What are concepts?
Abstract ideas. The feelings within us. The ideas that we cannot describe with words.
What has continuously drawn me to photography, was that it was an artistic medium that allowed me to convey my thoughts. I could turn my deepest thoughts into visuals. I feel that this creative expression that has turned photography into a passion for me is also what pushed me to pursue conceptual photography. It can be hard, and it involves a heavy planning stage but it really allows me to forge my ideas into something I can share. Sometimes words just aren't enough.
I really enjoyed the process of this project as it was fueled completely by my ideas and allowed for creative freedom. The research and brainstorming part of the process, was one of my favourites. I instantly was able to come up with so many ideas and concepts that I wanted to convey. It lead me to a path of experimentation, trial and error and continuously working and adapting my compositions.
The final products of my self directed project each have their own unique look and concept. The first one is titled Unmasked. The photo uses elements of colour and repetition to emphasise the ideas. The whole idea behind the photo is to expose a truth I notice in society, where everyone lives behind masks. The metaphorical masks blind us to who we really are, and we lose a sense of our identities. I think myself and others around me are all guilty of wearing these mask, many times just to hide the truth from ourselves.
The second final photo is titled Hidden Thoughts; Lost Thoughts. As I approached this project I wanted to convey the idea of being lost in our own selves because sometimes you don't even know what you are. There is so much confusion and pressure from others to figure out who we are that my definitions of self-identity are lost in a spiral of thoughts. In my brainstorming, I had many ideas on how to conduct and compose this image. In the end I felt that this was the most effective and compelling. It introduces a surreal aspect, by having a motion blur of the head and neck in contrast with the stillness of the rest of the picture. My hope is that it depicts to people, the emotions of overwhelming thoughts and being lost in one's mind.
The last image in my series is Controller. It is a simple but powerful composition that again exposes an ugly truth of the societies that we live in. Just as we are being forced to wear these masks, the pressure of society is truly controlling our ideas and how we live our lives. The society, which includes yourself, is controlling every action that we take. It sets a one way path, and if you break the bonds of control you are marginalized for being different.
In the end, I think I was successful with how I approached and undertook this self-directed project. I was able to create conceptual photography, that came from a place of passion. I was deliberate in the concepts that I chose to portray, concepts that meant something to me. Each image is strong in it own way, however they are also tied together by an overlapping theme of identity and how it is shaped by the environment around us. I was impressed by the final products, as I worked hard to create the ideas that I had imagined.
Abstract ideas. The feelings within us. The ideas that we cannot describe with words.
What has continuously drawn me to photography, was that it was an artistic medium that allowed me to convey my thoughts. I could turn my deepest thoughts into visuals. I feel that this creative expression that has turned photography into a passion for me is also what pushed me to pursue conceptual photography. It can be hard, and it involves a heavy planning stage but it really allows me to forge my ideas into something I can share. Sometimes words just aren't enough.
I really enjoyed the process of this project as it was fueled completely by my ideas and allowed for creative freedom. The research and brainstorming part of the process, was one of my favourites. I instantly was able to come up with so many ideas and concepts that I wanted to convey. It lead me to a path of experimentation, trial and error and continuously working and adapting my compositions.
The final products of my self directed project each have their own unique look and concept. The first one is titled Unmasked. The photo uses elements of colour and repetition to emphasise the ideas. The whole idea behind the photo is to expose a truth I notice in society, where everyone lives behind masks. The metaphorical masks blind us to who we really are, and we lose a sense of our identities. I think myself and others around me are all guilty of wearing these mask, many times just to hide the truth from ourselves.
The second final photo is titled Hidden Thoughts; Lost Thoughts. As I approached this project I wanted to convey the idea of being lost in our own selves because sometimes you don't even know what you are. There is so much confusion and pressure from others to figure out who we are that my definitions of self-identity are lost in a spiral of thoughts. In my brainstorming, I had many ideas on how to conduct and compose this image. In the end I felt that this was the most effective and compelling. It introduces a surreal aspect, by having a motion blur of the head and neck in contrast with the stillness of the rest of the picture. My hope is that it depicts to people, the emotions of overwhelming thoughts and being lost in one's mind.
The last image in my series is Controller. It is a simple but powerful composition that again exposes an ugly truth of the societies that we live in. Just as we are being forced to wear these masks, the pressure of society is truly controlling our ideas and how we live our lives. The society, which includes yourself, is controlling every action that we take. It sets a one way path, and if you break the bonds of control you are marginalized for being different.
In the end, I think I was successful with how I approached and undertook this self-directed project. I was able to create conceptual photography, that came from a place of passion. I was deliberate in the concepts that I chose to portray, concepts that meant something to me. Each image is strong in it own way, however they are also tied together by an overlapping theme of identity and how it is shaped by the environment around us. I was impressed by the final products, as I worked hard to create the ideas that I had imagined.