My New Year’s Resolution for 2020 was to try and expand my photography skills and photograph more people. With covid, lockdowns and social distancing, it was difficult to meet and photograph people, so I spent my time researching and planning photo shoots.
Unfortunately, lockdowns went on for longer than I could have ever imagined, so I took to another passion, which is macro photography.
This set of images is a mixture of skills I developed for taking macro and portrait photographs, which I have managed to achieve in and around lockdowns.
For this project I decided to go down the route of still life and focus on macro photography. I decided on this as I believe that there is beauty in everything, and we don’t always see these details. With our busy, hectic lifestyles we don’t have the time to stop, look and admire the true beauty of an object, so my aim was to try and capture this through my photography.
I began by looking at flowers and thought about going down a more commercial style of photography. I found it quite hard to photograph the flowers as there was either an imperfection with the flower or it just wasn’t quite ‘perfect’. Because of this I had to take into consideration the positioning of the flower, what part I would focus on and the lighting I used. I experimented with using both colour and black and white to see what effect it would have on the final image. I found that by using Black and white it removes the distraction of colour and helps you to focus on the shapes and patterns of the petals.
From flowers I then moved onto pencil crayons, again with a more commercial feel to the images. With pencils I found that I could be more creative in the way I arranged them on a surface and the angles at which I shot them from. As I was using branded crayons in my shot, I had to think about the placing of them so that in one of the shots you could see the name. This would then allow for the photos to be used for advertising purposes.
After experimenting with the commercial side of macro photography I tried going for a more artistic approach and tried photographing oil on water. This technique again allowed me to be more creative with the shot and produce an abstract effect. By simply placing a different image under the Perspex dish, I was getting a different result each time and an image that looked layered.
My original plan was to photograph still life objects to make them appear commissioned and then utilise them in commercials because this was such a broad topic, I began by looking at glass objects. Despite the fact that I began with perfume, I rapidly moved on to other things. My work with glass drink bottles has evolved as a result of this. I was able to exert more control such as composition, and lighting techniques as a result of this. Above aesthetic designs, the ability to light through the clear bottle is the most important.
This allowed me to have more control over artistic designs, the ability to see through the clear bottles and liquid is the most important feature. I was trying to figure out how professional photographers made product photos, I researched photographers which prompted me to try things I’d never tried before. Spraying liquid on products is an example. These items are intended to be used in magazines and blogs. I wanted my photographs to reflect this beauty that can be seen in the backgrounds. I was trying to understand how professional photographers created their product shots, which led me to experimenting with ways I never thought work such as spraying liquid on products. These objects are meant to be perfection and I wanted this to show in my images.
I produced a concept board for the Freddy Krueger makeup using photographs of the original makeup from the film as well as photographs of people who have cosplayed the appearance. I made a mental note of where the sunken regions were and used red eyeshadow to map them out on the models face. I used Aertex, which comes in two jars, one labelled part A and the other labelled part B. These have to be combined in equal parts. To activate the makeup, they had to be blended in equal parts. I applied the makeup with a spatula and sculpted it around the appropriate regions. I used a cream colour wheel to colour the appearance and painted the model’s hair to disguise the few portions that were visible. The costume is now complete. This all was about how I create the makeup and scene. I choose a horror and fashion theme for this project.
I came into this course with minimal studio photography experience, and I am leaving it with more confidence and knowledge, this was helped and influenced a lot by the other students on the course. My photos I have chosen are not following a theme, I chose these because they are the ones that stand out to me when looking back on what I have achieved during this course. Each week we were suggested a word that we would need to put into picture, a word which would make me question my abilities, but each time I would surprise myself when it came to submitting these photos.
The image of the letters and the book are examples of these, the book I love because it’s taking an everyday object and turning it into something unique and pleasing to the eye, which is something I already enjoyed doing with my photos. The portraits were something I was more hesitant about because I had little experience in this area, and it has been a big learning curve that I wouldn’t change, I did not know that we were going to be photographing ‘Candy’ the drag queen artist until I walked into class that day, but I really enjoyed this experience and Candy was a fantastic model.
The baby photographs, I had limited equipment, but I still managed show how peaceful the little baby was. The final picture of the ‘little balls of light’ are an example of texture lighting, this is by far one of my favourite photographs I have taken throughout the course. I love the warmth it gets across and the split focus fading into the background, which leads the eye throughout. I have enjoyed every frustrating and challenging minute; I have laughed and could of cried but I am pleased and proud that I have come this far and would just like to thank the tutors for putting up with me and seeing me through to the end.
I started this project hoping that I could build upon my advertisement skills and possibly apply my soon to be found knowledge to mental health promotion projects at my workplace. This was something I have never done before and had little knowledge about; therefore, I was quite excited to give it a go. When I started to think about my project and themes more in depth, I decided to focus on photographing products with the aim of promoting self-care. This was because I felt inspired after researching some of the work done by product photographers and the idea also aligned well with wanting to promote mental health as self-care has been an extremely important factor in maintaining people’s wellbeing during COVID-19.
The theme for my project is ‘nature in studio’ with my images capturing flowers in different ways. This is my first time working in a studio, I have enjoyed being able to test out different techniques and find a balance between creating traditionally ‘still life’ images and more creative, arty ones. I took inspiration from looking at the work of photographers such as Harold Davis, which led me to experimenting with transparency techniques. I have also enjoyed developing my Photoshop skills and learning about different post processing techniques.
For my project I had the intention to display ‘Animals In Britain’ and the beauty surrounding us. I have been heavily inspired by my zoo project and aim to capture photographs of animals in the wild and in farms. This gave me a newfound respect for other animal photographers such as Will Nicholls, who also inspire me. My photographs would be appropriate for wildlife documentaries, calendars and other commercial outlets. It has never been more imperative that we act against deforestation and other forms of wildlife destruction, as so many animals are becoming endangered and are suffering due to our greed; I wanted to bring awareness to this by showing how beautiful nature is in the hope of inspiring others to appreciate what lives along side us.
For my project I wanted to focus on the empowerment of women.
To do this I took a perfume (Daisy by Marc Jacobs) that is stereotypically considered a ‘feminine’ perfume (especially in the adverts that I researched).
I kept to the Marc Jacobs brand and mixed the Daisy perfume with another one of Marc Jacobs perfumes, called Decadence. This perfume is seen and shown as a more mature perfume, meaning more for women who are perhaps of a mature age and with a business / power ethos.
I want to show the beauty and detail in objects that we often miss due to not being interested enough to look and just miss the details or we can’t see the subject’s detail fully with just the human eye. I wanted to pick a topic to photograph that is somewhat relevant to today, so I chose the topics of nature and household objects. This is because, due of Covid, we have all been trapped in doors for months and everyone is trying to find ways to cope with this and their mental health, so a lot of people have turned to nature. Being locked in isolation all year has made people appreciate the smaller things in life, so I wanted to capture this through the lens of a camera.
‘Violet’s Pirates’ is the name of my creative business. Named after my daughter who was born prematurely, the business is the unity of my past, present and hopeful future
I propose to run workshops in healthcare settings that help give the parents and siblings of premature babies the reassurance that they are not alone. When a child is born prematurely, they need to be kept in an incubator, which means the natural urge to hold and cuddle them is limited. Memory dolls can help with the mental anxiety this separation can create.
I have developed my business by combining the skills learnt from many years of employment in the textile industry with the experience of being a parent of a premature baby. I know how stressful a time this can be, and my dream is to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation.
I aim to teach other parents and siblings affected by premature births how to make their own memory dolls. This will not only help occupy the long days spent in hospital wards and waiting rooms, but also provide them with the opportunity to learn a new craft.
The workshops are though not only about making the dolls because they will also provide a safe space for families to re-connect with one another, discuss how they are feeling and try to solve the many practical problems that having a child in an intensive care facility may create.
Violet’s Pirates will also provide opportunities for other people such, as healthcare professionals and social workers, to attend workshops and offer further practical and emotional support to families going through what is a traumatic experience. I am certain of the positive impact my business would have and am applying for funding to start delivering workshops as soon as possible.
Josie Smart
I am hoping to start my own creative business ‘nude.prints’ which will sell urban style clothes and accessories. The garments will all be designed and hand crafted by me, inspired by abstract and line art.
Fashion is something I’ve always been into, but I never previously thought I could create my own brand. I have been excited to see my ideas develop this year and the concept for my business grow.
I hope to make a range of different t-shirts that I can sell through Instagram, Etsy or my own website. Eventually I would like to expand my designs into a range of colours and styles and sell other items such as bags and accessories.
Designing my fashion brand has meant making sure my illustration ideas are on trend. Fashion is a very competitive business and in 2021 streetwear has become one of the most popular trends. This is where I am aiming my clothing brand, as I feel there will be significant interest in what I’m make.
Buying something made by an independent artist gives more meaning to the clothes you wear. Most people also like to have things which are unique, and I want to generate that feeling of exclusivity with my brand identity.
My business will focus on an age range from 18-28. I have picked this age range because typically when you get to the age 18 you start to explore in the fashion industry and become more confident with bolder fashion choices.
Art is something I have always had a passion for, but I realised I needed more experience in the business side of things and this qualification has helped me towards my goals.
2 months from now I aim to be selling my t-shirts and bags online through Etsy, whilst advertising my brand Nude.prints through social media.
6 months from now I will have my own website up and running so that I am able to sell to a wider range of people.
I am passionate about my career in art and design and hope my business will be a success. I am currently working in the service industry but after a year I hope to be running my creative business full time.
It’s important to have ambition and ever since I’ve been financially independent, I wanted to run my own business. I enjoy creating something that I love doing and that other people also love.
You can look at my work on my Instagram account @nude.prints
Diana Waldron
Cathead is my creative business idea that I have developed on the Level 4 Creative Practitioner course. I have been inspired to try and do what I love for a living and that for me is origami and paper related art. I am now on a mission to make origami the next big craft making craze!
Paper folding has always helped me calm my nerves and I’ve wanted to show how it can become integrated more with seasonal events such as Halloween and Christmas.
Origami is fun but can get complicated quickly. Cathead Kits will have a specially designed pattern on the paper that makes it really easy to create origami animals and get professional looking sculptures fast.
My aim is for people to become confident enough to make ambitious and quality designs that decorate their home and create an amazing atmosphere. Cathead products will take the stress of folding and worrying if you’re doing it right. You can simply follow the instructions or watch one of my online tutorials.
A key product Cathead is large scale origami kits. Origami packs are often so small and fiddly, so I am developing large-scale screen-printed origami kits. Going big is the perfect way to inspire children and give new life to seasonal decorations and celebrations. You can even get everyone involved in the making. I am planning to launch Do it Yourself kits online and run regular workshops and online tutorials.
I have looked into how other businesses operate and understand now how it all works. I am confident in large scale origami and digital work and have begun to approach local businesses, either to run drop in workshops or sell my products in their gift shops.
Personally, the course has boosted my confidence. I have needed to look at the business side of running a creative business – pricing – sales, budgets etc… and now have much more confidence in my ability to make my creative business a success.
