GCSE IDENTITY - UMA ALMOND
BRUNO METRA/LAWRENCE JEANSON
Bruno Metra and Lawrence Jeanson are collaborative French photographers, collectively known as Metra-Jeanson, that have come together to create series of photographs exploring the concept of 'normal' faces. This concept explores hidden identity and how in the current day society's perception of beauty is becoming artificial. The collaborators almost perform fake plastic surgery using magazines. They cut out heavily stylized facial features from magazines and advertisements. These features include, eyes and mouths (which are the most prominent features of the face) from fashion magazines. Then they use opaque tape to stick these cut outs onto their models faces. Overlaying their own facial features.
The idea came from challenging brainwashing idea of beauty as it is expressed in culture and especially in the illusion of beauty as represented in fashion magazines.
- Bruno Metra
This mixture between reality and glamour is a theme that is very prominent within their work. I think this as a contrastive theme is something that is quite bold as it represents a society in which we are all living in.
In all of these photographs the resulting image captures the models to end up looking like victims of a botched plastic surgery. The tape almost looks like scars of tissue or stitching. As I look closer, I notice that all the models expression are quite bland. In fact they all show straight faces. I think this is an important feature towards these photographs as this helps to highlight the contrast between the cut out features and the real life face.
Metra-Jeanson uses high key lighting within their work to highlight and fully capture the detail in each portrait. This will be important for me to use natural or artificial lighting when it comes to my photoshoot. In this series of photographs, the photographers use a plain white background to further enhance the detail of the face and also in order to not distract the viewer's from anything but the face.
With a further look into Metra-Jeanson, I found another series of works with a similar theme and idea however this time, the photographers capture their models within what I am inferring is their own bedrooms. This adds to the idea of identity as it represents not only their hidden facial selves but also their identity within their surroundings. Although, this series is an interesting point to further explore, I want to focus upon the singular self identity and the 'ugly' beauty of the models faces.
CONTACT SHEETS
These are my contact sheets for my photoshoot inspired by Metra - Jeanson. I first of all, found a collection of magazines that had figural facial features of eyes and lips. After finding a good collection of features, I then cut them out leaving some of the skin surrounding the eyes and lips. Then I used see through tape to stick the cut out features onto my models faces. For my models I used myself, my mum and my brother. I think this helps as it shows how different faces can create different collages.
As Metra-jeanson uses high key lighting, I shot my images in daylight as I do not have a white studio light. However, I think these photograph's came out successful as I was able to capture the different compositions but still was able to capture the detail in the deformed faces.
DEVELOPMENTS
These are my first edited developments, for Metra - Jeanson. To edit these photographs I increased the contrast and brightness to achieve that high key lighting that occurs in Metra - Jeanson work. On one of my developments I have incorporated twenty percent of noise within my work to create a more rustic look and atmosphere throughout my photos. I have also considered the angles within my shoot. For instance I have taken close up angles of my models in order to highlight the cut out facial features I included. Within my editing I also increased the saturation to have a vibrant and modern effect throughout my images in order to relate to Metra - Jeanson's art.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN BLACK AND WHITE
These are my first edited developments in black and white, for Metra - Jeanson. I edited my images by incorporating the technique double exposure. I have done this by double exposing recent images of my work on top of my black and white edits. I double exposed my imagery in order to make the faces within my photography to look more deformed and disfigured. To double expose these images, I first copied and pasted an image onto another and then used the layering tool to blend the images together. I also, additionally used the burn tool to draw onot the image, discarding any other dark spots on the image. This creates a dystopian and intriguing effect throughout my art. In my opinion I believe these edits came out successful as they have created a disfigured affect which is very intriguing and captivating but I added my own twist with editing them to be black and white.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS USING FRAMES
These are my final edited outcomes from these further developments. In this series of photographs, I first of all used the technique of double exposure. To do this I used keys, control 'c' and then 'v' to copy and paste the original development. Then I adjusted the contrast and opacity to blur the images together. I think this technique enhances the deformed almost fake plastic surgery look towards my photographs.
Down below is an experimentational development where I used my photoshop skills and expanded the image so that I could copy and paste different angles of the same use of cut out features. This almost created a 360 angled pano. Then I selected the cut out magazine features and copied and pasted them onto the panned image. I think this really elevates my developments.
PROCESS LOG FOR ABOVE DEVELOPMENT
STEP 1: First of all, I pull up three image that turned out successful within the composition and angle of the light onto Adobe Photoshop. Then I select one and use keys ctrl c and v to paste onto the middle angle. Then I use the crop tool dragging it to add space where I can move the other two images to. This will create an almost series of photographs combined together.
STEP 2: I then repeat this process until it becomes a series of photographs that are combines together. After this, I adjust the colour, changing it to black and white. Then adjusting the contrast and brightness, unit I am pleased with the overall image.
STEP 3: First of all, I pull up an image that turned out successful within the composition and angle of the light onto Adobe Photoshop. Then I select the part of the facial feature that has been stuck on the face - artificial feature-
I then use keys ctrl c and v to paste onto the black and white collage. Here I cover the original eye and adjust the size and angle so that it covers smoothly. I repeat this process multiple times until I have covered every artificial feature on the black and white collage.
First After this, I select the layer I want to be adjusted; I go to edit - layer - layer style - blending options, until I find this <<. I adjust the distance a little and size a little. This creates a shadow around your layer almost making it look 3D. I then repeat this process on all of the added layers. This is my final development down below.
CONTACT SHEET FOR REDRAFT SHOOT
FIRST DEVELOPMENT
These are my contact sheets for my redraft photoshoot. My aim for this photoshoot was to capture close up detailed images of the face. As in the future when it comes to editing my images, I will be creating grids in which a face would be displayed.
My inspiration behind this photoshoot was to create my own collages of the face by taking close up images of facial features to future edit them into a grid like format where the images make up a face.
I think this photoshoot was quite successful as I was able to capture enough features to later collage together. I also want to explore this method of
These are my first edited developments for this redraft photoshoot. My inspiration behind this photoshoot was to create my own collages of the face by taking close up images of facial features. This further explores this idea of a disformed, disfigured face. By using a grid like format I was able to create a face without making every line in the face match up. This gave me more freedom with what images I could use.
To edit these developments I used Adobe photoshop. I first of all changed the brightness, hue and exposure of every image. Then I used keys ctrl c and v to paste my first facial feature onto a blank white file. The I repeated this process of copying my images then pasting them onto the original file until I created a final complete face.
I think overall I am pleased with this selection of digital collages.
DEVELOPMENTS IN BLACK AND WHITE
These are my first edited developments for this redraft photoshoot in black and white, for Metra - Jeanson. I edited my images by incorporating the. I have done this by double exposing recent images of my work on top of my black and white edits. I double exposed my imagery in order to make the faces within my photography to look more deformed and disfigured. This creates a dystopian and intriguing effect throughout my art. In my opinion I believe these edits came out successful as they have created a disfigured affect which is very intriguing and captivating but I added my own twist with editing them to be black and white.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS- EXPERIMENTING WITH CREATING COLLAGED FACES
In this set of developments I wanted to incorporate more collaged elements into them. I I took inspiration from David Hockney's Joiners where he digitally collaged images to together, to distort and almost look as though the photographs are glitched. I have attached images of his work for reference, too draw inspiration from the collages.
For this, I used images from my most recent photoshoot, and photographs from the internet, To replicate the physical collaging of the artists work. To create these edits, I first of overlaid other images of facial features onto a base portrait. Then, as the editing process goes on, I would decide, if the development needs an additional feature off of the internet. I also change some parts of the development to black and white as I think otherwise some of the facial features would blend in with the background image too much. Furthermore, I also used other techniques such as glitching. This is where I would copy and paste the image; move the duplicate slightly, then used the layers tool to overlay the two images creating a glitching effect. My final step is to draw using the burn tool I think these are successful edits in collaging digitally, however I do think physical, collaged, developments would feel more gradually connected towards this artist.
FINAL PHYSICAL COLLAGED PHOTOSHOOT
This is a mini photoshoot capturing a physical collage of my previous development. I wanted to experiment with physically layering my photographs as I though this would enhance my exploration with Metra-Jeanson's work. I firstly printed out my most successful portraits of me, and my models (my mum and bother). Then, I looked through some more magazines and cut out interestingly looking facial features. I shot my photographs in natural light, however some of the photographs I captured using the built in flash. In some instances this method enhanced my photographs however, I think overall this technique didn't help capture the detail of the face.
I think overall, I am very pleased with this final photoshoot.
EDITED DEVELOPMENTS
To edit these developments above, I adjusted the hue and brightness. I also changed the highlight and exposure. These are my final developments from Metra-Jeanson. I am overall very pleased with how these developments on the collaborative artists came out and I think I have learned different methods including collaging physically and digitally For, an extra experimentation I would like to further collage these developments with each other adding to the collaging element I am exploring.
FURTHER COLLAGED DEVELOPMENTS
This is the further developments where I reprinted and collaged together my most recent photoshoot. I took my most successful developments from my previous photoshoot and physicaly collaged them together.
FINAL OUTCOMES
These are my final outcomes from the inspiration of Metra-Jeanson. I stuck these onto the wall as though they are a series of photographs. I thought it would be professional to create final outcomes as those my final piece just from looking at these artist as it feels as though I have resolved outcome from experimenting with what I have learnt. I am overall pleased with this outcome as it incapsulates what I have learnt and experimented with. Overall, I am pleased with what I have experimented with and my final developments made.
HIGHLIGHTING SUCCESS
These are some of the most successful developments in my opinion from experimenting and collaging my inspired by the work of Metra-Jeanson.