Evaluation

Evaluation

For this assignment I was to produce ten commercially viable images that form a response to my individual study. I was to show my understanding current photographic practice. As I chose fashion for my individual practice I began to explore how fashion is currently shown and researched the things that interested me the most. Something I often look to for inspiration is a website called lookbook. The site is for young designers and photographers to show their work. The site is invite only and there is a certain look that the website embraces. I like the chic and vintage look that lookbook has and this has definitely influenced my work. Something else that I looked to with this work is Urban Outfitters. I noticed that the thing they are doing a lot at the moment is using Fuji instax Polaroid film to present their clothing online. I found to be very interesting, new and nothing like what other retailers are producing to show their clothing. I liked this so much I bought myself a Fuji Instax camera and some film and shot the entire brief with it.
One other inspiration I used was Amanda De Cadenet. I came across last year when researching photographers for an essay and her work stuck with me because of its vintage and stylish look. I think I will be looking her work more often in the future.
While I was researching I also found several photographers who produce images and artwork using Polaroid film. I found these to be very interesting and attractive but not what I was wanting for the assignment with it being more art based.
I decided to shoot all my images on Polaroid because I wanted to try something different and challenge myself a little. I am a little afraid that someone looking at my work may think that I took the easy option by shooting this way but I know that it was definitely much harder than shooting with a DSLR. With the Polaroid I was very limited with the images I could take and had to really think about ever shot before taking the picture. I was also very aware that I was limited and once a picture was taken then that chance was gone. I did take plenty of film with me on the shoot but I still ended up using every single picture. I knew that using my DSLR would of make things simpler but I knew that was not the look I wanted for this brief and I porously did not take a DSLR with me on the shoot so that I would not be tempted to shoot digital instead.
I really like the images that I produced for this assignment although I wish that I had given myself a little more of a chance to practice with the camera.
I shot my images at spring wood in Whalley because I wanted to get the blue bells in the images and I absolutely love the woods. We spent several hours there while the sun was going down and caught the beautiful golden tones of the sun set in the pictures. I was so pleased with the weather that day. I would love to go back for a similar shoot but use a different camera so that I can play with the images myself.
I am very happy with the images I have produced during this assignment. I am glad that I challenged myself with this and I am looking forward to getting to get to know my new camera properly over summer and also explore serious photography with Polaroid better. I am glad I found the opportunity to open myself to new things and I hope keep pushing myself and trying to achieve better things for my work.