Seventeen.

John Akehurst

Michael Howells

Both these artists have heavily influenced my ideas for my Gaia project. I love the use of material in Akehursts and the use of colour and gels in Howells images. I have a clear idea of what i want to do for this shoot with the use of gels and materials covering the face and the model looking like some sort of 'creature' underneath. All I need to do know is a test shoot to make sure it will all actually work!!... I will keep you posted :)

Jessica x

Sixteen.

So today I woke up with three parcels in the post! The first being a whip, the second a bondage gag and the last a strap on! And NO these weren't for me, they are for my 'classic fashion' project. By luck they arrived in time for my test shoot today!

Although I had issues with the lighting and still need to correct this, I am very pleased with my out comes...

The idea behind this image is that women in the 30's and 40's (war time) were in the process of becoming powerful women, as before they were seen as very conformed and conservative. The thought of women and sex were not shown publicly as everything was hidden and only for their husband to see. As times were changing I wanted to show a contrast to how they are meant to be seen and what they are hiding. Thus I have used sex toys to demonstrate a naughty/ cheeky side. However, I wanted to steer away from cheeky and sexy poses, so have used a typical fashion jump style pose. I have bought a range of clothing from the local and vintage and charity shops some of which are displayed here. When shooting the final shoot I will have a hair and make up stylist with me in order to emphasize the 30's/40's look fully!

Technically these images aren't good enough, but hopefully in the mid way crit tomorrow the lectures will explain where i'm going wrong and I can correct this!

But overall I am very pleased with this test shoot :)

Jessica x

Fifteen.

Lady Gaga at the Brits

Lady Gaga certainly made an entrance at the Brits last week. With her flamboyant tired gown and towering wig and her amazing lace mask and costume she certainly went all out! Although i'm not a big fan of her music, I can always sit and watch her music videos for hours as the style and set designs are phenomenal <3

Jessica x

Fourteen.

Right enough about other peoples and back to mine!

We have two projects on the go:

The theory of Gaia- This is project is on the theoryof Gaia, a very complex idea, but to put it simply it posits that the organic and inorganic components of the earth have evolved together as a single living, self- regulating system. For this project we have to produce a double page spread and a front cover of a magazine and dedicate it to a style of the magazine of our choice.

Instantly I had an idea for this project, using the elements of the earth for a studio fashion shoot. When in New York we went to the strand (an amazing book shop) and I found this book by an unfamiliar to photographer to me lucas Samaras. I actually wasnt to fond of his images within the book, it was more about his technique and use of gels... and the fact that it was only $9.95 :)

I couldn't find any images within this book on the internet, but this is the front cover and you can get an idea of the use of gels and colours. This gel idea will able me enhance this different elements so for example water- blue, earth- green, fire- red and air- white.

Another photographer that i have been hugely inspired by is Honker Akrawi who uses this ida of colour and movement creating a sort of creature style.

I really like this idea of the elements being and looking like creatures, either coming towards the camera or jumping in the air, intertwining with each other to show the bond that all elements are one.

Classic Fashion- For this project we have to produce 6-8 images that shows classic fashion with a modern day twist. I have racked my brains out with this project as there are so many possibilities but its just about finding the right and best one that expresses the project brief best!

My inital idea was to follow my love of Chanel using black and white in a simple studio set up with modern day clothing. This idea was made on the basis of my portfolio and having a set of image that display basic studio work, but after my tutorial it was evident that this idea didn't fill the brief and if it was to develop as an idea i would have to shoot on location. However, i really wanted to shoot in the studio for this project as on location means more effort of a bigger team, location lighting and waiting for the right weather.

After a weekend of complete desperation, i was writting up my guest speaker evaluation for Phil Toledano when i came across my notes..."I love reality, so always look at whats in front of you", automatically I came up with an idea and had to stop writting my evaluation and start writing down my ideas. Not like me at all my idea consists of 1930's-40's clothing and sex toys!! Women of that era, were always told what to do and how to behave acting as conservative women, but as the IIWW proceeded, women were becoming more powerful. I wanted to show this through the use of sex toys, by displaying something that they were hiding and cheekily showing it off.

I found Photographer Miguel Reverilego on the CLM agency website:

This theme, slightly risk taking and definitely not like any of my other work, but i'm looking forward to it and hope i can portray the image i have in my head in a studio shoot.

Now i've just got to research into outfits, go vintage shopping and buy sex toys, its a hard life ;)

Jessica x

Thirteen.

This post is dedicated to my love of Chanel!

I can't express how much black and white does it for me, EVERYTIME!!! And i don't mean by film (although that gets me too), but i simply mean by clothing! There is something just so beautifully elegant and timeless about the two put together that it quite litrally creates shivers down my spine! Chanel is well know for its use of black and white, creating timeless and classic pieces!! If you haven't all seen Coco Avant Chanel you are definitely missing out, i must have watched it atleast ten times.

Missing out on Fashion Week kills me everytime, but thanks to internet i don't miss out on the shows! The Chanel spring collection at Paris Fashion week looked amazing! Set with a barn style theme with lilly allen popping up out of the floor and singing, the models and collection was truley breath taking!

Jessica x

Twelve.

Whilst in New York we were told the devastating news of Alexander McQueens death.

These are some images from his amazing spring catwalk show at Paris Fashion Week...

Simply Beautiful.

Jessica x

Eleven.

NEW YORK.

What an amazingggg Week, will come back to this post once i have scanned in my images... I have lots to tell you :)

Ten.

Gail Sorronda

Jessica x

Nine.

Julia Hafstrom

I have become OBBSESSED with this model!

Nationality: Swedish
Age: 15
Height: 172 cm
Size: 34
Shoes:38
Bust:78
Waist:61
Hips:82
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Red

http://www.newbloodagency.com/

Julia in the february 2010 issue of teen Vogue- 'Wild At Heart', Photographed by Arthur Elgort

I am in love with her beauty and am in complete shock that shes only 15!!... Look out for her in the runways at London fashion week in...Burberry Prosum, Louise Goldin, Tadashi Shoji, Christopher Kane, Unique TopShop, Jonathan Saunders and many many more.

Jessica x

Eight.

A very busy few weeks has kept me on my feet and away from blogging, but i'm back and here to fill you in :)

Soo..... whey back now, whilst all the stress of the essay was ruining my life...Chris Floyd an English Celebrity Photographer came into uni for a guest lecture. It was highly entertaining, he was a funny and down to earth guy that spoke to us on the same level. With seventeen years of experience in business Chris spoke took us through his journey of how he started out up to his most recent work.

'I like girls'... And this is how Chris came about being a photographer! Being a shy teenager, Chris found it hard to talk to girls and after looking a book on David Bailey, Chris was inspired by photography. Chris used his camera as a way to talk to girls! He said he just 'loves it!'... Ironically Chis said photographing girls only became easier when he was married, as if you've got a ring on your finger, the female you are photographing won't think your just a sleazy old man!

In contrast to our guest lecture from Frederika Helwig that said that her worst person to photograph was Lilly Allen, Chris said that she was one of his favourite and they had a really sucessful shoot. Chris explained "Shes just a girl that doesn't like to be photographed by other girls"

His most recent work was for the sunday times photographing a grime night in London. This was a new way of working and he took over 500 images and spent 2 days editing.

To get into the crowd of this gig Chris used a quantum turbo flash attached to a pole and got his assistant to hold it for him whilst he was taking the photos.

Chris has shot most of his portraiture in about ten minutes for every celebrity, as limited time is given with the busy lifestyle. He gave us a few words of advice:

• Know what your going to be doing technically before hand.
• Make what you can get... drag something out that works.
• Connect with the sitter, but not on a power level... leave you ego at the door and let the sitter have their moment!
• If their not giving anything, show that... silence, makes it awkward and sometimes brings out the best images.
• Light in the front of the eyes always reveals the intensity.
• Know what sells... a neutral non offensive image with a white background, will sell 95% of the time!
• and... JUST GO FOR IT!

I found Chris to be inspirational and will definitely be using his advice to bring out the best in who your working with!

Jessica x