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!

Fashion is Rubbish - Shoot 2

  These are some of the Portrait orientation images from today's shoot. This is my 2nd shoot in my "Fashion is Rubbish" series. For this shoot we concentrated on using Plastic Bin Bags, which we discovered come in a varying array of colours. Amazing! Who would have guessed you'd get such pretty coloured bin bags?! My designer also had the amazing idea to use Egg Trays for accessories, something which again, you see on a daily basis, but you never look at and think of.
I think this unusual look went down really well, giving something interesting to look at with the model in the white bin bag.

The final photo is of my entire team (minus one make up artist) Top: Emma Lynch, Beccy Louise Kelly, Laura Hughes, Hollie Lynch & Jessica Geraghty
Bottom: Sami Lou, Simone Marr & Lesley Mizij Jackson.

I will be adding more shots up, I just thought I'd get the first ones uploaded so you can have a look at them!
Thanks!

-Sarah

Make up!

 Sooooo, since I updated with my clothing idea's, I thought I'd update with some makeup idea's to go with the new styles.


1. This one I thought was quite "Gothy" I liked the idea of "goth" for the Black Bin Bag look, but trying to keep it "high fashion". If I was to use this look, I think I'd make it more black than red.

 2. This is an Alex Box make up style. I actually fell in love with this as soon as I saw it... A little dark, but I think it would tie in with the bin bag look! Alex Box is a famous MUA who has worked with famous Photographers such as Testino.

 3. This is a watered down goth look, this was the first look I found, but this might be a more high fashion look... However, I don't think this would be bending the rules... This might be staying safe. Staying safe doesn't tie in with this concept!














4. I'm in love with this look too..

 5.  I actually love this, I think it'd look brilliant with the crisp packets and sweet wrappers, since they're colourful. This could be a look just like my "paper" look.

4. This again is gorgeous! However, where as this is purple, I think I'd go a bit more adventurous... Bright, colourful,  bold. Looking at the colours of the wrappers we have and using them as guidence. This is another Alex Box style.











Well, thats all my make up ideas for now, I'll be showing these to my MUA and we'll discuss what can be done, and what she thinks.
Thanks for looking!


Bibliography:

1. The Goth Guide 15: Make Up Makes the Man. 2012.  [ONLINE] Available at: http://redxvelvet.hubpages.com/hub/redvelvet015makeupmakestheman. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

2. alex box | Tumblr on we heart it / visual bookmark #35449374. 2012. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://weheartit.com/entry/35449374#. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

3. MissChievous.tv: Fashion inspired Gothic Makeup. 2012. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.misschievous.tv/2009/08/fashion-inspired-gothic-makeup.html. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

4. Alex Box // Community Blog Topics - Bloggers. 2012. [ONLINE] Available at: http://bloggers.com/topics/alex+box. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

5. Fantasy Clown – Beauty and Make Up Pictures . 2012. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.eyeshadowlipstick.com/1983/fantasy-clown/. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

6. Bobby Tank/Surplex TV. 2012.. [ONLINE] Available at: http://pinterest.com/kategillmua/bobby-tank-surplex-tv/. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

Clothing ideas

So here are some of the ideas I'm looking at for the second shoot in my Fashion is Rubbish Series. I decided to expand on my idea, and add other items, which are more "Trash" like. I am going to be using Cardboard, Bin Bags and Crisp packets. I think these are items that everyone sees on a daily basis.

I asked some friends what they thought of my images from the last shoot, I got many positive reviews, but apparently they look "too much" like real clothes, and I need to get away from that. I'm unsure about what to think of this, I liked the fact the rubbish looks just like clothing, tying in tightly with my concept of clothing being rubbish and not lasting. However, this was just one person, and I'm sure they don't speak for everyone.

I have hired the same MUA as last time, Natalie Middlehurst, we're talking about what make up would suit the styles for this shoot.

I have a mixture of models for this shoot, some girls are traditional models, keeping their bodies clean and working towards the glamour/Fashion look, but again, I have hired more alt (alternative) girls. I do like the alt look, I think it gives another dimension to the images, and gives decoration the rubbish clothing doesn't.

 1. Cardboard Dress

2. Cardboard Dress 2

3. Crisp Packets

4. Crisp Packets & Paper

5. Skittles Wrapper

6. Black Bin Bags.


Bibliography of Images:

1. best interior design ideas: strode college: cardboard catwalk: recycled costumes. 2012. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://interiordesignideas-albert.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/strode-college-cardboard-catwalk.html. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

2. Do The Green Thing: Unusual, Odd And Wonderful Upcycled Fashion. 2012. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dothegreenthing.com/blog/unusual_odd_and_wonderful_upcycled_fashion. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

3. Crisp Packet Dress by ~aw4foxache on deviantART. 2012. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://aw4foxache.deviantart.com/art/Crisp-Packet-Dress-142710559. [Accessed 28 November 2012
4. Recycled Dress by ~Alyssa-Melissa on deviantART. 2012.  [ONLINE] Available at: http://alyssa-melissa.deviantart.com/art/Recycled-Dress-196882537. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

5. Top 10 Weirdest Dresses Ever - Session Magazine. 2012.  [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sessionmagazine.com/top-10-weirdest-dresses-ever/. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

6. Taking Out the Trash Never Looked So Good ~ Trend de la Creme - Trends in fashion, style, beauty, design, and popular culture.. 2012. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.trenddelacreme.com/2008/11/taking-out-trash-never-looked-so-good.html. [Accessed 28 November 2012].

Review of current standing.

Original Set Up

Set up including the help we got for "Comic book Rain"

So I'd thought I'd do another review and a conclusion, with where I am up to at the moment.

Shoot:

7th November was my first shoot with this style. I managed to get some models from the "To be Confirmed" agency. They arrived promptly, which was amazing, especially since I was let down the week before! They arrived and I talked them through what we would be doing. They established who would be wearing what look. Once that was done, we could get into hair and make up. Thankfully whilst that was being done, I had time to set up the lights and make sure the settings were up to scratch.   (You can see my diagram above, crudely drawn in Paint!)
Thankfully, Sami, the "boss" of the agency was with us, she was the most experienced model of the group. She helped out with the other 2 girls, helping them pose themselves and work on their facial expressions. Sami also brought a refreshing take to the shoot, helping to expand on my original ideas, and changing them to help them flow. We shot the Tin foil look first. Personally, I loved this look, Sami and MiziJ managed to get the look just right, something which I couldn't have done on my own. The make up was wonderful, however, I think if I was to shoot this again, I would have left the tin foil off the lips, perhaps making them coloured red, to tie in with the tattoo on Ami's side.
In my opinion, this would have been really dynamic, being the only colour in the shot.

After Ami was finished, she agreed to stay in her crazy foil get up, so that we could get a group photo at the end, I felt so sorry for her, she was stuck like the tin man!

Lesley and Sami were more experienced than Ami and we managed to get through the rest of the shoot quite quickly, although we didn't scrimp on ideas! Sami, Lesley, Ami and Ami's Mum helped us with some of the photos, especially the execution of the "comic book rain", we needed every spare hand we could get! (I liked how they all conveniently had other things to do when clean up time arrived, haha!)


Things I'd have changed:

x. I noticed after the shoot, that one of my lights was brighter than the other, this made the right hand side of the photos brighter than the left, which lead to some awkward editing. If I could do this shoot again, I'd ensure both lights were the same brightness.
x. I'd have changed the make up on Ami, only slightly. I noticed she had a beautiful red rose tattoo on her side, since all the other models were very alternative, I feel like her tattoo was overlooked. I'd have made her lips red, to bring out the colour of the tattoo.

x. I'd have tried different backgrounds also. I had a black backdrop available for use. Even though I am very happy with the shots on the white backdrop, had I of tried the black, I feel that the foil and perhaps the cling film would have had a different depth to them and a different feel.


Things I am doing again:

x. I am doing another shoot, expanding on my idea, trying out Wrapping Paper, (Christmas or Birthday? I haven't decided) Crisp Packets (Different brands and flavors) and bin bags (Black, Green, White?). This shows I can still hire models and work my time accordingly.

x. I am doing another shoot, this time I am going to use a different set of models, make up artist and hair stylists, this shows I can go out and get more contacts, not just working with the same people. This also builds up my reputation. 
x. For this shoot, I am going to be printing the images for display, since I have already completed my book, I feel submitting these prints will make the book stand out more, and continue with the "Story" and the concept.


Anyway, that's all for now. Thought I'd keep this updated, since I can put things here that wouldn't go in my workbook. Thanks for looking, don't forget you can always view all of my photos, including this series, on my Facebook page!

www.facebook.com/SarahGibsonPhotography

-Sarah

MOAR PIX!

Here are the pics that will be making an appearence in my book. Only a small number will be published in the book, since I do have to ensure my Introduction, Conclusion and Bibliography are up to scratch. I am planning another shoot, going further with the project and expanding.

I'd love to have some creative critique, I always take comments on board.