INDESIGN

As I will be producing the publication myself, I knew that I needed to ensure that I had all of the correct skills and software knowledge within Indesign to be completely comfortable with what i was doing and how to produce a high quality of work. I had basic skills within Indesign from previous use in other university units, however dropping into an IT technical class with John Whalvin turned out to be extremely beneficial as I gained new knowledge of shortcuts and improved techniques within the programme. 

I’ve included my notes within this post so that I can refer back to them when I begin to plan my book layout. I am feeling confident and excited to start the process as it is another chance for me to showcase my creative skills and improve within another creative area.

MIDPOINT REFLECTION

What has been successful so far, what have you been pleased with?

The in depth research that I have collected so far during the early stages of this project has enabled me to gain a wide range of knowledge into the working techniques of other creatives as well as the social media dependencies and habits that various individuals have. I still feel that I need to research further into production processes and various cutting edge practices to  assist the progression of ideas and concepts, which I will continue to do over the next few weeks.

Despite the issues with unreliability of others on test shoots, I think that the images produced so far have been of great success. They have proved to me that my ideas have some substance and are relatable to the topic I have chosen to represent within my work. I often doubt my ideas, as I feel they aren't good enough, however after being proven wrong and having mentors/tutors praise my ideas, it has given me to confidence boost I need to propel forward and continue to produce innovative objectives to work on.

Are you on track with your original production schedule, if not why and what do you need to adjust?

I am ridiculously behind schedule at this stage of the development time. By the end of this week the following points should have been completed:

Planned shoots

Finalised ideas

Models sources

Photographers sourced

MUA’s Sourced

Other creative help sourced

Locations confirmed

Materials sourced (clothes, props, etc)

Shoot one – six complete

Edited images

Planned book layout & typography

Circumstances outside of my university studies have been a huge factor as to why I have fallen so far behind on my project schedule. Procrastinating so drastically has meant that none of the above is completely finished, and I am now halfway through the allocated production time and have nothing to really show for my work. I understand that this is not acceptable within my studies and definitely will not be within industry, so I have had to work extra hard to devise a new strategic way to achieve the goals that I wish to achieve within this project along with the guidance from my mentor Jennifer. 

How have you resolved major issues?

The issue of being totally unfocused was resolved after I created specific questions that I needed to use a basis for my creative concepts.

Why is society so obsessed with social media?

Why do people feel the need to share so much information online?

Is it making an impact on their life, their jobs, their relationships?

By having these questions to refer back to it will ensure that I stay on track and am always producing work that fits the ethos of the publication. As a result, the end product will have a steady flow from concept to concept as they will all relate to one another.

Another major issue that I recently faced was that the course tutors thought that my project and my ideas were ‘too moralising’, explaining that I was generalising all social media issues as if everyone in the entire world was going through the same thing. I could understand their point completely, as I had been struggling to come up with fresh concepts that were relatable, without using myself as a foundation for those ideas. This was resolved by deciding to change the perspective of my final major project from an objective one to subjective.

“An objective perspective is one that is not influenced by emotions, opinions, or personal feelings - it is a perspective based in fact, in things quantifiable and measurable. A subjective perspective is one open to greater interpretation based on personal feeling, emotion, aesthetics, etc.”

After the success of using myself as a model prior to this, I felt that this would be an appropriate decision as it would also resolve a recurring issue of unreliability that I had to deal with previously. Having one less team member to depend on will allow me to use the energy I would of used stressing and worrying about the whereabouts of others on another area of production that will be more beneficial in the long term. Learning to adjust to stressful situations and make informed decisions like this will help the production of the project move smoothly and efficiently to a professional standard.

What requires further improvement?

I need to ensure that I am working at a fast pace now that half of the production time has past and deadlines are approaching. My confidence is improving everyday within my ideas and since changing the direction of the project I feel positive that all of my aims are achievable and am excited to finally produce some outcomes that work on all levels and aspects of the brief.

Developments, feedback and ideas - big and small - need to constantly be noted within this blog so that I can continue to refer back to ideas and reflections. This will help improve my thought process  as I can work  and build from all of the constructive criticism and praise given to me. 

You may also want to suggest ideas for further development of your project.

 Since altering the perspective of the project to a subjective viewpoint, it has allowed me to personalise my ideas and the creation of concepts has improved immensely. Below are the notes that I have made that I wish to represent within my work. Having a subjective perspective has made it a lot easier to justify within the production of concepts, as they are all a part of my life and situations that I am personally going through. If I was to still have an objective perspective to work towards, I would need to continue to collect endless amounts of data and research to ensure that I had facts and statistics to relate back too at all times.

FINAL SHOOT NO.1

SOCIAL MEDIA TATTOO

I decided to shoot this concept on location and within the studio, so that I could review all of the images afterwards and decide which was the most aesthetically pleasing. Due to studios being fully booked and limited space available, I was unable to test shoot beforehand so the decision worked well to give an extra chance at producing images. 

Photography student Dionne Lockyear assisted with the photography side of things while in the studio, as I didn't have the skills and knowledge to achieve the best lighting for this type of imagery that would capture the right shadows and highlights. I paid attention while on set, taking mental note of set ups, and camera settings she used, as I never know when that information may be of use to me in the future. Throughout the development of this project so far I have grown to love gaining as much information as possible from situations and problems I find myself within as they are all vital learning curves that are helping shape my intelligence and research skills.

Location:

The location shots weren't as successful as I had hoped they would be, as the various backgrounds drew the attention away from the body and the text written on it. The lighting on location was a lot harder to control, due to natural lights, shadows and reflections. I attempted to play around with the camera settings and reflectors to alter this, however it just wasn't producing the desired effect.

The studio based images on the other hand - taken by Dionne - came out even better than expected. The lighting set up worked amazingly well with the models body and posture, causing the shadows to fall in all of the right places to create a moody, artistic finish to the images. These haven't been retouched yet, however I don’t feel as though they need to be put through much post-production as I don't want the images to look too polished and perfect. Some text from the tweets have a quirky and edgy context which I think works well with a rough image to truly reflect the individuals personality.

Studio:

I think that the image outcomes would have worked better  if the model was nude, without any styling, as the clothes and accessories take away more attention from the main focus which is the text. The styling was intended to be natural and have an everyday look to it, to carry on reflecting the individuals personality,  however I just don't think it works as it was intended too.

I think these communicate the concept really well, as it makes the viewer think 'I wonder what all this means? Why did he share that on his twitter?', without having to take the concept so literally and using photoshop editing to incorporate the online posts onto the body. I'm pleased with the outcome, but still feel that improvements could be made within styling and makeup aspects to ensure that the images are of a professional standard. I had stated that this would intact be one of the final shoots for final imagery to use within my publication, however I am not entirely happy with the quality of the images, so I am looking to reshoot this so that improvements can be made. The sooner I look into booking studios to reshoot, the better as it is becoming difficult to book the required space now. 

SOCIAL MEDIA TATTOO PREP

‘Anything we choose to upload, tweet, reblog, favorite, "like", is going into an endless record. One that will be very, very hard to erase…With the touch of a button--you can take down your career, you can take down your boss, you can ruin a relationship--romantic or otherwise. And these things won't go away.

One of the things I tell my clients every single day--it's a lot easier to control the conversation than it is to change it. But in the world of online--it's ten times harder. It's not a speech that will go away after you deliver it--it's one that could be transcribed, uploaded, quoted--for however long the public wants. It'll pop up in search results for a decade, if not far, far longer than that.’ (Fineman, 2014)

My personal way of thinking of the online footprint we all leave behind us is that everything you post online is with you forever – almost like a tattoo. Tornoe (cited by Hue, 2013) explains how majority of posted web content is on a hard drive somewhere in the world. It is almost impossible to remove it once it has been shared, as even when a disk drive is erased it is almost as easy to retrieve, as it was to remove.

My concept that I have created from this information is that the chosen models twitter feed will be exposed all over their body, as if they are branded with whatever they post online. Using makeup to handwrite the tweets works well as a connotation of Twitter's diary-like format, as only small posts of 140 characters can be made – similar to a physical diary. They are short and to the point, which should translate well onto the body when handwritten. I want to refrain from using programs such as Photoshop to embellish all images, as I want to add variety to the outcomes. If every single result has the same polished look them, it will make my project look predictable and too literal to the social media/online topic. Even though this idea is quite literal in itself, I think that it will work well as it is quite abstract and should create an artistic translation, causing the viewer to rethink how much they wish to post online no matter how small and irrelevant it may seem at the time.

FINEMAN. M, 2014. What We Post Online is Forever, and We Need a Reminder [viewed 12 March 2016] Available from: http://www.inc.com/meredith-fineman/what-we-post-online-is-forever-and-we-need-a-reminder.html

HUE. N, 2013. Digital Permanence: What Goes on The Internet Stays On The Internet [viewed 11 March 2016] Available from: http://threesixtyjournalism.org/digitalpermanence

TEST SHOOT NO.2

FLY ON THE WALL PHOTOGRAPHY

The aim of this test shoot was to create some imagery inspired by the likes of Petra Collins. The concept behind this was to document how addictive Facebook can be and how hours can pass so quickly when using the online platform.

I have chosen to use a close group of friends/family as models to show a true representation of ‘real people’ in their environments, using my younger sibling William within his bedroom as a location on this occasion. An observation was made while exploring Collins work, noticing that her images had a relaxed, fly-on-the-wall aura about them because of the locations used. Each individual within the images looked comfortable within the chosen environment, hence why I decided to use this technique within my own work.

The people I wish to document throughout my project aren’t professional models, so they don’t have the same proficient skills and confidence when placed in front of the camera. By keeping William within his own environment/habitat, I found that this helped keep him at ease and created natural looking images without a tense and awkward posture. I want to try and steer clear of producing lots of staged outcomes (e.g. in a studio) when creating this research project that focuses on real life personalities and their online uses as I feel that it reduces how relatable it is to the reader.

These images haven’t been retouched within Photoshop at all, as I didn’t feel as though they needed it as there wasn't any major imperfections that ruined the aesthetics of the images. Keeping them natural, also keeps the fly-on-the-wall atmosphere that was anticipated. By adjusting the focus of the camera while shooting, along with the white balance settings and shutter speed, I was able to create the desired lighting and mood that is a true representation of my brother and how he is almost always locked away in his dark room, scrolling through Facebook for hours on end. 

The effect within the first image was a happy accident as I actually jolted the camera by mishap when shooting, causing the final image to blur. This outcome could work really well within the future of my project as it works as a connotation of the blurring of online worlds & reality and how sometimes there is no filter between what is updated and shared online for all your friends/followers to see and what is shared privately offline. (Click here to see research)

REFLECTIONS

• I feel that the images were successful in helping me understand the camera settings and lighting needed to create photography that reflects the chosen personality, mood and characteristics, however I don’t think that it translates the message I was hoping for. When looking at the images for a first time, they do just show a young boy in his bedroom looking at Facebook on a laptop. I need to rethink of a way in which to show how Facebook and other online networking platforms is slowly taking up so much time within individuals day and how they may not be appreciating the real world as much as the online one they are so engrossed within.
• Collecting some first hand information from individuals on the places in which they check their social media could help gain an understanding of their habits, such as: first thing in the morning, when eating lunch, when on the commute to work, etc. 

"YOU'RE BEING VERY FLIGHTY"

During my latest tutorial, Jennifer expressed that I am "being very flighty and this needs to stop!". I’ve explained previously how I have a tendency to jump from idea to idea without settling down and producing something. I knew that I was doing so, but having Jennifer tell me that I need to stop dithering and get something done has suddenly hit home and opened my eyes to the problem. Time is ticking away extremely fast and I cant afford to waste any of it.

Taking responsibility for my work, despite circumstances outside of my university studies that may set me off track needs to become top priority to ensure that I create work of on industry standard. To carry on expanding my project, I need to focus on a few questions that I want to answer within my work, so that it can help me delve deeper into the ideas rather than just skimming quickly over things. By carrying out extensive research and concept development it will transform my project from a representation of social media obsession into an investigative project that truly understands the chosen issues.

TEST SHOOT NO.1

Test shoot number one was a very stressful experience. I had prepared the shoot over a week in advance putting a team together consisting of photographer, model and makeup artist together. From previous experiences within my university studies I have learnt not to leave things until the last minute, as other collaborating students are just as busy as I am with assignments and would prefer to know in advance so that they can also plan accordingly. All was going to plan until about an hour before we were due to start shoot prep. Firstly the MUA contacted me explaining that she was now unable to make it due to personal reasons and then 10 minutes before the model was due to arrive she also then contacted me to say that she was now only available after the time I had booked in the studios. Emotions were running extremely high - sending me into a bit of a panic - as the photographer was already on her way, and studios were fully booked after my booked session. 

I decided not to waste the studio time as every minute is vital and would use myself as a model within the test images - even though I don't feel comfortable in front of the camera at all. Luckily the photographer was understanding when I explained the situation and agreed to help give me directions when shooting. 

The final images that I have chosen haven't been retouched as I wanted to use the images to test out the collage idea. Despite the setbacks, I think the images were successful and fit the theme of my project. By simply scanning magazine cutouts onto my computer and then layering them onto the images using photoshop, it gives an ugly/sad look to them, which works well as a connotation of how people might not be being their true self as they are allowing social media posts and trends influence their identity. 

REFLECTIONS

• There was no styling within these, which one of the tutors said was ‘boring’ when showing her the images. To expand the idea I’m going to stick with the same collage theme, but add garments onto the body using the same technique to show how its not just beauty that is affected by the influence of online posts but personal style as well. This will allow me to improve the quality of these images, as these were unprepared and slightly uncomfortable. Test Shooting has proved to be a constructive part of the project so far, (even after just one!) as there is always room for improvement and they allow a chance to receive constructive criticism to better my work.
• To guarantee that a model will always be present and reliable, it may be worth me thinking about using myself further within my ideas or looking into securing a back up team, however again this depends on the availability of others. As my confidence in front of the camera wasn't as bad as anticipated, and has improved slightly, it is very tempting to alter the direction of my project again so that it is on a completely personal level. I will continue along the objective path that I am currently following, before making any major changes, so that I can research further and produce more outcomes so that I can review the situation properly and then decide what is best for the project.

During this photoshoot, I found the fact that I felt uneasy during the shoot fascinating as when I am taking a selfie of myself I feel totally comfortable as I am in control of the angles and lighting. This is an important factor to keep in mind, as it is relatable to my topic as the content you personally create and post on social media is doctored to until you personally approve, unlike the situation I was in. 

Erickson (2013) explains how selfies have become a way for individuals to present a vision of themselves that they wish, as they are in complete control of their own image. She asks whether this one selected image has become the most important representation of our online identity? Admittedly it is the first point of focus when on an online profile and studies have shown that the comments on Facebook profile pictures strongly affect the levels of perceived physical, social and professional attractiveness. 

When asked why she takes so many self portraits, Chelsea Peretti, responded “loneliness and desperation for attention are crucial ingredients.” The difference in real life and self-image online is that technology has given us the ability change our look and mask our identity, even when being tagged in photos within online you are still able to untag, delete or modify the image to keep social presence consistent with the self-image you want others to see.

Online perceptions are difficult to distinguish, as a false image can easily be achieved by misleading posts within social media accounts. I feel very passionate about this aspect of my project theme, as I personally feel as though nobody should feel ashamed enough that they have to create a fake online persona. Could this be a result of technology moving too fast?

ERICKSON. C, 2013. The Social Psychology of the Selfie [viewed 10 March 2016]. Available from: http://mashable.com/2013/02/15/social-media-and-the-selfie/#eW12AyygcZqG

BIG BANG DATA / SOCIAL MEDIA DEPENDENCY

Through research, I have learnt that the rise of social media dependency has accelerated within recent years and it is now deemed a real mental health issue. While creating my FMP proposal I visited the Big Bang Data Exhibition to attain knowledge on the rate and speed information and data is being accumulated. I have revisited my notes and review to refresh the exhibition in my mind and to help me refocus my project in the way I think best to tackle the issues at hand.

Extract from proposal:

"To help understand data usage and its importance and influence, I attended Somerset House to view their ‘Big Bang Data’ Exhibition. It is the first major exhibition to look into the big data explosion which is transforming society, culture and politics. Through dynamic and engaging art and design projects from a range of international artists, Big Bang Data demystifies data by inviting visitors to look at the ways digital information is produced, organised, used and interpreted, and how it is changing the way we live.

From the exhibition I learnt that in 2009 alone, the same quantity of data was produced as the entire history of humanity up until that point in time and by 2012 it was estimated that 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every single day. Until recent years, the majority of data being produced was for scientific, industrial and administrative purposes, but since the growth of mobile technologies, you can now take photos, update profiles and write emails at any given time. There is now a growing obsession with recording every single movement we make and do and then analysing our quantified selves.

Society has become engulfed in this craze where we want to share every little detail about ourselves and our daily routines. We are constantly sharing this data with the rest of the world, so people can find out where we went for dinner last Saturday, who we spent our New Years Eve with and what we were wearing yesterday just by clicking on our social media pages/links and were forgetting to save some things for reality. Will there come a time where we wont be able to converse in person, because we already know everything about each others lives through the data we are sharing on the internet?"

Social Media surrounds us at all times within the hypermodern society we are living within. Majority of society owns at least one social media account as it has become an easy way to socialise and connect with friends, family, etc. According to TalkSpace, data suggests that we check our phones on average 150 times everyday and 30% of our online time is dedicated to social media. Excessive use of social media is known as having a social media dependency, which is now seen as a mental health issue as it distorts our self-image and perceptions of reality. A few examples of how the dependency can affect an individuals mental health are:

Negative body image and eating disorders

       - Social media use is linked with high rates of eating disorders

       - Associated with body image distortion

Social Media is linked with symptoms of depression

       - Negative social media use in social media increases depression

Social Media can impact anxiety levels, relationships and even sleep

       - Social Media can cause anxiety, and negatively impact personal relationships

       - Difficulty sleeping after using Social Media

       - Relationship and workplace difficulties because of online confrontations

REFLECTIONS

• Researching further into social media dependency has helped me understand the threats of spending too much time online and what could be the consequence of abusing the use of online worlds allowing it to interfere with daily life and slowly take over your reality. From this, I'm beginning to think of many abstract ideas and concepts that can be visually explained over the next few weeks through photoshoots, graphic design, illustration, etc. Below are the rough idea notes that I have been jotting down as I have been thinking of them