Frames

While browsing through the internet, I've found an archive of these black and white frames and more importantly it fits perfectly with my lookbook images as it reflects to that particular period. These frames also adds a depth to the frameless images and will make the images more interesting and bring out the aura of the photos more.

Photoshoot

Due to the climate of the last shoot, it was near impossible for the model to wear summer clothes due to the sub zero temperature. With a bit of luck, the day I shot the film was perfect, so it was only obvious that I should shoot the photoshoot in one go.

The brief wanted us to explore 2 medias which can connect with one another. Working within a fashion sphere, I believe is best to match the video piece with a photoshoot that explores the same theme and that theme is the notion of the victorian society, the underground world and the twisted aura that comes with it.

For the photoshoot, I will divide it into two different obvious parts. The first part containing three images would be on the "girl", a transformation picture will be added to separate the two parts, and that picture will be on the line of looking into the mirror (finding one trueself). The second part is on "men", where the character in question is able to wear and act like men in the underground society and all pictures in this part will be dark, twisted and a sense of hiding (staying away form the real world).

Editing Tools

As the sphere of moving image is still really new to me, I have had quite a few difficulties in editing the piece through Final Cut Pro and adding finishing touches with After Effects. The way I solve these problems is mainly through youtube, which I find very useful and an unlikely source. Although there would be more effects I would like to add, but my skills are limited therefore I can only work with what I know or I'm capable to do. Editing is definitely something I wish to experience more and to expand.

Video Screen Shots

Here are some key screenshots of the video piece. Looking at the footage shot, I feel I have a more simple and elegant piece than last. The over complication nature of the previous piece has been stripped away and left with a strong essence within this piece. One of the key frames/elements I've removed are from the last section, which is the "transformation" phrase. I feel it can confuse the viewer too much if I drag it too long. So, what's left is just a still shot of the subject staring out from the piece, as if to say she finally can be herself and also a lot more comfortable to how people view her. This is reference to the Underground world of the Victorian Times, as people feel more at home in this dark/secretive world.

Change of Cameras

The Nikon D90 was my preferred camera last time as it could shoot the video piece in HD, but for some reason the quality of the video is not really up to standard. After a few tweaks in the settings menu, I still couldn't find a solution to the problem. As I recently got myself a Panasonic GF1, I decided to give this ago as it also has a high quality video capture function. After a few test shoots, I do find the GF1's footage is a lot better than the D90 and therefore I'll be using it for this piece.

Storyline

On the last shoot, I felt the storyline was way too complicated and I think the concept that I have should be as simple as possible. Therefore, I have taken away a lot of the "Alice in the Wonderland" elements as I think it made the piece hard to understand. However, some references are left e.g. reading a book under the tree, top hat and of course the expressions of Alice.

PROCESS before assessment

Although I have shot the short piece for this project, but I feel I need to reshoot it for numerous reasons, which have been mentioned in previous posts. And to the other media side, I believe I need to shoot it in a warmer climate, as some of the clothes on the model is not suitable for the winter winds that have been present recently. I also believe I have a good concept to work on, but I need to polish my moving image skills more in order to max out my vision, and create a fine, flowing piece.

Second Media: Lookbook

To follow on the requirements of the brief, we were asked to expand out moving image piece to another medium. Due to the fashion nature of my piece, I've decided to take on the Lookbook format. Which will be taking some stills from the video and also extra shots from a photoshoot in the future, which will have more pieces and looks. I also want to explore into new ways of creating a lookbook, instead of just in print type, this I will need to look at more examples.

Problems: Video Quality

As mentioned before, I have used a DSLR with HD video recording to shoot this piece. However, it seems like the quality isn't too great, as you can see some pixels within it. I have maxed out the settings as I can, for example shooting at 1280x720 and using 1080i quality, but for some reason, it isn't up to standard. Therefore I either have to continue using it, or maybe try a different method to work round this problem. (deliberately blurring the image)

Problems: Wind

Due to the open space, wind is inevitable. However, this problem was only realized when the video is uploaded to the computer, as the small screen on the camera cannot see the tiny shakes it is causing. Although its already on a tripod, but the strong wind still affected the outcome.

Problems: Weather

Although the sun was out, but the temperature was around 3 degrees, therefore it is difficult to shoot it comfortably, as Sharon was shaking all the way through the shoot. Some of the scenes were also cut off earlier than planned because of this issue.

Outfits

Due to the problem of not able to change in the 'wild', therefore I only chose one outfit for each scene. The more 'girly' outfit have a more 'innocent' essence to it, while the 'male' version is a great contrast, which is what I want. Where the girl is moved away from the 'perfect' world, into the Victorian underground society, where she is able to become a man.

Location and model

I chose a nature scene because through my research, I have been fascinated by films which were shot in nature. It creates a calm and innocent atmosphere, which is what I want for the first part of my piece, 'The normal world'.

For model, I've asked my friend Sharon who was interested to the project, so she kindly said yes to the overall shoot.

Trial two: Long distortion

In my second trial, I looked into the long distortion technique, where a photograph is shot line by line. It is quite impossible with the equipment that I've got as it will have to scan the object 15,000 times to create a similar distortion picture. Therefore I opted for digital tools instead.
First, I've picked an image from the Victorian era that links it with my subject. I then created a canvas which is twice the width. To follow that, I cut the original image line by line, some are more stretched than others, and placed them into the canvas.
Here you can see the original image and an image that I have manipulated through photoshop. I really like the final outcome of this experiment, as it creates a strange aura, a feeling which I would like to include in the final piece. The distortion also reflects to a change, a transition through time or even space. This transition effect is key into communicating the change form the real world to the underworld.

Trial one: Composition

Here is a work developed by the first technique mentioned in the previous post. I've shot nine images of myself turning my head from left to right consistently and then layered these shots over each other on photoshop, with a opacity of 20% each. I have to say is quite an interesting take on normal photography, and is also something which I can try out if the subject is walking or in action. However, overall the outcome is not as dramatic as other techniques.