Moodboard Feedback

Things people liked: 

• The underexposed lighting
• Black and white images
• Shadows created to cover face
• That it was unusual/interesting
• Good links to the key word
• Clean, neat, professional layout
• Sense of mystery, dark emotions, intense, unknown
• Varied colour images 
• Pops of colour in images - contrasting
• How the images are placed makes you look around the outside first
• Shapes, angles, compositions, shots
• Idea of masking
• Idea of light meeting dark

Things to improve:

• Not just beauty shots! Need more variation
• Photograph own shadows, etc - not just found images
• Pull on emotional links more
• Play with more colours, more ideas of how to create shadows - branch ideas out
• Add text?
• Stick to a colour scheme?
• Be careful about even gaps in grid layout
• Consider how the eye is drawn around the moodboard

Thoughts: 

It was a really useful, helpful activity being able to present and discuss my moodboard with my peers. They had a lot of great ideas and suggestions for me to consider and play around with, and I got the chance to express any of my concerns. I agree with all of the suggestions for improvement, and am excited to put them to use and see where I end up. I will next create a new refined and perfected moodboard; incorporating more colour pictures or perhaps selecting a colour scheme; varying my images from beauty shots to other images to own photos; playing with emotional links more, and so on. 

In terms of my Pinterest board, my favourite image so far is this:

I love the creation of shadows, the black and white effect, and the natural hair and make-up. A nude/minimally clothed model is definitely something I want to use in my own shoot. I feel that adding clothing would detract from the focus of the image, and the nude effect instead adds to the sense of mystery further. I like the addition of stars in this image; it adds a juxtaposition - shadows are created by an object blocking light, so why are there stars (which produce light) amidst the shadows?

Photography practical

Set up 1:

Set up 2:

Example image created with lighting set-up:

Beauty ad. analysis

This advert immediately has a lot going for it - two modelling superstars joining forces... wearing nothing but the classic Burberry trench coat. The campaign was all shot in black and white, keeping it simple and in conjunction with the minimalistic theme - very natural hair and make-up, and minimal clothing. The only part of colour in the advert is the fragrance bottle, drawing attention to it and making it clear what is being sold. 'The fragrance itself was created with Francis Kurkdijan to represent the brand's classic trench coat' (Vogue.co.uk, 2014). From the advert, however, it is not clear that the perfume in anyway represents the trench coats; except, perhaps, via its colour. 'My Burberry features notes of geranium, freesia, sweet pea and damask and centifolia roses to call to mind an English country garden after the rain' (Vogue.co.uk, 2014). Again, none of this is demonstrated through the visual ads. 
The advert is intended for a more wealthy audience, and judging by the minimal writing and the elegance of the whole piece, an older audience. On the other hand, having both Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss - aged 18 years apart - in the same ad, suggests perhaps targeting a younger audience as well. This advert was seen both on TV screens and in magazines/online, again targeting a varied audience. Selling strategies include creating the idea of a seductive, free and fun-loving attitude - as if, by buying the product, viewers too can achieve this. 



http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2014/09/02/kate-moss-cara-delevingne-my-burberry-perfume-advert 

Photography seminar notes

Shooting Beauty

ISO 100
Shutter Speed 1/160
Aperture F5.6 (change as needed)

• Work with a mark on the floor for the model to stand on - feet roughly 1 metre from tripod with model's head 1 metre from light
• Lights pointing at the camera mean fingerprints will show up really clearly on lens (clean with cotton cloth)
• Reflector right underneath chin will flatten picture; angled under the eyes will keep definition 
• Make sure camera is at the right height for the model so that you cannot see under the neck 0 more flattering
• Vary white/silver reflectors for different brightness
• Various mm lenses for very close up shots, etc.

Set-up examples:

Images from session:

Penumbra.

Noun
- The partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object
- A peripheral or indeterminate area or group

Synonym: Shadow

• Obscuring
• Darkening
• Extinction
• Veil
• Following

Antonym: Brightness --- Illuminate --- Radiance

Emotional links: 

• Mystery
• Wonder
• Nervous
• Cruel
• Cold

Google image results for 'penumbra'/'penumbra beauty':

Google image results for 'shadow beauty': 

Google image results for 'veil beauty':

Veils... Masks?

Google image results for masked beauty:

Google image results for 'mystery photography':

Favourites from Pinterest:

Evaluation of previous project feedback

Initially I felt a little disappointed with my feedback, I felt that I had put a lot of effort into the project and had worked very hard considering it was a topic which I have never learnt about before. I thought that I had done well, but after reading my tutor's comments I wonder if I did not understand the brief fully. Having only had one lesson on moodboards, I clearly thought I had got to grips with the idea when really I hadn't, as my feedback said my moodboard was not 'cohesive'.
On the other hand, looking at positives, my tutor said that my research and photography was very good. I am pleased about this as I put a lot of time and effort into my research in order to find inspiration, and I conducted many practice shoots and was pleased with my final photos. I found the feedback given for these parts constructive and will take it into account for next time.
In terms of improving, I think I need to attend 1:1 tutorial sessions more and ask questions when needed, in order to make sure I fully understand the brief, and am heading in the right direction. This will help me to manage my work more effectively.