You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake

I made this today, trying to generate a new concept whilst working in an aesthetic I'm visually drawn to. Whether it's mine or not I can't be sure, it's kind of Rookie-mag(ish). I got really excited last September when Andrew compared my style to Lula magazine. Everything I've done this year has been black so I'm ready to inject a little more colour back into my work. Which actually terrifies me so let's see how long it lasts...

[*disclaimer: I do not claim rights for the individual images - used for personal use only, no infringement intended.] 

That eureka moment hits you like a cop car

I love Everything Everything's video for their song 'Cough Cough' directed by the band's lead singer Jonathan Higgs (aka Jon Everything). The varied use of lighting and mix of abstract and politically motivated shots (featuring CCTV footage of the 2011 London riots) are really well cut together. The mirrored shots of fire, treacle and oil floating in water caught my eye particularly as this is something I could attempt to recreate for my own photographic research. They actually reminded me of Mark Mawson's colourful dispersions of ink-in-water photography. I bought an underwater camera a few years ago for a holiday so it would be nice to have a reason to use it again. 

Another source of video inspiration I found recently is by fine artist Lucy Crump. Her videos entitled "Self Portrait, 2012" and "Dying Sperm, 2013" are my favourites. I'm not quite sure how she did them but they look like she filmed them under a microscope. The study of microscopic bacteria has always fascinated me from an artistic perspective, with the kaleidoscopic colours and otherworldly feel. Watching Lucy's video self portrait made me imagine what it feels like to be on a slab in an alien space ship, with white light and translucent figures hovering above. Obviously that has likely nothing to do with what she meant for it but I think one of the most beautiful things about art is how it accesses people in different ways and displaces it from it's original meaning.

[*disclaimer: I do not own the video or image in this post, used for coursework purposes only] 

Welcome to the island of misfit toys

Lucy McRae // fashion meets new technology // human hybrid

Sophia Ajram (photograper) // ice and fire // illusions

Virgin suicides // youth // death // obsession

THE HUMAN CONDITION

Bruno Dayan photography // forboding grandeur

Imagine Dragons // levitation

Beautiful skeleton

Marie Antoinette // young, beautiful and damned

Unif ss12 fashion, meh, but I liked the image // how things look from the outside opposed to how they actually are inside 

Chris little photography

Rose Sanderson // nature and decay // fading grandeur

The universe

"5 minute page" I thought this would be a formal presentation but I've found out it's an email hand-in so just to summarise; this is a board of imagery relevant to what currently inspires me, followed by some trigger words to aid further explanation. I like that there's a colour theme emerging; it feels quite soft and feminine but with an ever present darkness looming. I like that. Even if it's cliche or pretentious, I like it.
There's also a reccurent theme of something fading; perhaps descending from life to death, or simply the anxiety of growing up - experiencing the loss of things like innocence and belief in the extraordinary. It's something quite sad and personal, but at the same time it can be so beautiful.  I don't want any one to see this blog anymore, it feels too personal. I don't like university, I feel stiffled, like I'm under seige by my own psychosys. No one else can see, but that doesn't mean it's not real.

[*disclaimer: I do not own these images, using for coursework purposes only]

Self portrait - TAKE 2

I attempted a self portrait in this post here, but was kind of unsatisfied so I intended to stage a proper shoot, however I took this photo in my bedroom yesterday and I think it captured me perfectly. I might do a third portrait if I find time and genuinely feel inspired but I've got so much packing left to do before the big move down to London on Saturday that I doubt I'll have time. It's a shame really because I did have something pretty special in mind, but I don't need to go out of my way to prove I'm good at photography because that's the only real reason why I'd push myself to do a third take, it would imply that I care too much what people think and that's not me any more. It's not technically impressive, and I know there's not a lot to look at, but I've captured an authentic picture of myself featuring the mood I've experienced most lately. Other people may not like it, but it's me, and I can't be anything more than that.

10 facts about meh.

 

Sooo I finally got around to doing my "10 things about me" post, I wanted to do it as a video which took me ages to film and edit, I almost didn't post it because it's not exactly perfect but hey neither am I so I think it sums me up quite well. Youtube wouldn't let me upload it with high resolution soo it's ended up with a strange black border around it, almost like you're watching me through a letterbox, creepy, anywhoo, that is all.

Ooh and yes you read the timestamp right; it is currently 1.15am and I have been editing this video since 6pm... yesterday. I.am.a.machine. Uhh, university, what have I let myself in for?