Throughout this project I have developed a range of skills that have contributed to achieving the highest standard of work I could possibly produce. I have studied fashion photography and the fashion and beauty industry, which helped me to accumulate a wealth of ideas and concepts. My original idea was to find an exterior location to shoot in using studio lighting. However as my project developed I decided to concentrate purely in the studios. I felt this would test my skills and push me to hone in on strong, bold imagery using lighting techniques that I was recently taught and wanted to explore further. I wanted to create a magazine article to compliment my cover but realised this was perhaps a little too ambitious and would not achieve the professional outcome that I desired, so I decided to concentrate on a double paged spread with simple typography to go along side my cover. I took my main inspiration from David LaChapelle, Tom Oldham, Terry Richardson and a recent music issue of i-D magazine featuring Rihanna. Although I didn’t use every aspect of their work I was still thoroughly influenced by their unique and quirky style of fashion photography. There were two magazines ‘i-D’ and ‘Dazed&Confused’ that struck a cord with me and stood out from your high-end magazines for example ‘Vogue’ and ‘Elle’. These appealed to me the most for their alternative and individual style, which is something that I definitely wanted to create.

 

From my initial starting point, until my final shoot my ideas and concepts were virtually unchanged. I envisaged a final idea fairly early on but it was a matter of creating this using all the different methods and types of lighting through trial and error. I experimented with this in my second shoot and used a range of different lighting extensions in order for me to decide on lighting for my final shoot. Snoots, beauty dishes, beauty umbrellas and soft boxes were used for this experimental shoot.  

 

On my third shoot I concentrated on using a beauty dish and was aware that this was often the lighting choice used by beauty magazines. However after much experimentation it was clear to me that a soft box was my favourite and perfect for my style of shoot. Nayana was my model for this shoot. I had practiced with her prior to doing my final shoot and knew exactly how I wanted her to pose, how I wanted her styled and I knew how to work with her. This gave me a starting point before jumping in to my final shoot. I took my main inspiration for this shoot from Terry Richardson, I tried to replicate the cheeky style he has his models portray and I think I achieved this, however it is not something that I wanted to have in my final shoot. I think this shoot could have been better with the use of different lighting and reflectors to give an even light distribution over the image, although this was not what I had desired it enabled me to have a choice of lighting for my final shoot.

 

In my final shoot I combined everything I had learnt in the studio, ideas from my previous shoots, research in to i-D magazine and influences from my three chosen photographers to turn the shoot in to a professional standard, creating a bold, powerful, strong and beautiful atmosphere. I took main inspirations from the different photographers I had looked at including laChapelle’s ‘Lil’ Kim’ cover, Tom Oldham’s images of Grimes and Richardson’s images of Rihanna. I experimented with my model and managed to capture striking facial expressions and poses that connected deeply with the camera and would be worthy of being on the front cover of i-D magazine. Light is the key ingredient in a successful shot and I have found myself noticing light- its colour, quality and direction. This has helped me with the right preparation and choices to achieve my desired goal.

 

I have learnt a huge range of techniques in Photoshop and by experimenting on my own images and by doing independent research I have taught myself a great deal that has helped me through the project. While doing this project I have learnt various applications on Photoshop including how to airbrush, creating different layer masks changing facial features and body shapes the clone tool, spot healing tool and how to apply text to your images.

 

Working in RAW file enabled me to work in to more depth on camera RAW and Photoshop, which meant I was able to print to a larger scale. I chose a3 for both of my images, as I wanted to really emphasis the boldness of the theme. The recent music issue of Rihanna really gave me the ability to understand i-D properly, the text and repetitive themes, I think I was able to understand this and hopefully have included all important elements of i-D. My cover is in a similar style to Rihanna’s issue, including my colour scheme and the similar street and urban style, however I think I was able to apply my own themes to it and make it personal to me.

 

Overall I am confident with my final outcome. I think I have developed my skills further in this project than I thought I would and have pushed research further by working independently. I have gained information thorough lectures and have tried to portray this through my work. There is no denying that I had many difficulties when working in the studio, it was difficult trying to push myself to understand it, however I am so glad that I did as I have certainly enjoyed working in the studio and I hope I get another chance soon to put my hard work to use again, as I feel much more confident working in this environment now. If I were to change anything about this project I would try and do some more test shoots to have back ups and maybe go even further with my final shoot. I think I would broaden my Photoshop skills to more of a professional standard. Although I think that ‘Vogue’ and ‘Elle’ are not magazines that would suit me and my style, I do think it would be interesting to work on a magazine cover for either and applying my own spin on to it.