Development - Agoraphobia and Second photoshoot

The second photo shoot and idea is based on anxiety of Agoraphobia and the original image idea came from a watercolor painting I did in 2010. It's more of a story I created and is based on a sad fairy tale called

"The Prince Of Bitterness"

The Original poem I made at the time that goes with this story is this

Their once was a Prince who was filled with a heart full of love and giving...

He would give gifts and treasures to all he met and be so gentle and caring... 

All he knew was that it was good to be good and kind to be kind...

Their would be many travels and many people and animals he would keep in mind...

But it wasn't long before the Prince began to see that he was not treated the same...

People did not ever show him thanks or warmth back or even remember his name... 

This filled the Prince with a deep sadness and confused him about his deeds...

Why did no one care or notice him? no one would remember him or about his needs...

Eventually after a while this drove the Prince nearly insane and he could not be around anyone...

He banished himself to a very secret place everyone didn't even notice he was gone...

The Prince is still there at this place his heart filled with bitterness and misery...

Drinking the black liquid that drips from his tainted heart that is broken and empty...

He drinks from the same cup drowning in his own melancholy, a endless black river...

That poor Prince to sit in that hidden place and still not understand people, forever and ever...

8x10

Watercolour
Pencil
Ink
Pen
Acrylic
Tea

This was the painting it was at a stage when I was painting a lot and creating different stories and characters that had reflections on my own life and lessons. This painting was about how our own bitterness and sadness can lead us to want loneliness and to be separated from the world. How uncomfortable situations and experiences can make us be afraid and cause illness that leads to negative behaviour. It was a painting I kept going back to and felt it was a strong image to represent this symbolism.

Anxiety - Agoraphobia

Felt it was a good example to create the anxiety of Agoraphobia which is a disorder that creates a fear of large spaces and open environments. Which sadly causes the sufferers to separate them selves from the outside world and become trapped usually in their own homes. This in turn leads their condition to get worse for them mentally and physically to also seek help or treatment. The condition can be varied depending on if the person has had a negative experience or event at a certain place or could relate to social embarrassment.

Digital Media Tests

For this Photo shoot I also have been story boarding this idea and to make it a little more realistic in terms of anxiety and symbolism. I first did some sketches and planned out the idea in my sketchbook like the previous first photo shoot to be able to show the models. I also have did some digital media tests with light and dark and also shadows on the figure and the props in Photoshop.

Prop Making and Image Meaning

The props I got for this shoot where the table and chair plus the tea set which I decorated and painted myself for the shoot with acrylic paints. The color test with the brown table and chair and black background felt it worked the best and then it was taken into the studio.

Also I made a crown with cardboard and tinfoil for the shoot's model and also created black finger prints and hand marks on the tea set. The reason I wanted to create the markings on the set was to create a sense of time and that they had been handled a lot by the figure with the bitterness coming from his heart. The crown was also a symbol for how the figure feels like they are in control and power in their own environment that they can rule to how they want. How Agoraphobic sufferers feel when they are in the place they find to be the safest usually their own homes.

The color sliver in symbolism can mean clarity because it is a clearer color and I wanted to use that instead of gold which is to harsh a color and can mean riches. I didn't want the image to portray anything to do with wealth but to create a colder more alone mood which sliver shows better. Sliver also means subtle strength which in a sub conscious way to show  that they have the mentality to over come their anxiety and respond to help if needed.

As for drinking black tea I wanted that to represent that the figure is drinking/drowning in their own misery because they are stuck in this fear because of their anxiety. That their trapped by their own home or environment and that doing this can make the condition worse. Also that since drinking tea is supposed to represent a calm and leisurable activity but this idea contradicts this image into how loneliness changes this.

Lighting Tests

The production studio was used for this shoot and I also used lighting that was between harsh and subtle for more dramatic effect. The black background was also used since I wanted to create a type of void feeling of the environment that the figure has placed them selves. This is some examples of how the settings were changed on the camera and the lighting in the studio. Soft boxes were use to create these effects.

This is the awesome Stewart who approached me to work on this project through the advertisements around the university. This was such a positive step for me in confidence about the whole project and asking for models. We did some practice shots below which show different body languages as well as lighting and camera settings.

This was Stewart after I painted him ready to be the Prince of Bitterness which I appreciated greatly.

 

Digitally Edited Images and Possible finals

The pictures below where the ones I've cropped and edited with different effects to create different moods and tones. They also express different body languages and the dramatic effects of the lighting on the body. The full props are also being used and different angles of the pictures being taken.

The shots below were just some I wanted to try from a lower angle to see what type of mood they would portray compared to the leveled angles. They make the figure look more dominating which in a sense would work but probably not for theme behind these images. But I wanted to try some hand held experiments with the camera also. But I feel the images from above will be the best ones that will be considered for final pieces. It was very positive being able to bring an old painting back to life and I feel a lot happier and confident about the projects process.

I hope to jump into the studio very soon to begin another Photo shoot but will have to continue with some more prop making. As well as more sketchbook work and blogging on to the next shoot!