Week 11: best images analysis

For my project, I did not want to only take shots of young people. I wanted to include people of different ages and sizes to go against media's stereotypical portrayal of identity. By including a diverse range of people i am symbolising that everyone is affected by social media and the control it possesses over people's way of perceiving themselves. For this shoot i was working with an older man in his late 40s. This shoot was really interesting when looking back on the contact sheet, his body features were distinctively different if you compare the work to previous shoot of the young boy. I think because this models body is a more natural version of reality, it would be a lot more unique to look at and study as a spectator. Below are some of my favourite images, however due to the blogging format, i was not able to rotate all of them to a vertical position.

As the model was around 6 feet 5 inches, the bath was very restricting and the model found it hard to move in specific positions when directing him. Again, i do enjoy when i ask the model to look up to the camera as the subject evidently draws in the spectator. Alongside his blank expression, the spectator is able to interpret his emotions while reflecting on their own (as Bates describes). The position of the arm is striking as sometimes it does not even look as if it attached to the body. This can symbolise the idea that social networking is changing the way we choose to alter our virtual self, we rip apart the features we hate in order to modify them for an on screen identity. The natural lighting allowed the milk to form shadows around the edges of the body which add to the ominous elements i was trying to grasp. This could further be edited using the dodge and burn tool i recently learned how to use.

 Image 1

This next image was one that i was drawn to, but also did not like at the same time. Again i love the sharpness of the body hair and the shadow elements of the opaque liquid as it really makes the image look quite ghostly and life less. However i do not really like the position of the model, however the images which look the most uncomfortable are usually the ones which can create more meaning to an audience. I think i would have preferred the body to be a bit more submerged under the water in order to create the consuming and suffocating effect.

Image 2

It is a shame that this image is upside down, it is quite humorous actually. However, this image was my favourite from the whole shoot. I really think the images detail and sharpness is successful while combining with the misty and slowly overwhelming elements of the liquid as it submerges the subject. The facial features are striking as the blank expression connotes a sense of despair and almost a sense of surrender. The subject it surrendering his body to the opaqueness and showing no signs of restraint or restriction. The body looks defenseless and we are left watching a subject that looks sad but also willing.