first experimental

Showing distortion with reading. 

Distortion - creating slow motion with still life and slow shutter. The idea between doing high and low key is to see what effects they have. The idea behind doing some distortion by using a slow shutter and careful movement of my head, this was to show how muddled things can become on a daily matter or when it appears more of being someone with Dyslexia. 

Theme - distortion is a very effective technique to do in photography, I found it rather interesting into putting forth in my own work, there was this understanding that sometimes I feel that connection between the distortion and myself. for myself to get that connection, it comes down to how everything I personally see, a lot of simple things become distorted. Words blending together,  for me, its comes to mentality and visual. I see black and white, every detail to black and white, becomes natural to see the tones whereas colour, everything gets lost, there is not split tones to see the detail of the image. 

This project will be visualised in black and white, for editing purpose, I will be mixing both colour with black and white. by doing this I should create that slight distortion into not being able to separate colours. within the experimental side of editing, I am looking at creating a double exposure, this will help guide and create a series of images that show how the effects of Dyslexia can look like.

Reflecting on the shoot can seem like a challenging thing, to make sure every detail is understood and thought out. by experimenting from the shoot, I did friday 20th may, as a trial and error, and using my in camera skill, by producing an experimental image overlay. I saw this technique be really effective, however, although the books became my escape within Dyslexia, it did not quite feel like it showed the deeper parts of how Dyslexia is like on a daily basis.

By using image overlay in my camera and been really selective within choosing the right images, I put together in Photoshop some examples that will help to see how the final outcome will be put together, for me it also helps on what direction I think will portray the strongest emotion and connection 

To help know which direction I wanted to take my final over all images, I created three experimental with double exposure. This was to see what editing techniques would be needed, but also to see whether or not which process could create the strongest connection not just to myself but other viewers. I wanted something that did not give everything away, that they knew what it was about and moved onto something else, I wanted to create something that could show much more then Dyslexia in a self portrait. To get a more clear vision, I put forth my images for peer feedback. 

Peer Feedback

Taking on board to what had been said, I decided to follow the path of the second image, creating a series with words with a self portrait. This has potential to make that connection between myself and my books. following forward with further experimental, i created two similar images, high and low key, this allowed me to see what direction would work strongest to my research.

 I am very pleased with the Peer feedback I had received, this has given me something to work with into producing a strong series for my final outcome. I will take on board to what has been said and keep reflecting back to both feedback and my research into lighting techniques and composition.

Reflection of one self

Refection of one self... 

Following up my research on Vivian Maier, I went out on the high street with my film camera and shot my own reflection through windows of shops but my own reflection was not all I took, for me reading required patience to create the sounds of the words, to make them match but even then it became a struggle, the words blended together or I wrote them backwards, like a reflection of themselves. 

The shop signs I shot on my film camera through a window reflection, all had certain words that I mixed up such as letters like S, Z, B and Ds, these became common into sounds getting mixed up. For me, shooting them in reflection of shop windows shows how I saw letters.

The film was developed successfully however there are improvements to be made, such as Location, being more broader with the windows,  getting a strong reflection so working more to the light and the choice of window. planning more to the weather choice, avoiding the wrong exposure so timing when the cloud part for a clear shot and clear exposure. By seeing this film as an unsuccessful experiment, it has shown that the studio would be my  better choice for further experiment.

reflecting on the film, looking over some of the images that came out, I felt like they were not as strong into portraying what I was aiming for into showing dyslexia to creativity. Although the project experiment shows areas for improvement and the reflected images through windows of myself and signs. I feel like the experiment did not portray the intention of the project. I felt like it would be misunderstood. To make the relevant changes for future projects, I will make further plans into research, weather and location. research into choosing windows that will give different effects that will create the follow theme to the project, such a more framed window, or patterned windows, this could also help to create a more distorted look, rather then just open windows where it might lose the finest detail of the project experimental.

To compare the direction of how my project is going to look, I will be looking into shooting in the studio with slow shutter and still life. I will be shooting with low and high key backgrounds. and attempting into creating a blur movement with sharp focus still life. This will help create a distortion with still having some parts of the images in focus, by doing this type of photography, I will be aiming into producing and inviting people into seeing how it is to be someone with Dyslexia. 

Browsing ideas and research

Mini Project introduction

As a mini project I have set myself a small target practice shoot into branching ideas on how I am visualising my end of year project, I have various mini projects all in planning and seeing which one will fit the project better. 

Creativity has no Limit on how to express Dyslexia or just express feelings. Showing Dyslexia within a self portrait, for me personally, it would help understand myself and how everything is how it seems and not should be hidden. For me, its finding a balance between how creative dyslexia can be and how no one is the same. 

for me Vince Low, who is a Dyslexic Illustrator from Malaysia, reading his own blog has an understanding how been approached by something or someone to reach his own potential by using something that is seen as scribbles yet use it for a campaign in fighting to make Dyslexia more aware.  It helps to find an understanding between my own ability and what boundaries are capable of being overcome. 

Researching into Durer, I find the low lighting and what appears to be done by using a creation of a single light, this draws you more into his expression and the composition itself of how little is being shown yet there is a certain drawn to it, its untitled on what it can make you feel or what connection you might feel as well. everyone could have their own personal opinion to this image.

Studying the image to detail. To create something similar, I would work more into a single light, depending how much light, I would chose into using a snoot or a honeycomb for more even light to the face.

For other techniques in to creating self portrait, there are various ways, reflection through a window, shadow, and even through a mirror reflection, I will be following vivian Maier, looking on reflection as an understanding to myself or signs. For me, reflection is how I visual things, signs are the main things, they show how words can be misspelled, putting the words backwards, using the wrong word, its easily done, this project will show how one individual (myself) lives with Dyslexia. 

Distortion and escaping 

Distortion can be shown in many ways, for example you can create multiple exposures, giving the image a sense of blur, created by movement such as moving the head side to side or moving your hand in front of the face. All this can show emotion or expression.

To visual how it is like to live with Dyslexia this project will allow me to express how distorted things can become, 

Escaping into another world ...

The word of escaping, can mean anything to the individual, escaping pain, memories but it can also give a sense of hope, to ease pain, to fall into another world, for me, the world of books are my escape, they can teach you things to learn daily, imagine, or just live in a book even for a moment.for me, my books became my second world, my escape from anything I wanted, if I was having a bad day, I would hide in them because I got the chance to let my mind wonder into another world, to create my own story, to live as if I was in the story with the characters of the pages. 

As an example, my top four books that allowed me to escape, they taught me more then escaping the world - they taught me to read, acceptance and growing up, they became my friends on pages. having Dyslexia and unable to read, books allowed me to go at me own pace, have my own expectations of who I was. 

Managing and organising

Managing and Organising the project 

projects require manageable timescale and Organising equipment and shoots. By giving myself targets and aims, by following a check list, each task will ticked off and done. by using  check list, I will be able to keep close into managing each task, when shoots will be done and making sure I get out to location shoots if I am planning any but also booking the studio, when I am planning on using the studio and what will be done in the studio. To achieve all the outcomes, I will be evaluating each target and aim and justifying any changes I have made 

• equipment - camera, lens
• lighting equipment 
• location/studio 

Timescale 

For each part of the project, I will be working to a very tight plan on when each shoot is going to be done ... 

One or two shoots per week, either home/location or in the studio 

• booking studio -  hoping to use the studio once a week or a often as I can.
• editing - experimental editing within photoshop, this will allow me to work with what skills i have and skill i can gain along the way. this will also help me when coming to do the final images. 
• blogging - after each shoot, experimental editing, I will blog any achievements including any justification on changes of the shoot if I have to change things to make it work for what I am trying to achieve. 

By following mini deadlines and dates for planned shoots - I will give myself enough time to produce final images and edits. 

Deliverables

planning when each step is going to be taken. start date, end date. Check list will help know what job is done or needs doing. This will help keep to a manageable timescale. 

monitoring progress 

All work will be collected in Sketch book for easy access when producing shoots while blogging all progress along side. Regular updates will be done at the end of each week or sooner, following and adding the correct adjustments, evaluation and keeping close to my project brief. 

Formulating the Final Idea

Formulating final project 

The project I have selected, is to produce the self portrait, (idea three), this project is in comparison of my essay. which is based on Dyslexia to Creativity. By researching into various Artist/Photographers who have Dyslexia but look into dept on how creative it can be to a piece of work. 

Aims and Objectives

My project will be looking into myself as a photographer with the learning difficulty, to understand whether or not Dyslexia is a key element into my own work but by dong this, it will help to accept the difficulty that is part of me, but also share my own story into hoping others will feel brave enough into coming out, and not feeling like it's a weakness but something to be proud of. 

The aim of this project is to allow an understanding and a connection, to show that not everything has a limitation but a more wider visual. i am also trying to show two sides of expectations - to where someone thinks differently of you and expects different of you rather than accept you for you.

I am hoping to support my essay Dyslexia to Creativity. this is about researching on whether Dyslexia is creative and to prove researchers that Dyslexia can be a gift on its own. 

Creative Intentions 

although I am researching into whether Dyslexia is a gift to creativity, my creative intention for this project to express and make the audience aware of the insecurities and the struggle Dyslexia can have to an individual but also show a personal matter into acceptance to myself.

This will be through a self portrait, experimenting into portraying myself with the typography and various compositions and techniques such as levitation.

Legalisation and Ethics 

For any choice of Project, how I portray the idea of Dyslexia to creativity, there are some Legal requirements I would have to be careful of. Out of so many children and adults have a form of Dyslexia, this project is not out to offend anyone but it is aimed at showing my personal struggles  with living with Dyslexia, as long as I take precaution into justifying the project there will be no legal action.   

Costs 

For this project there is little costing  that is required, the cost of anything will be more to the final production such as mounting or frames along with any special requirement to printing paper or buying extra film. 

fit for purpose 

Throughout the project on the experimental side, working within the levitation, I will need work with a stool for the height to the project idea of myself sitting on various words such as sitting on the word Dyslexia. health and Safety will need to be taken into the account in case of any accidents such as a faulty stool leg.

By not Targeting my project to a specific age group will help draw more attention to how make Dyslexia your own style, work with it instead of against against it, I am also hoping to make the target audience think and attempt to understand that just because someone has this learning difficulty, we are not that different from everyone, accepting being different is the way to not be the same. 

To produce a strong overall outcome, I will need to set myself mini deadlines to work with along with planning each action that is required and giving myself enough time to either reshoot or make final adjustments to the image e.g. editing and putting the series together.

Personal targets

Throughout this project, I am hoping to achieve targets by pushing myself into over come any struggles that may rise but I want to achieve this mainly for myself into knowing that there dis no boundaries that can hold me back into showing full potential.

I also want to make  stand against something that personal to my family and myself but also capture the thoughts of the audience and make them appreciate not just the effort of work and ability but also the message in the work. To relies people with Dyslexia are not the enemy.

Throughout this project I am looking at challenging myself further with my studio and photoshop skills and build up an expansion of knowledge into making quicker judgements and not allow myself to hold back. 

If the outcome showed how I visualised this project turning out to where the message was so strong, that people understood what it meant to have Dyslexia, then I would feel like I could take it further and create a wider technique and try a wider range of compositions and even expand to get other people to open up more about their own story - to give people a voice, it starts with one image. 

Peer Feedback results - my chosen idea

Peer Feedback 

To receive peer feedback is positive to help to know what ideas work and don't work, what can make an impact and which way to go. I put my three proposals to the class, this was the important side to presenting the main three ideas explore. when presenting my proposals, although they explored Dyslexia in various ways through portraiture.

Project one - still life combined with self portrait. - showing expression.  
project two - still life - Objects that can influence, this is a personal background into growing up with Dyslexia, how certain objects have influenced and became the escape to know that there are no boundaries.  
Project three - self portrait -  to share a connection and an understanding between myself and the camera. 

I had taken on board to what had been said, with each project idea strong and clear with a level of connection, from the comments that had been made, my second and third project proposal had been the strongest out of the three. by using the comments that I received, the next plan I had to do was come up with a final project outline.

Feedback one - I think your second idea is the most strongest as I felt it will get a lot of positive feedback. maybe think about combining idea 2&3 together. 
Feedback two - I agree, I would be excited to see the final outcome. 
Feedback three - I love the second idea, as it will reveal so much about you and how you overcome obstacles even if you feel separated at times. 
feedback four - I love the idea regarding the words, but wonder if you could combine this into a projection, onto a large B&W print of yourself, with the words appearing in a random order so the viewer has to spend some time at your picture/image and really take in what they are seeing. 

To follow upon further from my feedback from my peers, I looked into more detail and finalised my final project proposal - creating Dyslexia in a self portrait. this can be done in more detail such as using still life or creating distortion images by motion movement with long exposure. 

Final project proposal 

The Project I have chosen to do is the self portrait, project three with experimental in still life by using books. This will allow me to explore various techniques and photographers who have worked within this area. It will also give me allow me to explore other photographic processes, for example - darkroom development and using film within the studio. This will see which direction the final outcome could seen through and gives a strong connection. 

The purpose for this project is to show a connection between what it can be like and what helps through the bad days. To reflect on my feedback, I would research into Self portraits and lighting techniques. such as using either high or low key photography. To help plan, I will research into Durur, Andy Warhol and Vivian Maier but also looking into distortion photography, this can be done by creating blur motion movement through a long exposure, the slower the shutter speed, the more the image is distorted.

To help plan my shoots and equipment, I use my research to be reflective onto getting the right outcome, such as strong lighting, been relative to the composition and use it as a guide line to what I can do into portraying emotion. 

Final Major Project - Project Proposals Three

Project idea Three .... 

My third Project idea is exploring more into a self portrait. This aims to show how to express dyslexia within creativity, to show how someone with dyslexia visualise within the art industry to the individual. To show how we would like to be seen on the outside rather then for who we are.

To help for this project I have looked into the art work of Durer and Vincent Van Gogh, along with photographers such as Vivian Maia and Andy Warhol. This is to understand a connection they have put forth into their own work that I can understand how that having a connection between myself and the camera along with the target audience, will help them understand and connection to the style of work.

 This project will mainly be done in the studio, this is so everything can have a more natural style but controlled to how the set up it produced. this allows me to experiment with both different lighting from a soft box to just a single light, by working against a high key and low key techniques, this will help show a comparison to what might work best and what will be captivating to share something personal and hope to see what draws dyslexia as creative.

Limitations can work in different ways, such as giving
enough time to produce the body of work,
then editing final production,
allowing enough time to put together the series.
if a team is required, working out a schedule. having the correct equipment ..

The cost of this project will be in a budget approximately of a hundred and fifty. This will cover any printing, frames or mounts, including additional costs to make up artist that might be required.

Goals for this project are to show and understand the expression, emotion and how dyslexia required two expectations. this project will allow myself to see who i am in front of the camera. To connect to myself as a person with Dyslexia. To show how we are one person and to be accepted as the person we want to been as, the very person in front of the camera, natural looking and to help people be aware of Dyslexia. To me this project will allow others to see how creative Dyslexia can be when no rules are involved.