How images reflect can reflect a photographers state of mind

If you don’t know what is wrong with you, how do you know how to fix it? For me, actually being diagnosed with Anxiety and Panic Disorder came as a relief! It meant that I wasn't imagining the awful symptoms I’d been experiencing.

Panic disorder

If you experience panic attacks that seem completely unpredictable and you can’t identify what triggers them, you might be given a diagnosis of panic disorder.

Experiencing panic disorder can mean that you feel constantly afraid of having another panic attack, to the point that this fear itself can trigger your panic attacks.

Never knowing when I was going to get a panic attack was the worst feeling in the world.

This is a personal post that reflects on how a photographer state of mine can subconsciously have an effect on the work you produce.For example i think  that the work i produce is a reflective on the way i process thoughts and self trauma.Suffering from anxiety i think is a common factor in the majority of people that in the sense everyone experiences it at some point.Yet more with people who have a creative nature like my self.I believe this is reflected in my current series of images using Polaroids in which all the subject matters that have taken place are unidentifiable and have the theme of distorted and isolation.I think this links in with the feeling of anxiety.

 http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/anxiety-disorders/#.VVX8CvlVhBc

Analysis of continuing work

         The way i structure and use composition is important in my images because shooting the structure and body language of the subject matter is important,the space that divides the subject from the foreground is used correctly .Prime example  is the two above images of my own work.The above image i personally think that the composition is used wisely with barely no background making the subject matter both foreground and background and nothing that diverts the attention of the viewer.

Continuing pattern

There is evidently a continuing pattern that has filtered through from my minor project into my major and has similarities that are evidently seen.The difference between the desired is that context of colour , being i used black and white medium format using studio lighting for my minor.Moving on to major i began to experiment with using Polaroid film which is colour .I thinks the image shows a subconscious cycle of how my thoughts are processed.

Primary research

    This another image i first shot for my major work with digital which again reflects on past work i       have created using film for my minor.

Defining the lines between porn and fine art photography

Its more often than not asked whether nudity images in  fine art photography are considered of a pornographic nature.This post will consist of my views on why i feel like these two genres are very much worlds apart in terms of how you view the image and its composition and how you portray the model and meaning behind the photograph.Above are two images taken from Terry Richardson  book Terry's world,They consist of a vast about of explicit images in a explicit manner. While interesting to look at from a photography aspect, defining the meaning of what category this actually filters into , for me i feel is easier to categorize.The two images below are from the current series of images I've shot with Polaroid which also display nudity but in a manner which is more of a fine art aspect.Its obvious statement to make that the thing they both have in common is nudity but the way a photographer shoots and frames an image.The structure of whats been shown and how the photographer proposes to show the model structure and body frame with pose.Reasons why i think they are considerably different is sense that i think Terry  Richardson objectifies his subject in and explicit manner with the view  to be seen as a arousing and pleasing image.Using intense light to highlight the subject matter in a prerogative manner where as i think my images are fine art images with a combined fashion element with the thought process being to explore the subject it a more delicate manner and  emphasis bone structure and body form rather than sexual preference .

continuing sequence

My experimentation with Polaroid continued took a new level with positive outcomes  and it can be seen with the images displayed in this post above .What should be noted with this experimentation is that they where created with the knowledge to expect the unexpected. Each Polaroid came out differently making them small collected yet diverse images.The one thing that is a strong focal point in these images is the red tone that blends through the images giving it contrasting look .

Comparisons and influential input

     Guy Bourdin - Phaidon



Your creative success is always subconsciously or consciously  influenced by one or artists.In this case one of my influences when creating the top image contact, was Guy Bourdin  who i recently discussed in a previous posts .The nature of his images fit perfectly into the series of images i'm creating .There are many similarities that resemble traits in Bourdin work from my own like the above top image yet displayed in my own personal style. Both images use legs as a subject matter and main focal point,with the rest of the photo content  irrelevant.Unlike guy Bourdin the surroundings in my image stay very neutral in terms of the colour tones that a displayed which are consistent with the focal point being the legs.This could have effectively blended the focal point of the image with the background.The use of flash changes this and create a silhouette shadowing outlines the legs and lights some of a section of the background to the give focal point great quality and emphasis.In doing this it then re links back to the photographers above image in how he creates extravagant block colours to give contrast and emphasis to the main viewing point.

comaparing primary research with use of film and digital

The above images are of similar content yet the top was taken using digital while the bottom photo was produced using Polaroid film.Although of a similar format the two images demonstrate that they couldn't be more divergent from one another. Experimenting this way when documentation my work gave me the ability to see the different qualities each possessed .Also which of the two worked better in relation with the series of images i plan to produce.

I personally feel that the Polaroid film gave a better outcome than the digital in terms of lighting and composition. The subject matter in the Polaroid is being made clear that this is objective matter ,with its central placement with little background to be displayed.Where as the digital image has a very different layout with more space in the foreground that the subject matter which in this particular case does not work well , even though the subject matter is evidently clear i feel is drowned out by the  the white background.The lighting in the Polaroid is desirably better with is softened edges display more of a subtle image.

Photographing a body structure

Trying to shoot intimate detailed images in a non studio environment , without harsh studio lighting .I felt like it was unaesthetically  pleasing using natural lighting  and shooting from a wider angle .But the above work well using only natural lighting at a close range,which then interlinks with past work in my minor project.The image has a conceptual content and make you question the photograph further and what the image consists off.This led me to research work of Guy Bourdin ,although his work could be considered  of a different nature to the above they have the element of impenetrable obscurity that leave the audience questioning the content .Below is an example of just this and image by the artist that holds and obscure value.

Book : Guy Bourdin - Phaidon