I have decided to do reflections for my exam subject. I have chosen this subject because I think there are lots of interesting things that can be done with reflections. I like the idea of using mirrors in my work to show duality and contrast in the environment, like in Daniel Kukla's work. Another idea that I think is very interesting is the use of mirrors in portrait photography, I like the dream like effect it can give the picture, it makes the pictures more psychological.
Another interpretation of the word 'reflections' is, rather than having reflections of environments or people, using the reflections of light off of glass and other reflective materials. I like this interpretation because it brings more variety to the work as well as allows you to create interesting effects with light.
An interesting effect I have observed is the flipping upside down of things that are reflected in the liquid in wine glasses. I think this is a fun effect as it plays with your perception of the scene and enables you to play with the scale and the depth of field. I have thought of using a film camera to take these photos as it would be a different medium of photography and I would like to experiment with my new camera. The film I would be using is expired, so this may produce some unpredictable and exiting results.
Another interpretation of the word 'reflections' is, rather than having reflections of environments or people, using the reflections of light off of glass and other reflective materials. I like this interpretation because it brings more variety to the work as well as allows you to create interesting effects with light.
An interesting effect I have observed is the flipping upside down of things that are reflected in the liquid in wine glasses. I think this is a fun effect as it plays with your perception of the scene and enables you to play with the scale and the depth of field. I have thought of using a film camera to take these photos as it would be a different medium of photography and I would like to experiment with my new camera. The film I would be using is expired, so this may produce some unpredictable and exiting results.
REFLECTIONS
Daniel Kukla
Daniel Kukla is a photographer with a background in photojournalism, he also has a BA, with majors in Evolutionary Ecology, Biology and Evolutionary Human Anatomy. These pictures were from a series of photos called 'The Edge Effect' which describes the meeting of two distinct ecosystems in juxtaposition with each other. The pictures were taken in California's Joshua Tree National Park, the mirror was used as a visual representation of the opposing elements within the environment. I would like to use a similar technique in my work, I like the effect the mirror has of framing the things it is reflecting, and how the unframed edges of the mirror make it look like a portal has opened in space.
This is my favourite picture by Daniel Kukla. I love the reflection of the stars in the mirror and the almost spidery texture of the plants around it, it's almost otherworldly, which highlights beauty of the stars.
I like the way the photo is lit: brightly with white lights, which brings out the paleness of the surroundings, but also the darkness of the desert at night, as you can see the background is pitch black. |
My responses to Daniel Kukla
Edited responses
I took these photos inspired by Daniel Kukla's 'The Edge Effect'. I used a Perspex mirror with no boarder to take these photos as I thought this best reflected his style and gave the pictures a crisp and sharp effect. I thought this was something that best reflected what the photos were trying to show, which is the meeting of two different environments.
I used the reflection of cars against the background of the foggy sea to show this. At the beach the urban environment that people have created meets with the ocean, in this picture you can see the stark contrast between the two as the sea appears a vast grey expanse and the cars are dark and have a high level of detail, which contrasts to the sea.
I used the levels tool on Photoshop to increase the level of red in the picture as I thought this added an extra level of interest, though in hindsight I don't think I would do this next time as I prefer the colours of the original photograph. It looks much more natural, I also used the curves tool to increase the contrast between the cars as this emphasised the effect of the contrast between the two environments. In the second piture shown above I have only used curves to increase the contrast, which I think has a much better effect.
I used the reflection of cars against the background of the foggy sea to show this. At the beach the urban environment that people have created meets with the ocean, in this picture you can see the stark contrast between the two as the sea appears a vast grey expanse and the cars are dark and have a high level of detail, which contrasts to the sea.
I used the levels tool on Photoshop to increase the level of red in the picture as I thought this added an extra level of interest, though in hindsight I don't think I would do this next time as I prefer the colours of the original photograph. It looks much more natural, I also used the curves tool to increase the contrast between the cars as this emphasised the effect of the contrast between the two environments. In the second piture shown above I have only used curves to increase the contrast, which I think has a much better effect.
I used the mirror in this photo to show the contrast between the sea and the land. The sea's ecosystem is very different to the ecosystem on the land and I thought this picture captured that nicely, with the contrast between the yellows and browns of the sand and the greys of the sea and sky. I like that there is a hint of sand reflected in the mirror, showing that although these environments are divided they are also linked. The borderless mirror makes it seem as if I have cut a slice out of the sea and placed it on the beach, leaning against a groin, which has a nice effect and is why I chose a mirror that didn't have a frame.
This is the unedited version of the photograph, I prefere this one to the edited version as it looks much more natural and subdued, where as the pictures I edited have a high contrast between light and dark, which I don't think it suits the photograph.
This is the unedited version of the photograph, I prefere this one to the edited version as it looks much more natural and subdued, where as the pictures I edited have a high contrast between light and dark, which I don't think it suits the photograph.
I like the angles and the lines created in this photo by the palings that the mirror is leaning against, and also the contrast of the close up of the ground an the landscape reflected in the mirror. I like that you can see people's footprints in the corner of the picture, as if the mirror has been lying there for a while and someone walked past it, not paying attention showing how some people don't notice the changes in their environment because they aren't paying very close attention.
Portraiture with mirrors
I love the dream like effect of these photographs, the way they break up the environment and the subject of the photograph, making them look disjointed and surreal. It feels like you are getting a glimpse into a moment in time, with the mirrors exposing their vulnerability and exposing what they are thinking and feeling. I would like to use a similar technique in my work with reflections because I think this a very effective and interesting technique. I particularly like the first image, the fact that you see her feet in the background, and only see her face reflected in the mirror on the floor. It gives you two different perspectives on the same person, which is a very interesting effect. Another interesting way of composing these types of photos is lining what is reflected in the mirror up with the background, this makes the mirror look like a window through the person, rather than a reflection of something.
This is a self portrait by Laura Williams. I love the way she uses the mirror in her work, carefully matching up what is reflected in the mirror to the background. the fact that the mirror obscures her body also gives the picture an almost disturbing quality, as if she is emerging from behind it. The expression on her face also contibutes to this effect and is very appropriet for the mood of the picture. I also like the use of shadow and light as it really focuses you on the subject of the picture.
I mean to use these techniques in my pictures to achive a similar effect, I like that she seems vunarable in the picture, and the use of the mirror to achive this. |
My responses to Mirror Portraiture
Edited photos
This photo was inspired by the photos taken by Laura Williams. I like the contrast between the brightness of the sky and the darker background. I increased the saturation of the photo to make the colours appear more vibrant, this lends itself to the dreamlike mood I was trying to achieve. The mirror frame also helps to achieve this effect, as it is ornate, this adds texture to the picture.
Paths are used to represent events that are to come, or represent a journey, it also provides an interesting focal point for the picture and helps to focus your eye on what is important, because the background is not convoluted or busy.
The view you get of her feet stood by the side of the path, and her face, spectre like, in the mirror give two different perspectives of the same person, which is an interesting affect that you don't see much.
Paths are used to represent events that are to come, or represent a journey, it also provides an interesting focal point for the picture and helps to focus your eye on what is important, because the background is not convoluted or busy.
The view you get of her feet stood by the side of the path, and her face, spectre like, in the mirror give two different perspectives of the same person, which is an interesting affect that you don't see much.
I like this picture because of the way she appears to be peering down into the mirror, and her reflection is looking straight at the camera. This makes it look as if she is two different people. This shows the duality and contradictions in people's personalities.
I used Photoshop to slightly desiderate the picture and make it look more washed out, this enhances the surreal look of the photo.
I like the way the frame of the mirror splits the picture between the two different views of the sky and the background.
I used Photoshop to slightly desiderate the picture and make it look more washed out, this enhances the surreal look of the photo.
I like the way the frame of the mirror splits the picture between the two different views of the sky and the background.
This is one of my favourite photos because the lighting is muted and grey, this gives the photo a serious feel, as apposed to the bright, over saturated, mood of some of my other pictures, I used Photoshop to enhance this quality in the picture. I like the reflection of the feet in the mirror, this gives a feeling of anonymity, you don't get an idea of what she looks like so the rest is left to the imagination, making it feel mysterious. The ornate mirror adds to this effect as it creates gives a different view of something that might otherwise be a less interesting picture.
I used Photoshop to flip this photo upside down so that it changed the focus of the photo, so it's not immediately obvious what is reality and what is the mirror. I thought this was an interesting and alternative way of editing the photos to give it a surreal look. This makes it look as if the sky is over the opening of a door and she is peering over into another world. It emphasises her innocent curiosity, which is captured in the original image. I also like the way the frame of the mirror splits the picture into two distinct parts, with different views of the same person, showing a us that there are different aspects to each person, we just have to look at them from a different perspective to see them.
I used Photoshop to flip this image as well; I particularly like this one, this is because the reflection in the mirror makes it seem as if it is the right way up, however, you then see her head and the tree branches, which makes it hard to tell what way is up. I did this to achieve a surreal effect like the photos of Laura Williams, her expression in the picture looks thoughtful and the fact that she is staring off into the distance gives the picture a removed feel, as if it is removed from reality, An effect reinforced by the fact that it is hard to tell what way is up because I have flipped the picture upside down.
Reflecting Reflections
I like the idea of reflecting reflective objects, this makes for a picture with interesting light bending patterns, An abstract picture like this as has not got anything definite and concrete as the focus of the picture, just reflected light and patterns and colours. I Would use marbles to achieve a similar effect and a macro setting on the camera to take super close up photos. I like the dark green colours in this photo from an overhead of trees, but also think it would look interesting with the sky overhead, especially if the clouds were reflected in the marbles or other objects (such as spoons and forks). |
Initial Pictures
Edited Photos
To set up these photos I put two mirrors at a right angle to eachother out in my garden and set some marbles against the angle created by the mirrors to create an abstract reflective scene. I took this close up photo using the macro setting on my camera, I like the level of detail in the marble in the forground, and the detail of the small flecks of dust on the mirror and marbles. There is also an interesting effect created by the mirror that makes it look as if the marbles are floating above the surface. I took the picture like this so that everything is reflected in everything else and the colours are created by the colourful glass, it gives the photo a focus on clour and shape, rather than a focus on a specific object or feeling. It allows you to interpret it in lots of different ways.
To create this edit I used much the same editing prossess as the the one shown above, however, this time I flipped the image upsidown. This makes it look as if the relected marbles are infact the real marbles, or as if they are floating on the surface of water and the camera is looking up underneith the surface, or they are suspended in the air, floating above the camera. I think this is very affective and gives the picture an abstract feel, which I like. The colours in the picture really pop because of how in focus th forground is, the bottle green being especially deep and striking, brought out by the reds and oranges in the background, which ad a hint of warmth to the picture.
This picture I took at night with the light from a window shining onto the marbles. I had to take this useing a two second long shutter speed and a tripod (to eliminate camera shake). The effect is something like Daniel Kukla's photographs that he took at night, all the bright areas are sharp and stark; the picture appears light, but dark at the same time. I enjoy this effect, and the other-worldly feel it has. I like that the marbles almost appear like a column in the two mirrors, and not just a single line. taking photos at night uing a light is definatly something I would like to try again, I love the crisp texture it gives the picture. In the edited version of this photograph I like that the marbles create a wall that splits the image into two separarate halfs.
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Hall of Mirrors
The album cover for an album by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno. I love the infinite reflections created by the mirrors placed opposite each other, and the abstract tableau that they have set up inside of it. I want to use this idea of having a reflective room that has infinite versions of itself reflected in its walls. I imagine this will be a challenge to set up as I will need to think about not reflecting the camera and having enough walls to achieve the effect I want. I would use small objects to set up my own tableaus and create interesting angles. I like the idea of using other reflective objects to create different angles in the reflections, like the way they have used the silver Guitar and the table the with the tarot cards on it. It makes the object practically invisible, while creating interesting reflections. |
Initial Photos
To prepare for this photo-shoot I set up a box made using five A3 mirrors propped up using books, for the floor I used the mirror that I had not removed the matt plastic covering in order to reduce reflections from the window that was directly above the box. This was much the same thing that the Fripp and Eno album cover uses for the floor.
Because I was not able to create a full sized room I used interesting objects form my room and arranged them in an aesthetically pleasing way. I used things like playing cards and some pictures I had taken of a sunset and the forest; glass sweets and a light-up model of the USS Enterprise.
I chose objects I thought had no real relation to each other but would make an interesting scene when combined in a tableau together, with the scattered cards and the model of the dragon. They make for an interesting juxtaposition of unrelated objects, which, when put together, create an engaging and interesting diorama.
The infinite reflections created by the mirrors make he pictures seem even more surreal and also creates patterns by reflecting the arrangements in the mirror box. and making the scene seem even larger than it actually is, it also makes it hard to know where to focus in the photo and determine what is the real tableau and what is the reflection.. This arrangement also reflects the flash I used, making it seem as if there are floating balls of light and adding an extra layer to the photos.
Because I was not able to create a full sized room I used interesting objects form my room and arranged them in an aesthetically pleasing way. I used things like playing cards and some pictures I had taken of a sunset and the forest; glass sweets and a light-up model of the USS Enterprise.
I chose objects I thought had no real relation to each other but would make an interesting scene when combined in a tableau together, with the scattered cards and the model of the dragon. They make for an interesting juxtaposition of unrelated objects, which, when put together, create an engaging and interesting diorama.
The infinite reflections created by the mirrors make he pictures seem even more surreal and also creates patterns by reflecting the arrangements in the mirror box. and making the scene seem even larger than it actually is, it also makes it hard to know where to focus in the photo and determine what is the real tableau and what is the reflection.. This arrangement also reflects the flash I used, making it seem as if there are floating balls of light and adding an extra layer to the photos.
Edited Photos
To take this photo I used a long exposure time and a tripod to capture it without causing blur, I had to do this because it was very dark inside, this captured the yellowy orange light, which I thought was not quite as effective as a light with cold colours so I used Photoshop to change the colours of the lighting so that is was more greens, which I thought suited this photo.
I like the way the photographs of the trees and the sunset create little scenes within the scene, and give the photo the quality of a memory, as the pictures seem to provide a window into the past. The colours in the photos also bring out a certain mood in the photo, with the high level of contrast between the shadows and the fiery sunset, they have a lot of depth. The pictures on the ' The Dead Weather' playing cards provide a very surreal element to the photo. The sweets also provide a dash of vibrant colour which I think really brings the photo t life.
I like that the arrangement of the objects creates a circular pattern where they are reflected in the mirrors.
I like the way the photographs of the trees and the sunset create little scenes within the scene, and give the photo the quality of a memory, as the pictures seem to provide a window into the past. The colours in the photos also bring out a certain mood in the photo, with the high level of contrast between the shadows and the fiery sunset, they have a lot of depth. The pictures on the ' The Dead Weather' playing cards provide a very surreal element to the photo. The sweets also provide a dash of vibrant colour which I think really brings the photo t life.
I like that the arrangement of the objects creates a circular pattern where they are reflected in the mirrors.
This is one of my favourite photos that I took in this shoot. I love the colours of the pale blue and the look of the dragon standing in the corner. This is also one of the best examples of the infinite reflections created by the mirrors placed opposite each other. For this photo ( and a lot of the other ones) I figured out that to get the bright blue of the Fripp and Eno album artwork I would need to use the flash and a very short exposure time (I used 4000s of a second) This creates a crisp image with a bright blue hue.
I used the pictures again but this time arranged them differently, and scattered some small nail art gems across the floor, making it look as if someone had scattered confetti over the floor.
The angle of the camera makes it look as if the whole scene is tilting sideways, giving it a off balance feel and making the image outlandish.
I used the pictures again but this time arranged them differently, and scattered some small nail art gems across the floor, making it look as if someone had scattered confetti over the floor.
The angle of the camera makes it look as if the whole scene is tilting sideways, giving it a off balance feel and making the image outlandish.
Refracting
I like this technique of taking pictures of the reflections through glasses and jugs. I like that it allows you to play with the contrast between the in focus foreground and the out of focus background and the fish eye effect created by the bending of the light as it travels through the water and the glass.
The scene seen through the glass is also turned upside down, I think this is a very fun effect, especially since it allows you to do things such as turn the glass upside down using Photoshop, which turns the scene the right way up, but makes the water look like a solid part of the wine glass. I like that these pictures can have a mood which ranges from nostalgic to dreamlike and distorted.
I like the idea of flipping these pictures upside down as it will make the scene in the glass look the right way up, but the glass would be hanging upside down, I think this is an interesting and fun way of editing the pictures.
I want to experiment with the media I use to take these photographs so I think I will use a film camera which takes 35 mm film. They are also more manual, which I feel gives me more control over the photograph as the different settings are easy to access. The results can be a little unpredictable sometimes, making for an exiting picture taking experience.
The scene seen through the glass is also turned upside down, I think this is a very fun effect, especially since it allows you to do things such as turn the glass upside down using Photoshop, which turns the scene the right way up, but makes the water look like a solid part of the wine glass. I like that these pictures can have a mood which ranges from nostalgic to dreamlike and distorted.
I like the idea of flipping these pictures upside down as it will make the scene in the glass look the right way up, but the glass would be hanging upside down, I think this is an interesting and fun way of editing the pictures.
I want to experiment with the media I use to take these photographs so I think I will use a film camera which takes 35 mm film. They are also more manual, which I feel gives me more control over the photograph as the different settings are easy to access. The results can be a little unpredictable sometimes, making for an exiting picture taking experience.
Initial pictures
Editied Photos
This was my favourite of the pictures I took of reflections in wine glasses. I like that the colours are so vivid, with the dark red complimenting the green. I also like that the scene in the glass is so detailed, so you can see all the buildings clearly. The arches, in both the glass and the background, help tie the whole picture together and also emphasises how the reflection in the glass is flipped upside down. It almost looks like a mini world contained within a glass.
FINAL PIECE PREPARATION
Harry and 'The Mirror of Erised' (illistration by Jim Kay).
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My inspiration for my final piece was 'The Mirror of Erised' (which is desire spelled backwards) from the 'Harry Potter' book series. I think the idea of a mirror that reflects the thing you want most in the world back at you is a very interesting idea that you could show using photography. I wanted to create portraits in which things people desire are reflected back at the person looking in the mirror (e.g. knowlage, travel, food and beauty), and use techniques employed by Laura Williams and other photographers in the mirror portrature I looked at. I decided it would be more practical to use my digital camera to take the pictures I would ues in my final pieces.
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Resolving my ideas
For my final pieces I decided to do a variation of my initial idea of reflecting things people desire. this time I chose to focus on the idea of escapeism (which is something many might desire), which is why many people read fantasy book like Harry Potter. I wanted to show one world on one side of the mirror and another on the other side. I used Harry potter as a concept for one of my final pieces but wanted to use other stories as well, to show the different ways people find escapism in stories. I chose to use horror movies, particularly those with vampires, as one of the inspirations for my final piece; and The Picture of Dorian Grey (which I have used as inspiration before) as the inspiration for the third piece.
When I create my final pieces I will cut out the mirror in the first picture and stick behind it the reflection from the picture I have chosen to pair with it, creating, in effect, two versions of reality, the one we live in and the one we escape to. I will then collage into the picture in the mirror to enhance the feeling of it being an alternate reality where everything is different from the reality we usually live in. This uses ideas from the Laura Williams mirror portraiture I looked at earlier as it uses mirrors as a way of distorting reality, an idea she used in her work.
When I create my final pieces I will cut out the mirror in the first picture and stick behind it the reflection from the picture I have chosen to pair with it, creating, in effect, two versions of reality, the one we live in and the one we escape to. I will then collage into the picture in the mirror to enhance the feeling of it being an alternate reality where everything is different from the reality we usually live in. This uses ideas from the Laura Williams mirror portraiture I looked at earlier as it uses mirrors as a way of distorting reality, an idea she used in her work.
Resolving my ideas: Initial Pictures
Horror Stories
I chose to explore the theme of horror movies as they are something that many find to be an exilerating form of escapism. Vampires are often a creature used in horror and fantasy stories because they make people think of something mysterious and enthraling that is at the same time dark and terrible. The fact that I have used the same model in both versions of reality shows how we imagine ourselves in these alternative universes when we emerse ourselves in stories.
In this picture you see the subject in our reality. Someone who wants to escape to a world where creatures like vampires exist. I used the red paint on the mirror to enhance the feeling of horror present in the picture.
In this picture she looks as if she is submiting to something because of the way she is crouched down. |
I used different makeup and clothing for the vampire look to help emphasise the different character. I also used much brighter and harsher lighting to give the reflection a feeling of unreality and set it apart from the other picture.
In this picture the subject looks as if she is mysterious and in charge, something people associate with vampires in modern stories. |
Mock up
I drew some thumbnail sketches of what I wanted my final piece to look like, and this was the one that I liked best. I wanted to give the piece a 3D feel, which is why I decided to sew into it, to make it seem more bitty, like it needed to be held together. I also thought that ripping it would make for an interesting effect and that different contrasts of black and red behind the ripped areas would bring an extra level of colour and contrast to the picture.
I created a mock up of my final piece so I would have an idea of what it would look like after I had combined the two images and also so I would have a better idea about where to place everything in the collage. I decided I wanted to stick with the colours red, black and white so that none of the colours would clash in the final image.. I used Photoshop to do this, however for the final picture I will do everything by hand. seeing it like this enabled me to come p with a concept for my final piece.
Final Piece
To create this picture I used a craft knife to cut out the image that was already shown in the first picture and then stuck behind it a collaged picture, which was the reflection from the second picture. This creates the impression that there are two realities, one outside the mirror and one inside. I did this to show how people create a different reality for themselves in stories and books. Horror, particularly fantasy horror, is a good form of escapism as some of the things that happen are so unrealistic that it is hard to imagine them happening in the real world, making it easier to imagine a new one.
I tore sections out of the picture as part of the collage to give the picture a rough and disjointed feel, sticking black behind the now empty areas for a darker feel to the picture. I then used red embroidery thread to make it seem as if the whole of the picture was stitched together, showing how we have to hold the realities we create together or they will fall apart. I used white and black pen to draw symbols around the edges of the rips and the subject. These occult-ish symbols add to the feeling of dark otherworldliness, as well as the blacked out eyes. Finally I used red paint to make the colour of the paint that was already on the mirror stand out more, I feel like this really brought the picture to life as it made all the colours pop more.
I stuck mostly to my initial design, however I did not rip from the bottom and use red paper, but that is about the only thing I changed. Overall I am pleased with how this piece turned out, however, next time I would make more of an effort to make the background blank and make more of an effective use of lighting in the original pictures as I think the first picture could have more contrast and shadows. I also would have accented the paint on the hand of the subject in the first picture with acrylic paint like I did on the picture in the mirror as I feel this was a nice touch that was lost in the final piece.
I tore sections out of the picture as part of the collage to give the picture a rough and disjointed feel, sticking black behind the now empty areas for a darker feel to the picture. I then used red embroidery thread to make it seem as if the whole of the picture was stitched together, showing how we have to hold the realities we create together or they will fall apart. I used white and black pen to draw symbols around the edges of the rips and the subject. These occult-ish symbols add to the feeling of dark otherworldliness, as well as the blacked out eyes. Finally I used red paint to make the colour of the paint that was already on the mirror stand out more, I feel like this really brought the picture to life as it made all the colours pop more.
I stuck mostly to my initial design, however I did not rip from the bottom and use red paper, but that is about the only thing I changed. Overall I am pleased with how this piece turned out, however, next time I would make more of an effort to make the background blank and make more of an effective use of lighting in the original pictures as I think the first picture could have more contrast and shadows. I also would have accented the paint on the hand of the subject in the first picture with acrylic paint like I did on the picture in the mirror as I feel this was a nice touch that was lost in the final piece.
The Picture of Dorian Grey
I used the Oscar Wilde novel 'The Picture of Dorian Grey' as inspiration for one off my final pieces because I think the concept of the story is interesting; instead of looking at a portrait of yourself and seeing something you desire (e.g. eternal youth) you see all your sins reflected back at you while you yourself remain forever young. This links to the theme of the mirror of Erised, as eternal youth is something many people would desire, however this novel shows us the consequences of getting exactly what you want all the time.
I have used this novel for inspiration before, but I wanted to explore the concept in more depth, which is why I decided to ues it as the concept for one of my final pieces.
I have used this novel for inspiration before, but I wanted to explore the concept in more depth, which is why I decided to ues it as the concept for one of my final pieces.
In this portrait you see the real world, the cocky expression on the model's face shows how she thinks she has 'made it' and beaten the odds by achieving eternal youth (or whatever else someone might desire). However, the fact that she is turned away from the mirror shows us that she can't see the consequences of her actions growing darker behind her, her true self reflected in the mirror. (the bloody hand prints won't be in the final piece.
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The face being obscured in the reflection of the model shows how they have lost a true sense of who they are as they have become more and more sinful; also, the way the 'knife' is raised shows us how eventually their actions would lead to their death, and that it would be their own fault.
I did this to show how if you take getting things you want for granted then you can end up heading down a self destructive path. |
Mock up
Initially I planned t have cracks covering a lot of the picture, and also cut out sections of the face, to show the cracks in the soul of the person in the picture. I also planned to draw a picture of a skull into the picture at the back. However, I struggled to come up with any other ideas for this picture until I decided to use the opening sentences of the preface to The Picture of Dorian Grey in the picture. I had not planned to use paint in the picture though, which is what I ended up doing.
When creating the mock up for this picture I decided that I would like to make it black and white as the colours in the original were not quite to my liking and also because, back when the book is set they would not have been able to take colour photographs s black and whit e was a more fitting state for this photograph. The monochrome also adds to the serious mood of the photograph, as well as making it look more old fashioned.
While creating this final piece I ended up largely disregarding my original idea (I didn't use the skull and I didn't cut out sections of the subject's face). I was going to have cracks covering the surface od the picture, but in the end only had two cracks coming from the head of the subject in the mirror like antlers or horns.
In this picture I flipped my concept around (as it is flipped in the picture of Dorian gray) so that what is desired is on the outside of the mirror, and the true horror lurks within, and is only seen in your reflection. I thought this was an interesting concept as it shows how when people see something desirable they often don't look past the surface level to see what it is that thing truly is.
I used a pallet knife to create the smeared effect of the black and white paint and then added hints of red with a paint brush. I did this to make the picture feel more like a painting whose paint had begun to deteriorate or had been smeared. I also wrote, in white pen, the Preface at the start of The Picture of Dorian Grey about the purpose of art. I thought it related to the theme of the work in that it encourages you to only look at the surface of things and promotes beauty for beauty's sake.
I used the mask in the reflection to help give it a more unsettling appearance and also the fact that the rest of the picture is black and white and the red is still in colour helps emphasise the violence of the picture. I decided to give the subject in the real world a very cocky expression to show how oblivious they are to what they are becoming on the inside.
I think this is my favourite final piece I have created because the colours and the contrast between light and dark make it look very interesting. If I were to change one thing I would make the placing of the words a bit more spaced out and take care to write them more neatly.
In this picture I flipped my concept around (as it is flipped in the picture of Dorian gray) so that what is desired is on the outside of the mirror, and the true horror lurks within, and is only seen in your reflection. I thought this was an interesting concept as it shows how when people see something desirable they often don't look past the surface level to see what it is that thing truly is.
I used a pallet knife to create the smeared effect of the black and white paint and then added hints of red with a paint brush. I did this to make the picture feel more like a painting whose paint had begun to deteriorate or had been smeared. I also wrote, in white pen, the Preface at the start of The Picture of Dorian Grey about the purpose of art. I thought it related to the theme of the work in that it encourages you to only look at the surface of things and promotes beauty for beauty's sake.
I used the mask in the reflection to help give it a more unsettling appearance and also the fact that the rest of the picture is black and white and the red is still in colour helps emphasise the violence of the picture. I decided to give the subject in the real world a very cocky expression to show how oblivious they are to what they are becoming on the inside.
I think this is my favourite final piece I have created because the colours and the contrast between light and dark make it look very interesting. If I were to change one thing I would make the placing of the words a bit more spaced out and take care to write them more neatly.
Harry Potter
I wanted to use Harry Potter as a concept for my third final piece as it was the original inspiration for this project. I feel like Harry potter is a very good example of escapism as it is such a meticulously constructed universe that it is very easy to lose yourself in and get caught up in.
In this first picture I decided to show the subject reading one of the Harry Potter books (I used the illustrated version for these pictures so it would be clear what she was reading), this shows that she is immersed in the universe. I used the lighting and Photoshop to achieve a slightly washed out look, this makes the first picture seem quite stark and grounds it in reality more. I did this to show that this side of the mirror is reality, and that what will be in the mirror is the reality someone might desire or imagine.
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In this image I used costume to make the distinction between the two characters realities. I also used the lighting to make this version picture have a higher level shadow and contrast. This gives the picture a more dreamlike feel, as shadows are frequently used to show mystery and secrets. It shows how someone might want to escape to a world where there are more mysteries and adventures to be had.
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Mock up
For this piece I planned to have cut out sections of the picture in the shape of the deathly hallows symbol, and also show her creating a patronus using a white pen. The stars I planned to cut out of black paper and stick down onto the picture, I thought they would help add to the magic of the picture.
I, again, used Photoshop to combine the two images I had selected to determine weather they would look good together. I then used this to come up with a concept for my final piece. I drew inspiration from the spells and symbolism of the Harry Potter novels.
Final Piece
The two realities I have created in this picture are the magical world of Harry Potter, which you see reflected in the mirror, and the real world, which is the part of the image we see not reflected in the mirror. This shows how she is escaping to the world that has been created in the book she is reading, and the expressions on her face in both of the pictures shows how she is enjoying escaping to this fantasy world. In this piece the only thing I changed was the position of the second deathly hallows symbol, and I also decided to add the opening sentence from the philosopher's stone.
I used the idea of a patronus and decided to draw a rabbit erupting from her wand (the same animal Luna has as her patronus in the books). I created this by cutting out a section of the paper and then sticking some black card underneath that, I then used a white pen to draw the outline of a rabbit coming from the tip of the want. The black stars I created by punching them out of the leftover card with a star shaped hole puncher. I then stuck them down and outlined them in white pen, making them look like they are part of the same spell as the patronus because they have the same colours. Next, I used a black pen to write the opening sentence of the firs Harry Potter book, I did this to show that the words in the book help contribute to the magic of the stories. Lastly I used a stencil shaped like the symbol for the deathly hallows to help cut out this shape from the picture. I stuck some ink splattered paper behind it which I had dripped colourful inks down to create an interesting and cheerful pattern.
Overall I am pleased with this piece, however, next time I would take more care over the picture of the patronus and make sure it was more thought out as I think it looks a bit rushed here. Also some of the outlines of the stars are a bit messy. My favourite thing about this picture is the expression on her face in the mirror as it helps lift the mood of the whole picture.
I used the idea of a patronus and decided to draw a rabbit erupting from her wand (the same animal Luna has as her patronus in the books). I created this by cutting out a section of the paper and then sticking some black card underneath that, I then used a white pen to draw the outline of a rabbit coming from the tip of the want. The black stars I created by punching them out of the leftover card with a star shaped hole puncher. I then stuck them down and outlined them in white pen, making them look like they are part of the same spell as the patronus because they have the same colours. Next, I used a black pen to write the opening sentence of the firs Harry Potter book, I did this to show that the words in the book help contribute to the magic of the stories. Lastly I used a stencil shaped like the symbol for the deathly hallows to help cut out this shape from the picture. I stuck some ink splattered paper behind it which I had dripped colourful inks down to create an interesting and cheerful pattern.
Overall I am pleased with this piece, however, next time I would take more care over the picture of the patronus and make sure it was more thought out as I think it looks a bit rushed here. Also some of the outlines of the stars are a bit messy. My favourite thing about this picture is the expression on her face in the mirror as it helps lift the mood of the whole picture.