Pictures of You: March 2012

Friday 30 March 2012

Free Day Friday 30th March 2012 Fashion Constructed Image.Ollie Gapper The dress selection and male model conformation

Friday 30th March 2012 Fashion Constructed Image. The dress selection and male model conformation.

The team had agreed to have a meeting today at uni before the Easter break since we had numerous items to discuss and a deadline to agree our female model 100% so we could purchase her outfit.

Our timetable stated we were in to do a pinhole shoot with Colin all day, but the processors were to be shut off at midday and we either had our finals or needed to shoot in alternate locations. Sacha was the only one had to still get a pinhole image today so she spent a short while working on that. Ian and Amie worked on the casting forms for the new individuals, collating and formatting them for the team. Lucie and I did a bit more casting and as we did we discussed the dress and the input we'd had from fashion. We were soon joined by the rest of the team (well done Sacha for getting the pinhole image so fast!) and then we all had a focused discussion on our direction with regards the female models outfit. We'd all met up on a fashion floor where a student was mocking up a long red dress which was very much in it's formative stages. The steer from our fashion associates (and my own personal direction) was to steer away from the cliche of the overtly nationalistic garment, and we all (as a group) liked the movement and drama that a longer garment could provide. We'd started our pitch with this type of garment (images created by Tom that both JS and SC seemed to really like) but prior to the pitch we'd moved away from that concept slightly before coming back full circle to those dresses. The project is organic and the concepts grow and are shaped by increased knowledge and outside advice or influence (such as our fashion collaborators and tutors)

Imaging that a real female spy would attempt to blend in with western dress codes we all found ourselves inspired by the more glamorous high end more formal/evening wear concept. A lot of time was spent looking at retailers/manufactures/suppliers in China (via e-bay and amazon etc) who could provide such an outfit but we all had concerns about not being able to physically see the garment, and the shipping times were a concern as well. At one point I was ready to purchase something (whilst making an assumption we'd not get it on time and still have to buy an alternate) because we liked the dress so much. We knew our model was soon to become free and was willing to spare us some time so in the end I suggested we go look at some garments in Bluewater and let our model try them on, so that's what we did. Not much point in buying something on-line when you don't know how your model carries various dress designs etc. We split up across two cars and met up again at Bluewater for a serious research/shopping trip. We found a perfect dress within ten minutes of entering Bluewater but as expected it was very expensive, so the shop was asked to hold it for us after we'd explained our project and intentions. We then proceeded to search every shop and every rack that had any glamorous red 60s' inspired or classic timeless looking designs. After visiting every shop we returned to the initial red dress and investigated rental or loaning the garment. With massive rental rates it made more sense to purchase the dress (two days rental rate would suffice to purchase the dress), so now we have our dress!

The final selection for the dress. Here worn by our model in a photograph taken on Sachas phone (we weren't allowed to use cameras to photograph the dress!)

Having sorted this milestone we then discussed how important it was to decide on the male model, who will also need costume and consideration. Using the latest casting list we reviewed what we had. With most of us liking Sam Chick who we had cast and had stated he would sit for us, several people shared concerns about his availability (due to the demands put on his by the nature of his job). Knowing Sam could be called away at short notice we decided to ask someone we'd only cast this morning. It was me that decided to cast him because he wore shirts and jackets frequently and carried the look very well, he always looks dapper and fitted the bill for what we wanted. He was someone from UCA who'd I'd spoken to previously (very briefly), and seems like a really nice and reliable guy to boot. The team wanted someone with presence, so we were all happy to cast Ollie Gapper who was contacted and who agreed to sit for us!

Ollie Gapper cast (and photographed) by myself and confirmed by the group as our male model today

RH profile

LH profile

Thursday 29 March 2012

Day 81 Thursday 29th March 2012 Pinhole Workshop

Thursday 29th March 2012 Pinhole Workshop:

Today was a 09:30 start with Colin to build the Pinhole cameras. Most peoples cameras required a reasonable amount of work, but I'd selected a .50 cal Nato ammo box so mine wasn't too difficult to construct. I simply had to find the center of one side, use a punch to create a dimple. Then open the box and abrade the depression away thus thinning the steel, before Colin measured the focal length and made the pin hole. My focal length was 280mm and my 'F' number was F417. We were introduced to the chart to calculate exposure and once we had light meters and film loaded we went about testing the cameras. The light-meter was set to an ISO reading of ISO 5 (the average speed of photographic paper)

Team one members making their pinhole cameras

My Ammo box

German WWII bomb that i'd decided to photograph after my initial test shot

LH side is my second 'negative', middle is my first print (10 seconds), RH side is my final image from the day (25 seconds)

Decided to tidy the box up when I got home, removed some of the rust and gave it a coat of paint.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Free Day Thursday 28th March 2012 Fashion Constructed Image Casting Task

Thursday 28th March 2012 Fashion Constructed Image Casting task;

This morning I popped into Dartford to explore a local junk shop for any 1960's items and especially a small table the group still wants. The plan was to do this then head to Rochester to meet Ian and Lucie to take them to UCA Maidstone to do more casting for this weeks casting task. Whilst in the shop Sacha called to say that she and Amie had acquired a table so I mentioned the days plan and they decided to join us. I advised Ian of my departure and arranged to meet up outside the Uni and offered everyone a lift. Upon arrival at Maidstone UCA we meet with a friend and Maidstone fellow UCA student (and student ambassador, Jenna Williams). With some assistance from Jenna we navigated the uni and located numerous people who we were able to cast, both male and female. Some quite diverse, one for example being a caretaker but the majority being students. With Maidstone's UCA being less busy than Rochester we worked our way into Maidstone itself but soon decided that returning to Rochester would provide the best opportunities to cast more people. So I returned to the uni and collected the car before picking up the team and returning to Rochester to explore the lower levels. Here in the bowels of the uni we found more individuals including one UCA technician (whom with the permission of his boss) allowed us to take his details and photograph to add to the list. We did have several refusals at both locations as you would expect but we stuck with the task and have increased our casting list due to this. It was nice that we managed to progress (but not yet fully complete) this task as a team, and it's always interesting to go to new places and meet new people!

Team one just before we started casting at UCA Maidstone (sorry for the unflattering picture guys!)

Potential model/back-up approached by myself at Maidstone, image taken by Ian Wisbey

Potential model/back-up approached by myself at Maidstone, image taken by Ian Wisbey (or Lucie? Correct me if I'm wrong guys)

After 8 weeks, Casting is at a formative stage and must as a matter of urgency be addressed. It is vital that teams are very proactive in coming days to find numerous models from which to chose from who are applicable to their shots.

If teams are shooting specific clothing (dresses / lingerie) , a test should be made at the earliest opportunity. It is essential that everyone contributes to resolving the issue, not just your team’s casting lead.

CASTING TASK: Using the attached pdf/Indesign file, each team member is asked to submit 4 new models to support this vital process. If you wish feedback please email to jsimms@ucreative.ac.uk

Deadline: 30th March, 4.30pm

When undertaking the casting, ensure that the photographs are:
Naturally lit images where the team can see the models bone structure.
Include a FRONT FACING & PROFILE headshot.
The model’s face should be RELAXED no smile, no pout!
Keep hair as natural as possible, but make sure it is not obscuring the cheeks.
DO-NOT use make-up, sunglasses or hats etc.
In a side profile show the jawline, hair needs to be kept away from the face.
Photo’s need to be in COLOUR with no computer effects or re-touching.
A BODY SHOT, full length, is necessary. Avoid wearing baggy clothes and simply stand up straight with the shoulders back. As and where at all possible, dress your models in clothes directly appropriate to your concep

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Day 80 Tuesday 27th March 2012 Scenic Fashion Constructed Image Design Workshop

Tuesday 27th March 2012 Scenic Design Workshop

Lining paper going on the flat

Lining paper application

Brink wall (paper) from Next

Testing effect when placed in the foreground

Flat

Flat/Door sketch

Window. We'll be shooting through the larger aperture

Just some background about UPVC windows that means we'll need to paint ours to make it look like wood(or at least make it look less like shiny PVC) I suspect, as white double glazed UPVC windows wouldn't have existed until the mid 70's.

The Development of PVC-U Systems
PVC-U systems were introduced into the UK from Germany in the late 70s to early 80s and became extremely popular during the 80s. The German profiles were designed for tilt/turn windows and tended to be bulkier than the timber profiles of the casement windows they replaced. However, as the market developed, slimmer profiles specifically for UK style windows were produced which closely emulated existing windows and gave improved performance.

In recent years advances in extrusion technology has enabled even closer matching of windows with shaped and sculpted beads, horns on sliding sashes, etc. In addition, special foils can be laminated on to the surfaces of profiles to give a range of colours and finishes. Long-lasting surface coatings have also been developed to give a wide range of colours

http://www.bpf.co.uk/Windows/History/Default.aspx

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5723427_paint-pvc-vinyl.html (how to paint UPVC windows)

Replacement windows can increase resale value and energy efficiency. Several types of typical windows are listed and discussed here.Wood windows were used from the early 1900s to the present but became less of a mainstay of the industry in the 1960s. They are prevalent in the Northern United States. Steel and aluminum casements and Steel Vertical Operators were used from the 1950s through the 1960s. Aluminum windows were used in the 1960s through the present. Vinyl (UPVC is also known as Vinyl mw) windows were established in the 1970s through the present. The last decade has also seen the admission of composite materials such as fiberglass and vinyl-wood-polymer type products. source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replacement_window
We had a chat about some of our goals and set a few actions. Ian is to look at Google sketch and see how the window we (Sascha and Amie) have acquired might work compared to the initial tests we've made. We are all looking at garments and discussing those, and we intend of catching up with the options tomorrow (as we all have to complete more casting). I hope to take Ian and Lucie somewhere that we can do some serious casting! I'm going to look at the timetable and see when we can all get together and finalise the costume/fashion/hair and make-up issues.

We've been looking at: