This assignment asks us to draw upon experiences from this part of the course and our research into self-portraits’. It comes at a time where we are experiencing for some people some hard and harsh times. Something people haven’t experienced before.
It is a testing time that we have entered into, one that that only time will tell how it is that we have dealt with it.
Self-portraits for me has been one I was hoping id be able to skip. I’d rather be the one photographing than the model. It has been an intriguing assignment for me, one that I’ve been able to experiment with more than the previous two. Partly down to now having more time on my hands to venture and time at home has helped me to try and experiment with new ideas and concepts.
Standing in front of the lens isn’t a strong point for me. I have been told what at times a “Face for Radio”. And not for the television. So how did I take to this task and the ideas I faced?
You will be able to see from my research how this final concept came together. The initial idea of Soldier, Civilian and Veteran I think will now be what I’ll try to portray in Assignment Five. Through this journey and seeing a portrait, has given me far more ideas to go forward. YouTube has been a breath of fresh air when looking for ideas whys to construct a self-portrait. I have also enjoyed looking at how Vivian Maier used herself within a picture to create her self-portraits.
Maiers images of herself within a frame drew me to the idea of a composition of my self-portrait, giving a point of view effect from my eye. Hence my assignment title COVID-SOLATION a play on words.
Fifteen images down to nine selected to be placed into the zine and a few changes in the post edit. 20200420-ASS-3-C&N-COVID-SOLATION
Demonstration of technical and visual skills – I think this has shown a creative side to my photography, yes, I’ve used my street photography style within the images. Still, I believe shows you’re the viewer my PoV that I’ve seen through my isolation. By using everything, I had to hand from lighting that was purchased last year to a makeshift studio in the spare bedroom. I’ve pushed myself to think outside the box and ultimately, my comfort zone.
Quality of outcome – How I have chosen the viewer to see the view is via a word document that in the form of a zine. Single text sentence or word accompanied by an image on the following page. I believe it works well and I’ve had not bad comments from friends and family. Even without the text, I think they work. I don’t think the colour would have worked as well as black and white. Colour would have been too much for the eyes to see. Its dark times and bnw echoes this, I believe.
Demonstration of creativity – had I not seen this on technique on YouTube with photoshop and blending of images I don’t think I would have created them like this. I have used the double exposure in-camera technique beforehand on this course and EYV, I don’t think it would have been as dramatic as these have turned out to be. The use of dodging and burning of the image to enhance some of the areas works exceptionally well with bnw.
Context – I think you can see the background to the series that I have tried to portray. Self-isolation and portraiture have gone well together. Had I stuck with the two images using the large mirror I think you would have got a slightly different outcome.
contact sheet 20200416-Ass-3-final
some of the comments from the OCA forum page
Definitely very creative! The layering works well and there is a level of ambiguity in the images that is very engaging. Looking forward to seeing more!
Thanks Lynda. Just trying to see what I’ve captured that works.
I wonder how it looks in colour? I think the repeating motif of your self portrait could work, disrupting the motif with objects within the home could add a further layer, outside and inside, maybe play with layering two images with the household objects like these self portraits, it could create a flow within a series, outside a restricted movement, inside a more static environment
Hi Alan I did try that but it just didn’t work out. A kettle my head and a spoon in my mouth. 
Just going through a few more edits. I think I’m content with what I’m achieving.
Time will tell. Thanks for the comments.
No in these flip side images remove your self portrait 
and use say a kettle and overlay say an image with I don’t know the kitchen or the outside world so the series becomes a mix of self portraits disrupted with objects
Ok I see what you mean 
I think there’s potential for something really interesting here, as a concept and visually. I’d just keep experimenting and see where it takes it you.
Bibliography
Part Two Context and Narrative BA HONS in Photography OCA 