These are the first polariods I tested using a wide instax polariod camera. I found it quite hard to make sure I didn't get any unwanted background other than the plain black, because there is no screen to check, which is why a few of them didn't work all that well. I like the effect that polariods have even without doing anything post-production. It adds more exposure to the light areas with I think worked quite well with these in contrast to the black background. However because of the high exposure, the skin didn't pick up that clearly, it just looks quite white and bland, and I'm more interested in the close ups and textures of the skin.
I asked my model to wear simple skintight clothes, in order to be able to see the outlines of her features and muscles, and to make sure as to not have the clothes as a distraction from the initial idea behind the shots. I decided to use a small stall in the pictures, so that she had something to lean on for the more technical poses, and made sure it was just a simple stall.
Before I shoot with the polariod camera I decided to plan what I will take, because the film/paper is quite expensive and you only get 10 in a pack, as well as no viewing screen.
After discussing my ideas with my tutor he has suggested that I take a look at John Coplans photography because he focuses the majority of his work on the ageing body taken in black and white. Coplans rarely took pictures of the face and centralised his ideas on specific parts of the body and limbs and how they age.
From doing photoshoots with a variety of subject matters focusing on things such as portraits, landscapes and and street, I have found out that I would like to explore further with shooting people as my main interest/concept.
I will further explore the human form and how the intimacy and privacy can be reflected between different people. Looking at documenting them in a raw, exposed way. Using polariods and digital imagery I believe these will capture it well as with digital imagery I will be able to mediate the colours during production and post production, then with polariods I will have to make sure that the lighting is correct so there is a contrast to the skin.
From doing a 3 point lighting workshop I wish to explore this further and I believe that this will be the best lighting for my concept.
Inspirations/Sources:
Andy Warhol - The polariod series that Andy Warhol did from 1975 onwards are wholly portrait shots, most of the images are very well lit showing a lot of skin, with no posed facial expressions. Rather than constructed photos these explore the document side more so.
Keaton Henson - I like how the music video for 'Earnestly yours' focuses mainly on the the body and the features. With the colours of the skin being very raw.
Lee Jeffries - Series called 'Homeless' focuses on the portraits documenting the close up portrait shots. There is a mixture between the construction of the poses and the documentation. Most of his images are shot in monochrome with a heavy use of shadow in contrast to the light.
Hong Sungchul - Within his work Sungchul uses elastic strings which the images are printed onto and then staggers them next to each other to reveal an overal picture.
David Hockney - Would composition multiple polariods (photo collages) together. He took each picture at slightly different positions and angles and the end result closely resembles that of cubism.
Lucas Samaras - Would shoot self portraits and manipulate the coloured dyes of the polariod with different objects, creating patterned backgrounds and distorting the image itself.
