Self Appraisals: Body

What is your understanding of issues related to the body?

In society people will always have issues with the way they look and the way they are portrayed to others. It is quite common for a person to want to change an aspect of themselves in order to make themselves more 'acceptable'. However, there is also the issue of how some people are misjudged due to the way they look as they may harbour a completely different being inside them to what is apparent on the outside.

What context would you place your work in?

For this unit I was required to create a portrait of a person in order to represent an element of them. 
My subject had a background involving a career as a college lecturer so I decided to draw on that within my work.
I researched Yousuf Karsh for this project as he has completed numerous portraits of famous, well educated individuals such as Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill.

What were the reasons behind your photographic choices? For instance, how do you think your visual choices translate to your ideas?

We were required to shoot in black and white meaning that composition and positioning would be key to creating a successful image. Due to this I asked my subject to wear a formal suit so as to uphold the look of an educated gentleman. I positioned him standing up with his hands neatly in his pockets to give him the appearance of a college professor. I did not include direct eye contact with the camera in order for the subject to appear as though he was deep in thought and not considering the camera at all.

How have you managed your studies?

I do not feel that I managed my studies perfectly but I do think I managed them effectively so as to produce a satisfactory project.

What aspect of your shoot productions do you need to reflect upon and why?

I feel that I may have liked to try different compositions and positioning with my model and maybe include the use of props for a clearer display of his background.

What has been the most significant challenge on these Units so far? – How can you overcome them in the future?

The most significant challenge on this unit in particular was getting used to the lighting setups and how different positions of the lights and reflectors can produce drastically different outcomes in the final piece.