Above Americano's

Saturday the 24th of November

I went out with Bish to take a few tester shots. I wanted to practice the effect of moving the camera while exposing the image to create motion within the photograph and double exposures. I wanted to create this feeling that Bish is here but at the same time he isn't. He is physically here in England but on paper he is not. So instead of showing him bold and strong as an object within the image, I wanted an almost shadowy, opaque figure. I think it also expresses his vulnerability as his figure and outline are not defined within the image, parts of him are shooting off into different directions, like he isn't settled, he's always stirring. The results came out really well. As well as this I also took some standard portraits of him. I played around when it came to editing the images. I wanted to experiment with the use of colour within them. The images were taken above the pizza shop, 'Americano's' where Bish works. This explains the machinery, fridges and tonnes of oil within the images.

All the imaes were taken using natural light. The above two show a strong section of sunlight that was creeping through the window.

I like the messy-ness within this image. The chaos of everything that is surrounding Bish, relating in the same way to his own life.

Stood infront of the pizza machine.

The multiple exposures, created when moving the camera while taking and exposing the image. I put the flash on too as this gave more focus to his face.

As you can see I experimented in editing the images by using different colours. I mainly changed the blacks to blues.

 This image is my favourite of all. There's something about the way he's looking into the camera. Also the second exposure of his face to the right side of the image is the most clear and defined than the others but still retains its see-through quality. This image speaks to me about everything I am trying to get across about Bish. His outline is strong but the second exposure reveals weakness in its lack of definition. He is vulnerable and young and chaotic but at the same time he is strong and has a lot of presence.

New Project Proposal

"My idea for my consolidated project is to focus on and document my close friend Bishwan. Bishwan is currently an Iranian asylum seeker living in Britain. I want to look at this young and vulnerable person's life that I find absolutely fascinating. What fascinates me most about him is that he is different. He comes from a different culture, with different values and beliefs to mine, that I am not use to being exposed to. I'm fascinated with the way he lives and works, the friendship’s he has, the music he listens to, everything about him. The more time I spend with him the more I have an urge to want to take his photograph. He is extremely beautiful and vulnerable. I can look at him in a place and situation and think, 'Wow, this would make a really interesting and fascinating image'. I want to expose other people to who he is. He isn't just a foreigner, he isn't just an asylum seeker, he's a human being, a very beautiful human being at that. I have witnessed at first hand the cruel and narrow-mindedness of other people, towards him. It makes me so angry and upset at how people, people who represent myself, could treat this vulnerable and beautiful 'child'. And for what? Because he has an accent and slightly darker skin? I want people to see him for who he is, get to know him through his photographs and fall in love with him the way I have.

I am not trying to look at and produce this project from a typical documentary perspective but more a fine art one. I am not wanting to just focus on the subject matter of the images but also the formalistic aspects. Of course I will be photographing Bish and his life and I do not want to change anything about who he truthfully is or what he does but if I have to set up images to make them more compositionally and aesthetically pleasing then I will do so. I will be researching into artists such as Nan Goldin who focus on friends and loved ones within their images and photograph their lives. Artists who look at identity with their work in regards to race and religion. I am wanting to do a lot of research into different photography techniques and try them out.

I will be editing the images. I am wanting to play around with the colours within the images and change them. I will be testing out different photography techniques and idea's to produce images with different twists. I want to play around with the exposure, focus and depth of field and try out new and inventive techniques such as moving the camera and lens as I am taking the image. I want to experiment with shadows, textures and tones throughout this project. Looking at different light sources and coloured lights and photographing behind and in front of different textures, such as, water, glass and material.

I will be shooting my images using digital. This is to make my life easier for when I am experimenting with the images while I am taking them and also when I am editing them afterwards. I do however want to experiment with polaroid as I have always been keen to use it. I am wanting to look at different ways to print my images and different materials to print them on to. I am interested in printing onto glass as glass is fragile, which represents the idea of Bishwan and his life being delicate and fragile. Acetate is also something I want to experiment with when printing. I am not sure how I am going to present my final images. however I am wanting to print them at quite a large scale. This being because bish is so beautiful I want people to spot his image from across the room and also because of the concept that I am desperately wanting society to accept him and see that something special within him like I do. I don’t want him to shy away from who is because other people are too narrow-minded to accept it. I want to tell the world, let everyone know, I adore this being."

Change Of Plan ♥

Recently I've been thinking more about my consolidated project idea and how unenthusiastic i have become about it. I've been thinking and have become more drawn towards one of my original ideas. The idea I had about documenting my close friend's situation in this country as an asylum seeker. The idea has become more appealing to me as I spend a lot of time with this person and when we are together I look at him in a place or situation and think to myself, 'this would make a really interesting image'. I also have this urge to photograph him because he is very captivating and beautiful. His story is personal to me as well, as we are close and I care for him.

Sex And The City ♥

My biggest inspiration for my project comes from the television show, Sex And The City. The show, set in Manhattan, New York, focuses on four single american women, three in their mid thirties and one in her forties. The series follows the lives of these big-city professional women and how changing roles and expectations for women affects them.

What i love about the show the most is the lifestyles of each of the characters. I really aspire towards what they have in life. They have great jobs, money, fabulous apartments and each other. They dont have children tying them down, theyre free and comfortable, they can be selfish and focus on themselves, they can be who they want, when they want and have a fabulous time in doing so.


Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker)

The fictional narrator and lead character of the show. She works as a columnist for the New York Star, writing a column called, "Sex and the City".

• Led by her emotions
• Craves acceptance
• Has an on/off relationship with the character 'Mr Big'
• Enjoys cosmopolitan cocktails
• On-again, off-again smoker
• On an endless search for true love

She was voted 11th in Bravo's, "100 greatest TV characters". Also named icon of the decade by The Guardian in 2009, stating that "Carrie Bradshaw did as much to shift the culture around certain women's issues as real-life female groundbreakers.".

Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon)

Carries best friend. She is career minded lawyer with extremely cynical views on men and relationships.

• Workaholic
• Voice of reason
• Masculine front, but soft on the inside 

Charlotte York (Kristen Davis)

An art dealer and college graduate. Charlotte is the most conservative of the group with traditional views, placing more emphasis of love than lust.

• Searching for her 'Knight in shining armour'
• Young and naive
• Graceful and sweet natured
• Loyal

Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall)

The eldest and most promiscuous and egoistic of the group. Samantha owns her own promotions company.

• Outspoken and self-proclaimed
• Loyal
• Loves sex

Bruno Dayan

I love the softness of these images and the tones are lush.

I really like the spots that appear in some of the images like out of focus lights at nightime.

This image and the following remind me of some documentary work but with the twist of fashion, the strong harsh lights withinn the images definately scream fashion but the setting says documentary.

Bruno is a french fashion photographer known best for his sensual fashion photography, sexuality and use of intricate light.

D. Brian Nelson: Texture, Colour, Shape & Shadow

I really love the texture the obect infront of the model is creating in this image and also the shadows cast from  the panels, onto her skin. I am wanting to experiment with textures in my own work, i have already worked with water on glass, and i love the effect it created.

I also want to exeriment with shadows and projection. I have photographed shadows from trees before and found it really beautiful and inspiring.

This is really interesting. It has given me an idea to research into flash photography. It gives you a feeling of the presence of the photographer creating a sense of reality to the image.



I want to play around with shooting images at night or when its dark because i feel that the black spaces that fill the photographs create a really dramatic effect and also because its something ive never done before. I also want to experiment with shadows and textures within my images.

The Little Black Book

Features alongside the ad campaign for Jones New York titled, 'Empowering Your Confidence'. The Book is a digital compilation of accomplished female professionals, such as Bobbi Brown, Ariana Huffington and Ivanka Trump, sharing their wisdom with other women everywhere..

Annie Leibovitz: 'Empowering Your Confidence'

Shot by esteemed photographer, Annie Leibovitz, this ad campaign, 'Empowering Your Confidence', for Jones New York, highlights accessible luxury for the modern, professional woman. The campaign is influenced by, 'A Woman's Nation', which highlights the influence and growth of women at home, work and all around the world. JNY is celebrating female empowerment not only through fashion but also by offering advice, tips and inspirational quotes by other successful women via 'The Little Black Book'.

Jessica Stam, Hilary Rhoda and Du Juan are a few of the faces that help to bring these stunning shots to life against the iconic backdrop of New York's Grand Central Station.