PART 2
Inspirations
@Yasweart
Tami Aftab
Nico Froehlich
As a class, we visited the Saatchi Gallery and V&A. We took a look at the June 23 exhibitions and appreciated the different techniques and styles of photos that could possibly inspire us throughout our A level. On the walk between the two galleries, I took pictures of all the points of London that stood out to me, which I have exhibited below. The weather was quite gloomy and dark which helped to inspire some of the images.
Morocco
Morocco
For my annual family summer holiday, I took a trip to Morocco, one of my many home countries. During my time in Marrakech and Agadir, we visited many of the countries landmarks such as the Sahara Desert, the YSL garden and museum, the Atlas mountains and a very large amount of time in medina (market) everyday.
When taking pictures, I tried my best to showcase the breath-taking views that country has to offer that I don't get to see day to day. Morocco itself is a very bright, loud country that simply others cannot compare to so I made sure to catch all parts of the culture, such as the food, people working, sunsets, camels and much more.
When taking pictures, I tried my best to showcase the breath-taking views that country has to offer that I don't get to see day to day. Morocco itself is a very bright, loud country that simply others cannot compare to so I made sure to catch all parts of the culture, such as the food, people working, sunsets, camels and much more.
Diptychs and Triptychs
Today, we were learning about diptychs and triptychs. We used our own images for the experiment by printing out the images and physically placed them round to see what works well and what doesn't. In my images, I was looking for patterns that made sense together, for example in the second image of the first triptych, there is a clear pattern of a horizontal line running through the middle of each image. I matched colourful, vibrant images together and overall it was a fun activity and helped me to analysis all my images properly and effectively.
After experimenting with the physical images, I moved my workspace to my phone, where I created digital Diptychs and Triptychs on the app Freeform and the options were limitless.
After experimenting with the physical images, I moved my workspace to my phone, where I created digital Diptychs and Triptychs on the app Freeform and the options were limitless.
My Favourite Diptych
These two images are my favourite paired together as I like the idea of two subjects that wouldn't necessarily go together without context mixing perfectly. The main reason behind the pairing was because in both images the main subject in the middle of the picture without not much else behind to look at. Furthermore, there is correlation with the colour brown in both pictures. The image on the left was taken in the Sahara Desert so we were engulfed in the mountains of sand, whereas in the right image, the traditional styled Moroccan doors have a very rich deep brown colour also.
The rich brown and red colours fully showcase the heat within both pictures and without any context behind the images you instantly know that they were taken in a warm place.
The rich brown and red colours fully showcase the heat within both pictures and without any context behind the images you instantly know that they were taken in a warm place.
My Favourite Triptych
This series of images work well together so clearly. The main point that links the images together is the horizontal line that runs through each image. When it came to editing, it was easier to help link the images as I was able to play with the colours and enhance them especially the colour blue in the sky which plays a large role in all images.
The layout of not having any spaces in between the images was intentional as I wanted the images to come across as seamless, as if there is one horizontal line running through each image. Sometimes spaces between images in triptychs can also have some sort of meaning behind them however I simply thought it they ruined the triptych and didn't fully convey my idea behind it.
The layout of not having any spaces in between the images was intentional as I wanted the images to come across as seamless, as if there is one horizontal line running through each image. Sometimes spaces between images in triptychs can also have some sort of meaning behind them however I simply thought it they ruined the triptych and didn't fully convey my idea behind it.
The Photographer's Gallery
EVELYN HOFER
After school, I took a trip to The Photographer's Gallery for Evelyn Hofer's 'Home is Not a Place' 2023 exhibition. I really enjoyed the gallery, specifically the images of the couples in the white frames as it feels so comforting and almost heart warming to look at. Hofer's approach on the exhibition creates a very nostalgic tone and was definitely an inspiring piece of work. Her work seems comfortable and natural yet still beautifully composed. The subjects in her images may not be exactly where your mind goes to as they are not society's standard of photo worthy, however the simplicity behind them is what drew my attention.
The first image of the multiple portraits reminds me of an aunty have that had hundreds of images covering her hallway wall. There wasn't a single family member not on that wall and she was known in the family for the famous wall. Many nostalgic conversations were started and after many years of not seeing her, when I entered the house to see the blank wall I was almost saddened in a way, as if a part of my childhood was taken and I'm not able to go back and physically the memories in my mind.
The first image of the multiple portraits reminds me of an aunty have that had hundreds of images covering her hallway wall. There wasn't a single family member not on that wall and she was known in the family for the famous wall. Many nostalgic conversations were started and after many years of not seeing her, when I entered the house to see the blank wall I was almost saddened in a way, as if a part of my childhood was taken and I'm not able to go back and physically the memories in my mind.
JOHNNY PITTS
Although I enjoyed Evelyn Hofer's exhibition, I did find myself leaving the room explaining to my dad that I simply didn't connect it. However when I exited the lift on the second floor, entering the Johnny Pitts' exhibition, I was simply amazed. Instantly I felt so connected to all the images and layout as I felt like they related to me, my family and how I was brought up as a young girl. I loved his style of images, specifically the image of the hand with the England badge, I admired hoe simple yet effective the image was, the colours and how natural it seemed.
Everything down to the door beads that you had to walk through to enter the "living room" reminded me of my younger self and I can easily say, this is was my favourite exhibitions I've ever seen in my life. His art reminded me of some of the images I have taken and as I was walking around, I had ideas of images I'd like to take and how I can compose and later edit them to match his style.
Everything down to the door beads that you had to walk through to enter the "living room" reminded me of my younger self and I can easily say, this is was my favourite exhibitions I've ever seen in my life. His art reminded me of some of the images I have taken and as I was walking around, I had ideas of images I'd like to take and how I can compose and later edit them to match his style.
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I created a short 20 second film with a montage of live photos I had taken in Morocco. I used live music and the sounds of the medina as I wanted to fully convey what it is like walking through Morocco. I used CapCut to place all the shots together and then moved the clip over to VSCO cam where I achieve the grainy filter that is above the clip. I am content with the piece and enjoy watching over it however I am planning to create more with different shots and audio so I can have a variety of short films.
Morocco B Collection
Above are the images that I believe are apart of my "B collection" meaning that they’re not my favourite. In my opinion, I feel like they do not have a deep meaning behind them or I simply just don't like them enough. However, this images hold great value and more than just a selection of images I don't like. In September there was a great earthquake that hit Marrakech and Agadir, the two specific places I was staying in during those ten days away. The images are more than just pictures I don't like, they are memories that I can reflect on as it will take a long time to rebuild these places.
I had an idea to create a book that explains why these specific images are apart of my B collection. I wanted to include also how they hold great value for millions of Moroccans around the globe. To start the project, I started to explain myself on Google Docs and thought carefully about what I wanted to say. I then wrote up a small paragraph explaining how the earthquake effected the images and also how these places are not here anymore.
I used Pinterest as a valuable resource for inspiration, curating ideas on how I envisioned the layout for my project, orchestrating a harmonious interplay between images and text. In steering clear of the conventional trappings of a traditional photo book, characterised by the contrast of pictures alongside text, my aspiration was to fashion a composition that seamlessly integrates diverse elements. I aspired to transcend the ordinary by blending visual and textual elements, contemplating the possibility of overlaying text onto images to fill the narrative with a unique aesthetic. My deliberate approach extended to embracing the diversity of image sizes and placements, fostering a dynamic visual experience where each element finds its distinct yet symmetrical place within the overall design.
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Employing the app Bookwright, I dedicated effort to craft and design a vivid representation, offering a compelling visual example of the prospective appearance of my photo book in the event of its publication. By harnessing the versatile inspirations generously provided by Pinterest, I navigated through a multitude of distinct styles and layouts, strategically incorporating them into the pages of my book to communicate heightened definition and visual appeal, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing end result. |
Film Part 2
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As apart of my creative process, I decided to create a mock up version of how I would like my final version of my film that will be projected. For the soundtrack, I used a clip of a man speaking in Arabic repeating 'Salam' which means 'Peace be upon you', I loved the sound however to make it more personal, I would like to use my dad's voice in the background and also have a written translation. To create the video, I first used CapCut to place all the live images together and include the audio, I then moved over to VSCO Cam to play with the colour and also included some after effects.
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In version of the collage, I applied a touch of personal nostalgia by smoothly blending in a recorded note of my dad talking from a script, adding a whole new layer of meaning to the video. I tackled it much like my past projects, kicking things off on CapCut to stitch together the videos and audio in a neat timeline. Then, I hopped over to VSCO Cam, playing around with colours and filters to get that perfect blend of visual story. Putting together this video was special for me because of the addition my dad speaking. Furthermore, the video showcases Marrakech before the earthquake, giving you a peek into what it was like before the tradegy. |
Homecoming
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A community is created through the basis of a shared understanding. Throughout London, there are plenty of different communities and religions that allow people from different areas and classes to come together. For the North African community, particularly Moroccans and Algerians, areas such as Ladbroke Grove, Latimer Road and Kensal Rise are places commonly known for their large populations in North African immigrants and their families. In times like the World Cup or African Cup of Nations North Africans enjoy watching the matches together as a community and in general it is easy to create our own in little North Africa in London when we are side by side.
In today's society, there are many of pros and cons when it comes to social media, as much as it can be a nice, quick escape from reality, it can also create unhealthy addictions and standards that are simply unattainable. On the other hand, it has also granted us the gift of awareness that no other generation has seen before. As a Muslim and simply as a human being, I believe in human rights and that people should be allowed to live their life fairly. North Africa stands with the people of Palestine and sympathises with their horrific stories and experiences. It was a necessity for me to include this in my work as it is heartbreaking for me to continue to live my normal life whilst others can barely survive and it important to spread awareness on the matter.