Final Photographs

Within all these photographs I was hugely inspired by both Meredith Andrews and David Bailey. Both these great photographer have got their own individual style, but also have some things in common. As they both do very good portrait photographs and use simple plain background to make their subjects stand out more. Meredith had inspired me by her “Sleep” project she did, giving me the idea of my work, from sleepy people in the morning to after they have their morning coffee (Espresso) when they are wide awake and ready to go. In a way it’s an animation as the coffee cup coming closer to their mouth, they are getting ready and once they have the coffee to their lips, they are ready to go. In a way it had a hint of documentary photography, connecting to Jonathan Knowles’s style of photography like his “Red heads” project. My work is also inspired by David Bailey as he is a portrait photographer, doing a lot of bold striking back and white photographs. As I have done starting off with black and white going into colour, using simple white backgrounds as he has done in many of his photographs. 

Set 1

This is my first set of photographs. I had to get my model Eden into the mood of sleeping, explaining to her what I wanted and asking her to act tired and sleepy. While shooting I had to style her hair, do her make-up and costume. When looking at these photographs your eyes immediately go to Eden’s face and then down her body to the coffee cup, to the steam coming out of it and then out to the background.

I feel this set has the emotional effect I want it to have. From the first photograph, you feel sleepy and tired just as Eden is in the photograph and it gradually gets to feeling good, happy and ready for the day.  I have placed Eden right in the middle of the frame, she is taking up most of the frame, in the foreground and all in focus, classical use of balance a centred subject.  You can make out a lot of texture within the photographs with the contrast of the soft fabrics to the hard coffee cup, which looks hot as the steam is coming out of it. The steam looks like it’s nice and warm and comforting and probably will turn wet as its water vapour. 

Set 2

This is my second set of photographs. Again I had to get my model Oliver into the mood of sleeping, directing him to act tired and sleepy. While shooting I had to style his hair to look like bed hair and ask him to change as the stages go along. When looking at these photographs your eyes immediately go to Oliver’s face and then down his body, to the coffee cup, to the steam coming out of it and then out to the background.

I feel this set has the emotional effect I want it to have like the last. From the first photograph, you feel sleepy and tired just as Oliver is in the photograph and it gradually gets to feeling good, refreshed and prepared for the day.  I have placed Oliver right in the middle of the frame, he is taking up most of the frame, in the foreground and all in focus, classical use of balance a centred subject. He sometimes moves a bit to the left or right of the frame but this suggests that he is moving around and getting ready for the day.  You can make out a lot of texture within the photographs with the contrast of his hair, the soft fabrics of the clothes to the hard coffee cup, which looks hot as the steam is coming out of it, which shows it’s warm. 

Set 3

I had to direct my model Edith into the mood of being sleepy, she put her own spin on it and looked annoyed at whoever woke her up, which I really appreciated as it looked very natural. While shooting I had to style her hair and make-up to look like bed hair flat and lifeless. I asked her to wear make-up but smudge it so it looks like she has slept with it on, from the night before, this is very subtle though so it’s not that visible. If I were to do this shoot again I would make that look heavier so you can tell that she had make-up on from the night before. When looking at these photographs your eyes immediately go to Edith’s face and then down her body, to the coffee cup, to the steam coming out of it and then out to the background.

I feel this set has the emotional effect I want it to have like the last. From the first photograph, you feel sleepy and tired just as Edith is in the photograph, she also looks a bit annoyed and angry so you may feel that too. It gradually gets to feeling happier, refreshed and ready to go for the day.  I have placed Edith right in the middle of the frame, she is taking up most of the frame, in the foreground and all in focus, classical use of balance a centred subject. You can make out a lot of texture within the photographs with the contrast of her hair, the fabrics of the clothes to the hard coffee cup, which looks hot as the steam is coming out of it, which shows it’s warm. 

Set 4

This set of photographs is of my model Aimee, again I had to tell Aimee what I wanted of her to get her to feel sleepy and in the mood of the scene. Again I was doing hair and make-up for my model, going from sleepy bed head to ready for the day refreshed. I asked her to ware no makeup at first to look natural like she had just come out of bed I also ask her to change as the stages go along. When looking at these photographs your eyes immediately go to Aimee’s face and then down her body, to the coffee cup, to the steam coming out of it and then out to the background.

 From the first photograph, you feel sleepy and tired just as Aimee is in the photograph, she looks as if she wants to go back into her bed. It gradually gets to feeling more refreshed, happy and prepared for the day.  I have placed Aimee right in the middle of the frame, she is taking up most of the frame, in the foreground and all in focus, classical use of balance a centred subject. You can make out a lot of texture within the photographs with the contrast of her hair, the fabrics of the clothes to the hard coffee cup, which looks hot as the steam is coming out of it, which shows it’s warm.

If I were to do all the project again, I would make my model’s expressions more animated and over the top to show how you feel from the inside when you have coffee. Showing just how hyper and over active they can get when have coffee (Espresso). However I like the way I have gradually gone from Black and White to colour its subtle and not over the top, just as I wanted. I am also happy with how I have carried this out technically with the lighting, camera focus and framing.