Lens Class (Rebecca Hobbs)

The idea I wanted to portray through my self-portrait was my identity and the influences of street culture (e.g. gangs, colours). That is steadily being weaved into my own culture, which has become the ‘norms’. I stress on these two main colours I have used within my portraiture, as they are crucial elements. Adopted from the L.A. gangs of America ‘Crips’ and  ‘Bloods’ is a steady term used in some ways to identify certain ethnicity groups in my community.

The black silhouettes represent a struggle between both cultures. The adopted street culture and the culture I have been brought up in.

FINAL 

Lens class (Rebecca Hobbs) Research

Looking at Kara Walkers use of black silhouettes as her bases for her artworks. How she uses this style to explore race, gender, violence and identity. Portraying a narrative. Im interested, as I want to highlight the struggles and violence over the colour 'red' and 'blue'. within my own culture and my community.

Lens class (Rebecca Hobbs)

Lens class (Rebecca Hobbs) Research

I watched a documentary based on the photographer Gregory Crewdson called Brief Encounters. It documented Crewdsons quest to capture small town American life and portray his inner desires and own anxieties.  Which also highlighted the form of process he and his team of 70 would go through to set up his ideal vision for a particular photograph. I found it interesting how he would set up as if he was making a film. He spoke about not being interested in the past or what happens afterwards, he was captivated by the idea of 'the' moment, that is in between. His style is represented in a film like manner, he uses films as a source of reference to his ideas. Capturing certain elements within a film for example; (Blue Velvet) transforming it to fit his own perspective of his visions etc.

I like the idea of process he uses to create intimate portraits.

Lens class (Rebecca Hobbs) Process and Experimental shots.

These are more experimental shots, working with light, shadows and composition and process. I found it quite difficult to position the lights in a way it could capture the ideal feeling I am trying to portray. Maybe a change of colour could help? I think the lights are a bit to bright in some areas within the image. Need to work more with my position in relation with the camera and subjects. Some images are out off focus, I like the lighting on image 3 the colours are more defined.

Lens class (Rebecca Hobbs) Research

Reading an article on composition, I needed to understand how composition worked in photography. For my self portrait I want to portray a story. In order for me to express this, composing and arranging  the subject in relation to certain elements within the frame is crucial. 

http://photographylife.com/what-is-composition-in-photography

Lens class (Rebecca Hobbs) More experimental shots

Lens class (Rebecca Hobbs) Research/experiments # 9

Gregory Crewdson is a American photographer best known for his staged scenes of American small town homes.  His photographs depict scenes of dislocation and uneasiness, always photographed at twilight. I find his works interesting which do relate to my own environment, during a period in my life. He also uses selected colours in his photographs for example (elusive transparent purples, blue and yellow etc), according to the scene he is trying to portray. I hope to engage in his use of colour and lights, to heighten certain emotions in my self-portrait. Emphasising on my concept of American culture (especially the street culture) and the influences, impacts it has had in my own culture as a New Zealand born Tongan. 

The image below conveys a silent yet troubling impression on their faces and the use of colour and light feeds to this awkward scene. My idea as I stated above is to infuse this sort of impression of light and colour into my self-portrait but within my own context.    

(Film) Blue Velvet an American mystery thriller, released September 19, 1986, directed by David Lynch.

I continued to research what influenced Gregory Crewdson to create small town scenes and his use of colour and light. To describe the atmosphere of his subjects and environment. I came across a (film) directed by David Lynch in the 80's, about a young man that discovers a severed ear in a field. which leads him in a investigation to a beautiful women, mysterious night club singer in a small town. And her son and husband being held as captives by local criminals. 

This film portrayed figurative and brilliant moments, for example; the scene below captures the emotion through ‘Dorothy Vallens’ body language.  The way light is exposed and positioned to create contrast and shadow reinforces the scene. Minimal colour is used to portray the scene which I find effective. 

 Dim yet fearful giving a sense of mystery and the shadows gives that scene a playful, dramatic uneasy feel. This sort of scene (attempt) is something I would incorporate or implement into my own ideas for my self-portrait. Using my own interpretation of struggle between my own culture and street culture.

   

Scenes from the film 'Blue Velvet'   

Experimental photographs....

These are some experimental photographs I had taken working with artificial light. I found it quite difficult as I needed to adjust myself and the camera for example; positioning myself in the right location in relation to the light. To capture how shadow and light intensifies colour as shown below, and also the relationship between the light and the subject and composition. These photographs were all taken at night.

The image below is exposed to more light hence why the photograph is brighter (aperture at 3.5).

These are experiments with light and colour, I used all sorts of materials to manipulate the colour of light. For example; glass (coloured) bottles, cellophane, coloured transparent fabric etc. By covering the flash with coloured materials I was able to get the colour effect shown below. 

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