Week 7 Reflective Journal- 6th March - 3rd tutorial with mentor, "Profits pouring from all sides" test shoot, "You, me or her?" test shoot

3rd tutorial with mentor

Test shoot for "Profits Pouring From All Sides "shoot

Test shoot for " You, Me or Her?" photoshoot

During this tutorial, I have shown my mentor Sebastiane, the test shoot which I have done and my final images for the red pocket photoshoot. I have explained to him the idea behind the shoot that I want to use the Chinese Red envelopes as the pockets on the dress. However, he thought that the envelopes look like they were just stuck on the dress. Therefore, he has given me some suggestion to improve and said that I could combine an unrelated object within the photo to make it looks more surreal. Then, I have pointed out that I have bought a candle in the shape of a Chinese lucky cat which I think will be suitable for the theme of this photoshoot. 

Next step: 

• Experiment with the composition and adding other objects to the image. 
• Experiment with the gif images

Sebastiane then commented on the Chinese masks test shoot and said that he likes the idea of the layout and the collage of the photo. He has suggested me to experiment with the composition more and I could create gif images where I could take some of the colors from the Chinese Opera's headdress or clothing and create various size boxes. After that, I could select different parts of the faces from different mask images and places those elements together and create flashing gifs images. 

On the other hand, I also discussed with Sebastiane about the theme of my third photo shoot. The concept of the third photoshoot takes inspirations from Chinese Red string of fate, also named as the Red String of Marriage. He thinks the concept is interesting and has suggested me some more ideas of how I could develop further. He said that to make the photo looks more surreal, I could create something such as placing the red string in the mouth and leave it hanging down or just capture one pinkie tie with a red thread hanging down.

Next step...

• Test shoot for Red string photoshoot
• Create and experiment with the photoshoot 1 and 2 animated gif
• Plan out the storyboards for the 2-minute film

In the same week, I have produced some gif images experimented with combining the Chinese lucky cats onto the photo of "Profits Pouring From All Sides". 

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/b5/6e/4e/b56e4e4ff29cc07a94dc47e121e2d7fc.jpg

However, on the other hand, I think only this concept is not enough to stand out the idea of surrealism aspects to the audience and therefore, I have come up with another idea where I could add images of the Chinese lucky cat on the photographs too as the idea behind the red envelopes and lucky cats also refer to wealth and good fortune. Refer back to the surrealism research which I have done, there are some surreal images example where human body are being combined with animals head and it has inspired me to come up with this idea. 

I would like to name the photo shoot as 'Profits Pouring From All Sides' as it is one of the greetings Chinese people will say to relatives or other people during Chinese New Year and it has a strong association with wealth and property. 

I have experimented with the lucky cat on the image and I found that it helps to make the image looks more surreal and interesting rather than my initial idea of just using red pocket money envelopes. 

Also, I have experimented with the "You, Me OR Her?" Shoot. 

 I have overlap the patterns on the mask on the face to create the surrealistic effect and at the bottom image, it is a development example which I have done after the first photo on the left. I have created a gif and added white and black boxes and Chinese words that have written you, me, her on it. This helps me to reference the title of the series and I am impressed with the way that the concept has worked together very well with the concept of the shoot. On the top right corner, I have cut out the different part of the face and masks and paste it into a white background with some color boxes which takes inspirations from the Chinese Opera headdress. I like the fact that the idea of using gif for this project provides me opportunities to develop a modern touch imagery and make the photos look more surrealistic and contemporary.