Best Pics from a Re-Shoot of Margate

I wasn't very happy with my final images of Margate, to show how run-down this once great town has become, so i went back for a quick shoot, to recapture what i originally intended, with a clearer idea of exactly what i wanted to take pictures of.

- Abandoned Beach

- Dreamland

- Closed Shops

- Graffiti

Printing; Object 2nd Idea

After carefully looking at my main idea shot, i felt that perhaps i had too much going on within the image, so i decided to print my next favourite shot. I really liked the 'Quality Assured Eng' stamp on the skin of the meat. I feel it is a really controversial image and this stamp part supported my meaning behind this photo.

- 5 second test strip. F16 or 22. 70M / 80Y.

-  Top: 5 seconds. Bottom: 7 seconds.

 I decided that 7 seconds looked best, so i made a full print.
The main focal point, which is bright and striking is the meat and skin. I wanted this part to be 'in your face' and bold, as i think this issue is quite sensitive and one which people generally would not confront or portray.
I feel very strongly about my personal opinion and wanted to broadcast it in my own creative way.

Research; The Naked & The Veiled - The Photographic Nudes of Blumenfield

I really liked some of the images within this book. I found the photos of these women really interesting, due to the variety of effects used, whilst keeping the perception of intimacy and sensuality.

I loved how this image oozed elegance but had strong femininity and sexuality. The strong make-up enhances her natural beauty and gives the impression that she is proud. The way in which her arms and hands are gently draped highlight this idea of elegance. They look very delicate and perfectly poised.

This material that is draped over her body may represent an idea of protection. This white material which looks like the material used for a brides veil, (veil, linking to the title) could imitate the idea of virginity and the unveiling of her body on her wedding night.

This image is very secretive. The strong shadows darken the background and most of her body, making you use your imagination as to what her body may look like. The mid-tones show most of the outline of her figure, giving this dark image shape. The highlights define her curves, bone structure, muscle tone and the smoothness of her skin. The way the background morphs into her body, giving a shadow in the center of her figure, seperating the front and back of her body, makes this image have a kind of abstract view.

The use of a white background, emphasizes the mid-tones of the main subject. - The body. The contrasting shadows of what looks like a mesh or barbed wire of some sort, placed in front of the light, gives an idea that this body needs or wants protection. This effect also gives the body texture and helps illustrate her slender, feminine frame.

This image looks really reserved and secretive. The darkness of this photo makes it quite mysterious as you cannot see her body or face fully. The round circles of light, revealing the outline of her figure, may represent the way in which she has been put under the spotlight. The way her body is positioned, looks as if she is maybe nervous or shy about her body being exposed. The camera position of this shot, is slightly below the central point of the photo, making us look down at her, giving a sense of vulnerability.

Research; Ray K. Metzer

These images have a documentary feel to them. They do not only capture the City itself, but also the people in it going about their daily business.

Considering that the City is normally a very busy place, this image with only one person, gives a mysterious, scary feel to it. This picture could have been created in the very early hours of the morning, due to the darkness of the street and the only light, highlighting the pavement, with long, dark shadows. This could be due to street lamps or perhaps the lights of a car parked somewhere behind him.

 These two images document the busy lifestyles of the people that may live and work in the City. The images give the feel that no-one can stop to pose, there is no spare time on their hands. Everyone just gets on to do what they have to do.
The strong, natural highlights from the sun, shows that this was taken on a bright, summers day. There is hardly any mid-tones. The only ones visible are on the buildings on the right of the image. The rest is strong, contrasting shadows, which give these images character and definition.

This image is quite dark and dingy with only natural light, highlighting the main people in the left foreground.

This may be accentuating the fact that the people of the City brighten it, and make it the busy, upbeat place that it is today. The mid-tones and shadows accentuate the shape and structure of everything within the image.

Research; Women by Women

With this book, i looked into the general view to photographing nudes and how it made the models and photographers feel. - Does it make the model feel different being photographed by another woman? Do the images have a different feel to them? - Being a female photographer, wanting to photograph a female nude myself, i felt that this was important to look into.

This famous, iconic photo of the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe inspired me a lot with the idea of the natural look.

Although Marilyn has lipstick on, it looks as if she could have just woken up or be the after look from being devoured. By being naked in bed makes Marilyn herself and this image ooze sex appeal. Every woman wants to look and feel sexy.

The strong highlights create a halo, or outline around Marilyn, whilst highlighting the creases on the sheet which is delicately draped over her body. The curves and smoothness of her body are also highlighted, such as her arm and the curve of her breast etc.

The mid-tones define the curves of her body, whilst the shadows give the image depth and texture.
The bright light comes in from the left of the image, this could be natural daylight from a window or a single light from one side in a studio.

This image of this pregnant female is beautiful. The pink tones to the image make her face and body glow and look really healthy. The pink tint could also represent that the female may be carrying a baby girl.
The female is looking away from the camera making the image look more natural and unposed. The way in which she holds her arms not only cradles her bump, but they are in the position of cradling a baby to her chest. This may suggest she is longing to meet her child. Her hair and make-up look very natural, just like her being nude. - In the natural form. The white material behind her that she's sitting on is ruffled to give texture. The material and background may be white to represent purity, cleanliness and innocence.

This is a mid-shot of a female perhaps walking from or to a studio set-up, or maybe even walking around her house/bedroom.

The light seems to be perhaps one soft-box lighting from the left angle of the shot, judging by the highlights on her arm, breast, hand and hip. This lighting smooths the skin and draws attention to the curves of her body.

The mid-tones define her curves and the muscles. You can see this by her shoulders and the top of her back, which then directs your gaze down the arch of her back to the curve of her bum. Making you, the viewer take in all of her and this image. Seeing a curvy, sexy woman worthy of being admired.

Her expression looks natural and unaware of the camera, making us an observer of her and also giving a slight voyeuristic approach.

This photo gives the impression that this lady has just got out of the shower. The darkness of her hair makes it look as if it could be wet, the white material that's slightly in view looks like a towel and also, the obvious concept, that she is nude.
Although the darkness of her hair is a huge contrast to the mid-tones which smooth her skin, this image has quite subtle highlights, drawing attention to her shoulder, arm, her lips and face which are all erogenous zones, giving this image a sensual outlook to it.

This image has a voyeuristic feel to it, where the female looks unaware of the camera. Being nude and on her bed, she may have been intimate or is due to be intimate with someone.
A female body is linked to beauty and curves and this position shows most of this. The way her back is strongly arched in a perfect curve into the small of her back, to me was the first focus point. It is also strongly highlighted smoothing her skin and adding to this motion of curvature. Your eyes then gaze to her round, pert breasts which are a sensual part to a females body. The mid-tones highlight the texture of her hair and the muscle definition of her stomach and hips. - Another sensual area. The shadows give the image depth.

Research; Rut Blees Luxemburg

I found these images really interesting. The various angles and sections of different areas of the City, give a mysterious feel to them. I love the warm colours that give a glow that could be from a street light, or natural light of an evening.

This photo above looks as if it could have been taken in an underground, street walkway. 

The way in which you can see both stair handles gives the viewer a decision as to which way to go - Almost  like a film still.The dark shadows give the image a creepy and dirty feel, whereas the different coloured highlights look as if each way leads to different things. For example the yellow highlight looks as if it could lead to daylight outside, whereas the red highlight gives the feel that that stairway leads down to another part underground. 

The use of the colours, red and yellow could even represent heaven and hell. - The idea of going up the stairs to heaven and down to hell. 

The way the focus point is central within the image between the stairs, could reflect the way we are in between. - Where we go depends on our choices.

This image looks as if we are looking down to the ground from a multi-store car park. The way in which the image has been taken, makes you feel as if you are looking at the ground whilst hanging over the edge.
This gives a scarily feel to the image. Almost like a film still from a scary movie.
This looks as if the image was taken with the use of the lights within the car park and the street lights on the ground.
Due to the use of bright colours in the center of the image, this draws your attention in towards the ground, supporting this feel of going over the edge, as if your going to fall.

This photo shows an old, worn building, that is still standing after years of erosion. This yellow glow, gives the impression that this image was taken at night or early evening, with the use of light from street lamps.
This look of erosion gives this building character and mystery as this makes you wonder what it was once used for. This shows the abandoned and untouched part of the City.

Research; Auto Focus

Within this book i found a couple of things that grabbed my attention on the representation of women. Not only pregnant women but women in general.

The article below states about this artist using food within her image to crudely represent different parts of the female, as too many 'images of "woman" bombard us - sexy women, pouty women, rich women, fulfilled women.'

- This image above by Julie Pochron states that women are beautiful and delicious. 

- These images above do not just represent the female and her bump as a sign of beauty and change, they represent the desire to have children with the process and the sensuality of physical contact relationships have.

This image below i loved! I loved the fact this female shows that she's still her own character. Just because she is pregnant, it doesn't change who she is as a person. - Just her figure.

At first i thought the hand gesture was towards the rules and regulations you're apparently meant to follow whilst being pregnant, the 'do's and don'ts', which would link to the cigarette. However after reading the article, i found out that this hand gesture was due to the constant touching of her belly from people without her consent. 

Perhaps the cigarette represents something she does, but has given up temporarily whilst she's pregnant, which would explain why it isn't lit.

The lighting i would say is perhaps daylight from her window on the right hand side of the photo, due to having bold highlights on that side, central mid-tones and shadows on the left. 

Research; Fred Aufray

I was really interested with these images for my own project. Not only are they made in a studio, but they are of pregnant women that still look beautiful as a women, not just because they are carrying a child.
I would like to represent this idea of female beauty and body/life changing experience within my own images.
I also like how these images are quite neutral in tone. The plain background makes you focus entirely on the female and her body. Where the lighting is so soft, it almost looks as if this could be a drawing or painting. - As if this female is a work of art.

This first image grabbed my attention, due to the fact her face was my first focus point, not her bump, which i presumed would be.

This female looks beautiful, confident and sexy. Everything a woman wants to look like, it just so happens that this woman is also carrying a child.

This idea of pregnancy is beautiful in a woman. Her curves are more defined and rounded, her skin glows and looks more healthy and she's making and giving life to another person, whilst still being herself and being her own person.

The way in which she covers herself, framing her bump, prevents any focus being taken away from her face.

This close-up shot focuses entirely on her child-bearing tummy. Her breast that's in view does not seem provocative in any way. It is simply a part of her nude body on show, which will also provide food for her baby. This image embraces the female curves and smoothness and beauty of her body and skin.

The grey mid-tones help smooth her skin and give a flawless, beauty look. The minimal highlights emphasize the curves to her body, whilst the shadows define and preserve her modesty.

This profile view of this female shows her full curves. - The slight view of the arch in her back, her hips, breasts, bump and so on. This profile view almost reflects the 'S' or hourglass figure a female normally has.

This females pose almost represents a flower in the way she is on the floor and her head is facing down. - Just like a flower, her body is growing and changing to have a beautiful result. 

The mid-tones makes her skin look flawless, whilst the shadows and minimal highlights emphasize her curves. (Not only the obvious curves, but even the curves of her skin. - Her collarbone and shoulder, and the natural curve around her ribs/waist onto her stomach in the way she's sitting.

Research; Arthur Leipzig

I came across this book in the library and found Arthur's outlook on the 'City' really interesting.

Instead of photographing the natural surroundings that have hidden meanings such as Mitch Epstein, these set of images from 'Next Stop New York' focuses on every day life in the City and the development and people of this City which makes it what it is today.

This image reveals a slight overview of New York. The main focus is of this huge bridge, which the people use every day and is a great part of their City. The City itself in the background can only partly be seen due to what can be presumed as fog. The way in which the bridge architecture angles down towards the City, almost gives the feel that if you were to swoop down and go to the end of the bridge, you will find and see the City in all its glory. Like a great discovery yet to be unveiled.

The image has a varied tonal range, but it's almost as if the tones are divided. The bridge, being the main focus point, has very contrasting tones with defined detail in the foreground, then as we glaze our eyes towards the background, there is a lot of grey mid-tones to the image, with strong highlights throughout.

The slightly blurred background, which gives the presumption of fog, makes the image feel quite cold. Personally when looking at this image, I felt that this image could have been taken in the winter season in New York, although this feel could just be made by the print. The strong highlights on the bridge in the foreground, for example, could be the glistening of ice.

This Photo is of the working class of the City. - The people who are a great part in making the City what it is.
This simple mid-shot, slightly angled upwards, revealing these workmen getting on with their day to day lives. The stance of the workmen in the shot makes their work seem as if it's not that strenuous. This gives the impression that they're used to it, it's what they do.
The image has a great tonal range. - There is use of a lot of mid-tones with contrasting highlights and shadows. The image is darkest on the left of the image, whereas on the right, the image is quite a light grey with a lot of highlights. This could be due to the sun coming in from this direction and also the colours of the buildings.

This contrasting image shows the grim side to the City. The rain pouring down, giving the image and pavement especially, a lot of texture. Most of the image is full of grey mid-tones. Then with the contrasting, bright highlight coming through the center of the image between the buildings. This could be the sun coming out and starting to brighten the City again, which would also explain the long, dark shadows. The dark, contrasting characters in the image, could be black due to them being unhappy being out in the rain. 

Research; Nude Pregnancy - Magazine Covers

Due to me wanting to have my model as the main focus point, with a plain background in my image, I looked at some old, famous magazine covers. 

Although they are fashion-like poses, they still capture the mother-to-be's beauty and own personality, as well as her baby bump.

This image is by photographer Annie Leibovitz, that graced the August 1991 issue of Vanity Fair, illustrating a famous movie star beautifully bursting with life and proudly flaunting her body.

At this time, this image was an instant culture buster. The audience were full of constipated critics, cranky subscribers and fidgety news stand buyers, who the editors and publishers surely knew would regard a pregnant female body as "grotesque and obscene." Demi Moore's hand bra helped to elegantly frame the focal point of this dramatic symbol at that time of female empowerment. To me, this image is a brave, stunning work of art for that time, which conveyed a message that challenged a restraint society.

Monica Belluci also posed naked for Vanity Fair, in protest against restrictive new laws regarding fertility treatment in Italy.

The actress poses against a tree supporting the idea of 'natural beauty'. The way her hand holds her bump emphasizes the curves of her body along with the arch of her back.

Her arm which is draped across her chest directs the focus point to her bump, which is the main point to the photograph.

This magazine cover is more recent. This image still strongly reflects the mother to be (Christina Aguilera) own personality and style. The make-up and leather jacket is very fashionable, just like herself. Although she is carrying a child, she is still her own person. Christina is presenting that being pregnant is beautiful and by her facial expression and pose, being pregnant can still make a woman sexy and admirable.

The way the light highlights down the center of her body, draws attention to all her curves. For example, the highlight on her neck, reveals her collarbone, the second highlight is on and to the side of her breast, the light then spills onto her bump, emphasizing the roundness and smoothness of her tummy, then the final highlight on her skin is near her hand, highlighting her hip bone. This shows the contrast between how small her hips are in comparison to her bump.

This photograph of Myleen Klass is also very recent. She looks very dominant in the way she holds her posture. Her facial expression expresses that she is honored and proud of what she's achieved. - To be carrying a child. Her skin has a very healthy, peachy glow to it, as does her face. This may be due to the idea of that when a woman is pregnant, she 'blossoms'. The minimalist use of make-up, highlights the idea of the natural form. Also with being nude, not only is it natural but it represents the way we come into the world, as will her baby when the time comes.

The way Myleen is standing, the viewers focus entirely on her bump. Her pose also gives an 'S' shape to her figure, similar to the popular and admirable hourglass shape every woman aims to or wants to have generally.