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BOY!
Tami Aftab
For my project of ‘Image & Reality’ my first idea was to focus on
distortion of beauty, looking further in to how the media and
society depict the image of beauty. Moreover, comparing or
contrasting that to photographs that perhaps show a more ‘real’
or ‘different’ version of beauty.
2) 6)
3)
4)
PHO
1) Starting with the ‘Patch Tool’, draw around uneven
areas of the skin (e.g. eye bags)
2) Drag to a more even area of skin to create the
appearance of smooth skin and lack of eye bags
3) Lower the opacity to around 50% to create a more
natural look
OTOSHOP
ASHLEY
ARMITAGE
Ashley Armitage “believes that diversity is neccisary”, therefore she does not conform to
creating images or using models that dominate our media. Upon first glance, the image
on the top left appears to be a women, however it is infact her boyfriend. This photograph
highlights the fluidity of gender, transgender and queer males are rarely portrayed in the
media in a natural and innocent light.
Soft studio lighting with pink gel is used to create a dreamy, delicate mood. The use of
photographing close ups and generally private parts of the body creates an open feel.
There is a willingness for others to witness the reality of bodies and people rather than the
image shown in the media of airbrushed, ‘perfected’ bodies.
It is evident that Armitage applied very little, perhaps no, digital manipulation in her work
due to the evidence of scars, scratches, bumps and lumps on the models she has used.
My model, Marc
images of men lik
watching mainstre
Armitage’s use o
model that is not
sensitivity and ‘shi
a lot of hard light
The close up com
trasts well to the s
my own shadow
shadows that co
difficult to find the
Marcus, is a transgender male (FtM) who has voiced how there aren’t many
n like himself in the media. The reality is that he has noone to relate to when
nstream movies, television etc. This photoshoot took inspiration from Ashley
e of close crops on intimate areas of the body along with photographing a
not stereotypical. I chose to use sofer lighting and a light backdrop to show
‘shine a light’ on my subject. Generally, in male model photography there is
ghting, shadows and dark colours to signify the ideals of hyper-masculinity.
omposition creates texture from the skin and the body hair, this texture con-
he smoothness of the backdrop. Studio lighting gave me the ability to create
ows and highlights, placing one black and one white reflector allowed soft
compliments the models features. Due to the purple tones desired, it was
the right tone with gel lights. Therefore, I chose to use digital manipulation
with Photoshop to create the desired hue.
PHO
OTOSHOP
MAGDELENA
MEGAN
‘Boys Boys Boys’ is a project created by Megan Magdelena Bourne who focused on boys
where she photographs them in the same way she photographs women, the project began
due to her anger towards gender in general. Along with each subject's photoshoot came a
small interview, allowing them to be more personal and explain why the men wanted to be
involved in their shoots. The duality of image and text allowed the reality to come through
further. I would like to take this technique and apply it to my own work to create a more
personal experience.
The location of the photoshoots appear to be in the subject’s own homes. Due to the
invasive style of the photography it allows them to feel more comfortable, along with
giving more context than a studio photoshoot would have done.
There is a variety of images, some appearing candid and some staged, the variety allows
each individual photograph and man show themselves in their own ways.
PHO
N
The positioning of hands are evident within his portraits of Monroe, they can be used to
empower, hide or flatten the image of herself which may be different to the reality.
A deep depth of field seems to have been used in all of these images, with a medium shot
E
in order to allow her body and outfit to be in focus also.
Vogue, 1933, claimed lipstick to be “the most important cosmetic for women” and
according to Ken Cosgrove (Mad Men) “lipstick was invented to simulate the flush of a
women’s face when a man treated her right”. However, this does not leave much room for
the reasons men can wear red lipstick. Therefore, Greene’s work will inspire my shoot
however my model will be a male drag queen instead of the female image.
Milton. H. Greene’s photographs
use of glamour and beauty as k
on 35mm film and the rest on a
a drastic contrast between the
create the red backdrop with ge
manipulation. However, due to
to create the same for the othe
‘behind the scenes’ style, creat
The model for this shoot, Harry
in his spare time and still compl
Beauty Dish in the studio create
props,
phs of Marylin Monroe were my inspiration, with his
as key parts of the images. I shot half of the images
on a Canon 5DMIII with a 50mm 1.2 lens, there was
the two styles. With the digital shots, I was able to
gel lighting, made a classic vintage red with digital
to the functionality of the SLR camera I was unable
ther images. Instead the film shots were styled in a
eating a timeless feeling and a whole new texture.
arry (Drag Name: Rose Zinfandel), is a drag queen
mpletely identifies as a male. Photographing with a
ated soft lighting that added to the elegance of the
ps, outfit and the make up.
MATTHIEU
BOUREL
Matthieu Bourel decided to do use mostly black and white portraits and appropriates
them. He believes that “one of the goals of art is not just to distract people, but more to
reveal some ideas or share a point of view”. Manual manipulation can be used as a more
explicit way of contrasting the stereotypical photographs shown in the media in a
dada-esque style, which could be applied to mimick the stereotypical image of men in the
media either using appropriation or my own photographs.
Side profiles are often used in his work, with less or no direct eye contact, this could be to
allow you to be an observer rather than to create a strong connection with the subject. The
location of the tear in the top left image gives signs of subtle but clear vulnerability.
Rather than d
finer details o
ated this manu
Similarly to t
background
A shallow dep
image to suit
jewellery
The digital ma
rather than the
n doing solely manipulation, like Matthieu Bourel, I instead took inspiration on
ls of his work. The main attention was drawn to the use of a singular tear. I cre-
anually on the subject using Aloe Gel, later using 'dodge' and 'burn' on Photo-
shop to enhance it's prominence on the face.
to the first two shoots, gel lights were used in the studio to create a soft pink
und to compliment the skin and create a feeling of neutrality and innocence.
depth of field allowed my focus to fall on the eyes and the tears and soften the
suit it's location and style. Against this is the harshness coming from the silver
ery, allowing a personal touch of the model to be shown to the audience.
manipulation signifies peeling back the layers to know the reality of the person
the image. However, if I were to do this again I would use manual manipulation
to add texture to further this idea.
1) 4)
2) 5)
3)
PHO
1. Duplicate your layer, using the crop tool expand the edges of your
frame. Then with the ‘Rectangular Marquee Tool’ choose an empty
space near the edge to stretch. Right click and ‘Free Transform’ to
extend the borders of your image.
2. To select the area of the face, use the ‘Lasso Tool’ to select
around the area you wish to duplicate. Once you’re happy with it
select ‘Layer via Copy’
5. To create more depth, click on the ‘fx’ tool, using the drop shadow
tool select a desired shade and opacity
OTOSHOP
‘We are told to be ourselves, whi
directly affects the our nature of
When studying ‘Image and Reality
the image of them in the media d
reflection, I considered the fact th
strict framework image.
also normalize particular behaviors and values that can be transferred into
04) One of my models named Marcus, a transgender (FtM) male, stated he “does
to in the media, or if so they are stereotypically portrayed to one ideal” making
ed or find similarities to people in the public eye. The behaviours that are nor-
than personal norms such as him taking off his binder or his breasts on show.
as Ladyist, is a photographer that shoots lgbtq+ models often, the key image
boyfriend laying in the classic position of a woman, nude, appearing almost non
is upclose, personal and intimate style with my work also.
e I know rather than models so that they would feel comfortable due to the na-
behind the scenes, personal and arguabley to some, invasive. Choosing people
more personal side and portray that to the audience. I wanted the audience to
ot for them to look at something staged or mocked. This is the personal, private
the different styles of photography in each. Using a variety of colours/locations/
ficulties the men face in terms of representation.
own style, there was an overarching theme and similarity in the way I chose to
hink of shooting males I automatically drift my mind suits, dark colours and harsh
o do this, I made myself shoot each man in the same way as I would a women to
This idea was inspired by Megan Magdelena's project 'Boys Boys Boys'.
n, but instead to show a female perspective due to the hyper-masculine male
d in male modelling and the media.
men has improved my own techinical, social and photographic skills. Along with
rm to show the reality of themselves and combat the ever narrow image that is
confidence within themselves and for the audience that views them.
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