Final Images

These set of images go together to represent not only celebration but also 'setting you heart free' - from heart disease. I chose these perticular images as I thought they worked quite well together out of the selection I had.

Editing on Photoshop 

Above are two screen shots i took whilst editing my photos on Photoshop. I used most of the same tools and steps to edit all my images. I started by selecting the ballon using the 'quick selection' tool and then used the 'inverse' option which changes the selection from everything but the ballon. I then reduced the saturation to get the muted look i was going for. I finally adjusted the curve levels which gave the images some darker tones which i thought looked quite effective.

Model

Gina Flynn

18

5'7"

size : 8/10

shoe size : 7 

I decided to choose my friend Gina as my model as I knew having previous modelling experience she would be comfortable around the camera as well as me which I think is always an advantage. 

Another blog i just came across and found quite useful whilst scouring across the internet looking at research is : http://hannasnest.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html
It contains some interesting / bazaar images involving balloons.

 This image helped me decide that I want my model wearing a white dress in my photo shoot. I don't want anything fancy. something simple - less is more in my eyes. I also like the way the dress in this image blows in the wind , something like that could be really quite effective.

I really like the idea of this , simple yet effective.

Inspiring Location Shoots

Corrine Day is one photographer in particular who's location work i really admire. She tends to use the same lighting , colours and tones in most of her images which i think is one of the reasons they are so effective along with the edgy beautiful locations they are shot in.

 The Girl From Oz 2005 , Vogue UK.

The Girl From Oz 2005 , Vogue UK.

 Glastonbury 2005 , Vogue UK.

Glastonbury 2005 , Vogue UK.

Glastonbury 2005 , Vogue UK.

British photographer Tim Walker is one of my favourite photographers of all time. He is famous for creating eye catching images that stand out because of their dreamy fairytale atmosphere. His photographs are described by many as ‘magical’.

A lot of Tim’s work involves balloons so I thought he would be someone really good to research for inspiration and ideas. Since looking at some of his beautiful location shots I have decided that I would like to shoot my photographs on a location for example in a park rather than in a studio or indoors.

There are a lot of pastel colours seen in Tim’s photos which I think just adds to the effectiveness of them and especially ties in quite nicely with the sort of magical fantasy theme you see portrayed in a lot of his work. I would love to add similar elements to my own work.

POA

Ive chosen a model , I have an idea and know what sort of look I'm aiming for , I have decided what my model will be wearing and I know where I am taking my photos all thats left to do now is to buy my props (red helium ballons - Clinton Cards) and take my photographs which I have planned to do tomorrow - Lets pray the rain stays away!

Location Experiment

After deciding i wanted to shoot on location I researched parks in Preston and on Tuesday I took a walk down to take a look at one perticular park I thought would be quite nice and took some test shots of the location. I was surprised at actually how nice the park was.

Whilst browsing the internet looking for images that could be linked with my ideas I came across a blog which contained some pretty cool images.
- http://www.whatsyourtalenightingale.com/whatsyourtale/inspiration/

Above are a particular set of photographs that caught my eye on this blog. They were taken to promote the couple’s engagement which I think links in quite nicely with what I am looking to do especially with the balloons. These images don’t just represent celebration but they also represent love.

I really like the composition and simplicity of these images , hopefully I can achieve something as effective.

The Idea

I think I am going to settle on the concept of using a model holding a red balloon and setting it free into the sky to represent not only celebration but also 'setting her heart free' - from heart disease.

I am thinking of telling a storey with images (around a set of four) which will take you on the journey of the girl setting her heart free. I will have different shots from close ups to long distance with different compositions so each shot is different.

I am going to start by researching a little more into this idea looking at artists work who can be linked to what I am doing. I will then experiment with lighting and try to take some test shots.

I have started to look at photos which involve celebration which will maybe inspire me to come up with an exact focus point

Rough Ideas & Development

Below are some images I came across and caught my eye when looking at photos involving ‘the heart’.

'healthy diet - healthy heart'

I visited the British heart foundation shop over the weekend and spoke to one of the volunteers who actually had a heart condition herself and she told me a little more about what the bhf is all about and gave me some leaflets and handouts which were also quite interesting.

The British Heart Foundation

"Our vision is of a world in which people do not die prematurely of heart disease.
We'll achieve this through pioneering research, vital prevention activity and ensuring quality care and support for everyone living with heart disease."- Peter Hollins Chief Executive

 

Sadly over 2 million people in the UK are living with a heart disease.

There are many different types of heart disease .The most common is coronary heart disease (CHD) which is the cause of most heart attacks. There are many other types , such as congenital heart disease, heart valve disease or cardiomyopathy.

Having heart condition can very difficult to deal with and can interfere with everyday life in many ways.

decisions..decisions..decisions.

After researching both briefs and exploring different ideas for each I finally settled on focusing on the 'Red for Heart' brief as out of the two this is the one i seemed to connect to more. I am now currently brainstorming ideas and looking into the British Heat Foundation into greater detail.

I will also be experimenting with lighting and taking some test shots in the next few days before my final shoot.

Goodnight for now.

Exposed at Tate Modern: Laurie Long

I really like the idea and concept behind this Exposed video by Laurie Long. It defiantly stood out from the other videos i looked at.

Images from the Exhibition

Walker Evans Street Scene

New York, 1928.

 Shizuka Yokomizo

Stranger No 1 , 1998
.

Weegee (Arthur Fellig)

Audience in the Palace Theater , 1943.

 Weegee (Arthur Fellig) 

 Lovers at the Movies , 1940.

I especially like the work of  Weegee. 

Harry Callahan Untitled (Atlanta) 1984.

I really like how this perticular image has been shot. The composition , the angle it's been taken from and the tones and colour combined together all add great effect to what could have been just a simple image.