Conclusion

I decided pretty much straight away that I wanted to do something fashion related for this project. This is because I am really interested in Fashion Photography and what can be done within it's walls. Something had been bugging me for some time now, which was the quality of clothes and their decline. With this fresh in my head, I decided to go on ahead with my project which I very quickly dubbed "Fashion is Rubbish". I got to work, researching different types of materials, different photographers who are highly influencial in my fashion industry and who I thought were interesting and their work could help shape mine, photographers I could take inspiration from and use it to power my own imagination. I decided on some basic starter materials, Tin Foil, Cling Film and Newspaper. I did a test shoot, just to see how the paper and tin foil would look under the studio lights, I shot this in my home, with the lights and backdrop I own. These shots aren't fantastic, but they were just for me to see how the materials would look, whether it'd be worth using them in the shoot. Thankfully, they looked great, especially the paper, with all the colours in the articles and the ads really showing up. I decided then that I was going to submit my work as a book, I thought this would go down well, as this is a concept that would suit a book layout, with a back story, and showing my progression.
 When I was ready for my first shoot, I sent out a casting call via a website called Model Mayhem. I had a large amount of interest, but I managed to whittle it down to 2 female models and a male model. This was exciting, as it could show diversity, having the 2 genders showing off the concept. I arranged the date and place with the models, but made the grave mistake of not getting their phone numbers. I also managed to arrange with the local hair dressing department of the college for a hairstylist to come and assist with the shoot, aswell as a make up artist I had booked by myself. When the morning arrived, all 3 of the models that I had booked didn't turn up, which was heartbreaking. Especially since I had to tell my hairstylists and make up artist they had to go home...
 I didn't let this set me back for long, I went straight online and found a local modelling agency who wanted to help me. We got one shoot done and dusted and under the belt, using a team of 2 hairstylists, 3 models, a make up artist and a fashion designer. This was a nice number, we had the same amount of models as I did looks, so I could just have one girl coming onto the backdrop, as the other was heading off, this added a fluid movement to the shoot, meaning I wasn't standing there doing nothing, I could keep busy shooting. I had brought a long some make up ideas, some hair ideas and pose ideas, so everyone had an idea of what I was looking for. After the shoot was finished, I got my book mocked up and ordered, I didn't think I would be doing another shoot, since I was getting close to the cut off date for the book ordering, I didn't know if it would turn up before deadline date. After a tutorial with my tutor, I decided to go ahead an arrange another shoot.
 I arranged another shoot, managing to get another 4 models and a fashion designer. Since I had more models this time, I decided to get more make up artists and I decided to go down and ask the girls in the beauty department of the college.  The original plan of this shoot was to use crisp packets, cardboard and bin bags. When we thought about it and I spoke with the fashion designer, we decided that just focussing on the binbags would be a better idea, as she could do a lot with just them.  Low and behold, I am really happy with the shots I got from the second shoot also, I was really skeptical at first, I didn't think that I'd be able to pull an entire shoot off using just bin bags, but my fashion designer managed to pull through and make some amazing outfits.
 I am really happy with the shots I got from both of the shoots I managed to get done, I feel proud of myself that I managed to bring such a big shoot together, arranging times and places with so many different people. There are a few things I would change, for instance, had the first shoot I booked not been cancelled due to no show models, I feel that I would have been able to display my work a lot better, both sets of images would be in the book, and I wouldn't be submitting a book and prints. This would have also saved me some money and time. I feel in the first shoot, I would have changed some of the make up ideas, I wouldn't had the model in the tin foil look have such a heavy amount of tin foil on her face. I liked the tin foil on her eyes, but I feel it was a bit over the top on her lips.
 I have received some mixed reviews, people have said they liked the shots, and one person has said they weren't sure, as the rubbish looked "too much" like clothing, and according to them, which they said defeated the object. I like hearing the opinions of others, but in my own opinion I really like the images and I feel they show off my concept well.

Artists' Statement!

You may have noticed, just like me, that the over the past couple of years, the quality of clothing has been declining. Clothes that were once warm, hard wearing and long lasting are now thin, fading fast and not lasting in the washing machines. You may also have noticed that we're not being charged any less for these "lesser" items, we're just being fed that they are "pre shrunk" or perhaps "Pre faded" when in reality, this is a lie... They're just plain old rubbish.
 Since Fashion Photography is something that I really want to go into, and that I'm interested in, I decided to use this project that was interesting to me, and make it into my own Fashion photo shoot! I first started with research into photographers that really caught my attention with their work in Fashion, photographers that are well known and published. These included Testino and Knight, I then needed to move on to research the rate of decline... Did others feel the same way as me? The articles I came across were amazing... This then gave me my fodder to go ahead with my project.
 I had a vision of what I wanted them to look like, clean crisp background (In contrast) and the models wearing items we would usually consider "rubbish" such as Cling Film, Tin Foil, Paper and Bin bags. Playing up to my title "Fashion is rubbish".

Settings etc

This is the set up I used for the 2nd photoshoot I did. As you can see, the settings are around the same as the last shoot I did. However, I did TRY and get the lights at the same F stop, but this was proving difficult considering both lights were a different age & make. Oh well! I don't think this matters, as I actually love the shots we managed to get anyway.

  Model: Beccy Kelly.
I didn't want the shots to be samey or boring, so I decided to have some interactive shots. This is made up to look like she is either unravelling her dress, or doing her own dress. What I find strikes me more, is the blue of her nail varnish.

Model: Laura Hughes
Again, we wanted some shots were the model was lying down, or on the floor, doing something other than sranding there. I like this shotm because the model has a different facial expression and she is doing something good with her hands. The lighting is also slightly duller here, so you can see the proper colour of the bags that were used.

Model: Simone Marr
This was one of my favorite looks. I like the way we lose her dress into the background, this wasn't intentional, but when I saw what was happening, I fell in love with it and made no move to change it. So we'll call this a "happy accident". This shot doesn't actually tie in with my concept (in my opinion) but I do love the way she looks!