I’m Anna and I love to explore emotional connections and narratives through photography. I began photographing nature and family and found a true aspiration for me to grow and learn as a practitioner. My dream would be to run my own photography studio for families to capture life moments. Therefore, I want to develop my skills in photography from a fashion point of view.
Most of my photography is inspired from personal emotions as well as key issues that affect me in day to day life. Using this inspiration, I delve into the themes of Memento and Storytelling Photography.
When completing my Final Major Project (FMP) for Foundation, I discovered Foley in a workshop. It was extremely interesting to learn and create my foley video. Using a microphone set up to record my own sounds and edit over a video of a glass of lemonade being poured. It also allowed me to learn more skills in premiere pro.
For Memento I chose to look into the lives and traditions of Pagans, particularly Pagan Warriors. Designing and creating a costume and makeup allowed me to explore and learn about the different aspects of Paganism. I created my costume out of faux leather and embroidery thread. Embellishments were important to show the traditions. I used shark teeth to emphasise the warrior, beads and crystals on the skirt and jewellery which allowed me to express the fact that Pagan Warriors are all about family. The beads they wear symbolise each family member and the crystals are given to them to protect them. Despite the prop bow and arrow I created from natural resources, a warrior is only threatening if they have to be. The set was natural and focused on natural lighting from the sun piercing through the trees. Highlighting multiple shades of green and making the path stretch further into the distance like there was much more to their story that you could not see in the camera.
For my FMP I chose to look into Storytelling Photography. Focusing on Fictional characters to use as figures to express key issues. These were some of my own personal issues, that when creating the characters and stories, unconsciously arose. I wrote my own stories and designed costumes and scenes for each character. One character I created was The Captain. Her story was written from a crewmate’s point of view and included no pronouns, therefore, the reader would assume a gender role when they read the title and story. This was to show the key issue of assuming gender roles and gender dominated career titles. I chose a pirate Captain as the word Captain was male dominated in the media, I created her as strong and as protecting as any of the characters portrayed in stories throughout the media.
My second character was a Royal maid. This maid is tied into society laws of a royal kingdom. I felt her story was a way to show key issues in the class system and how money can define someones standing in these classes, these standings don’t necessarily come from hard work or talent. She is looking into the distance, longing, facing away from this castle she is trapped in. The ties in the back of her dress indicate the ties she is trying to break from. I decided to create a 3rd character based on how I felt in my body in society. Trapped into a Fairytale-like corset that is one size fits all but really its too tight on some and others it would fall right off. These beauty standards for all genders are unrealistic like a Fairytale, they make other people feel unworthy and wrong. The makeup and faux ears are there to emphasise the imaginary standards that are set.
Different media was key to capture the best scene, I tried milk bath photography to capture a silhouette. Lighting and timing was also very important for the glow symbolising a positive future longing for her in the Maid Photo. I used the golden hour bouncing off the water to give a more textured back ground.
Editing was extremely important to develop and deepen the story of each image. I used Lightroom to add a colour filter to my Captain shoot, giving it an old pirate feel and a blueish green glow. For my Maid and Mirror Bath shoots, I used photoshop to alter colours and crop and add the image into the mirror. The maid colours almost look like an oil painting of someone looking longingly into the distance.
My Instagram and Website –
Foundation Diploma in Art, Design & Media Practice - Rochester 
Faye Placzek | Pre-degree & Foundation Studies
