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!

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.

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!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Day 13

Today I have managed to complete my 3rd shoot which I planned on our day away from college yesterday, I felt like it went really well, we didn't get the kind of shots that I wanted as I was looking for more dance type images but my model wasn't a dancer and was kind enough to to agree to a shoot last minute. I tried to direct her as much as possible but I really struggled with positioning her in ways she was comfortable as she has back problems and took a long time to feel comfortable in front of the camera despite my efforts. Im going to have to reshoot this shoot which isnt a problem, I would however like to have an actual dancer for the next shoot! Not saying that it will eliminate my problems but it would be nice to do a shoot which could possibly produce some finals.

Also after receiving the critique back from sophie I realised that I need to actually start annotating my shoots! Which i completely forgot so I am going to get that done tomorrow.

Day 14

Today I have spent the day analysing my shoots so far, as I really needed to get this done asap before i forgot again, and planning my next shoot. I Have finally had a response to my emails, most saying no in quite frankly the rudest way possible! But I have one dancer who is willing to help me out so we have arranged a shoot for in the college studio. Im really looking forward to finally starting to move with this project!

Day 15 - End of week 3

So the model never showed!! I am so frustrated right now!! I got a text an hour after she was due that she would not be coming and infact could model for me at all. I did use the time to practise setting up my lights so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

This week has been one let down after another! I now need to ring around all the dance studios (not just ballet) to see if i can find a model who will model for me. I can not believe that I'm midway through the project and I have only shot twice!

Plan for next week is to try and find a model and complete the last of my research.

Day 16

So in a bizarre twist I have now taken on a whole new direction with my project all thanks to watching a video of one of my favorite artists... Strange I know. When I was watching PINK's 'try' video I started to think how it related to my white on white project last year and how them throwing dust about created really interesting patterns and it clicked! Connect white on white whith FMP! So I have spent the day looking for artist that have used this in their work and I have found an amazing artist called Ludovic Florent how has really inspired me to take a hole new approach to this project and I feel that doing it this way would actually make this project more my own too, it would create a whole new dimension to a typical image, taking the ordinary to extraordinary.
I have also send out a message to practically everyone I know asking if they would be willing to do this type of shoot for me so I am not just waiting on responses.

Day 17

I have spend the vast majority of today trying to find a model, or a couple of models that would be willing to do my new idea, so far I have had a resounding no but I'm not giving in yet! I have also been watching other photographers videos of how they shot this same concept. It has been helpful looking at these videos because I'm not completely clueless going into the shoot. I have also managed to get my next shoot planned so it's just finding a model, if it comes to it I will model myself just so that I can get a shoot done

Day 20

Today I managed to get my first dust shoot done!! It was alot harder than I thought it would be! I'm glad I took my remote timer with me just in case as this turned out to be critical to the shoot, I git some semi decent shots however I am very glad that I ha e a model to do it for me so I don't have to model again, we are going to have to do the next shoot outside as the dust set off my asthma and I don't want this to happen to my model

Day 21

Today I created a set from my last shoot to see what they would look like as a set and they work quite well together, there is an odd red color cast over the full set after I uploaded it which im not too sure on why this has happened but im happy with the set as a hole.
I also got a 2nd critique done today which i found really helpful to know what areas i need to work on and what areas are working well so far.
Tomorrow I plan on getting my final shoot all planned and ready for my shoot with sophie.