Kaleidescope edits

In my production schedule I stated that I would edit my images after each shoot to ensure that I stay on top of the material I have. I also proposed that my website would have an interactive aspect to it, therefore I plan to use several GIFs throughout. I decided the GIF process out with this image by putting it into photoshop and moving up and down the hue and saturation scale. I think this image in particular was a good one to start with because it already has lots of different coloured shapes so the colour change it more obvious. When editing the original image I played around with adding more vibrance to each shape but I found that it didn't look realistic and I didn't want the image to look over edited in terms of losing the skin texture. From this particular experiment I realised that I need to practice my photoshop skills for future imagery. I also need to not rely solely on post production because it is more time consuming, so I need to be less sloppy with my make-up application.

I am going to continue to edit more of the images from this photoshoot until I can do my next shoot. I need to make the most of my time as I am aware that it will go very fast.

I found that by using double and triple exposure with the images, that the focus was less about the make-up application and more about the shapes and colours that were in the image. Out of all the images I had done I felt like the ones with the blue hue worked the most, although the colours of the shapes were less visible. I found playing around with these images gave me a better understanding of what sort of things I would like to do with the website. I know that experimenting with ideas is going to be the best way of finding this out. However, I am very aware that I have a tendency to be very last minute, as those are when my best ideas come to mind. I think planning each shoot will be the best of making sure things run smoothly. 

Next step

This week I have planned to progress my project and get the wheels turning on my entire project. I realise that because I have allocated more time to the dissertation that the pace of the FMP needs to be fast in order to catch up with my estimation for this time period. Week commencing 22nd of February I will complete my next shoot to add the triple exposure image. As the image is meant to be layered with textures, colours and emotions that different ends of the spectrum with the word "Imagination". This image will explore the dream like aspect of the word, using the information from the Synaesthesia FB page I have picked the keywords 'colour' 'pastel' 'fluffy' 'soft'. With those words as basis for inspiration I wanted to experiment most with texture and colour so I have decided to play around with rainbow soap foam which I plan to place carefully onto my model in a tasteful manner. The idea is that the model will be immerced in the soap and be encapsulated with the feeling of "Imagination". I will be using the same model in order to keep continuity but also because I plan to triple expose the images so I feel it would be best to use the same person. I want to emphasise how one person could experience the word, there were so many different responses to the word "Imagination" that I want to make sure at least 3 overall responses are acknowledged and explored. I want to make sure the foam is not carelessly placed otherwise it will look clumsy. Therefore I will work with a fashion stylist to make sure the foam is strategically placed. I will also be using the same photographer for the previous shoot for continuity and because he is aware of the concept and where it is heading.

Alice in Wonderland Exhibition

I decided to take a trip to London to visit the Alice in Wonderland pop up exhibition at the British Library. I have always taken an interest in the Lewis Carroll classic as it was something I read as a child. The original illustrations by John Tenniel show the true nature of the character Alice, which is more dark and mysterious, unlike the way Alice is depicted in the later Disney versions. Among the exhibition there were the original diaries and books written by Lewis Carroll filled with notes and stories of Alice. There were also different illustrations by different artists who had interpreted both Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the looking glass. I was surprised to find that among those artists was Salvador Dali. When I had planned the visit to the Alice in Wonderland exhibition I was merely going out of personal interest. But the paintings, which are the one of Dali's rarest collections, are vivid and unusual yet they perfectly encapsulate the dream like state of the Alice in Wonderland stories.

When building the website and choosing the content for the images and films I am unsure of how to develop ideas. I want everything on the website to be relevant to the realm of synaesthesia rather than just do images for the sake of doing images. The Salvador Dali images are a perfect example of an interpretation of story. The technique of melted colours and made up creatures are Dali's exploration of the classic tale. Using this concept I want to apply this to the images I create. So by taking an element of a synaesthetes encounter I will create an image that explores and emphases that. 

I also want to think about it in reverse. So by creating an image concept from scratch and then seeing how a synaesthete would react- What colours, emotions, tastes does the image evoke? Does it call upon memory recall? Do you understand the image? But also applying the same questions to a non synaesthete. So when I create my first few images, create a survey with the images and put it to both groups of people and compare the reactions. I will also think about the comparison in images that are based on people's experiences against the ones I have created myself.

The exhibition really opened my eyes to the possibility of interpretation. How so many artists could interpret one story and how different the illustrations are. I want to create this type of versatility on my website. Moving forward from this point I want to begin exploring the idea of taking the information from the Synaesthesia Facebook page and seeing what I can create from that. 

As you can see from the images, they are extremely abstract and they are open for so much interpretation which is an attribute I admire and one I wish to portray through my website. The colours and shapes are so beautiful and never exact, unlike a lot of art it isn't telling the viewer how to feel, it is just letting the viewer make their own decisions.

The proposal

After submitting the FMP proposal I am feeling relived to have the whole idea into place and a clear plan for the next few months. But I am also aprehensive of the grade I will recieve. I had several tutorials the week of my hand in which Sharon gave me helpful feedback. In the first tutorial I was given a lot of information about what to improve and how to make my tone more academic. This feedback encouraged me to re-read through my proposal and figure out where I was rambling and over-explaining certain things. By the second tutorial Sharon was impressed with the improvements I had made and said that my writing was potentially MA standard. By the time I was ready to submit the proposal I felt happy that I had included all of the relevant information in order to get an overall understanding of the project I intend to undertake. If I were to tweak any areas of the proposal I would liked to have more diverse visuals and maybe done more test shoots of the variety of work that would be featured on the website. As I feel the screen shots of the kaleidoscope projection weren't high quality and aren't necessarily what I would have liked to explain the concept of a Synaesthesia inspired website. However, I feel like I showed good representation of the website through a WIX and Pinterest mock up of the website. 

One element of the proposal I would have liked to expand on was the story by Proust. As it is very much an explanation into how we make memories and personal connections with our senses. And how it feels to recall a sense that it related to a memory. Although it was a good basis for the context of Synaesthesia and how I hope to connect with the audience, I think I will explore the Proust story in a specific area of the website. And maybe include personal connections with different senses. 

Moving forward from the proposal I am looking forward to beginning my project. I am confident that I have enough material through the informatiom gathered from the Synaesthesia Facebook group to begin piecing concepts together in order to plan and design shoots and then the website.

I realise that I have other projects which will require my attention for the next 2 months but I am determined to keep up the development of the proposal until I can give it my full attention.