Idea
The portfolio I have come with is a set of 8-12 images each representing my interpretation of different mental illness.
Examples of similar works
Claire White's "Fragments":
In April of 2016, Claire White exhibited a set of three works called "Fragments" which were three images that represented the models experience and opinions on a mental illness they had. The three models, Sophie, Craig and Shona, each went through extensive interviews with Claire to give her enough information to create an idea around their struggles. This gives the gallery a huge personal connection, as it gives insight into their experiences. The images themselves are to a great quality, with different techniques and locations used for each. The first image, featuring Sophie and named "Parasite" shows her experience with depression. With Sophie describing it using the analogy of a parasite, Claire has used a location with ivy on a structure to purvey this and captures the feeling of slowly being taken over losing control. She also dressed quite minimally, and with the low aperture, makes sure focus is drawn to both the location and Sophie. The main change I would make if I were taking the image would be to have it closer into the face, as it makes it a bit more personal and adds more connection to Sophie. |
The second image is titled "Scarred" and has Craig represent his own experience and interpretation of depression, which he describes as either "seeing everyone go at 100mph when you're doing 30" or "getting a cut and watching it bleed a it's sore, with the scabs and scarring after". The image is a Photoshop of two or three images, featuring a crowd walking around (taken at a low shutter speed) and Craig stood center, completely clear and not blurred at all. The crowd represent his description of different speeds and the use of tallies all over his body show his thoughts on it being like cutting. The one thing I would have done differently is have some of the blurred crowd closer to the camera in the foreground.
Research and Ideas
The 8 mental disorders I have decided to base my work on are: Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder), Mania, Panic Attacks, Paranoia and Psychosis. Below are mind maps showing the definitions along with descriptions people have given.
Below are a few concepts and ideas that will possibly be featured in the photos I produce:
Anxiety: Model collapsed (kneeling) with bright and intense lights shining on face, reaching out to shade their face whilst clutching their chest.
Bipolar: Central model (neutral expression), being pulled toward both ends of the image by versions of them self. One is experiencing a high bipolar state and the other a low.
DID: Model conversing with another person, with a view of the model viewing them self as if it were a TV screen.
Mania: Model is sat cross legged on the floor, low shutter speed will be used to create blurry face which will have a crudely drawn expression over it.
Depression: Hand (in focus) reaching to the camera with the body and face in the background being pulled back by various arms and hands (out of focus).
Panic Attacks: Model is walking, with a shadowy faced figure jumping up to garrote them with a rope.
Paranoia: High angle over the head of the model, looking at a crowd. The crowd are in normal conversation but has faint mirages that look mockingly at the model.
Psychosis: Extreme close-up of model's eyes, with an arm reaching out of one of their pupils.
Though this will be a challenging shoot and editing job, I believe it will be manageable to conduct, as well an interesting project.
Anxiety: Model collapsed (kneeling) with bright and intense lights shining on face, reaching out to shade their face whilst clutching their chest.
Bipolar: Central model (neutral expression), being pulled toward both ends of the image by versions of them self. One is experiencing a high bipolar state and the other a low.
DID: Model conversing with another person, with a view of the model viewing them self as if it were a TV screen.
Mania: Model is sat cross legged on the floor, low shutter speed will be used to create blurry face which will have a crudely drawn expression over it.
Depression: Hand (in focus) reaching to the camera with the body and face in the background being pulled back by various arms and hands (out of focus).
Panic Attacks: Model is walking, with a shadowy faced figure jumping up to garrote them with a rope.
Paranoia: High angle over the head of the model, looking at a crowd. The crowd are in normal conversation but has faint mirages that look mockingly at the model.
Psychosis: Extreme close-up of model's eyes, with an arm reaching out of one of their pupils.
Though this will be a challenging shoot and editing job, I believe it will be manageable to conduct, as well an interesting project.
Constraints and Risk assessment
The main constraints are based around the locations availability. The two places that I will be using are the photography studio and main hall at Rotherfield. To make sure that no issues will come up around this I will be booking and checking availability in advance of the planned shoot day. I do have a time constraint which is a deadline of 2nd December so I will need to prepare everything needed. If I had more time I could have the ability to put more though into the project, without having to rush it. Furthermore, I will need to ask about how to work equipment such as the lighting in the studio, as to focus more of my time on the day toward the composition. The availabilty of my models won't be an issue.
Survey
A link to the survey I created can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HZG8RHW
Based on the responses received, the improvements that I need to add are:
- Specify the background for the anxiety photo, which I have decided will be a white background (taken in studio)
- For Panic Attacks, make the model aware or unaware of the attacker, which I decided would be unaware as most descriptions of the experience are that it is unexpected.
Based on the responses received, the improvements that I need to add are:
- Specify the background for the anxiety photo, which I have decided will be a white background (taken in studio)
- For Panic Attacks, make the model aware or unaware of the attacker, which I decided would be unaware as most descriptions of the experience are that it is unexpected.
Shoot Plan and budget
When: The shoot will take place between 1pm - 4pm Wednesday 30th November. The editing will be done on the subsequent Thursday and Friday. I will first shoot all the photos for Anxiety, DID, Mania, Bipolar, Depression and Psychosis in the studio, before shooting the images for Paranoia, Panic Attacks and the other half of DID in the hall.
Where: The photography studio and main hall.
Who: The most likely client for this project would be a mental illness charity such as the Mental Health Foundation or Together, as an event to raise awareness.
How: The images will be taken on a Sony Nex 5 and edited using the software Photoshop.
Contingency: If the studio and hall aren't available on the Wednesday I will be checking to see if there are available slots on day after (Thursday 1st). Furthermore, I have asked the models to be prepared to be possibly working on this day instead too.
Budget: There shouldn't be any costs for the project, other than the possible need to purchase rope which will be roughly between £5 - £10. If I were to hire out the camera and studio which would come to £29 to hire the camera and £320 for studio hire. Overall, equipement and props would come to a maximum of £359. For my time I will estimate that it would cost £70 per hour, which is the average payment for freelance photographers, and transport costs won't be an issue. Since I'm planning the shoot to last no more than an hour and a half, and the editing to only take roughly four hours, that would total to £385 for my services.
Where: The photography studio and main hall.
Who: The most likely client for this project would be a mental illness charity such as the Mental Health Foundation or Together, as an event to raise awareness.
How: The images will be taken on a Sony Nex 5 and edited using the software Photoshop.
Contingency: If the studio and hall aren't available on the Wednesday I will be checking to see if there are available slots on day after (Thursday 1st). Furthermore, I have asked the models to be prepared to be possibly working on this day instead too.
Budget: There shouldn't be any costs for the project, other than the possible need to purchase rope which will be roughly between £5 - £10. If I were to hire out the camera and studio which would come to £29 to hire the camera and £320 for studio hire. Overall, equipement and props would come to a maximum of £359. For my time I will estimate that it would cost £70 per hour, which is the average payment for freelance photographers, and transport costs won't be an issue. Since I'm planning the shoot to last no more than an hour and a half, and the editing to only take roughly four hours, that would total to £385 for my services.
Budget sources: - Hireacamera (2003) Mirrorless. Available at: https://www.hireacamera.com/en-gb/stills/mirrorless/ (Accessed: 25 November 2016).
- Meadows Farms Studios (no date) Studio-b - video studio hire & green screen studios – meadows farm studios - Henley-on-Thames nr London. Available at: http://www.meadowsfarmstudios.co.uk/studio-b.html (Accessed: 25 November 2016).
- Meadows Farms Studios (no date) Studio-b - video studio hire & green screen studios – meadows farm studios - Henley-on-Thames nr London. Available at: http://www.meadowsfarmstudios.co.uk/studio-b.html (Accessed: 25 November 2016).
final Images
From left to right: Anxiety, Bipolar, Depression, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Mania, Panic Attacks, Paranoia and Psychosis.