Photoshoot 9: Gender: Male and Female Brain Dissection: Work Record

Work Record -

Date: Friday 18th March 2016
Camera: Canon EOS 450D 
Editing Software: N/A
Settings: F/11, ISO 200, 1/125

Plans For Shoot: My first plan for today's shoot is to photograph a variety of subjects under the field of portraiture who represent different genders, ethnicities and conformity to gender stereotypes.


What I Hope to Achieve: My first hope for this series of photographs is to ensure I photograph more than one gender so that I can create a contrast between the male and female stereotypes as I have been doing with my other series'.

I would also like to create a series of photographs in which the difference between subject and background is extremely stark so that when I physically manipulate the images the idea is not lost due to the removal the facial area.

I hope that I can achieve at least four photographs which are well exposed and will withstand cutting, gluing and scanning without becoming white-washed at any point. 

I also hope to achieve a series of final outcomes in which an audience would be able to witness my inspiration from the artist Matthieu Bourel; however, I hope, an audience should also understand that his work was simply a starting point for my own development and that there are both similarities and differences in the work.

What I Actually Achieved: I was able to photograph a large part of my friendship group which allowed me document, through portraiture,  a large variation in social sub-groups such as genders, ethnicities and conformity to the masculine and feminine stereotypes.

I also mostly achieved my second hope as the subjects were standing out from the plain background quite well. Although this could have been improved and I will further explain this in the progression section.

Furthermore, I was successful in achieving four best images which were printed on a sturdy paper which improved the quality during the process of cutting, the paper did not fray, and gluing. Again, improvements could have been made during the scanning process and I will elaborate upon this in the progression segment.

I believe, in my opinion and after showing the work to peers who agreed, that my work did show a progression from the original starting point inspirational artist Matthieu Bourel. The similarities between the work include the removal of facial sections and the replacement of them with vibrant multi-media cut-outs. Although some differences include Matthieu Bourel's borrowed use of vintage and retro photographs and the use of various filters such as black and white, sepia and high saturation.

What I Am Going To Do Next/ Progression: To improve, I would employ my Photoshop CC 2014 knowledge and edit the images using levels and curves to establish more of a contrast between the portrait subjects and backdrops.

To advance further, I had limited access to scanners to scan the final physical experiment photoshoot outcomes back in digitally and thus the quality of the images were somewhat diminished as I could only use my home scanner. In the future if I was to re-shoot I would search for a better scanner to use in cohesion with the physical experiments.

If I was to further compare my work to that of Matthieu Bourel then I could possibly work in Photoshop to use selective colourisation, black and white filters and or reduce the saturation to more closely link the final outcomes.

Next, I shall be completing my first non-studio photoshoot where I will juxtapose two images, one associated with femininity and the other with masculinity, by using a similar composition but a different subject image. This will help me to explore both the similarities and differences between males and females and how masculinity and femininity are social constructs created to enforce people to conform to society. 

Least and Favourite Image Evaluation - 

Least Favourite:

Favourite:

The reasoning behind the above pictures being my favourite and least favourite are for a multitude of reasons.

My least favourite is so because the scanning process after completing the physical manipulation threw out the white-balance of the photograph and made the exposure appear to bright. Additionally, the removed section could have been more accurately measured before I used a scalpel to remove it. If I had been more skilled with the knife I could have shaped the segment to reflect the accepted cartoon-style of a brain although this was relatively difficult to do. If I was to complete this final outcome again then I would increase the vibrancy before printing so that after the scanning the computer copy would not be too pale and lacking in saturation and vibrance.

The second photograph is my favourite of the series as it conforms more directly to the inspirational artist Mathhieu Bourel in that it completely removes significant factors of the facial region. This final outcome is a study not only in gender stereotyping but also in how it influences our identity which is explored through the removal of the face in my work. I was also more pleased with this image as it did not become as lacking in vibrancy as the much as the one above it after scanning. For the female brain dissections I was also able to find more fitting and gender stereotype challenging clipping materials within magazines and therefore the subject matter is more powerful than my least favourite image.  

Meaning -

Denotation: Brain, mind, newspapers, media, collage.

Connotation: The mind, specifically on matters such as gender, is largely shaped by those around us for instance the media, the gender marketed products discuss inequality but in doing so also help to reinforce some of its ideals, some audiences are brainwashed by society into blindly accepting its norms and values without thought to how it will cause them to lose their identity and become just another casualty of societal beliefs.

Context: This photoshoot displays the ideas that society through its institutes will attempt to create a uniform conformist culture that disregards differences as outside of the norm and therefore should be ridiculed, I wanted to challenge the media and state that we are not merely addicts as mentioned in the hypodermic syringe model but we can understand out own beliefs through the decoding approach.   

Photoshoot 8a: Gender: Men's Work: Documentary: Work Record

Work Record Studio -

Date: Wednesday 6th April 2016
Camera: Canon EOS 450D 
Editing Software: Photoshop CC 2014
Settings: Indoors: F10, ISO 400, 1/60, Flash
          Outdoors: F10, ISO 200, 1/100

Plans For Shoot: My plans for todays photoshoot is to photograph men's work in the style of Henri-Cartier Bresson, one of the personal opinion exam artists, through documentary. 

What I Hope to Achieve: I hope to achieve a series of photographs that depict the average roles and activities within the field of work for the stereotypical male.

I want the pictures to reflect the work of Bresson, a famous documentary photographer, and to do this I would like for my images to show an insight into the decisive moment and when it is the best moment to capture an image.

Additionally, I also want to create a nostalgic, retro and timeless feel to my work and to do this I plan to edit my photographs into black and white using Photoshop CC 2014.

Furthermore, I want to capture at least four photographs that depict my chosen response to personal opinions in a creative way and that I am happy to display.

I want to experiment with different tools in Photoshop to achieve a dramatic and tonal series that exemplifies my interpretation of the exam and Henri Cartier-Bresson's work who served as my inspiration for this photoshoot.

What I Actually Achieved: I did capture photographs that depicted stereotypically masculine roles such as using machinery, a pillar drill, the DIY around the house and the caretaking of the man cave including a garage and a shed.

I would hope that Bresson's influence can be seen in my work although it is not a direct pastiche. The use of the black and white definitely aids the process of achieving a final outcome that reflects the work of the photographer who inspired this shoot. The decisive moment played a direct position in my work as I studied the subject, my granddad, from afar and wanted to deviate from posed photography and thus was able to capture him in his natural environment.

I did use black and white editing techniques to address the nostalgic feel of Bresson's work and now my own. As Bresson was using first a Kodak Box Brownie and later a Leicia camera his photographs were in black and white which influenced me.

I did capture a few more than four favourite photographs in this photoshoot but I cut it down to four for uniformity.

In Photoshop I used techniques and tools such as 'Black/ White', 'Brightness/ Contrast' and the more advanced 'Levels' to alter my pictures until they were bold and tonal black and white photographs I was pleased with.


What I Am Going To Do Next/ Progression: Next I am progressing on to a very different style of photography were I will be including not only photographers but also artists as my inspiration.

To improve in the future, if I was to complete a similar photoshoot, then I would shoot various subjects in various locations to expand the relatability of the photographs as photography is largely about relating to someone's individual personal opinions and belief systems.

Least and Favourite Image Evaluation - 

Least Favourite:

Favourite:

The reason the above photographs are my favourite and least favourite image is for a variety of different reasons.

My least favourite is so because the composition is not as well planned especially due to the fact that I was focusing on the decisive moment and the photographs are candid and not posed. Due to the bright outside weather the exposure was somewhat too bright which I should have adjusted more in Photoshop. Additionally, in some photography lens glare can add to the final outcome although in this image I believe detracts from the tone of the image. Also, the image was much brighter than the others in the series, specifically more so than my favourite, due to the lack of tone adjustment through 'Brightness/ Contrast' in the editing process.

The second photograph is my favourite as it is of high tonal quality with good use of 'Brightness/ Contrast' and depicts the decisive moment well. The cluttered stereotypically masculine work space is accentuated by the bright sun on the worktop contrasting to the dark pillar drill head. I also believe that, as I know the subject, I was able to photograph them in a setting that accurately depicts their personality and character in a way that it is almost as if I was not there with a camera. Therefore, this image most accurately depicts the inspiration from Henri Cartier-Bresson and his photography techniques.

Meaning -

Denotation: DIY, physical work, use of machinery, pass-times.

Connotation: Males are stereotypically the manual labourers DIY workers within a nuclear family configuration and these gender biased ideas are passed down through the institution of the family, the inequality that transcend times through the employment of nostalgic black and white filters.  

Context: This photoshoot depicts my ideas about how gender stereotypes have evolved but not far enough to deviate from the vintage atmosphere of these photographs, the belief systems of older generations is not working in cohesion with where the majority of society would like equality to be working towards.  

Photoshoot 8: Gender: Men's Work: Work Record

Work Record Studio -

Date: 8th April 2016
Camera: Canon EOS 450D 
Editing Software: Photoshop CC 2014
Settings: F/8, ISO 200, 1/125

Plans For Shoot: My plan for todays shoot is to photograph a series of objects that represent the field of men's work in my gender equality series derived from the personal opinions exam section. 

What I Hope to Achieve: I hope to achieve a series of photographs that depict male work in its stereotyped state. This will be through the use of a variety of objects; my initial idea is to have wood that connotes a shed with DIY tools leaning against it, such as a shovel, but this may be too impractical to bring into college. 


I am also hoping that a change of backdrop colour does not end the easily distinguishable connection to my inspirational photographer Phebe Schmidt. I have decided that I will shoot using a white backdrop as the blue and pink backgrounds provided a few difficulties in editing. 

I would like that the composition in the photographs are well planned and constructed in a way that intrigues an audience and allows them to draw upon connotations of the work and the implicit meanings. 

My final hope for today's shoot is that I will achieve at least four final outcomes that fit my hopes and expectations when it comes to aesthetics, colour, composition and other such aspects. 

What I Actually Achieved: In todays shoot I believe I was mostly successful in creating a small series of photographs depicting a variety of stereotypes surrounding men;s work. For example, I used items such as a tie, calculator and a hole-puncher to depict the business world association with males whilst also employing the use of items including pliers, work goggles and a tape measure to portray the idea of males being those involved in DIY and manual labouring roles within a society revolving around gender equality. 

In this particular shoot I was pleased with the white backdrop as it did not causes issues in editing like the pink backdrop did. The pink colour was tonally darker and brighter in patches and could not be amended in Photoshop CC 2014 using dodge and burn. I did not adjust the white backdrop this time, except for removing one muddy mark, as it was already bright enough and not patchy. I was pleased with this and thus think it may be the backdrop that I use in my final exam. 

Furthermore, the composition, whilst not directly adhering to ideas such as the compositional grid method, remains aesthetically pleasing in my opinion. The somewhat cluttered but deliberate layout is placed in a way that the audiences eye is almost taken on a journey through the paths created by the various objects. 

Finally, I was able to form a small series of photographs that documented stereotypes and labels about the male gender and the work associated with them. 

What I Am Going To Do Next/ Progression:I will again be employing the white backdrop in my next shoot as I was so pleased with its appearance even without editing. Although, I will be developing my idea through the use of portraiture and physical manipulation next. 

As the next shoot is not a table-top object shoot it is hard to suggest how I will experiment with composition. However, I will try to compose the portraits so that they are at eye-level and and are central within the frame of the photograph. 

Least and Favourite Image Evaluation - 

Least Favourite:

Favourite:

The reasoning behind the above pictures being my favourite and least favourite are for a few reasons. 

My least favourite is so because a shadow from the soft box lighting is encroaching on the main section of the photograph. Additionally, the least favourite image does not have such a variety of items as in my favourite. The top image was too closely composed and thus appears chaotic. 

The second photograph is my favourite as it is more careful in considering the composition, it studies both the stereotypical business and manual labouring extremes of male role stereotypes within society. Furthermore, the colour combinations, as enhanced by the blue tie, adheres to the stereotypical gender colours. In my favourite final image I was also able to edit out the muddy mark better than in the top image as the top image because the shadows behind the bolts made it difficult to use the clone stamp tool. 

Meaning -

Denotation: DIY, business, work.

Connotation: Males are stereotypically the manual labourers or breadwinners who work in male dominated environments, more professions available to men than women.

Context: This photoshoot was done to influence peoples ideas that considering jobs either masculine or feminine is outdated due to advancements of technology, changing perceptions and different expectations of genders. Men should not be concerned about expressing themselves differently to the male role stereotypes due to fear of being ridiculed just the same as women and other gender should not. Inequality within the workplace is extremely common and needs to be addressed.

Photoshoot 7a: Gender: Women's Work: Work Record

Work Record Studio -

Date: Wednesday 6th April 2016
Camera: Canon EOS 450D 
Editing Software: Photoshop CC 2014
Settings: F8, ISO 400, 1/60, Flash

Plans For Shoot: Today I plan to photograph a documentary series as variation from my previous photoshoots. I will depict the work associated with the genders. 

What I Hope to Achieve: I hope to achieve a series of photographs that depict women's work in a way that is nostalgic and studies changing perceptions of gender throughout time. 

Additionally I would also would like to create a series that is well edited in Photoshop using a variety of techniques ranging from simple black and white tools to either curves or levels. 

Another hope of mine is that I would like to create a minimum of four individual photographs that work in cohesion with one another to form a series based upon work.

Furthermore, I would like to shoot in a variety of locations and shoot a variety of people but within the time frame this may be too difficult. 

What I Actually Achieved: I was able to achieve a small series of photographs that appeared almost timeless in their editing and composition. 

I did use a variety of Photoshop CC 2014 editing techniques including back and white and levels. More information of this is expanded upon in the editing process section. 

I did create a series of four photographs all underneath the sub-category of women's work although my least favourite image does not appear to fit in cohesion with the rest of the miniature series. 

I was able to complete this photoshoot in two different locations but due to availability of being in the home environment and trying to avoid posing I was only abel to shoot one portrait subject. 

What I Am Going To Do Next/ Progression: The next step, as this shoot was completed in-between photoshoot 7 and 8, is to photograph a series of indoor studio shoots for men's work and then another documentary series. 

If I was to improve, then I would photograph more people and in more locations. 

I would also improve my work by practicing with other techniques in Photoshop such as curves rather than just levels to enhance the exposure and tonal difference. 

I will be taking in this documentary approach with me to the studio in that I may practice being more free and trying to capture a moment rather than precisely and carefully framing and setting up. 

Least and Favourite Image Evaluation - 

Least Favourite:

Favourite:

The reasoning behind the above pictures being my favourite and least favourite are for a multitude of reasons. 

My least favourite is so because the subject is not one of portraiture when one of the most prominent ideas behind documentary photography is to depict the character of a person or social group such as gender. Also, due to the sunny outside the image has large tonal difference where the exposure is too bright. Additionally, the composition does not adhere to any methods such as the grid method although there is some evidence of leading lines.

The second photograph is my favourite in this sequence as it depicts the modern day woman at work. I know the subject as she is my Mother and therefore was able to portray her in an environment that is true to normal. Furthermore, the tonal difference is week executed in Photoshop as I used the more advanced technique of levels. I like the image because of the housewife nature but the subject is dressed smartly as she also works and therefore conveys how societies perceptions of women has evolved but has still not changed to an equal field between the genders. 

Meaning -

Denotation: Domestic roles, housework.

Connotation: Females as the domestic housewives within society, the ideologies that have developed to encourage women to work but also conform to prior expectations, the timeless gender inequality that changes but still exists within most societies.

Context: This photoshoot was create din Bresson's style to emphasise my response to personal opinions but also to create a nostalgic feel within modern society to show how gender inequality may be considered extinct or out of place in modern society although it clearly still exists. Inequality is an outdated belief system.

Photoshoot 7: Gender: Women's Work: Work Record

Work Record Studio -

Date: 8th April 2016
Camera: Canon EOS 450D 
Editing Software: Photoshop CC 2014
Settings: F/8, ISO 200, 1/125

Plans For Shoot: My plan for today's shoot is to complete a table-top photoshoot focused on women and the work that is expected of their gender.

What I Hope to Achieve: What I hope to achieve for today's shoot is to experiment with a different background as I have previously been using; I will be using white rather than pink or blue. 

I also hope to create a final outcome that is reminiscent of Phebe Schmidt's but that is not an exact pastiche of her work for example through her bold use of coloured backdrops. 

I would like to take a series of photographs that document gender in a comical way with serious undertones that allow an audience to question their perceptions of gender. I will also be relying on stereotypes to do this and would like an audience to pick up on this idea. 

Finally, I hope to form a series of at least four straight images which depict the stereotypes based upon the female gender in reference to work and role expectations within society.  

What I Actually Achieved: I did employ the white backdrop for the shoot although it was not as bright and crisp as I had wanted. If I was to improve this I would move the position of the box lighting. 

I believe that my use of the objects composed in a different manner is implicitly reminiscent of Phebe Schmidt whilst the loss of the bold and vibrant coloured background has made my work less of a pastiche but this is not necessarily bad as I have developed from the exam artists to Schmidt and from Schmidt to my own individual stylised interpretation of gender. 

Furthermore, the composition wish the use of a washing line to hang the objects rather than complete another table-top shoot was an interesting development. The stereotypical objects associated with female roles hanging from another stereotype creates an almost comical inception-like photographic series studying gender. 

Additionally, I did complete four final images of various compositions despite using the same objects throughout. The use of objects and the composition, portraying a washing line, all work together to create my unique perception and personal opinion on the stupidities of gender role allocation within society. 

What I Am Going To Do Next/ Progression: If I was to improve upon this series I would experiment with more objects to create a more developed idea displaying gender.

Also, I would move the lights around as I was too pre-occupied with simply photographing the subject matter that I did not note that the lights could have been moved further forward or increased in brightness to achieve a better lighting set-up.

To progress, the next photoshoot that I will be doing will be under the same category of work but it will be the male counterpart. This shoot will hopefully be another interesting set-up by employing a non-tabletop idea but instead have objects associated with male work standing or leaning against the backdrop. For example, a hat stand with a hat and briefcase to suggest the male dominated business world and other objects connoting DIY such as a shovel to display the manual labouring nature of stereotypical male roles. However, due to practicality I may end up doing a smaller scale tabletop shoot as it is easier to transport the objects. 

Least and Favourite Images Evaluation - 

Least Favourite:

Favourite:

The reasoning behind the above pictures being my favourite and least favourite are for a few different reasons. 

My least favourite is so because the white backdrop appeared darker in the original raw image and took more editing in Photoshop. Additionally, the composition is too close together and casted a dark shadow. Also the lighting could have been improved in either the set-up of the soft box lights or in the editing process. 

The second photograph is my favourite from the series as the objects were composed without feeling too posed and the balance of the image is aesthetically pleasing. Also the lighting did not create a vignette style shadow on either sides of the image like in the least favourite counterpart. 

Meaning -

Denotation: Domestic objects, housework.

Connotation: Feminine roles as domestic 'goddess' and housekeeper alongside modern roles of working as well, the evolution of gender roles and difficulties to reach equality, the female stereotypes as homemakers.

Context: I would like audiences to know that genders have diversified throughout the eras but that stereotypes still exist and people are still expected to conform to them; I want people to know that gender roles can be divided in society amongst various genders to subvert conventions and encourage change within society.

Photoshoot 6: Gender: Men's Myths: Work Record

Work Record -

Date: Friday 18th March 2016
Camera: Canon EOS 450D 
Editing Software: Photoshop CC 2014
Settings: F/11, ISO 200, 1/125

Plans For Shoot: My idea for today's photoshoot is to photograph a collection of objects that accurately depict my hosen myth associated with the male gender.

What I Hope to Achieve: I hope to achieve a series of creative and intriguing photographs which I will have attempted to compose in a variety of ways for instance through layout, colour and objects to draw upon viewer connotation and pragmatics.

I also would like to create a  photographs that are significantly influenced by the stylised gender interpretations made by the photographer Phebe Schmidt. I will also draw on specific colour ideas from Ashley Armitage and Juno Calypso although I will work using a blue colour rather than a pastel pink often employed by the two previously mentioned photographers. For instance, I will again employ the pastel blue colour background with more saturated coloured objects to create both a subdued and oxymoronically saturated final outcome.

Furthermore, I also hope that I will be able to avoid using such skills as 'Dodge' and 'Burn' in editing to avoid the print issues that I have experienced with other photoshoots. A step I will take to avoid this is to employ the blue backdrop for the male gender too rather than just for women to depict a challenge of stereotypical colour ideals.

My final hope for today is to finish a series of photographs which are both humorous and pragmatically interesting like Schmidt's work.


What I Actually Achieved: This particular shoot is my sixth photoshoot and I have been looking forward to adjusting the coloured backdrop which is now a definite as I have come to the conclusion that I dislike the dark pink hue due to how it appears patchy on screen and in print.

First of all, I tried a variety of slightly different compositions until I was satisfied with the overall appearance of my final four images. Some images appeared more clumsy than others whilst others were more controlled. This is because the clumsy outcomes fit well within the stereotypical gender myth that males cannot multitask and thus complete all jobs clumsily and messily whilst the controlled outcomes are more aesthetically pleasing in the photographs and unfortunately I could not sacrifice the aesthetics for pragmatics.

Also, I continued to use the previous studio set-up just with the blue backdrop as I completed a few photoshoots in one long period. I tried out using the blue backdrop with the male gendered photoshoot which was much easier to adjust in the editing process and will eventually appear better in print. This change in colour provided me with a Schmidt style response due to high saturation and bold colours rather than a drab pink.

Additionally, I was also able to use my previous editing techniques in Photoshop to edit my photographs which I did by using the 'Vibrance' tool and the 'Brightness/ Contrast' tool. This allowed me to adjust make the images more saturated  without drastically altering the pale blue hue which as a result reflects the works of my inspiration artists Armitage and Schmidt who would not compromise their use of colour in editing. 

When sharing these photographs with an audience they understood the ideas that men are also often stereotyped as unable to multitask and more job concerned than with their families.

What I Am Going To Do Next/ Progression: The next step for me in my photoshoot process is the next topic involving the genders and the work that is prescribed to them by the gender stereotypical society. To advance, I will attempt a larger set-up which may provide a more dramatic final outcome. I will, however, either keep to the bold baby blue backdrop for both genders or switch to a less stereotyped colour and focus only on the colours of the objects and the pragmatics rather than contradictions.

Least and Favourite Image Evaluation - 

Least Favourite:

Favourite:

The reasoning behind the above pictures being my favourite and least favourite are for a multitude of reasons. 

My least favourite is so because in trying to fit the whole image in the zoomed-in framing leading to the props becoming clustered together. Also the placements of the writing, on the post-it notes, is more difficult to read due to the angles of placement.

The second photograph is my favourite of this particular series as the composition is more balanced. The objects are not clustered and thus do not confuse the viewer. Also the colours are very slightly brighter and vibrant in a way that reflects Phebe Schmidt's work and Sarah Maple's work through the backdrop colours.

Meaning -

Denotation: Work, chaos, business.  

Connotation: Stereotypical idea that men cannot multitask, one role at least will always be neglected if multitasking is required, the juggling act of work life with home life, analytical and work orientated mind compared to the nurturing and family orientated mind of 'women'.   

Context: I want the audience to understand that stereotypes and the portrayal of them can have both positive and negative effects upon people, stereotypes cannot be applied to a whole social group because they are based upon only a few from that sub-culture.

Photoshoot 5: Gender: Women's Myths: Work Record

Work Record -

Date: Friday 18th March 2016
Camera: Canon EOS 450D 
Editing Software: Photoshop CC 2014
Settings: F/11, ISO 200, 1/125

Plans For Shoot: The plan for today's photoshoot, after completing the men's inequality shoot, is to photograph a selection of objects that represent the category of the male gender. I will specifically focus on women today and will address one of the myths that often circulates about this gender. 

What I Hope to Achieve: I will attempt to achieve a collection of high quality photographs which I will have attempted to layout in a variety of compositions to draw the viewers eye in.

I also hope that I can create a series of photographs that are inspired mainly by the artistic style of the photographer Phebe Schmidt, whose work links to gender. I will also draw on colour ideas from Ashley Armitage and Juno Calypso. For instance, I would again employ pastel colour background with pastel coloured objects that are either close to each other on the colour wheel or on opposing sides and thus are complimentary.

 Additionally, I also hope that  I can avoid having to use skills involving 'Dodge' and 'Burn' in editing to avoid the print issues that I experience with other photoshoots.

My final wish is to build a series of photographs which are comical and intriguing like Schmidt's work, provides an interesting subject change like Altman's glitter period work and study colours with an in-depth artistic knowledge like Armitage.


What I Actually Achieved: This is my fifth photoshoot and I have been eager to experiment with more colours which is now possible due to the use of make-up in this photoshoot. 

Firstly, I tried a variety of similar compositions until I was satisfied with the overall appearance. Some of the images were supposed to be more chaotic than others but all of this was executed in a restrained manner.

Furthermore, I re-cycled the previous studio set-up used in the men's inequality photoshoot which I finished just before this shoot. I played around with different hues of pinks and made these stand out by using the lights to brighten the colours. This provided me with a Schmidt style response.

Additionally, I was able to again use Photoshop to edit my photographs but I did so using the 'Vibrance' tool and the 'Brightness/ Contrast' tool. This allowed me to adjust the saturation of the colours without altering the beautiful baby blue hue which reflects the works of my inspiration artists Armitage and Schmidt.

When displaying these photographs to an audience they noted the ideas that women are often stereotyped as too concerned with beauty and are also often stereotyped as bad drivers who cannot park.

What I Am Going To Do Next/ Progression: The next step in my photoshoots is the male version of the sub-heading myths. To improve, I shall experiment with composition, 'Hue/ Saturation' and larger subjects.

Least and Favourite Image Evaluation -

Least Favourite:

Favourite:

The reasoning behind the above pictures being my favourite and least favourite are for a multitude of reasons. 

My least favourite is so because the backdrop colour was too pale in comparison to the rest of the series. The composition was okay but the two main subjects of the image were placed too close together and thus did not create the journey that I was hoping for the audience to achieve. Also, the line of nail varnishes as bollards were supposed to be nest whereas they are not completely aligned and look out of place as it is not purposefully posed that way.

The second photograph is my favourite of this small series as the background colour is more vibrant and saturated meaning the colours are bolder and thus more Schmidt-esque in style. Also the objects photographed are more precisely placed and are not too close together. Furthermore, the nail varnishes are aligned in a non-conformist way but this time it was purposefully done to create a crafted chaos. I also believe that the bottom final outcome is more comical due to the use of colour to create a bright, joyful and humorous tone to the piece.

Meaning -

Denotation: Make-up, nail varnish, toy cars, play.

Connotation: In my mind I wanted audiences to understand the connotation that women are stereotypically bad drivers, the idea that in childhood make-up is encouraged upon girls whilst cars are considered 'boys toys'.

Context: I wanted an audience to acknowledge that stereotypes are not always true and that by regurgitating them we are only building up yet more stereotypes. I also want to challenge the gender socialisation process of children and youth and to allow children to express themselves in their way and form their own ideologies about genders rather than being forced into conforming to societies norms and values through primary and secondary socialisation institutes such as peers and the education system.

Photoshoot 4: Gender: Men's Inequality: Work Record

Work Record -

Date: Friday 18th March 2016
Camera: Canon EOS 450D 
Editing Software: Photoshop CC 2014
Settings: F/11, ISO 200, 1/125

Plans For Shoot: The plan for today's photoshoot is to photograph a small range of objects that represent the category of the male gender. I will specifically focus on men and one of the inequalities that their gender faces.

What I Hope to Achieve: I will strive to achieve a series of high quality photographs that I have attempted to construct in a variety of compositions to entice viewer attention.

I would also hope that I create a collection of photographs that are inspired by the artistic style of the photographer Phebe Schmidt, whose work links to ideologies about gender. For instance, I would employ some of Schmidt's stylistic choices in cohesion with my own which includes would result in a use of bold colour backdrops.

 Additionally, I also hope that  I can smooth enhance my skills in editing to avoid issues that appeared in a previous photoshoot with the pink background. I am yet to decide but I may return to the blue pastel backdrop rather than the pink troublesome one.

Finally, my other wish is to create a series of photographs which explicitly appear to display gender possibly even in a stereotypical way but I, implicitly, want my work to show the flaws in following gender stereotypes and labels and provide a platform for change in gender perceptions within society.


What I Actually Achieved: This is my fourth photoshoot and I have been somewhat concerned as I have changed the pattern of my work from using the blue backdrop for women and the pink for men. To reduce Photoshop editing difficulties that arose with the pink I made the conscious decision to change colour backgrounds and thought this may mess with the pattern and fluidity of the practice series. 

First of all, I was not able to try as wide a variety of subject compositions as I had hoped. I did not use rules of composition but instead followed my ideas to suggest either chaos or calm.

Furthermore, I re-created the previous studio set-up from memory in the style of Phebe Schmidt's by returning to the smooth baby blue hue background. Schmidt's work is often on pale pastel hues which I was able to replicate within the college studio when using the blue rather than pink. The lighting for this set-up was much better than the previous shoot as I tested with a light meter throughout when the outside lighting changed.

Additionally, I was able to again use Photoshop to edit the pictures but I did so using only a small collection of tools. I employed the same 'Vibrance' and 'Brightness/ Contrast' tools as used in all previous editing of photoshoots as these are reliable for achieving the desired Schmidt inspired outcome.

When showing this series to an audience they picked up on the ideas that men often have to choose between work life or family life and specifically the paternity/ shared paternity leave issue was raised multiple times.

What I Am Going To Do Next/ Progression: The next photoshoot on my to do list is the next sub-heading which will be myths but first it will be female myths. To improve I will attempt to include ideas around composition.

Least and Favourite Image Evaluation - 

Least Favourite:

Favourite:

The reasoning behind the above pictures being my favourite and least favourite are for a multitude of reasons. 

My least favourite is so because the backdrop, due to the placement of lighting, is brighter and appears almost dodged in the top right corner. Also the composition is disrupted by the placement of the pen which also fails to comply to the stereotypes of colour set by the other objects as it is neither pink nor blue. Additionally, the open folder buckled under the weight of the paper and began folding which deviated from the clean cut lines that I was aiming for in this photoshoot. The misshapen tie also adds to the failures of the first final outcome.

The second photograph , on the other hand, is my favourite of this series as the background colour is extremely bold through both lighting and editing in which I employed techniques of hue and saturation and so on. Also, the folder laying flat creates a more open image with more depth and allows the viewer to look further into the image. The blue folder with clean cut lines diagonally placed juxtaposes both the colour and contours of the doll. This is good in developing the implication of contrast between men having to choose between work and home life specifically relating to paternity leave inequality.

Meaning -

Denotation: Work, babies, children. 

Connotation: The connotation is that males have to choose between a professional/ successful career or being involved in the home environment such as raising children, the paternity leave gap from maternity leave, difficulty and ridicule associated with being a 'househusband'.

Context: I want an audience to understand that women are not the only gender social group who face prejudice within certain institutes specifically the workplace. For instance, over the past couple of years the paterninty leave issue has been debated. If gender equality truly existed then couples, regardless of their family set-up as nuclear, single-parent or same-sex and so on, should be able to divide paternity leave as they wish rather than the maternity leave only being awarded to or forced upon the females.