Draft Proposal Childs Play

Childs Play

This project will be a series of images of a child playing with their imagination along with old-fashioned role-play toys.

I have been heavily influenced over the past months by conceptual fine art photography with hints of surrealism. I enjoy manipulating images with lighting and props and locations along with the help of applications such as Photoshop. It helps me to create images that people can only imagine, that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I think this project will allow me to expand on this, as there is plenty of time to do so. Time was limited with previous projects so I was unable to apply myself fully.
Many artists have influenced me. The first was Annie Leibovitz, I love the way she can create any scene from out of a film, story or pure imagination and make it somewhat ‘real’. Brooke Shaden has inspired me over the last year or so too, creating beautiful imagery purely from her imagination. Styles and techniques I like range from the desaturated colours of Loretta Lux to the textures Shaden uses. I love the desaturated skin tones with vibrant colours that Billy und Hells use, inspired by artists such as Lucas Cranach who painted in a similar manner.
Other influences are Maggie Taylor, Tim Walker, John French, Richard Avedon and Rankin. I love fashion and I love surrealism. It’s nice to escape the negativity that is expressed so widely nowadays. I would love to take my viewers on a little journey of happiness, adventure and innocence. Wouldn’t that be refreshing?

Based on what I want to achieve in my series I will need to research and practice my techniques in Photoshop. Perfecting techniques such a blend modes, montaging and other various adjustment layers.
I will have some element of specialist studio techniques also which may be taken out onto location? Digital montage and scannography would be very useful, as I will be building an image with images, similar to Maggie Taylor and Brooke Shaden. I am participating in a three-day workshop on creative live to learn the techniques of a conceptual fashion photographer name Miss Annalie.

I will have to make a final proposal along with set designs etc within the coming weeks as preparation will take some time, sourcing the props and correct locations for the final sets. I would like to present the images in a square format, maybe a 40 x 40 print with giclee on velvia paper, I want the images to be like a painting so I think to present them on a textured paper would be suited.

I will review and analyse my work by assessing the images individually and as a full series. The images should appear surreal in thought but real in capture. I will have to be meticulous and pay attention to detail, ensuring light sources and shadows and tonal values are all the same for each blended layer, ensuring they all knit together as one seamless image. The series should flow but each image should stand out individually and portray the innocence and creativity within a child’s imagination.

These images will represent that each child holds something inside of them that we should all hold on to and encourage our children to keep and take with them into adulthood.