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Mock-up & Final Images in edited, print ready format for the wall

These are my final images, edited, and uploaded. I have learned so much from this as I got 10 years older in the last few days. I need to be more organised and definitely spare more time editing and consider that things may go wrong and this is definitely not good during lockdown as I cannot get any help. Major Project 2 will be better for me in so many ways. I will not be repeating the mistakes I made this term.  

Mock up

Images (Not in Chronological order)

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Submission Forms

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Mock-up & Final Images in edited, print ready format for the wall

I had massive problems with my laptop, saving, editing. It had crushed on me on many occasions.

But I managed to edit them as requested.

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Contact Sheet 2

I managed to narrow it down and towards a more expression of my emotions. I wanted to step away from the similarity with Laura Pannack’s work and I focused on expression, pain and emotions. Going forward, I have few projects to shoot in my mind and I cannot wait to shoot them. 

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Contact Sheets and documentation of the pilot (Images that I will not use)

Images in Contact sheets.I included all of the images I took however, I will not be needing them. I wanted to keep them. I could go back and look at references I used, see my mistakes and be my own critic. 

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TIME PLAN

Melissa Uss W1552760 Major Project 1

Time plan A clear and realistic plan for the completion of the project from Feb - May

I plan to finish my project by May. I have started shooting for the second part as first part ‘’Pilot1” did not feel like I explored enough. It was good to test my limits in the studio. Being in a difficult place psychologically, it makes it harder for me. I feel trapped in the environment and limitations as an artist. However, I cannot let this be my excuse as this is the best way to let it go, through art and creating. I am excited for the pilot two as I got better at planning, and I have many more themes in my mind to shoot now. I cannot wait to share them with the world. I think my final year is making me a better photographer. I do like the freedom that is given to me to explore without restrictions on the medium and expression. I feel like the world is my oyster now except covid.

Realistically, I have enough time to finish my shoots. I have 3-4 themes to shoot, locations are scouted, set is planned, equipment is booked, props are prepared and mood boards are almost done. I am waiting for the restrictions to ease a bit. If it does not, I will have it improvised. Regardless of the limitations which has been set in my life, I am confident that I will find ways to complete my project.

Feb-May First week of February shooting in Highgate woods Second week is editing and post-production Third week of February shooting in the dance studios Fourth week of February week is editing and post-production

March First week of March shooting in Self-portraits against the wall Second week is post-production on them Third week shooting in Hastings landscape portraits Fourth week is post-production

April First week of April shooting in Industrial conversion spaces floating image while dancing Second week is editing

I may have more theme or inspirations if I have enough time. My outline will be as listed above for now. 

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Research on Location scouting, permissions, logistics and technical.

Since covid prevented me from using models or socialising , I had to model for my project sadly. It was so challenging to shoot and model at the same time. I could not shoot film for this reason alone and it frustrated me to the core:(

I used a Canon EOR R mirrorless camera with lens 17-70

I shot the first pilot in the studio with dimmed soft light in the front on the right to soften to harsh and light and to prevent light from creating a reflection on the background, I also placed another light on the left side. Both wired to the camera. I also used light meters and fired the camera remotely from my phone.

I used 2-3 sets of different outfits and wigs to explore different themes and ideas even though I ended up not using them.

I scouted location in Hastings also as it has a painting looking feeling to it. I love Hastings. I also had loved ones there. But due to weather conditions I was unable to shoot. I will go back. I am planning on shooting landscape portraits.

I also scouted locations in Highgate wood as it seems very forestry, big enough but not as hidden as Hampstead Health to bring enough light. Permissions is not as tight as the Heath either. If the work is not commercial I am allowed to shoot which is a relief. I will go back and shoot portraits there when I can. Weather is too cold at the moment.

I also scouted an industrial looking places on google map. I will need to do a further research and also dance studios to shoot abstract images of myself dancing.

Unfortunately most of my plans are on hold at the moment. I need to wait for the restrictions to be easier.

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EDITING PROCESS

I used Lightroom and Photoshop to edit my images but I kept post production to minimum as it included light correction/ lens correction, sharpening etc. I wanted the images as raw as they could be in a studio setting. I have not uploaded nor started editing other images yet. I am planning on using them in MP2

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Photographers I was inspired by

Elina Brotherus

I was highly recommend of her work and I never heard of her before, ashamed of myself, I went to her website and had a look around. It was remarkable!

I really loved her landscape portraits shots. I went to Hastings to shoot landscape portraits but weather conditions did not allow me to do it and then the lockdown restrictions did not help to go back and shoot. I am so frustrated by the pandemic. Hasting was a perfect place for my shoots. It had that painting look to it. I decided to do it for my Major Project 2.

THE BALDESSARI ASSIGNMENTS (2016-)

The American artist John Baldessari proposed a list of “art ideas” to his indecisive students at CalArts in the 1970s. I started to use these ideas as assignments in my own teaching. I saw how much fun the students had doing the Baldessari assignments and thought that I want to do them too. In 2016 at my nomination for the Prix Elysée, I started to use different instructions like Fluxus event scores and Baldessari’s ideas as the basis of new work. The Baldessari Assignments is a still on-going series.

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Frida Kahlo

SELF PORTRAITS

I also had a look at Frida Kahlo’s portraits and paintings. I thought about shooting simple self portraits of myself in the house. It just did not touch my heart to take that path. I wanted to explore something more theatrical

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Week 9

I did some more test shots this week, It frustrated me how much limitations I had.. it was freezing cold outside and I was worried about my equipment- I planned to go to Highgate woods to shoot some more. I will need to do that when I can.

Here I explored my isolation at home and tried to play around with what I had in the house. I do not think I will use any of those images for MJ1 or 2. But it was just an exploration of a theme.

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Week 8 Photographers I was inspired by Sam Taylor Johnson

‘’These self-portraits by Sam Taylor-Wood are truly inspiring. As she explores notions of weight and gravity, she places herself in situations where her interior and external sense of self is in conflict. Born in London in 1967, Taylor-Wood studied at Goldsmiths College and went on to become a prolific film-maker and photographer. Highly acclaimed, Sam was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1997 and won the Illy Caf Prize for Most Promising Young Artist at the 47th Venice Biennale. “Praise really isn't that important to me from anyone other than the people whose opinion I respect. I don't crave it – and I never read reviews any more. I know people say that, but I really don't read any of them. I have done in the past and it affects you so fundamentally that you know in the future that just one wrong word in an otherwise nice review can be really upsetting. I remember one particularly bad one after a show that I thought had been the best in my life. It blights everything – and yet it's just one person's opinion.”

I liked Sam Taylor’s interview a lot as she did not care for opinions of others and let it affect her work and creation process. It is something I must practice more often as I get easily discouraged by others opinions too often and that prevents me from being a good artists. IT blocks me and stops me from trying harder or explore more. It discourages me as an artists. She inspired me to explore abstract movements for the Major project 2. 

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Week 7

I think I was more driven by the books I was reading. It was a nice distraction to explore other things rather than my dissertation for a change. I enjoyed the books below.

I got some basic home light rings to create a bit of light at home but it was not powerful enough...Mood Board for my major project!

I have ordered a simple home set to create my mood board at home then plan it for the studio shoots.

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Week 6

Research week and more shooting. I have done some shoots in the studio. I have explored a studio theme behind the dust sheet. It was something I wanted to try for a very long time. I have had 4-5 more themes on my mind but due to lockdowns and limitations, I could not shoot those and had to put on hold. I am waiting for the restrictions to be lifted but also planning the shoots I can do outdoors in the meantime. 

Planning and creating moodboards this week into my photoshoot. 

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Week 5

I have been focusing so much on research, I neglected shooting and there is another lockdown on talks and going into November life become harder. I was hoping to shoot some test shots, but I am not allowed to use a second person now. I am looking into ways to do it it alone with props in a creative way. 

I have ordered wigs to start my moon board

This did not go as planned. I used the wigs I ordered to create different characters but I didn’t feel it. It felt extremely fake and unnatural to me. I did not use them in the end. I did try them on my test shots in the studio but those images did not make it.

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Week 4

Developing my ideas further on the way, I was also inspired by Laura Pannack. I liked the creativity with a limited prop and I was very inspired by this idea. I thought I could try something similar with mirrors perhaps. 

I also considered using a glass between two people. But covid prevented me from producing my ideas...

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Week 3

I have been shooting some images during this pandemic with my Iphone. I do not think I will use them but it helped me develop my ideas for the project. Isolation, loneliness and the mental strain that this pandemic brought to our lives. I consider this as test shots on developing my original ideas. I was merely focusing on shooting what it seemed to strike an emotion in me, I was not too focussed on how I needed to shoot nor my technique. It was more of an automated response to my conditions.