully etc I have been unsuccessful in achieving the correct exposure within some of the images that I came out with. Many of them could of been a lot brighter, by using different camera settings and more lighting. Overall, although the images were not correctly exposed I have achieved my intention in what I wanted to do within this shoot.

From this shoot I have chosen two of my favorite images to edit. In photoshop I used the raw file to boost up the exposure to balance the image to the correct brightness etc, I gave them some contrast, vibrance and saturation. I used tools such as selective colour, creating a layer adjustment, to brighten up certain colours and tones within the image. I also used the spot healing brush tool to correct anything that needed correcting. I used photoshop and all of these tools to edit the picture making it look more successful and appealing, giving it the correct exposure, brightening up the colours to bring more colour into the image and making it look less dull as well as adding contract, which all contribute to making this image look a lot more successful. I chose to edit these two images because I feel that they are the most successful images from this shoot, they are composed well and meet the intentions of what I wanted to achieve and taking these images further and working on them in photoshop has helped me to develop further in achieving creating successful images.

Research

Emma Bailey; Brighton Tattoo Convention 2012

 Researching into different tattoo photography I found this photography Emma Bailey who has a project photographing at the Brighton Tattoo Convention 2012. She photographed many different peoples tattoos in different ways, some being portraits that ensure the tattoo is in the shot, and some being of only the tattoo on a specific body part, which ever way she photographs these people she always ensures the tattoos are in the lime light and are a main focal point. I have chosen a few examples of her work to show within my research and the one image I particularly like is the first one because it particularly focuses on the tattoos and I also like the contract of the dress and the lighting fits in well within the image. Although there isn't much within the image to me it is particularly interesting and stands out. Another one I find interesting is the last one, I like the way the photographer has used a dark background and lighting to contrast with the colour on her tattoo and make sure the tattoo stands out. Researching into this photographer and looking at her tattoo photography and seeing the different techniques she uses to photograph this work can help me with shooting my own work and show me different ways and techniques to photograph.

Project plan

My initial idea for this project is to challenge the perspectives of portraiture by photographing body art, which will be based on tattoos and may also include piercings. This will challenge the perspectives of portraiture by photographing parts of the body other than the face and not photographing as a usual portrait but using the body art as a main focal point. My shoots for this will be in the studio, as well as visiting tattoo parlors in the town. To start off I will photograph in the studio, first off just photographing peoples body parts, focusing on this before photographing the body art. This will give me an idea of how I will photograph when it comes to photographing the real thing, it will help me to develop and will give me a range of development shots. Moving on from this, I will visit a tattoo parlor, having emailed them to make sure it is ok I do so, once there I will, if possible, photograph tattoos in the process of being done, shooting from different angles and distances and focusing on different aspects, such as the artists hand and tattoo gun, moving onto focusing on the body part and the ink being processed onto the skin, I will also if possible photograph the tattoo once done, as well as the equipment that is used etc and I will also try to do the same for piercings, focusing on the piercing being done from different angles, but for this I will have to be quicker as it doesn't take as long, and also photographing after is has been done. I am also going to try to experiment with photographing in the studio of just the body art already done, both tattoos and piercings, using high key lighting to ensure it is bright so that the body art is very visible and not dark and shadowed. The message that I want to convey to the viewer is how body art is a thing that many people have and enjoy, whether they have a small or large amount, and I am highlighting this within challenging the perspective of portraiture.

A photographer that I have looked at and has given me some influence is Keith Riley. Looking at his work has helped to influence me ways I can shoot the work I plan to do. Within the tattoo photography he has done there is only a small amount of images he has produced, but he has used many different techniques that I can take influence from.

Idea