Development : Edited photography images and projector test

Looking over what photography I had already achieved decided to try editing some of the photo graphs from the projector photo shoot. They have been cropped and made more abstract a lot like the first photography experiments in the woods with my arms which is here. Other effects have been added as well such as some contrast and brightness but not a lot since the images are so busy and defined with the background shadow and body.

I've also did quite bold photo manipulations with the autumn pictures and the projection pictures by bringing them straight across each other. To create a miss match of images of the body and the trees them selves. I guess this is what the type of flap book's I would like to create will look a lot like but perhaps more simple images. The images had to be scaled and stretched to a degree to make them match up with their outlines which I think has been quite successful.

Will try to make more of these types of images possibly even drawing them and using the original tree images from the first projection session. As for my final piece I may not have to use footage but instead images with opposing sounds on top but we shall see.

I also did some tests with a home projector to try to see if we could get rid of the shadow outline of my form on the projected images. It seems their is a way to do it by placing the camera on top of the projector or making it parallel with the projected image seems to make the appearance of the shadow very little. Also If the projector might be a certain distance or height from my form it seems to help with this as well.

I'll be getting back into the studio again tomorrow to try this method out with more images and try out some of the new body movements I have considered thanks to looking at film and choreography. This new session has been delayed sadly due to tutorial classes in the same space, availability of help which I don't blame because everyone is busy and sadly my depression. I feel a little more hopeful that tomorrows new photo session should go well after my elective module class.

Development : Sketchbook progress and Photo manipulations with limbs

It's been a while since I've posted much on this project blog but it's because I've been busy doing work for the project. Had a month long illness which didn't help much and slowed me down for a little while. But I have been documenting everything a long the way as well but not had much chance to do some blog posts.

The Critique we had on the 8/10/13 I felt went very well and that I seem to going in the right direction with my project. Theirs been so many ideas and media experiments I would like to try it's just been a case of trying them out and seeing which is more successful.

Went back and did some more flower and leave experiments for my development sketchbook. So far the petals have retained their colour so it seems using the microwave has been successful in preserving materials. 

 I have began a development sketchbook so that I can organise my thoughts and ideas a lot more constructively. I enjoy doing sketchbooks because their like self made reference for my project and to have at hand at any time and help my thought process.

I have printed out the most appealing tree photography that was done from previous blog posts and seeing the results printed on photo paper is very positive. It's helped be able to structure the sketchbook and show what I'm trying to portray visually with this project. I've also included planning and my storyboards about composition and how I'm combining the images of the branches and my limbs. As well as some more surreal illustrations of anthropomorphic trees and the human figure.

The reason's behind these sketches relates back to childhood imagery of trees and beings that may live in forests and could be in fairy tales and myths. I would like to explore these drawings further with different media and introduce colour.

Eventually I would like to create maybe one or a couple of simple picture books that have different body parts and tree parts on flaps that the viewer could mix and match together. Probably with the illustrations above or with the photography. But make them in a contemporary sense for this project but with the influence of childhood. Like the example below.

I've also been adding a lot more to my research sketchbook.

As a experiment I tried out some different manipulations using Photoshop to see how my arms and tree branches would look added together or brought in on their own to the environment. I cropped out some of the images of my arms and added them to tree's to create branches.

Texture and the light and contrasts have been tried out as well as the compositions of the arms on the branches to the desired effect. I feel it has worked quite successfully and would like to continue trying some more of these out. The arms ended up being quite subtle in the images them selves and some times not noticeable which was a interesting outcome and these images could be possible prints for display.

I've also been discussing the notion of recording footage and sound of trees and in forests and recording my arms and body. I have been recording some footage but will have to look at it more closely and see how successful they will be. Ideally would like to try contrasting or overlaying footage of branches and limbs but with opposing sounds of trees blowing in the wind or creaking but with footage of limbs and body and vice versa.

I'm also going to be doing a photo shoot shortly and projecting the tree images on to my body and seeing if this will be successful or not as well as recording some footage. Will continue with sketchbooks on the side as well and began to think about final pieces for assessment.