Sculpt

This series of images is based around women in today’s society. From a research of body image combined with my dissertation essay on the influence media has on women, I developed an interest in the cliché of a woman’s life. The ideal woman is to look in a particular way, had have a certain lifestyle, according to magazines that are based on stories of the lives of celebrates and public figures, that have been altered for us to be inspired by them. Because we don’t meet these criteria’s, we have a need to try and change ourselves to be like them.

My series of images is based on women I know, from single, divorced mothers, subjects of abuse, mothers from an extremely young age, women with a deceased family member or sick parent, real women with real problems, but do something about it and don’t let their life and priorities get in the way. 

 

I am...

The life of a fifteen year old can be stressful. Or so they think. It’s their last year before they become what they consider to be an adult. Their trying to find themselves within their social surroundings of peer pressure, but also pressure of school life, as a common question is “what are you going to do when you grow up?” They try to act older then they are, but inside they are really just children finding their paths.

For this series of work, I’ve decided to take a step back from Photoshop and use the camera as the only medium to create work. I hung out with Rachel a lot more, not only helping my work but our relationship. From this I’ve witnesses her shopping for clothes, trying things on and seeing what she makes of her body. Her yearn to want to perfect the art of makeup as she constantly wants research’s make up techniques online, and makes herself look ‘presentable’ in a socially particular way everyday. She’s also turned into a gym fanatic, trying to change her body to suit what the ideal body shape she’s read about is for her. The fear of putting on weight, going up from a size six is terrifying to her.

From these images I have seen a realisation. You see the concentration in her face as she focuses on getting her makeup right, yet there is a wariness that the camera is on her. It’s evidence of such pressure that is set on teenage girls. This is what I like about the outcome of my images, which you can still read it in a different way each time you see it - you learn something different.

 

This piece is my A2 hanging piece for our Clare street exhibition 

 

Julia Morozova

Julia Morozova is a fashion and portrait photographer based in Turnin, Italy but works world wide. She works in a way to create her own reality, by getting lost in her imagination and forgets whats going on in the world around her.

Two of her series i was looking at are Reflected in you & Portraits.

Portraits (above and right).
Within her work she is some how capable of expressing dreams and feelings.

Reflected in you (below)

A few days with the girls and swans :)

Matt Stuart

His fascination with people and the way they live, allows Matt Stuarts flexible photographic mind create these honest images that show a genuine moment that burrows deep into their imagery. He relies s on a small camera and his optimism to create these images, not lighting and technology.

                                                                                                  

                                                                                          21/32 - oxford street - colour

2/24- bank tube - Black and White

17/64- Office - Commissioned

30/64 - Education instead - Commissioned

35/64 - Education CNM - Commsissioned

Lauren Greenfield

"Acclaimed documentary photographer/filmmaker, Lauren Greenfield is considered a preeminent chronicler of youth culture, gender and consumerism, as a result of her monographs “Girl Culture,” “Fast Forward,” “THIN” and other photographic works, which have been widely published, exhibited, and collected by leading museums around the world."

Greenfields work has always been a massive influence of mine, especially when it comes to my work on body image. I studied her documentary film Thin, which focuses on four young, women that struggle with their bodies, have an extreme want to be thin and anorexia. Her documentary follows these women though their process within the center. When watching the documentary it makes you feel for the women, as you witness their frustration and the devastating pain that is inflicted on them.

Lauren Greenfield directed two a short films called Kids & Money and Beauty CuLTure. Both of these documentaries are shot between Los Angeles and New York. Within both she interview numerous of teenagers and children between the ages of 10 and 19.

Kids & Money is about the teenagers and their relationship with money. They explain the materialism that exists within their world. How you look and how expensive your belongings are will set you out for life. It is how you make your friends and how people see your life progressing. Within the documentary we hear from rich to poor children, addressing how they are shaped by this culture of consumerism.

Beauty CuLTure on the other hand is based around the definition of beauty in contemporary society, and the influence that media messages has on the female body image.

I found both documentary’s very interesting, because of the insight you get into these teenagers lives. What I find most interesting is that even though these people live in completely different world to us when it comes to money, the issue of consumerism is the same worldwide. What is produced and pushed in the media is set out to be the next big thing and instantly people want it..

Jade Beall

About Jade

“I have come to drag you out of yourself, and take you in my heart. I have come to bring out the beauty you never knew you had  and lift you like a prayer to the sky” ~ Rumi

Jade Beall is a Tucson, AZ based world-renown Photographer specializing in truthful images of women to inspire feeling irreplaceably beautiful as a counter-balance to the airbrushed photoshopped imagery that dominates main stream media. Her recent work "A Beautiful Body Project" has touched 100,000's of women's lives and garnered global attention from media outlets including the BBC, The Huffington Post & beyond. Jade's book series and media platform feature untouched photos of women alongside their stories of their journeys to build self-esteem in a world that thrives off women feeling insecure. Jade's dream is to inspire future generations of women to be free from the unnecessary self-suffering and embrace their beauty just as they are.

"I am here to be a facilitator for living Heaven on Earth. I am here to support Your Waking Dream.  I am here to stand in my Authentic Beauty and reflect Your Divine Gorgeousness.  I am here to be a radiant reflection of Life.  I am Life.  You are Life.  All of this that we are and that we have: is Divine.  All of this is: Magic.  All of this: Just Is."  -Jade Beall