Blog 3: Project Outcomes and Personal Growth
As a fashion PR & Communication student, I often find myself studying campaigns, analysing projects, and planning brand launches. With that being said, I have noticed that photography is a vital source of communication from the fashion industry, which is why I chose to partake in contemporary portrait photography as my better lives project. I feel as though it is a gateway of communication between consumer and producer. Infact, it was through the lectures of photographers and their works’ impact that I was able to see the veracious power that a photograph can possess.
Coming from an Arab/Islamic country, I have always found comfort in magazines. They acted as an escape from my restrictive society and gave a sense of freedom and acceptance. This unit has allowed me to look into other photographers who are able to convey the same feeling to individuals with other diverse backgrounds. I was able to see how photographers have different styles and approaches when portraying diversity through their works; from there I found an interest in looking past the surface of a photograph. I was inspired by Cindy Sherman’s ability to question the concept of identity through her self self-portraits. In each photograph she transforms into someone new through make up, costume and performance. To me, her form of expression speaks to everyone who has struggled to find their identity in society, which is something I struggled with when growing up in a closed minded society but with an open minded family. Similarly Hew Locke’s works are less apparent from first glance, to understand his work I opened my mind and looked for a deeper meaning. When discovering that he had imputed himself in his work to demonstrate “a world of his own creation”, I was able to interpret the work in my own manner. Ultimately, by studying their works, along with many others, I was encouraged to look into other artists I had previously studied and I was surprised at how differently I began to interpret and understand them.
Before switching to online form, we were given the chance to use cameras to test out different apertures, shutter speeds and ISO. I am grateful for this knowledge because it allowed me to understand the basics of photography. However, after coming back to Egypt, I began to take images with my iPhone, allowing me to focus on composition and structure rather than lighting. Allowing me to take more risks with my photographs and be able to think outside the box like Sherman and Locke.
If you recall, I stated that within my course I often plan brand launches, the better lives project has inspired me to think outside of the box. Even the simplest photographs demonstrate creativity and purpose, thus I hope to be able to combine my knowledge on communication to create more creative styles within my works and campaigns. Studying photography has allowed me to see that photographers come from many diverse backgrounds, and their work expresses different things to different people.
References
- (2020) ‘Better Lives, Performance in Portraiture’ [Lecture]. Better Lives, London College of Fashion, 24 February.
25th April 2020 @ 1:21 pm
I thought it was fascinating to see the different perspective of students on a different course and hearing from someone as a fashion PR & communication student it helps you understand the themes and actual lectures a bit better. I think in this blog post, Leila uses excellent examples of diversity and social responsibility. She explains how coming from an Arab/Islamic country she sees a different form of acceptance and freedom through photography, magazines, and styles. It showed her a different side of techniques used. She gives examples of, for instance, Cindy Sherman. She evaluates what she liked from her work, including self-portraits and how she transforms herself into someone new just using makeup, costumes and performance. Leila also assessed different ways of how someone can express themselves through these artistic ways. Another artist she mentioned was Hew Locke’s work. This is what I like about reading other students work, I come across new artists I’ve never heard of before. It gives me a chance to broaden my knowledge of artists and different working methods. I find it very interesting how Leila mentioned how Locke’s work is less apparent from a first glance, but how you have to look more into it to find a deeper meaning. This, to me, shows a lot of diversity because it shows that she doesn’t just use a known piece of art and goes with it, but instead she evaluates the work. She tries to get a feel of what may lie behind the artist intentions. What is it they want the viewers to receive from the message they are trying to convey? Are there more than one or two messages?
Leila also reflects on the situation before online lectures, and how the lesson on how to properly use a camera was very beneficial for her. Leila closes off the blog post with a strong statement on how much she enjoys and learns from her course. It has shown her that everyone comes with different stories, different experiences, diverse backgrounds and how each artist expresses different things to different people. I would’ve liked to see Leila talk more about the Better Lives themes, but in general, she identified diversity strongly. Well done Leila!
25th April 2020 @ 4:47 pm
The ideology of this blog has enticed me to reflect and review your approaches as a PR student studying Contemporary Portrait Photography. Introducing the blog with a summary of why you have chosen this particular field has allowed me to further understand the importance of photography, the power imagery has on a campaign, magazine cover and even on a garment. Instead of focusing on just the Better Lives themes you go deeper, reflecting on your background and your country’s traditions this allowed me to grasp a clearer notion of your achievements within this topic; developing your knowledge on wide range of photographers from Hew Locke’s sculpting skills to Cindy Sherman’s incredible self-portraits. I think your relation to self-identity and society is extremely gratifying as a female who has also struggled with finding my self-confidence and personal identity. You approach this topic sensitively yet in an informative way by referencing Sherman and Locke which allows me to interpret other ways people view self-expression and identity, plus how photography can elevate the physique and figure of someone, enhancing their beauty and characteristics. You clearly vocalised how photography can be portrayed in several ways, exploring Locke’s aesthetic; his contemporary visual art can be seen as extremely conceptual, you express the significance of delving deeper, finding connections within his work through your own creative mind set. I really enjoyed reading into these two artists it supported your notions well, suggesting how much your artistic eye has evolved since studying Contemporary Portrait Photography. It is clear that this project converted the way you view photography, not just as a PR student. You now allow yourself to examine imagery differently exploring themes of composition, the colour palette, the lighting. What is the photograph informing you? I can see from your reflection that this line of thinking comes naturally to you now and your eye for photography has become extremely professional and comprehensive.
My motivation to keep on reading was due to your personal experiences, your honesty as a student and how you are utilizing the skills you have learnt on the course. Although you continue to shoot on your phone, you express how your lessons have gained you knowledge on different techniques when taking a photograph and how a compelling image can be taken on both an iPhone as well as a camera. You have made use of your photography research being influenced by these two artists, finding ways to take more creative photography whilst being at home, I can see that you have professionally adapted to the drastic changes of COVID19.
Throughout the whole peer review rather than specifically stating and discussing each theme, you have taken a personal approach which I admire as it has ultimately made the post more storytelling that discusses your current circumstances and country’s traditions. As a student who has also struggled with finding their identity as a Caribbean/British female it has inspired me to explore my heritage and utilize artists/photographers in ways where I can explore my own identity, taking images that conjure stories of meaning and resilience. Whether that’s on a camera or iPhone!