Overall…

Out of three images I put forward to show in the Free Range gallery only one of my designs got chosen. My tutors loved the peacock design and even considered the image as the main poster for the advertisement.

I would have loved my designs to be used in the gallery as a set, as I feel all of them together highlight’s the themes and atmosphere I was aiming to create, but they all work just as good as an individual design.

There is a lot more work to be put into this gallery such as framing, painting, travelling and setting up. All this hard work will pay off as this has given us the chance to design and manage our own design, branding, advertisements. This has given us all amazing experience and the chance to be noticed in the future.

From Free Range I have gained general experience but I can feel when I travel up to London and build the gallery I will thrive around the gallery industry and want more. I hope a magazine editor will notice my work, as that is my dream to get into that industry.

This design wasn’t planned at all; I use the studio for a lot for this genre in photography. The plan for this photo-shoot was suppose to be for personal use only but the outcome was so strong I decided to take advantage and use it for this project.

Looking at the pose of the model I needed a certain feature that would wrap around the models body, I thought this could only work with flowers. I tried using various types of flowers but the designs just didn’t feel right. I thought Ivy would be a perfect match with the models pose, dark colours and dramatic shades.

As this design wasn’t planned, I had to get an image from Google of Ivy to edit. This was extremely time friendly. Wrapping the ivy around my model was straightforward.

My aim was to create an eerie atmosphere, I succeeded in this by using a darker skinned model, dark material in the mind, dark Ivy wrapping around the model and sharp lighting. This design was not cost or time consuming.

Looking at the overall design I feel very content. I see all my aims fulfilled; I see a sexy pose from my model, a dramatic choice of certain colours and shades and beautiful choice of light in certain areas.

I enjoyed designing this image, as it was a last minute design I feel proud I came up with a design so fast and I succeeded in a strong image in the outcome.

From the beginning of designing for this project I knew I wanted to work with a maternity shot, as I have never used pregnancy in any of my work before. I took my chance when I found perfect timing between my close friend and this certain project.

I became obsessed with adding features to my favourite genre in photography (portrayal of the female form) when I first went to a photography trade show back in 07. I noticed a small print lying on the floor as an example of the latest glossy paper. I was more interested in the fine details of this nude lady with wild hair with carefully attached dragonfly wings. I never took the image, I never new the photographer and I never seen the image again, but it has always stuck in my mind. This is the feeling I want other people to have on my work as I did to that image.

My aim was to add dragonfly wings from the start, but I had no idea how I would do it. So I left that fine detail to the end until I had my perfect maternity portrait to work with.

The photo-shoot went well, I was over the moon when the model didn’t mind using just the material to cover her. The model was easy to direct and the editing process flew by.

As I researched dragonfly wings I became to wonder if they had to look real…why do they?? Getting dragonfly wings in and photo-shooting them my self became impossible, so I decided to screen grab the wings from Google images for me to change colour, sizes and add as much as I wanted.

I found that natural wings are dark and they wouldn’t work with me using a black background so I decided to take a chance and work with the animation look. Bringing different sized, colours and adding lens flares in the editing stage was extremely risky but fun. I did I technique I found is extremely useful by leaving the image for a day or say and then coming back to it with an open mind and a refreshed view. After I did this I still thought the animation look works with this design, therefore I knew this was right.

Looking at the overall design I feel very content. I see all my aims fulfilled; I see a stunning maternity shot, a soft contrast and a flare of colour.

I feel this design is striking. If I were to do this again I would have tried harder to loose the material and had specially made wings. I should have had a bigger budget.

This design was not cost or time consuming.

This design basically came together on the day of the photoshoot. I put a rough sketch together and I knew what props I had to work with.

My main love is for creating works of art that involves the portrayal of a female nude body in an abstract way. I have enjoyed designing many images in this genre but I thought it was time to expand my creative flow. I had an idea to just work with adding minor extras such as feathers, masks or flowers. This then gives me the opportunity to focus on the portray and detail of the female form.

I can honestly say I can’t remember what gave me the influence to use peacock feathers. I feel that peacocks are so powerful and full of pride it would have been a shame if I never portrayed this in my genre of work.

This design wasn’t cost consuming, as I got beautiful large peacock feathers cheap and I already had the material and the other mask.

The photoshoot went really well and only took 20minutes. I just gave the model the brief “pride and powerful” and she worked it very well. I knew the position and pose I wanted. At the beginning I was worried I didn’t give myself very much choice in poses, but I need to trust myself. I knew what I wanted and I got it.

Choosing to shoot the model and the feathers separately was the best decision I made in this design. This gave me the control and choice of sizes and contrasts.

The editing stage didn’t take long. I knew I wanted a dark image with light only on certain places and I feel I achieved this.

Looking at the overall design I feel very content. I see all my aims fulfilled; I see a stunning model striking a powerful pose, beautiful colours in the feathers and dramatic shadows. This image is one of my strongest.

This design was not cost or time consuming.

Aim.

· Portrait

· Female models

· 6 max images

· Photography based work with illustrator features. (elf ears.)

· Simple yet effective

Chosen Fantasy Features.

When i state “fantasy” this doesn’t mean Disney or putting my models in a small gingerbread house. I just want to add a little something to my work.

· Elf ears

·

This will all make sense later on.

Dragonfly wings

· Scales

· Ice queen- with head dress

· Peacock- holding mask

· Organised props and clothing. · Remote shutter release · Laptop

· 5D · 24- 105mm lens · 40D (to take photos of me working.) · (18-84mm lens) · Tripod

Equipment.

· Black backdrop

· White backdrop

· Studio

· Studio lighting

· Wind machine

Clothing.

My aim is to use viol material (colour order to the design) where the girls don’t feel comfortable showing. This still will give a powerful atmosphere. The fantasy features will be added after in the editing process.

Stylist.

I will be the stylist, makeup and hair stylist for all designs. When it comes to the photoshoot i feel it is easier if i style the shoot. As i know what i want, i can get the model more comfortable in the environment and less crowded. My designs have simple styles such as plan makeup and head dresses that will be hand made way before the photoshoot. I feel very confidant in my decision.

Props. (These will be the main props that i will be using, but i have a feeling i will be adding more on the important list)

· Peacock mask

· Peacock feather tail

· Viol material- various colours

· Large White feathered mask

· Wooden log

· Glitter

· Sticky type

· Clear string (to pin up material)

· Remote shutter release

Cost... (i have a feeling over time i ill be added to this list.)

Peacock feathers- wooden log-

Feathers- stage makeup-

Peacock mask- remote shutter release-

Ice queen mask- added touches-

Viol material-

Schedule...

Blog- on going

File- on going

Photoshoots- in the first 6 weeks

Editing- 2 weeks

Printing- 1 week

Artist Statement

Sophie Barley

Photographer

Since Sophie Barley began as a photographer she has explored many different genres of the art form. Her current portfolio contains various pieces of work from all photographic aspects including documentary, wedding and portrait photography. She revels in the different environments that each genre creates.

Although Sophie enjoys producing all forms of photography, her main love is for creating works of art that involve the portrayal of a nude body in an abstract way. Her fascination with the female form has allowed Sophie to develop her own photographic style in which she can express her personal view of beauty through the camera lens.

Sophie Barley credits her love of photography to the fashion and still life photographer Nick Knight. It he that has inspired so many of her personal projects and it is he that she believes has taught her not to be afraid of expression and nudism. Sophie also tributes her love of the female form itself to a local sculptor and artist Julian Cox. It is his appreciation for the female body from an art perspective rather than a sexual viewpoint that inspires great amounts of respect for him within Sophie’s thoughts.

Sophie has experimented over time with many different angles and views to try and capture a female form in its most beautiful light. She shies away from the cliché of women in typical pornographic style photographs and strives to create her own idea of beauty to convey to the world.

Minimalist lighting is the best type to accentuate the female form; Sophie feels lighting can be over used and sometimes can take attention away from the subject. By using minimal lighting in specific places Sophie feels that it controls the reality of the female form in a beautiful way.

Props are used within her images to ensure that the photographs fall within the fine art genre rather than the erotic category.

the FMP starts...

Final Major Project.

by Sophie Barley

For this Final Major Project we can make our own brief. Therefore I will be creating a series of images that involve the portrayal of the female nude body in an abstract way.

My fascination with the female form has allowed myself to develop my own photographic style in which I can express my personal view of beauty through the camera lens. I have experimented over time with many different angles and views to try and capture a female form in its most beautiful light. I shy away from the cliché of women in typical pornographic style photographs and I strive to create my own idea of beauty to convey to the world.

I personally achieved and enjoyed so much in my last project that I want to carry on with this genre but add a twist. This twist will allow me to expand my techniques and imagination to a level of personal achievement and future success.

This project will be a series of designs but not yet known how many until the final outcome. My schedule includes designing and shooting a range of images so if I decide not to use certain ones I can always use them for my portfolio.

The twist to my designs will be minor but stunning such as peacock feathers or dragonfly wings. I feel this idea will be eye-catching and suitable for my future pathway as a portrait photographer. Each design will look stunning solo or in a series.

The location for all my designs will be the studio. All with similar dramatic lighting with shadows. The main props will be the fan machine, the added twist (peacock feathers) and the viol material.

I will be using a canon 5D with 24-105mm lens and a tripod. I will be using my 8GB memory card so i can go home from the studio straight away. I will also bring my own 40D for just in case purposes and to take photos of me working for my file.