Statement of intent

Bibliography

http://www.allenova.co.uk/
http://www.dancerealitystudios.co.uk/index.html
http://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/information/contact/
http://kintburyballet.com/Kintbury_Ballet/Welcome.html
http://www.linden-dance.co.uk/index.html
http://www.inspirationsdance.co.uk/#
http://www.mosdanceanddrama.co.uk/
http://www.bracknell-ice-skating-club.co.uk/default.html
http://www.iceskating.org.uk/category/rinks-clubs
http://gifsc.com/index.htm
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=ballet
http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/eadweard-muybridge
http://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/information/photography/
http://www.brianjslaterphotography.co.uk/
http://cargocollective.com/ReportagePhotography
https://www.lensculture.com/articles/santiago-vanegas-invisible-ink#slide-15
http://twistedsifter.com/2014/01/long-exposure-photos-of-fireflies-at-night-tsuneaki-hiramatsu/
https://www.lensculture.com/articles/peter-wegner-buildings-made-of-sky#slide-10
http://www.thepolefitnessacademy.co.uk/contact
http://www.thepolefitnessacademy.co.uk/index 
http://www.puritypoledancing.com/locations/readingberkshire.html 
http://gifsc.com/index.htm 
http://planet-ice.co.uk/arena/Basingstoke#Learn_To_Skate.
http://www.bracknell-ice-skating-club.co.uk/
 http://www.iceskating.org.uk/category/figure
https://www.lensculture.com/articles/hannah-guy-staccato-and-north-south-east-west#slide-1
https://www.lensculture.com/articles/denis-yakovlev-russian-alternative-process#slide-6
https://www.lensculture.com/articles/reza-golchin-iranian-bazaar#slide-11
http://www.behance.net/gallery/11064259/COME-INTO-MY-WORLD-from-the-exhibition-UNDER-WATER
http://www.flyingfantastic.co.uk/classes/aerial-silks/
https://www.lensculture.com/
https://www.behance.net/
http://www.loisgreenfield.com/galleries/breaking-bounds/index.html?pg=7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUgQ3gbGZL8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCDVfMz15M
http://www.behance.net/gallery/10838529/Causality
http://www.ludovicflorent.fr/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9uUry0XlyI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA3WMgp4Aps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mq_eHbbIrs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21hhPuXU0Ls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU7-hgfRy_g

Day 1

So today is the start of my final major project, this course has gone so quick! I'm really excited to make a start on this project as it is something I have chosen to do myself so i think i will have more focus to get all the way through it. Plus I haven't really ever had a chance to photograph dancers before so I am really looking forward to starting shooting! First things first, today I have set up my working method, I have chosen to stay away from a sketchbook as i know that i always struggle with them, i hate to admit it but it is because of the dyslexia. Hopefully doing it this way will sort that problem out for me! I have set up my statement of intent as the first post so i can refer back to it when needed and The bibliography second so hopefully I dont forget to do it! High hopes for this project and 6 weeks to complete it in. sounds like a long time but I know it will come around fast so i really need to keep myself focused and get on with it!

Possible Ballet model links

Ballet dancers- To find ballet models for my project I have found dance schools in the berkshire area ready to contact to find out if their teachers or older students would be happy to take part. I am going to offer the school and individual dancers a free print/prints for taking part plus a low resolution version for their site (if they agree to link to my site) I have found so many because I want to have back up models ready just in case any change their mind or just do work for the image I am looking for.

http://www.allenova.co.uk/  - Allenova School of dance                    {My old ballet studio}

Head office phone number - 01635 201701
Email address - allenovadance@aol.com
Classes Held - Tilehurst, Caversham, Reading, Earley, Newbury, Thatcham
Main dance school - No 1 Berkshire Business Centre, No1 Berkshire Drive, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 4EW


http://www.dancerealitystudios.co.uk/index.html - Dance reality studios

Phone number - 0118 9421896
Email - Charlie@dancereality.co.uk
Classes Held - Tilehurst                                                             {showcase theater show 11th may}


http://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/information/contact/ - The Royal school of ballet

Covent gardens (older students - )
Phone number - +44(0)20 7836 8899
Address - 46 Floral Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DA, UK

White Lodge (younger students - )
Phone number -+44(0)20 8392 8440
Address - White Lodge, Richmond Park, Richmond, Surrey TW10 5HR, UK

Email - enquiries@royalballetschool.org.uk
Email - press.media@royalballetschool.org.uk  (020 7845 7074)


http://kintburyballet.com/Kintbury_Ballet/Welcome.html  - Kintbury School of dance

Phone number -07748620374
Email - alex@kintburyballet.com
Email - alex@kintburyballet.com
Classes held -The Coronation Hall, Kintbury


http://www.linden-dance.co.uk/index.html - Linden Ellicott School of Dancing

Email - linden.ellicott@btinternet.com
Classes held - Thatcham


http://www.inspirationsdance.co.uk/# - Inspirations School of Dance

Phone number - 07789 518 563
Email - inspirationsschoolofdance@gmail.com
Classes held - Basildon Village Hall, Bethseda Street, Upper Basildon, Reading, RG8 8NU
Admin Address - Inspirations School Of Dance, 23 Kingfisher Grove, Three Mile Cross, Reading, RG7-1RA


http://www.mosdanceanddrama.co.uk/ -  Mo's Dance And Drama

Phone number - 07776 183689
Email - info@mosdanceanddrama.co.uk
Classes held - Caversham, Woodley, Earley, Emmer Green and Central Reading
Administration: The Studio, 24 St. Andrews Road, Caversham Reading RG4 7PH

Day 2

Today I have sent the day finishing setting up my blog and making sure it works properly and researching ballet studios for where I could potentially find models. I think it was really important that i actually took my time to get the blog set up properly, I didn't want to get halfway through my project and then realise that it wasn't going to work.
After I finished up the blog and got mike to look over it to see if it would work okay I then moved onto finding ballet studios in the berkshire area, which to my surprise was actually quite difficult! There were a lot of dance studios but having to trawl through ever one to see if they offered ballet was a nightmare, at least I know now that my model research is going to take a little longer than planned.
Tomorrow I would like to get started on artist research and visual inspiration.

visual inspiration

For these I did a quick search on pinterest to gain some initial inspiration for where i would like to go with this project, From this search I am thinking that I would like to include other subjects as well as ballet dancers - possibly ice skaters, ribbon dancers or pole dancers.

 I have included this image because even though it is a chalk drawing I love the way the artist has created a silhouette effect around the dancer and really enhanced the gracefulness through the use of texture or lack of texture in some areas.
















This image screams strenght to me, that is why I wanted to include it in my visual inspiration, even thought the model is so strong in this it doesn't look masculine. I love the way the photographer has arranged the light to create shape highlights on the model.

I Love the pose of this image and how elongated the model is creating her body through the pose, again I like the way the light is highlighting the outline of the model to create a glow. I also like the fact that you can see where she is in the photograph, she is in a theater and it really adds a sense of depth and story telling to the image.















I love the use of colour in this image, definitely something I want to take into consideration for this project, I also like the fact that she has concealed her identity through looking away from the camera, it adds a mystery to the photo, also where she is jumping and you can not see the floor it makes it look as if she is floating, this is definitely a good idea to create a sense of weightlessness and grace.

    

  

Day 3

Today was a total nightmare! I wanted to start by getting research done and out the way then move onto a little bit of visual inspiration... research did not happen. I dont know what was going on but I just couldn't find a single dance photographer that I found any interest in! I think it might have been because the studio was really noisy today so from now on I am going to bring in head phones to try and cancel out at least a little of the noise. I did however manage to find a couple of images that really spoke to me, They really capture what I have in mind for this project so at least I got something do today.
Tomorrow Emails!!

Email template

Below is the template that I will be emailing out to all the schools to try and find models for mmy project, I will change the wording slightly for each of the different types of models such as for the ice skaters ect so that it does make sense to each party i email it out to. I have tried to keep it too the point but sound approcable at the same time, fingers crossed I get a few takers! 

"Dear……….

My name is Sian Walton, I am currently a photography student at reading college doing my Final Major project. I have chosen to do my project on the strength and grace of the female body and I would like to use dancers as my models, particularly ballet dancers. I am writing to ask you if any of your students or teachers would be willing to take part in my project.

Models would need to be over 18 and be willing to take part in more than one shoot over the coming week if necessary and I am happy to offer them a selection of prints for their participation and I would also like to include a selection of digital files for the school to use on your website and advisement for helping me with my work.

Please feel free to email me back with any questions that you might have.

Thank you for your help and I hope to hear from you very soon,

Yours sincerely

Sian Walton"

Day 4

I had such a productive day today getting lots of emails out to different dance schools in the area, it did take me most of the morning to write up the email but I wanted to make it too the point but still approachable which I think I attacheaved, I did ask a couple of the other students to proof read it before I started sending it out and they said it looked good, just in case. I really hope that I get a couple of responses soon so that I can start shooting

Peter Wegner - Buildings Made of Sky

https://www.lensculture.com/articles/peter-wegner-buildings-made-of-sky#slide-10

Tsuneaki Hiramatsu - Fireflies

http://twistedsifter.com/2014/01/long-exposure-photos-of-fireflies-at-night-tsuneaki-hiramatsu/

"To achieve the dreamlike images, Tsuneaki takes a series of 8 second long exposure photographs. He then digitally merges all of the individual photographs into the stacked images you see below. The fireflies light up the forest night and Tsuneaki is there to witness it all and share it with the rest of the world to appreciate."






 She has taken technoligy and made it look like nature, this image at first sight it looks like a field of butterbups but when you look closer you can see that it is an illution and it looks like a swarm of fireflys its not until you read that it is a mutipue exposure, its like you have traveled into a fairtails forist, as if these fairys lights are showing the way to go like the yellow brick road bringing a warm glowing light to give you some comfort in that darkness

Santiago Vanegas - Invisible Ink

https://www.lensculture.com/articles/santiago-vanegas-invisible-ink#slide-15

"Experiencing the world, I see a connection, tension, a conversation between things and the space they inhabit. I see spaces within space, geometry, an animated expanse that is apparently empty. The thing is, I can’t explain these relationships and connections. I just know they are there. It’s like beautiful poetry that I can’t understand. It moves me, because it is beyond me. Choreographed speedways, empty airspace, a puddle staring at the sky, they converse with each other, invisibly."

Artist links

http://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/information/photography/

http://www.brianjslaterphotography.co.uk/

http://cargocollective.com/ReportagePhotography

Day 5 - End of week 1

So its the end of week one already! Its crazy to think that we only have 5 weeks left. I managed to get some general research done today, i think its because the studio was quieter with only photography in. I found a couple of really great artists and even though they don't relay in the most obvious way to my project, it has helped me to not get frustrated that things aren't moving as quickly as I had hoped.

So far this week I have set up my working practice, researched and emailed ballet studios, found so visual inspiration that really shows where I would like to head with this project and got some research done. I think its a good start but honestly I want to be getting more done. How i could achieve this? Im not too sure, I think pushing throw the noisy distractions would be a good start and I would really like to start shooting next week. If I can push through all the distractions I can see this being a really strong project with interesting final outcomes.

Figure skating model contacts

 http://www.iceskating.org.uk/category/figure - National Ice skating Association of great britain and northern ireland. Could be a helpful link to gain contact information for ice skaters
(make contact through the website itself or ring them on 01159 888 060)


http://www.bracknell-ice-skating-club.co.uk/ - Bracknell Ice Skating Club
(make contact through the website itself or ring them on 01344 789000)

"There are subsidised group lessons on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and club ice on Sunday evenings. The active Synchro section of the club has dedicated ice-time on Fridays. The club enters teams each year in several inter-club competitions including the National Team Challenge."


http://planet-ice.co.uk/arena/Basingstoke#Learn_To_Skate. - Learn to skate @ plant ice basingstoke

Phone number (Arena) -  01256 355 266

Email - basingstoke@planet-ice.co.uk 

http://gifsc.com/index.htm - Guildford Ice Figure Skating Club

Phone number - 01483 443322
Email (Caroline Weston - Club Ice Representative) - Caroline@gifsc.com

Possible Pole dancer models

http://www.puritypoledancing.com/locations/readingberkshire.html - Purity pole dancing

Phone - 07961 054863
Email -  website.enquiries@puritypoledancing.com
Email - jolene@puritypoledancing.com
Classes held - Tilehurst


http://www.thepolefitnessacademy.co.uk/index - The polefitness academy

Phone - 07759 476023
Email contact on website - http://www.thepolefitnessacademy.co.uk/contact
Classes held - Reading, Abingdon ect...

Day 6

I have spent today looking at other possible models as I was thinking over the weekend that I might but putting all my eggs in one basket so to speak. If I could widen my horizons when it comes to my models it could take this project in a hole new direction. But would I really want it to go in a new direction? would the project then still be about my love of the dance if it were to wander off?
I guess until i'm in the situation where i actually have to think about it heading a new way I can't really imagine what I would do or say. So far I think im on a pretty good path but  I really would like to get shooting soon.

Eadweard Muybridge

Eadweard Muybridge was the man who famously proved a horse can fly. Adapting the very latest technology to his ends, he proved his theory by getting a galloping horse to trigger the shutters of a bank of cameras. This experiment proved indisputably for the first time what no eye had previously seen – that a horse lifts all four hooves off the ground at one point in the action of running. Seeking a means of sharing his groundbreaking work, he invented the zoopraxiscope, a method of projecting animated versions of his photographs as short moving sequences, which anticipated subsequent developments in the history of cinema.

British-born Muybridge, who emigrated to the United States in the 1850s, is one of the most influential photographers of all time. He pushed the limits of the camera’s possibilities, creating world-famous images of animals and humans in motion. Just as impressive are his vast panoramas of American landscapes, such as the Yosemite valley, and his documentation of the rapidly growing nation, particularly in San Francisco. His dramatic life included extensive travels in North and Central America, a career as a successful lecturer, and the scandal of his trial for the murder of his wife’s lover.

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/eadweard-muybridge

Denis Yakovlev - Russian Alternative Process

https://www.lensculture.com/articles/denis-yakovlev-russian-alternative-process#slide-6

"The idea of nostalgia implies loss, memory, things or events seen from the blurry distance of time, old-fashioned ways. Young Russian photographer Denis Yakovlev is exploring the notions of nostalgia and identity in his native homeland by combining modern methods with much older ways to produce multi-layered platinum palladium contact prints on richly textured paper. The effects are both complex and simple. The ideas reverberate with melancholy, confusion and the discomfort of pulling away from old ways and breaking into the new. He seems like a young photographer to watch. — Jim Casper"

Hannah Guy - Staccato°

https://www.lensculture.com/articles/hannah-guy-staccato-and-north-south-east-west#slide-1

"My practice is situated between photography and film. The point at which the still appears to become a moving image fascinates me." — Hannah Guy

Hannah Guy’s new body of work consists of animations constructed from still images and a series of composite photographs made with a large-format camera. In this work, Guy offers a new look at the photograph, formerly burdened with what the Futurist Anton Guilio Bragaglia once referred to as its ‘glacial reproduction of reality’. Each series revolves, quite literally, around the tree. The work creates a reality in continual reassessment, removing the comfort of a fixed reality.



http://vimeo.com/76600949 - Link to the animation

Shoot 1 Plan: Basic capturing movement

For this first shoot I am going to create and freeze movement. To do this I am going to use a flash kit for lighting, a basic black backdrop to help create contrast and a ball for the prop to keep it simple.

Kit needed:

Black backdrop
Flash lighting kit
Softbox
Lightmeter
Tripod
Digital camera
Ball

Day 7

Today I have really managed to get a move on with some research, I managed to look into eadweard muybridge which was really interesting and a couple of other artists too, its has shown me how to reveal movement within a completely still image to by the position the subject in in. My main achievement for the day has been planning my first shoot, I cant wait  to get shooting!! it is only going to be a small  shoot but I really want to start using my camera.
Tomorrow I plan on continuing with movement research and shooting. In my shoot I want to not only freeze movement but to also create it so Im going to experiment with shutter speeds.

Reza Golchin - Iranian Bazaar

https://www.lensculture.com/articles/reza-golchin-iranian-bazaar#slide-11

Busy of the people, colours, the odd strays that are defying the rest of the worl who are happy to just watch the world go by, these few are the sectators of life, comfertable to go at their own speed 

They havent evern knowtised the effeort he has put in to the persintaion of the produse, that he take such pride in his own work, and they dont care because they are just rushing by, every the people buying arent apperciating the beauty of his workmanship, they just want what they are buying, not the time and effert he has put into the persentationn 

Shoot 1 - creating and freezing movement with a ball

Set up ^

light setting ^

Day 8

Today was a very productive day for me! I managed to find a really interesting artist who revealed movement through blurring peoples walking paths. This could be an interesting thing to photograph but it doesn't really relate to the project as much as I would like for a shoot apart from a little but on movement, maybe take the general idea and simplify later?
I also got a shoot done, contact sheet made and uploaded so Im feeling pretty good today, I do need to remember to come back and analyse tomorrow however!

Susanne Stemmer - Come into my world

http://www.behance.net/gallery/11064259/COME-INTO-MY-WORLD-from-the-exhibition-UNDER-WATER

"Specialised in underwater photography, the artist Susanne Stemmer examines the changes that human beings experience after their immersion through the surface. The characters illustrated in her works are free and boundless as soon as they immerse. A physical freedom with the imaginary loss of gravity as well as mental freedom, abandoning their image they have in society, having the feeling nobody is watching them - finally being able to release themselves from all conventions and drop the mask they are wearing in society.

An inner journey begins into a world we rediscover ourselves, an invented world, photographed and still resembling to be an imaginary painting."



the hand o the sholder, beconing him to come deeper ,looks like hes teaching/ guiding the other man, conforting him, incoraging him to take the risk, the risk of what, leep of faith, or is he intising him away from safty, giving hima a fauls sence of hope and surcrity, the man benith is he a protector, savor or is he the one who will cause the mans deminse





 the masicline blue and the putity of the white he has a very famine quality about him, yet he is comfertable with himself at peace, calm, traquil, content of where he is, even though his hand is stretched out he isnt reaching for anything,

aerial silk model possibilities

http://www.flyingfantastic.co.uk/classes/aerial-silks/

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=aerialist+&rlz=1C1CHVE_enGB494GB495&oq=aerialist+&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.4418j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8#q=aerialist+in+berkshire+uk

Day 9

Today wasnt as productive as yesterday, to be honest it was mostly my own fault because I was letting others distract me too much and I just couldn't seem to focus. I did manage to find 1 really interesting artist who works underwater, I liked that she used male models but it still looked very feminine. I need to remember to make sure that my models have calm expressions for our shoots.
I also started to look into and email silk aerialist for another possible avenue, Im starting to get frustrated because I haven't heard anything back from any of the dance studios I emailed.

Shoot 2 plan

Key light - softbox at just above head height - in line with model
White backdrop - to see a different look to the first shoot and help reveal movement 

Needed:

White backdrop
flash kit (single light)
soft box 
light meter
tripod 
d3100 

Shoot 2 plan update

Due to models availability I can't do this second shoot in the college studio so Im changing things up a little bit, I'm going to use a material background on my backdrop stand and an umbrella with tungsten lighting.

Link to great research sites

https://www.lensculture.com/

https://www.behance.net/

Day 10 - End of week 2

Today I have my next shoot, I am taking inspiration from Reza Golchin's - Iranian Bazaar. I am going to simplify it down a lot so that it is just a single model in the studio but I plan on creating the same effect by blurring the models path of movement. I started by planning on using flash but then realised that I wouldn't be able to do this because I am going to be using extended shutter speed so I am going to use tungsten instead.

I feel that I have got quite a bit of work done this week and I am slowly moving in the right direction however I am getting more concerned that I haven't heard back from any of the dance studios yet, If i haven't heard anything by tuesday I am going to send out a second email to try and get things moving.
Next week I plan to get at least 2 shoots done and the last of my research.

Shoot 2 - Creating movement with the body

Home made studio ^ 

Day 11

Over the weekend I was able to complete my second shoot, I feel that it went very well and I was able to completely capture what I was aiming for even through the lack of a proper studio. I was able to take what I had which was only basic tools and complete a really good shoot with some really interesting outcomes.

Today I created my contact sheets and uploaded and then went onto research some commercial dance photography as I felt like this would relate to my project more than what my other research has so far.
I have also asked a university student that I used to study with to critique my blog so that I can see where i'm currently at.

lois greenfield - commercial dance photographer

http://www.loisgreenfield.com/galleries/breaking-bounds/index.html?pg=7

hanging from a hangmans noose, been pulled from the ground, corpse like apperance, pulled from his resting place, lifeless, cold, unnatural, looks as if he is frozen in that postion, what caused him to be in that postion? 

"We poured a mixture of sugar and flour down a tube over Sham’s head while he jumped. I wanted him to look as though he himself was being poured and had coalesced into that shape. Sham describes the sensation as “quite soothing, like being bathed in a dry waterfall.”

 nature crading humanity, show its loving arm to an ungrateful species, no matter how much we abuse it, it will still protect us and give us all we need, at peace, content 

"Sham brought with him a section of a 800 pound soft jute sculpture he had made, not knowing I would ask him to jump in it. One reason Sham looks so calm is that I have shot the moment after he has reached the peak of his jump and is on the way down."

"This moment could never be repeated, not even by Danny and Ashley themselves. Like many of my pictures, this is a uniquely photographic event. It only exists for a 500th of a second."

{All rights remain with Lois Greenfield photography}