T H E P R I N T

My test print has arrived, although the delivery time was 7-10 days it arrived within 6 which is helpful leaving me even more time to alter and tweak everything. Please see below for images of my test print. 

I am pleased with most of my test print, the quality was my main concern and this has proved to be fine and I am actually pleased with this. Something that was a problem was a few of the images did print slightly darker than I had hoped, I will need to lighten them slightly. The small piece of text I printed was too big so I will need to take the size of text into account when I am putting together the final layout. The foam clay image didn't print very well I felt it doesn't seem very powerful as an image and I will re-think using this. The overall print I am happy with, I am pleased with the cover I have chosen, I love the contrasting textures. The test print cost £36 including £12 delivery costs.   

I have roughly a week and a half until I need to send off for my final print.

T E S T P R I N T

I am at the stage where I am putting my test print together. The reason I am getting a small test print done is to check colour, tone, quality of image and layout. I have been putting my test print together and found it hard getting a real feel for what the book will look like printed. Something I am slightly concerned about is the quality my images will print, the reason for this is Blurb.com only accept Jpeg files and so I need to make sure they don't look at all pixelated.

Here is a screen shot of my book so far ready for test print, I like the white space around the images as you instantly are drawn to the image keeping everything simple yet effective. I am still working on the text that will go with each image so I am just going to place a short piece of text on a few images so that I am able to get an idea of layout and size of text. 

L A Y O U T

I have been looking at books that have a similar style to how I wish for my book to look. Clean and simplistic design is important and keeps focus on the image itself without the book layout distracting attention. My book will be spacious and airy with few words as my images speak for themselves. My book will be landscape and will be a hardback book with a simple dust jacket. The images below are a few I found that have a similar layout to how I will be putting mine together.

B L U R B

Originally looking at printing with Mimeo.co.uk I have done research and am now printing with Blurb.com. Blurb are a big company and after reading reviews and interacting through email with the company it was clear they were able to print to the standard I was looking for as well as this I am able to put the book together using an app called Booksmart which makes the process slightly easier and means I can not compromise on quality.

 I have selected my 12 final images, I feel happy I have 12 final images, as I originally thought I would only have around 8. With hard work and determination I have been able to create 12 images.  The images below are ready to be put into my book, I have shown all 12 images during a tutorial, the feedback was very positive. A few minor issues were picked up, images 10 (textured foil) needed to be darkened around the eye and mouth area to make clearer it is a face and also the order the images are in is not great so I do need to work on both of these points today so I am able to start putting my book together. 

My next step will be a test print, I feel this is important as I need to check the quality, colour and size of the images.

I M A G E S E L E C T I O N

I have completed all my shoots including any re-shooting I needed to do and am now at the stage of choosing my final images to be used in my book. I have created roughly 13 different adorned shoots, however I feel 12 of them are strong and of good quality but 1 of them aren't as strong and don't fit the idea of adorning the body. Please see below for a few images of a shoot I will not be including in my final outcome as it isn't a strong concept and I don't want to compromised on the quality of my book overall.

The idea behind these images was to create the look of an extended hand, this is why I have blended the nails in the the skin, I don't feel this has worked and I don't feel it shows this. I am glad I experimented with this idea as without trying I wouldn't have know this.

F R O N T C O V E R T R I A L S

Its about time I start putting together my book as it won't be long before my images are completed and I will be ready to print. I have chosen the title 'Adornment' keeping its theme clear, concise, and enticing. Its it is also intended that the title does not reveal too much as I want the reader to be intriged and create a desire to look further into my project. 

These are some initial ideas and experiments I have created using my images and a simple text called Eurostile. I like the simplicity of the text and have used the same size throughout all experiments, I think this size is eye catching and legible but without overpowering the image, the colour also compliments the ice blue tones, one of the images needed a deeper coloured text to stand out from the image, I don't feel this will work well on any other trials however does compliment that one. I particularly like the contrast in the second image with the textured foil, I feel this highly textured image contrasts against the smooth background and clean text, I like how this works and the image is enticing and creates intrigue.  

S T R I N G & W I R E

Previously I did do a test shoot that used string to manipulate the shape of the face, however in my test shoot the makeup was unsuitable for a futuristic theme. I did really like the overall concept of the string shots so I decided to re-shoot with more appropriate lighting and makeup.

I have included a few images that haven't been retouched (right) that show the string and the effect it created and then a few unedited images that show the imprint the string left on the skin when removed. I love the last image where the model is looking at the camera, however I don't feel the imprint from the 

string is powerful enough as an image.

Please see below for my final image, edited.

Photographer, concept and MUA:

Lauren Banner

Assistant:

Allie Meek

W I R E 

Wire has been a material I knew would play an important part to this project, this being the material, texture and colour all relates well to my innovative theme. From my previous shoot with string I felt it engorged the features but the skin did not bulge over the string. Wire being a harder material is a good material to cause the skin to bulge through the gaps, My thoughts initially were to wrap wire closely around the neck however I have created a number of images that focus on the neck and also this could cause a health and safety issue. I wrapped the wire tightly around the arms and photographed as the skin swelled. My model was very patient and willing although did say during the shoot that it was painful. After I took the wire off the arms the skin was left with lines and imprints I didn't actually plan to shoot this because I thought it would not leave such strong lines. The images below show both the wire on the skin and the skin once the wire was removed. This is one of my favourite outcomes because I was not expecting such a strong effect.

Photographer, concept and MUA: 

Lauren Banner

Assistant:

Allie Meek

L I G H T A N D R E F L E C T

Here are some unedited images from my most recent shoot. I have used LED lights and captured certain movement, whilst I have used foil and formed it to create specific shapes and reflection on the face. I did try to create the concept of LED lights in a previous shoot however was unable to shoot as a fuse blew in the lights. This proved problematic as new red LED lights were required. Fortunately I managed to find some and was able to create the look I originally had in mind. I wanted the lights to represent the idea of veins which is why I chose the colour I did. Veins born externally? 

The foil worked really well and formed a subtle mask over the face. The material was perfect, reflecting the blue light and capturing movement. When planning this shoot I intended to capture close ups of the foil with no body parts visible. But when actually shooting I felt it looked more effective and stronger as a concept with the shoulders of the model visible. Out of all my images so far I am most pleased with the lighting in the foil images as I believe it shows the blue tones but touching softly on the skin. 

These are my 2 chosen images and will be used as my final pieces.

Photography, concept and stylist:

Lauren Banner

T R I B E S

Mother and child figure represents the female ancestor taking care of her descendants. This commemorative figure would have been used to honor the maternal spirit who in turn brings prosperity and fertility. Among the Kongo people, the woman is considered as the chief of the family. Thus, the female ancestor is the guarantor of the fecundity and continuity of the clan or family. Such sculptures would be kept on a family or local shrine where she would be receive sacrifices and offerings.

Article and image taken from, http://sm76626.wordpress.com/category/african-tribes-objects/

A F R I C A N A D O R N M E N T

Research has been ongoing throughout this project and has in turn helped me with the development of my shoots. I have carried out considerable editorial, architectural, makeup and modern design research, however something I felt a closer insight into cultural and tribal research would be useful. As you can see from the images below African tribes take on adornment of the face and body to represent their particular tribe and culture. 

Images taken from google

T E X T U R E S A N D L A Y E R S

This week I completed two more of my shoots that haven't been re-touched and included below. Both concepts look at texture and growth with the idea of the body being taken over with a loss of control. Overall I am happy with both shoots and, importantly, will be in-keeping with my other images. Despite this it proved difficult in creating an image which featured flesh coloured paint dripping down the neck and onto the body. The visible layers of paint was in turn the most difficult but also most important factor in my image. I took some initial photographs and decide to add more paint when looking over the images which proved a good decision as I was able to create layers and a more prominent texture. I also tried range of styles when photographing, including close up as well as the capture of movement thus giving me a wider range of images.

My second shoot was successful and went according to plan. I had a small amount of time to complete the look and by keeping the makeup simple and clean enabled me to keep well within my time limit. I used white foam clay around the chest, neck and face of the model in order to express the idea of growth on the body. The unedited images below from my shoot are actually two of my favourites, however the model has a certain facial expression that, although not overpowering, I feel does not keep continuity with my other images. Therefore I've chosen not to use either image in my book.

Please see below for the chosen images edited and ready to be published. These images were chosen as I felt they are most fitting n regard to the photos as a collection. They both seem to demonstrate textures and layers in an intended futuristic approach. Therefore I chose these two images to represent my theme and concept most clearly, and I am please with the outcome.

Photography, Concept and MUA:
Lauren Banner

Assistant:

 Allie Meek

P R I N T E R S

As stated a few weeks ago I was in contact with a printers called Mimeo. However after thinking about the style and purpose of my book I have decided to look at other printers who may be better suited to accommodate my original design idea. 

After further background research  I discovered the company Blurb. Blurb appear to suit the requirements of my book to a greater specification.

B U D G E T

It is important to stay within my original budget plan, included in my project proposal. However as my project has altered throughout the process this has in turn resulted in the budget also changing.  As my budget initially left enough money for the possible commission of jewellery I should have stayed well within it. Below is the original budget plan.

Although my outgoings have stayed within this budget, the materials used and other overheads have varied greatly. I have calculated how much I have spent so far and the categories I have covered within my budget. I'm really pleased with the outcome however as my main and initial concern with these type of project related directly to its costs. Project expenses have included materials I have used in all photoshoots to create an adorned face and body, makeup, and photography, as well as equipment such as a hot shoe and larger memory card.  

Travel:  £0

Models: £0

Research materials: £20

Photoshoot materials: £70

Total (so far): £90

I R V I N G P E N N A N D I S S E Y M I Y A K E

A 13 year collaboration between Japanese designer Issey Miyake and American photographer Irving Penn led to some fantastic pieces of work that explore and combine aspects of fashion, photography, art and design. The use of colour and style in the two images below stood out in particular. 

L U C Y M C R A E

A beautiful insight into the creative mind of Lucy McRae. Lucy looks at merging the human body with technology and science creating visually stunning designs.  For an insight into her inspirations and the ideas behind her imaginative work please watch the video below.

Video taken from http://www.ted.com/

P A I N T

Paint takes on a life of its own and snakes across the human body in this stop-motion animation by French graphics studio Tenas. The project took three people five days and incorporates 1500 photos. 

L I G H T S A N D F O I L

I have been concentrating on moodboards for my shoots today. So far my moodboards have helped me greatly when creating a specific look. Please see below the two moodboards developed for a further two shoots that will be taking place the end of this week. I have set myself quite a challenge completing the next 5 shoots this week, and the moodboard designs are an imperative aspect in ensuring that my focus is maintained throughout.

For the first shoot I will be using LED lights to express the emotion and feeling. Worn on the skin these lights will capture this emotion through the movement of the model. For my second shoot I shall be using crumpled and well textured tin foil whilst utilising the face to emphasise identity and the idea of the mask.