Initial Photography

Initial Photography:
For my selection of Initial Photography I chose all the images relating to issues now, being a teenager in the 21st century. I have sectioned my images into Selfies, Dreams, Labels, Quotes, Thoughts, Summer, Growing up and Family. The idea of the sections is to understand how my Generation looks in the present day

Selfies:
The most talked about issue at moment is the 'Seflies.' This self-absorption has taken over all the internet with social media like Instagram and Twitter including hashtags, which helps passing on the 'selfie'. The Oxford Dictionary describes it as 'a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website. There's a possible of two reasons for teenagers behind a 'selfie'; because they adore the way they look or they want to know if others approve and how many likes it could get. That is usually the thought process behind it. The collection of images I have used for the 'selife' section are images I shot in New York City, it's evident that these images aren't the typical studio images, having uneasy composition and even out of focus people. This describes another chapter to selfies and the one's which are 'bad' we tend to hide and won't upload to the internet. 

The funny selfie. These kind of selfies are kept to 'expose' others for example as the photographer I would use this image against Kiki (girl in image) as a joke. This is behaviour seen around twitter and facebook where friends save 'the not so great' seflie of their friends and upload it as a joke. There is something however, about this image which creates a happy mood. It might be as it was shot in New York and the image reminds me of how I felt when I was there but for someone else that didn't go, it could be the sun  glare coming in from the left of the image..also the expression of Kiki is highly amusing.

This is a classic example of what wouldn't be uploading to apps such as instagram or twitter as it doesn't show the people in it at their best angle, having both faces merely chopped off isn't professional. It is a more of a 'teenager thing' having to pick out all the bad things in this image to avoid showing it off to the world. When capturing these shots I wanted to show how a 'selfie' wouldn't always come out perfect, this highlights the front camera on mobile phones. The use of the front camera gave the 'selife' more recognition and the ability to take a shot of yourself whilst looking at the screen has been over used in today's day and age, because we know how it looks. As soon as that image is taken we are able to crop it, adjust the brightness and contrast, sharpen and then once we are satisfied we upload it with various relating hash-tags.

Dreams:

The idea behind this section is how 'My Generation' have this massive bubble following them, that they can become 'famous' or 'glamorised' with a click of the fingers. The idea of being rich and famous is what most teenager's want to be, it's probably in their 'bucket list.' That is what teenagers now call a 'Typical Teenage Girl'; becoming famous and travelling the world, which is another dream for many. A bucket list is a list of dreams in hope that they will all happen in the matter of a week. The 21st century has been infused so much with social media and news about celebrities, it has almost become an obsession to know the 'latest' on the 'rich and famous' when in reality the news article is probably something about what they wore to dinner, but yet we read it, because most teens 'dream' of that sort. 

This image was shot in  New York. Personally speaking, I will admit I have a massive ambition related to New York and my dream career of becoming a Photographer. I captured this shot with prompt of my exact emotions I felt when taking the image, I wanted to hold on to the moment as I stood on the Empire State Building. I didn't want to let go of the moment, the freedom and power I felt over looking New York as though I was ready to conquer it all in that moment. The composition of the image is effective in the sense of what captures the eye first, for me the centre of interest is the fingers holding on to the bars, preventing them from reaching out to what she wants. The  buildings are a distraction from the fingers, but a good distraction, a distraction that gives off a 'feel good feeling.' The lines in the image could be recognised as a distraction but also helps the viewer focus on what is in between the lines going off in different directions. The idea that the hand looks so close to what it wants but again really far. There is a variation of emotional effects the image showcases, it could be an image capturing a fleeting moment even though the buildings are stood still, they won't be in front of those hands forever. It also conveys the idea of ambition but not energy or emphasis it is very subtle in that area.  However the day light in the image helps with the ambition and shows hope, daylight is seen as a source of happiness because the skies are bright adding a happier atmosphere. 

This image is part of the dream section because I have a massive dream of becoming a professional photographer. In 'My Generation' it seems to be a common thing to have such big inspirations and dreams with the influence of celebrities and Youtube'rs even. We are constantly showered by the idea we can become famous with doing some so dramatic. There's a picture on Tumblr that states 'no one care's you're dying if you're either pretty or famous' it's the harsh reality but awfully true. Most teenagers I have questioned about their dreams are very simple in the sense its the materialistic; rich, famous, live in a mansion with 5 cars and for some apparent reason  a majority of them think it will happen over night. This image is relating to where I want to be in my life and like every other teenage in 'My Generation' I too have dreams. The camera is what instantly captures my  eye and the way her fingers tend to rest on the zoom. I used a shallow depth of field so the background was visible but didn't become a distraction.  The composition of the image is strange as I have cropped out the woman used in the image purely intentional as I wanted to include what she was taking a picture of, e.g. city scape of New York City. This image wasn't naturally posed it was coincidentally she happened to be taking a picture. 

Labels:
Labels section is a sort of mix and match, I have however only included a series of images relating to 'brands' than personal labels to individuals. The idea behind having the biggest brands to date is what teenagers rely on to have that approval of others. The image of 'Bloomingdale's' was shot in New York City and it was a necessity to go, why? Because of the designer brand that we 'dream' of affording one day and the most said phrase "when I'm older I'll be able to afford that"- referring to £3000 Chanel bag, because it's Chanel! High street names also have a big impact on today's society, because of fashion writers Alexa Chung, who produced her IT book, sold in the well known Urban Outfitters. She discusses 'affordable' outfits and her journey in fashion but still yet she means the stores like 'Topshop' and 'Zara.' Where we shop somehow refines Teenagers of today, it's like a reflection of our personality in a way.

Quotes:

This has evolved through the well known social networking site; Tumblr. Also known as the place where you can post anything and no one will judge you, I should use the past tense really, you get judged anonymously on there now. Nevertheless, it consists of photography of anything you could possibly imagine. Pictures with writing on are a must 'Save Image As' purely because whoever thought of that quote can evidently 'relate' to whatever that Teen is feeling when she saved it. These words pasted onto an image could be motivation, relevance to a situation, about love, family, anything. It's a way of getting advice because some Teenagers may feel like they have no one to talk to. 

 Thoughts:

This section is quite a minuscule issue as in the idea of just 'over thinking.' It's what most people do but today Teenagers have the idea of over thinking almost everything, its a habit now. Over thinking, education, relationships, family or not even fitting in. It's something that's triggered off in our minds after perhaps seeing something we didn't want to or how we want things to be and they aren't. The idea of this image being in a bedroom is because of it being the 'safe place.' Where you can be as emotional or happy as you want and it all stays between those four walls. 

  

This image is from the social media site Tumblr and has been highlighted so much for teenagers in the 21st century. It's very hard to explain but being exposed to areas like self harm, suicide, heartbreak, life choices, decisions at 18 make us over think. Not the sort of thoughts where you have a flash thought for a couple of minutes, the sort of over thinking that will keep someone up all night. It's called 'pointless teen dram' by parents but it can happen to be unconquerable once you haven't got anybody to talk to about the issues that are controlling your brain. 

This image was captured in my bedroom and I believe that if there is one place in this world this is my safest place. For a point in my life my bedroom was the only thing I seen, I never got out of those four walls because I thought I was safe. 'My Generation' has twisted the phrase said by parents of 'go to your bedroom' which was previously known as punishment, but do they mean go to your room where you have a laptop, phone, bed, food, games and nobody else to bother you? A bedroom is a very personal thing to people, my bedroom represents my personality, having writing on one wall and inspiration from cut out vogue magazine pages on the other and fairy lights setting that 'fairy tale' atmosphere. This image conveys a variety of questions; is she sleeping? What is she thinking about? What do those words say? It just captures that moment where you feel you can be yourself in four walls and no judges you. 

Summer:

The weather! It can make us happy or really depressed. Pathetic Fallacy is what teenagers rely on, the idea of summer being round the corner and being able to work for that 'summer bikini body.' The sun being out makes anyone happy, but for teenager's is that idea of festivals, memories, the beach, bikini's and that summer romance. It plays a massive part in these years of growing up.

Growing up:

This image of the little boy trying to fit his little feet into adult size 6 shoes is the idea of the little kid's wanting to grow up and the one's who have grown up want to be children again. This isn't a massive issue right now but there's always that sense of never wanting to grow up. Students this year, are going into university or into a job and all long to go back to nursery. 

Family:

These are a collection of images of my family and who I've grown up around. My grandma plays a significant role in these images as when I was a child my Mum went straight back to work and my Grandma looked after me. I grew up surrounded by her advice, teachings, affection and the lesson that family is always first. My Grandma has been so blessed to be able to see her great grandson; the boy in the last two black and white images. The first image is the classic family portrait where no one ever looks the same direction and someone is always pulling 'the pout.' This is putting 'My Generation' in the context of my family background and basically how I evolved.