Comic ideas and why these ideas in particular-

When drawing inspiration from some of the pokemon comics I brought, these are some of the images that caught my eye and are ones that helped give me inspiration for my photos. Some of the techniques that I have decided to try use to really help create the anime effect to my photos and help make them look even more effective are the large sized pieces in the images (e.g. text and repeats of certian images) that look as if they are trying to reach out to us and the use of certain symbols such as exclamation marks to make a feeling to the image stronger and show more life to the image.

These are some of the techniques that I would like to use in my photo set and using photoshop am hoping to use it to make my set stand out more and help give it a bit of an anime feeling to the set.

Referencing-

Comic Title-Vizkids Pokemon Adventures Volume 5.

Story by- Hidenori Kusaka.

Art by- Mato.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Moving foward and current sequence/set of photos-

This is my current line up for my photo sequence. After having a quick review, the sequence is working well to display the idea on what a toy experiences over time is being a childs best friend. The reoccouring child helps to bring in that idea of human life being a major part of the toys life. What I found when looking at the sequence is that there should be an understanding as to why I chose to use these toys and not more modern day toys like G.I Joe or Barbie. I chose these particular toys because they're significantly different to toys nowadays. Toys at the moment are mainly based around human prescence and form like G.I Joe, Barbie and Ben 10. However these toys (Pokemon toys) are based on anime and fantasy toys, which is stepping away from the modern human toys kids are using today, which is why I decided to pick these ones over other toys used today.

Moving foward, the ideas on using comics was still a little uneasy to me, until I had another talk with the tutor and began to understand what they meant. I've been researching into Pokemon comics and have found some possible ideas to help make my photos stand out and look more effective as a set. Ideas have included the use of lines, adding in symbols and making certain features pop out more than others. These ideas will help to give my photos a better look as a sequence but also give it a bit of a manga and anime (cartoon and comic) effect to match the toys i've used that are mainly based on these two entertainment pieces.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Third shoot review-

For my third shoot, I found my idea on my photos was changing focus. My idea changed from focusing on the locations a toy experiences over time in the hands of a child to it experiencing being a childs best friend over time. When doing my third shoot I began to look more into the use of my artist models and their techniques and tried to display this in some of my photos.

For example in the 10th photo, I used the idea Elliot Erwitt had of making sure that the main object is the primary thing you want viewers to see. I displayed this idea by ensuring that the toy I am using is standing out from the background and the main object seen.

A photo that displays the use of Michael Kennas ability to photograph at many different angles is photo 3. This helps to display the way Michael Kenna photographs at different angles because the angle I took the photo at isn't merely a straight shot of the photo. It's been helt at an angle above the water while getting closer to the main subject of the photo.

Michael Kenna is also another photographer who helped influence my work. An example of when Michael Kennas work is used is in photos 4 and 9. Michael Kenna aims to keep his background and objects used in his photos down to a minimum. In these photos there isn't anything that looks out of place. Theres only the little girl and the toys used as objects and there isn't anything that is overly distracting in the background, just like how Michael Kenna has done in his photos- simple yet effective.

For my origonal plan,there were a few ideas I didn't get an opportunity to shoot for, but I will be doing that ASAP. For the ones I did get a chance to shoot, they all seemed to be working well except for the trampoline idea which didn't look as effective as the other photos were looking.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

 Photo sequence- 

 After coming up with my list of locations, I decided on trying to find a nice order to place them in to make the set look effective. I've written down a drawing on the order I want the locations to be in and with little notes on why I have done it in this sequence and have typed them up below. This is only the first draft and the number of photos and even the locations may change.

1st photo- My first photo will have a child sitting in a seat with the toy (Elekid). This is to introduce the child and the toy, while also pointing out the importance of the toy in the childs life and how it acts almost as if its their best friend.

2nd photo- The toy will be bouncing in the trampoline and floating in the air. This will show the playful and enjoyable joys a toy brings to a child.

3rd photo- the toy will be placed in the bathtub with the bubble bath liquid used in the water. This is to show that the toy will always be around with the child.

4th Photo- A film will be playing with the lights softer than usual and this is aiming to show that the toy, is once again, watching over the child and is in everything they do.

5th photo- toy will be placed in the bedroom with the child. This is to show how much the toy means to the child and shows that the child will care for it.

6th photo- Birthday cake with charizard in a present box. This is to introduce charizard to the sequence.

7th photo- 2nd photo of the child, but this time with both Charizard and Elekid. This is to display the idea of the child now liking both toys and is a threat to Elekid, that Charizard may be the new favorite toy.

8th photo- Playground with both toys. This is beginning to show that Charizard is now slowly taking over in the favorite toy position. 

9th photo- dinner table with both toys at the table. This is to display Elekids in real danger of being taken over as the top toy. 

10th photo- Charizard displayed as the favorite toy. This photo will display that Charizard is now the primary favorite and that Elekid isn't the favorite anymore.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Brainstorm on new locations for project 2-


As I discussed in a previous post for project 2, I began to brainstorm some locations that I felt would help to greatly increase displaying my ideas in my set of photos. Below is a brainstorm on the locations I would like to use. What these places all have in common is that they are all areas that a child would explore and this will be shown in my set.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

 Second shoot finals- 

                                                                                              

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Weekly exercise- 

For this exercise, I decided to photograph the slide and crocodile in Cuba square and show the time difference when it was snowing and when the snow had evaporated. I chose to do this particular area because the ground made a nice, thin sheet of snow that I knew would be perfect to display the time lapse of when the snow has landed to when it has evaporated. 

Open publication - Free publishing - More fun

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Moving forward-


After seeing what my class mates and tutor had to say, I began to explore other possibilities on how to show the idea on what a toy experiences over time in the hands of a child. Areas that me and my tutor thought could be used to make it more child like included exploring comic books. This is because of the use of the angles the pictures are drawn and these angles can be used to enhance my set by a large amount.

Another thought that we came up with is to bring in a young child's presence into the set. I thought about having the child sitting in a seat with the toy in his/her hands in one or two of my photos.

These ideas I feel will help enhance my set quiet a lot and will display the idea I want a lot more clearly than my last few shoots.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

2nd shoot Review-

For my second shoot, I tried to use the outside to display some of my ideas on the toy being used outside. When I looked back over the project with my class however, they felt that it wasn't quiet showing the idea of a child playing. They saw it more as a abandoned feeling. When looking at the photos, I could clearly see what they meant. However this isn't a full waste of a shoot because it began to give me more idea on how to get my theme across.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Open publication - Free publishing - More design

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Moving Foward- 


After looking at my first shoot, I have decided that I am going to do a redo of it and aim to work on more angles to work with, more use of the space (using it to help show a childs life, which is what a toy experiences) and work with the outside space too.

Using the outside space will greatly enhance what i'm trying to achieve because the outside is also another area where a toy heavily experiences in a kids hands. For example the infant may take the toy and play with it in the playground, in a sand pit in a swing etc. The possibilities are huge and most of these areas are what a toy experiences when with a child.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Review after first shoot-


For my first shoot, I decided to focus on photographing the inside of my area to photograph- The Rudolph Stiener Kindergarten. This is a suitable area to photograph for my time project because I want to show the experiences a toy has overtime in the hands of a child and some of the various spaces it goes too when spending time with a child, and the kindergarten is an area where children live, making it a perfect spot to do a shoot for my project.

When doing my photos for my first shoot, I attempted to first do the inside of the kindergarten and try to get what I want to across in my photos with the use of my artist models techniques. I was aiming to do the outside as well, but it unfortunately grew far too dark for me to do an outside shoot.

I have placed what I feel are my three best photos from this first photo shoot and are using my artist models techniques to show my idea.

For my first photo, I have used the artist model "Bruce Davidson's" technique of taking his photos at an angle I generally may not use. I took my photo at a higher angle that looks above my Pokemon toy and capture it at a different view instead of a simple straight on photo. I feel this photo worked well because it's managed to capture the Pokemon toy as the primary object and exclude other distracting items and also makes the viewer see this photo from an infants view.

For my second photo, I decided to try and use Michael Kennas technique to use the background to my advantage. For this attempt, I wanted to make my Pokemon Elekid to stand out, but also wanted to help enhance my idea more in this photo. When photographing this photo, I used the chairs in the background not as a base for the toy to stand on or make the toy stand out, but to show us that a childs toy is like his/her best friend that never leaves their side and goes through many of their experiences with them as a child.

For my third and forth photo, I aimed to use Elliott Erwitt's technique of focusing in on the object and cutting out most of the background. I feel that this one is working well to show how he influenced my photo and also show that the Pokemon is the main object of the photo. What I feel is also working in this photo is that it's also introducing the space of where the toy belongs, while not becoming too distracting and is once again helping to show my theme on the toy being with the child in activities such as drawing because they are like their best friends. It also makes us think that this photo is of a childs view by going down in close with the object.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

First photo shoot top 3 photos-

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Weekly Exercise-

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Artist Models/ influences-

Michael Kenna- The photographer Michael Kenna is an artist model that really grabbed my attention more so than the other two. I really enjoy looking at Michael Kennas photos because of the way he's used objects and his surroundings in his photos. In most of his photos, Michael Kenna has managed to minimize the amount of objects used in his photos down to ether one or none at all. If there is an object in the photos, then that object has been used well to almost blend in with the scenery in the background, while keeping obvious in the picture. Another technique I like of his is that the background scenery is also very minimal. There isn't any large, over scaled buildings that are causing distraction and the use of black and white has created a visually stunning appearance that will have you wanting to view more of his photos.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Artist Models/Influences- 

Bruce Davidson- Another artist model that caught my eye when searching for artist models is Bruce Davidson. What I liked about Bruce Davidson's work is that he has used a wide variety of different angles to take his photos instead of sticking to one view used across all his photos. I really liked this technique because by taking his photos at different angles rather than just a mere straight on look, this helps to give the photos a more interesting view to them and will make the user actually have to focus on the photo and see what the photo is displaying.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Artist models/influences- 

Elliott Erwitt- When searching for some artist models that had techniques I would like to use, Elliott Erwitt came across my eye. What I liked about his photos is that they all managed to get right up to the main subject that they want the observer to take in and have it as the main focus of the photo. I really like this technique because it's ensuring that the observer takes in what is necessary in the photo and is successfully doing so without having the background distracting to the observer.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Artist Models/ Influences- 

A way I was inspired to use toys for my time project was the film "Toy Story". In the toy story films, the main characters go through a time sequence that is very similar to my idea. They all start off enjoying life with their owner, Andy, and as time goes on Andy becomes older and plays with the toys less and less. At the end of the trilogy, they come close to being put into storage but end up being handed down to another child who carries on the ownership for the toys.

This trilogy was a major influence for my photo series idea because I feel that toys are objects that have a relation to time. They are used by children for amusement to arouse their innocence and curiosity for a long stretch of time and always have different experiences. Some may be used in the bath, some may be used outside and some may be even used for a collection. These different experiences are what the toy witnesses over its life while still being used by a child and this is what I would like to display- What a toy experiences over time in the hands of an innocent and curious child.

DSDN 144 Project 2- Time

Brainstorm/Ideas-

After thinking about how to approach this new project based on the idea of time, I began to look into the possible ways to show this- Stop motion, photo sequence and photo series/set. Some of the ideas that came to mind included a photo sequence on life. This would relate to time by starting right from the beginning of life (at the hospital to show the place of birth) all the way to death (at a cemetery to display the end of ones life). Another idea that I really liked that came to mind was to do a photo set/series on a childrens toy. The series would display the start of when the toy is first purchased and lead to what it experiences when being used by a child. The sequence would end when the toy goes into storage. 

At the moment I am leaning towards the idea of using the photo set/series idea based on the time a toy is used by a child. I really like this idea because it's a very different concept to the idea of life itself because we're focusing more on objects and a childs mind and innocence. It's also less common to use than the previous idea and I feel would have a better result than the life to death photo sequence.

DSDN 144 Project 1- Space

Write up on Final set of photos-


My final set of 5 photos around Kelburn Campus at Victoria University successfully shows the lifeless and deserted side of Kelburn Campus that nobody sees. The black and white theme helps to set the dark mood for the photos that successfully make a story for viewers to follow and has taken and executed techniques used by my artist models "Andrew Ross", "Edward Bertinsky", and "Andrew Moore".

Andrew Moore's technique of using objects rather than people to help display a feeling has been used across my images. I used the empty seats and stairs to create that empty and deserted idea to the space and enhance the cold lonely feeling I want to get across.

Andrew Ross's use of light to help his images become more effective has been used across my second and forth photo. The light has been used in the second photo to help enhance a sense of depth to the photo and make us wonder what is around the corner other than light. In the forth photo, the light has been cast over the chair to create a feeling of abandonment, and help reinforce the idea of Kelburn Campus being a empty place with no one around.

The way Edward Bertinsky has taken his photos in landscape mode to show more of his space has been used to make my set more effective. Having my set in landscape has allowed me to show a lot more shallowness to Kelburn Campus, where as if the photos were in portrait mode, then the photos would be more limited in what I could show.

DSDN 144 Project 1- Space

Final Photos in black and white/ Final set-

DSDN 144 Project 1- Space

Final Photos in color-

DSDN 144 Project 1- Space

Change to Black and White-


When deciding what photos to make for my final set, I decided that the photos would look more effective in black and white. The reason why I have gone with this idea is because I feel this will bring out the lifeless and empty feeling I want to appear in my photos. If the photos were in color, then this would give off a happy and colorful look to my set, which isn't the feeling I want it to have. What I want to give off in my photos is a feeling of a sadness and unoccupied space that is just sitting there,waiting to be used.