I've been working a lot recently on the closed eyes photograph, mainly concentrating on developing the veins on the arm through paint brush tool alongside brightness and contrast on the overall image. The choice to stick to editing this image rather than the others was mainly due to the positioning of the eyes and the impact this had upon drawing attention to certain areas within the photograph. I also felt that it worked better in partnership with the overall theme, expressing what i wanted. Overall i did feel happy with the image shown but did begin to find myself wanting to work more within photoshop developing the image future as i  felt that i had not really explored and experimented with it properly. This is where i got the idea of adding more wires, adapting and working from the original image rather than taking and replacing elements . The first idea was to possibly add wires, working on the background of the image recreating stacks of empty electrical objects working in comparisont to the foreground image. The only problem i found when i began doing this was that the wires didn't look as good as i wanted as because of using cloning they seemed to result in having a fake and unnatural look to them with obvious editing effects. Looking unnaturally placed remving the initial effect of a dark and dingy background.

After this and wanting to adapt from my original but on a more exaggerated level i thought about using my original as more of a template something which didn't need to be edited to a large degree. The four wires seen puertuding from the large white wire and entering the arm was the result of this. I wanted to choose something upon the image and work from it rather than adding things too it or removing things away. To do this i firstly began by taking and using an image off google (Shown here) to which i then cut, removed, copied and reworked on top of my original. The process involved me using alot of the paint brush tool and patch tool as i needed to create a softness and airbrushed effect to the wires working on the lighting and colors to ensure they looked part of the original image. The positing of the wires was also another important factor within the work as i wanted it look as though they were entering the skin on the arm. This lead me onto having to move and alter the original size,shape and angles of the wires in relation to this through th transform and puppet warp tool.

Overall i feel happy with this addition to the photograph as i feel that it adds more of a dramatic and effective element as well as creating a clearer understanding of my overall theme and what i wanted to portray, alongside displaying more of my photoshop skills and leanings. Due to this i don't think i will be adding any more to the photo as i think doing so has helped me recognize the limit of where my work could possibly look over edited, something which i don't want.

Other image with eyes closed, do prefer this one as due to the positioning of the eyes looking down it seems to draw more attention to the area of the needle. 

Needs
Wire making brighter
Maybe change background?
more work on skin
Add logo somewhere?

Glow?

I began experimenting with adding things such as a glowing effect to my image, wanting to experiment more with electrical or robot like effects. Here you can see that i have added a low blueish glow on the veins to which continues on the side of the face. The main purpose of this was to symbolize what was being injected into the human, making it visible through the skin similar to that of blood. I felt by doing this that it future raised the question of control and power while blurring the lines between human and cyborg as it allows the viewer to question to what point does a human become a cyborg? and what makes them become one if they are?. I also feel that by doing this it better highlighted the main focal point of the image, helping the viewer understand more about my idea.

Personally i didn't really like this effect as i found that it created a very edited and altered look to the image removing the naturalness previously created. I think that when viewed closer it again looses its naturalness as the veins appear blurred while the colors create a more drawn-on look to which again aids in the loss of realistic features. I do like the idea and the effects that using glow has on the image but overall i felt that it created a much more unrealistic effect to which i felt didn't compliment the rest of the image as a whole.

Look into photographs or artists which use wires or drugs within their work/ or photo manipulation. Or who work with skin??

Main Photoshop tools used:

Patch tool
Paint brush
Spot healing

Veins

Here you can see an example of editing i did on one of my final photographs. As my work is centered around the theme of addiction it lead me onto experimenting with adding things such as protruding veins, pale complection and dark shadows under the eyes, creating an image similar to that seen of somebody on and injecting drugs.To begin the majority of the editing was changing brightness/contrast, levels, curves and colours to which i then began using the paint brush hand drawing tool . Overall i did initially find it quite difficult to get what i wanted on the image but found that after a while of using photoshop it became much more easier to work with. I would like to work more on this image or maybe another similar adding more and different effects for example working with the wires more in relationship to the skin on the arm and possibly experimenting with the colours within the image.

Triptych work

Need to work more on backgrounds and veins

The work above shows examples i did experimenting with triptych's, my initial idea was to somehow portray a story, giving the viewer a broader angle of the subject and theme. Personally i do feel that this has worked well but would like to use a single image as my final as i not only think that this will be more effective but will hopefully result in clearer and more obvious meaning image.The images seen were all shot on the same day using a tripod. I only used the lighting from my laptop as well as using wires and technology based objects i found around my flat. Initially i wanted to experiment with having different objects, angles and overall environments in each shot as i felt that this would work best in relationship to the theme, for example one image showing my arm wrapped in wires, the other showing an environment laced in old technology while the other followed a similar theme maybe the inclusion of a human face or body as whole. Yet when i began shooting i found myself wanting to capture more of myself in different situations rather than concentrating on capturing a single objects or spaces. I began working on the idea of wanting the work to almost simulate a documentary set of images, unaware and as unstaged as possible, where each image worked off the next which when placed together created one whole photograph carrying the same theme and meaning.

Looking back on this work i do feel that the idea of recreating a storyboard appearance has resulted in a set of images which i found to be too complicated or lacking in context to later edit on Photoshop.  If i was to do this again i would have experimented more before hand knowing what i needed to capture in relationship to photoshop. As i feel that i could have produced some good photos to edit. I also feel that my lack in confidence within Photoshop has not helped this as i felt unsure and unaware of the capabilities to which could have been achieved within photo editing before this was done. As knowing what i know now i think i would have changed alot of the ideas and areas when shooting.

Tom Spianti

http://tomspianti.com/

I came across Tome Spianti while researching into Triptych photography. I really like his use of photography within his work as he seems to produce photographs which through the technique of triptych style layouts he results in images which carry a sense of mystery and confusion to them. His images yet clear and concise show somewhat of a story aided by the clever use of change in both size, angle and distance between each or one shot he seems to highlight the singular images taken to which when placed back together create a new image all together.  I really want to experiment with this style of layout, yet have more differentiation between shots for example, having each shot showing a different image yet when placed together show a single idea or theme. 

Need to look at trip-tic photographs/ Storyboards

Been experimenting with different effects in class today in relation to my theme of addiction . I wanted to experiment with adding images on top of other images as well as merging two images or aspects of an image together to create one final. I feel that by doing so before producing my photographs it will allow me to have a better understanding of what, where and maybe how to shoot for best results. I also wanted to be more aware of what was achievable within photoshop as this has again changed my ideas.

The image above is an example of experimenting with adding and editing wires to a photo. My initial idea was to create an image which portrayed the wires entering the fore arm, similar to that seen in addicts when injecting. To achieve this i used an existing image as the background then added the smaller wire from another existing image to the foreground. After this i then began experimenting with merging the two images together to create a more realistic appearance,  for example changing colour, brightness/Contrast as well as overall detail and quality. I also had areas where free hand skills were used for example the painting and creation of the vein to get a protruding, bulging like effect as well as the shading on the underside of the small wire to create a much more realistic appearance in relation to the background image. Overall as i do struggle with photoshop i did find this difficult especially when it came to creating mask layers although when i began i did find it became much more easier to understand the more i worked on it allowing me to understand and try more effects. Personally i still feel the image could be edited more as i can see areas which if improved could result in a better more realistic final image. If i was to do this again i would consider using a much more realtic foreground image, as i feel that due to the lighting and overall shape and positioning it resulted in alot more editing and adjuments needed to be applied which overall added to the  lack of realaisum. Due to this i think within my own work i will use real objects within the shots insead of photoshopping them in as this will not only aid me in producing the right effect wanted but will also allow me to manipulate the image alot more freely.

 I do think that doing things such as this help me massively with my editing skills and are defiantly something which i want to continue doing future within this project. This is something which i want to produce within my final images, i just need to work on planning the correct images to capture to which i can then best edit from.

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/bleak_house_hardcore_photos_of_russian_krokodil_junkies_squalid_drug_den

Need to look more into the different effects which can be created and achieved on photoshop in relation to the theme of drugs. for example, cuts on arms, veins, merging of objects. As this is what i will be doing after the shoot is complete.

Sophie Calle

I've been looking into the works of the french photographer Sophie Calle and her work "The Hotel, Room 44". The work taken from a Venetian hotel room in February 1983 are almost a recorded diary entry of the things which Calle saw while she worked as a chambermaid for three weeks. The photos show things such as unmade beds, suitcases filled with clothes, dresser draws and general room decor. The images were taken alongside notes and habits of each guest by Calle to which she then later published and exhibited. 

I like the way which Calle has displayed the photos. Again they show similarities to that of a story board, displaying short and concise snippets of information within each shot which when placed together create a final overview and story of the work. The images allow the viewer to gain an insight into how Calle viewed and explored the theme of study viewing almost although you were Calle yourself. Id really like to recreate this type of layout with my images, recreating an almost short film like feel yet with the inclusion of having different angles and subject matter in each shot. Not just loads of a repetitive theme. Each shot is a different subject, area, environment and action. Giving the viewer a full overview of the subject when placed all together.

Ideas?
Use plugs, wires instead of needles.
Technology parts as drugs.
Different surroundings, environments and model to symbolize and exaggerate the severity of the theme portrayed, making look as real as possible. 

http://www.jessicadimmockphotography.com/projects/the-ninth-floor/

I really like this work by Jessica Dimmock, titled "Ninth Floor"as it follows three drug addicts around New York city. The series of photographs capture not only their never ending struggle with a drug addiction but also displays their relationships, lifestyle choices and overall way of life. The photos are an intimate insight into the life and decisions of drug users exploring the highs and lows which accompany it. 

 Although this series of work has no relation to technology as such, i felt that by reascehing into something such as addiction would help me as guidance for my own work. I wanted to look more into the daily lifestyle, activities, appearance, movements, body image,environments and surroundings in which such people live in and less on the actual drugs themselves as within my own work i would like to recreate such images yet replace the drugs with technology based objects. I think that it is a great example of addiction photography as it gives me a wide range of examples to work from and view.  

Need to look more into drug photography, drug addicts, drug environments, instruments ,materials, utensils, adverts etc:

Addiction theme

The photos below show some experimental shots i took to explore working in low artificial lighting. My main aim for the shoot was to capture an almost surreal yet poisonous relationship between the model and the technology (in this case computer).  While shooting the photos I wanted to create a sort of drug addict, obsessiveness behavioral theme throughout each image showing the misery and pain which is commonly associated with drug addicts towards their addictions . I wanted the photographs to look as though they were telling a story or offer us a glimpse into a series of shot time events of the person involved. For the shoot I only used the lights from my laptop which i later enhanced and edited contrast and brightness in Photoshop.  

  

After reviewing these photographs I really liked the effect and role in which the light had in the photos almost symbolizing a sort of power upon the human involved as by highlighting certain aspects of the frame it portrays a controlling nature creating a mysterious and confusing set of images.  

Overall i felt happy with these shots and would love to experiment more in the same style, id like to try using different areas and models along with surroundings and environments.  Id also like to do a wider range of shots exploring the theme more, for example simulating injections, smoking or some type of addiction traits . 

http://flickeflu.com/photos/dawn_borg

I came across Dawn Steaphens Borgs work while in university. I really liked his Insomnia photographs, which seem to display a young boy's battle with light and sleep. The images were taken in dark room settings while either artificial or natural light were used as the only source throughout each shot. This is something i would defiantly like to try and incorporate within my own work. Somehow using the light to show the relationship, power, obsession and the addiction. Wanting it to have more of a meaning.

Eva Stenram

I came across Eva Sternram while looking into photo-montage  Her work really stuck out to me mainly due to the surreal nature and mystery it seems to portray. Her work is a mixture of photo-montage and photo editing coinciding with each other to create final images. The work seen below titled 'Drape' Is a combination of already used vintage pin up photography to which Stenram uses as an original source material to which she then edits. Within the original images the woman's body's are obscured offering a glimpse into an intimate space hidden by the cameras angle. Yet seen within Stenrams version the curtains have been extended obscuring the woman to an even future degree, blurring the line between foreground and background leaves the original meaning of the images there what lost, resulting in a some what new selection carrying a striptease appearance to them. Asthough the curtain and the human figure involved were in some sort of realtionp. 

Although Stenrams work has no realtion to technology, i found the idea and overall final images of this work to be the most interesting  The context of the photohgraphs leaves the viewer almost looking at a relationship between an object and a human, working off one another. This left me wanting to create something more with the idea of a relationship or connection between an inanimate and living object. I also found myself interested in the layout of the photographs, symbolizing an almost storyboard effect to them, as though the viewer was witnessing the romance between each shot. Id really like to recreate this within my own work yet using other objects and surroundings in relation to the overall theme.

I came across this image on tumblr while researching into family portraiture's  The image really stuck out to me mainly because of the use of adaptation. I think the way that the photo has been edited  is very clever and relates allot to my previous ideas and thoughts about power and control. Id really like to look more into photo-montages such as this. 

(MrSnoggle)

In relation to my previous research i began experimenting with the idea of removing or editing photos in which the inclusion of myself appeared in. I wanted to experiment with the idea that someone can become distorted or seen differently due to their use of technology and the impact in which it has on them as a person as well as how they are known and interact socially. I wanted it to symbolize the way in which real and true personalities of people can become distorted and reworked into something fake and unnatural almost as though the real person is lost behind a programmed and edited portrail of themselves.

I did this by using old photographs of myself and distorting the facial features of a chosen person, which in this case was myself  I wanted the images to be very stereotypical photographs for example with a group of friends or family, somewhere classic and original which when edited created a good effect, highlighting and creating clear and obvious change within the image, resulting in a clear division between altered and reality.Id really like to continue this by using old family photographs which i could scan then work on top of, i would also like to use other people within my works editing and reworking other aspects alongside, but still following the same theme.

I like the idea of puppets and the introduction of technology based objects as the puppet master of a human.  In relation to this iv'e also been looking more into how technology can have an impact upon someones life, for example time consumption, laziness  attention span as well as researching into things such as social networking sites and how this can either aid or distort someones image resulting in a false or unrealistic view of personality and a person as a whole.

I decided to experiment with using wires within my shots, as i was finding photoshopping them into the photograph to be too difficult. These photos were taken in my kitchen using self timer and a tripod stand. I wanted to capture a sort of control and power effect from a technology source through the use of wires similar to the images seen in earlier researched photographer Brooke Shaden.

 Within these photographs i used the wires as an almost live object seen suspending the human figure as though all control and resistance has been lost by the human involved. Personally when i began doing these photographs i found the overall process to become very basic and plain leaving me with images which didn't have or display the effect i wanted. The images also became too difficult to produce resulting in repetitiveness, for example having the same positioning became almost impossible to recreate. Doing so has made me realize that my initial ideas would be something very hard to produce especially if i was to use other people alongside, yet i would still like to continue with the same theme and meanings yet maybe create it in a different way. 

http://brookeshaden.com/gallery/

I really like this work by Brooke Shaden, i find her work to be fascinating and clever leaving the viewer confused on both context and meaning. She seems to work in very cold and dark colors capturing impossible images resulting in an almost painting like effect to the surrealism of her photographs.I love the use of people within her work ascetically especially in the floating and levitation images. This is something which i would love to try and recreate within my own work alongside the introduction of a technology based product, as i like the idea of the model being drawn or controlled by it, displayed in their body language. 

Here i decided to experiment with the Puppet Warp Tool on Photoshop, Image seen was taken from a source off the internet to which i added wires from another photo over the existing image. I Wanted to experiment with the ways in which i could manipulate images so when it comes to shooting my final i was aware of what could and couldn't be achieved photoshop wise. The type of image above is something which i would like to achieve yet with the addition of wires stemming from other technology within the same shot. After doing this i did realize the capabilities of what can be achieved for example the complete movement of not only angles but shape and length through the use of the warp tool, making it easier for me to expand and experiment with broader ideas. It also made me aware of any additonal elements and requirements which i may need to include and consider while shooting for my final for example having hands or feet already bound for the correct effect on the body while wires can be added later. I want to experiment more with this tool in addition to my own work.

Puppet Warp tool Photoshop

Need to work more in Photoshop, especially with using the Puppet Warp tool as it allows me to bend and move an image for example a photo of wires in all different directions over an already existing image. I feel that this will help massively when it comes to experimentation with creating different effects within my work without the use of actually involving things such as wires and plugs.

Need to experiment with nature and urban/technology. Want to create something which incorporates them both more with the aim and goal of displaying the power in which one has over the other for example the power technology has over the natural world. The photos should include at least one human figure alongside a technology based object or objects. Id like the images to be taken from a distance as the environment in which it will be shot in will also hold an importance and a large part within the overall theme.

Rune Guneriussen

I came across the Norwegian photographer Rune Guneriussen while researching into nature vs technology. I find his work to be really interesting way of using juxa positiong in art and photography, he seems to concentrate primarily on using inanimate objects such as lamps, tables and chairs and placing them within secluded untouched environments such as forests and sea fronts. His use of foreground and background alongside lighting results in images showing two themed objects and areas which in reality would rarely be seen together adding to the overall surreal fairy tale appearance seen within the photos. 

Overall i do really like this way of working, i feel Guneriussen's work is an excellent example of juxta- positioning alongside a nature and technology themed set of images. If i was to do this within my won practice i would try and incorporate the inclusion of a human or human presence somehow for example, having the modern day objects attacking or restraining the human figure, symbolizing control and power it can still have over us even when its not in its natural environment. 

Jacques Olivar

I really like this work by Jacques Olivar. His work shows clear juxtapositioning with the involvement of placing the foreground and background within the same frame instead of next to each other. I like how even though the two aspects of the images are not that dramatically different the juxta positiing can still be seen. I feel the inclusion of the two aspects of the photo being placed in one frame allows the images to work off one another giving strength to one and not the other, which in turn creates a stronger set of images.

This is something which i would like to experiment with within my own work. Although i feel that i would want a much more stronger and clearer divide between the theme of the background and the foreground symbolizing how lost and incompatible the other becomes when placed within the alien surroundings of the other.

Placing unnatural objects in natural surroundings/ Natural objects in unnatural surrounding 
I really like the idea of using fake and natural within the same photo, Combining or juxta-positioning the two together, For example photographs taken in a woodland, field or forest surrounding yet with the inclusion of false objects in the foreground such as a model in metallic clothing, the introduction and addition of wires stemming from random objects of technology in which they may be holding. This could also be done the other way around for example placing something natural within somewhere very fake and man made such as a warehouse, factory or building site. Having such a dramatic change in the background and foreground environment and objects shows the strength and impact of when the two are placed together almost highlighting the intrusion in which they cause in one another's world and how one is seen so lost and out of place in the others.

Fake Vs Natural

Simulated reality-  is the skeptical hypothesis that reality could be simulated—perhaps by computer simulation—to a degree indistinguishable from "true" reality. It could contain conscious minds which may or may not be fully aware that they are living inside a simulation.

This is quite different from the current, technologically achievable concept of virtual reality. Virtual reality is easily distinguished from the experience of actuality; participants are never in doubt about the nature of what they experience. Simulated reality, by contrast, would be hard or impossible to separate from "true" reality.

There has been much debate over this topic, ranging from philosophical discourse to practical applications in computing.

The matrix.

I've always had an interest in the theory of simulated reality, that we may all be living within one huge simulation to which is being projected into our minds by computers. I like the idea of the control and power technology can have over you so much so that the lines between reality and false reality become blurred. The film The Matrix is an excellent example of showing this theory in notion.

Ka Xiong

http://kx.4ormat.com/photos3

I really like these photos taken by the photographer Ka Xiong. I feel that the way she has Incorporated human and robot to be very clever as by keeping the human element and not completely removing it I feel that this has added a lot to the effect of the photograph as it appears more realistic and less over modified. Although compared to previous artists researched Xiong can clearly be seen using more photo manipulative techniques. Her work shows human and technology as one raising the question of power and control. This is defiantly something which i want to look more into along with experimenting with Photoshop more.

I want to look more into modern day artists. I like the idea of merging things together to create one photograph. I want to look into the idea of control and power, images which symbolize the lack of it in relationship to human and technology.

Wulz Wanda

Wulz Wanda, a photographer known to be part of the art group known as futurists, was best know for her style of photography in which she explored body movement and multi portraiture's. Working allot with photodynamism her work consisted of several images either merged or superimposed together which in turn created one final image. Her most famous work titled Io+Gatto (I + Cat) Showed Wandas faced merged with that of a cats. The image created by the process of using multiple negatives created one of the first photographs of its time use such techniques in such a way. 

 I really like Wandas work as i feel that it shows early examples of photo manipulation without the input of software such as Photoshop. I really like the idea of using multiple exposure to add or remove objects to a photograph and would love to experiment with this technique in my future work.