Lighting issues and creating the right ambience for the final pieces

In the photoshoot I have a number of issues with either too much light or too little. I needed to get the balance between the shadows being sharp enough (i.e. the background being dark enough) with the foreground being well lit. It was extremely difficult to do without making the images look amateur. 

 The lamp I was using was allowing too much light through, creating a large box shadow over my GOBO images. to solve this problem, I created a slotted shape gobo to go over the light. This was only the foreground of the box was lit. This was certainly a very amaeteur process. If this was the installation was my final piece, i would have invested more time making the light visually appearing rather than a lamp wrapped in black paper and masking tape.

Final proposed images

For my deadline submission I wanted to present three different set designs, as a end point to the project. Although they hare not in a sequence necessarily, it is important that they all reflected on the same narrative and can be identifiable as a set in my portfolio. My choice not to present sequential images derives from my focus primarily on creating images for a poster for most of the project. This project has ended up being more authorial than narrative based than anticipated.

Throughout the photo shoot, it was extremely important for me to illustrate the performativity of the images within the installation. I wanted the viewer to feel as if they were in the room with me rather looking at a flat image. I am making the point that despite my 3D images being presented at 2D images they still have the ability to consume the viewer and disillusion them away from reality.

I took a variation of portrait and landscape images. This is, as I believe both to have different theatrical qualities.  The landscape images reflect on the structure of the theatre amphitheater. Something I did not illustrate in the structure of my shadow box, which was advised to be landscape. I have had mixed reviews about the composition of the landscape images. Some really don’t like the amount of black surrounding the model box, whereas some others appreciate the negative space. Originally, I was only going to submit the landscapes versions each with a close up version (not of the same composition). However, it was pointed out by a peer that the landscapes could be cropped to portrait focusing the viewer attention on the model box. I really don’t like these versions, most probably because they were photographed landscape and I did not intend for those compositions to be portrait.

After getting the print outs of my final images it was evident that the backgrounds were out of focus compared to the sharpness of the foreground. If I had had the time, I would have given myself more time, to get print outs and make changes if necessary. For the final major, my final images will also act as promotional material at the degree show. I would like to these images more tactile, possible getting handcuts lasercut to give to possible clients/agencies. In general I am pleased with these images. A few weeks ago I was really unsure of what my final outcome would look like. To be honest, I was in such a panic, I wasn't even sure if I'd have any final images to show. I need to keep in my mind, that I have the ability to create finalised images even after having a lot of self-doubt throughout this project. I'd like to think in the final major i'd have more faith in myself.

Final evaluation of project

This project has been a major learning curve for both my practice and myself as an individual.

I entered this unit with the intention of exploring illustration within the context of theatrical set design.This was mainly influenced by my previous projects which were were both interpretations of theatrical performances. During the summer, I had got involved with the first Reading Fringe festival, meeting with directors, actors and theatre enthusiasts alike. This was a great opportunity to network with other creative people and feed my enthusiasm for theatre and the arts. I also had a great opportunity to design a poster for the first production of the season at AUB. I was really chuffed and felt like my direction towards becoming more set design based was realising. However, I feel like that my approach to the design of this poster may have put me on the wrong course for the PMP unit. Even though, I had directed my practice more towards paper cut and 3D illustration, I chose to create coloured pencils drawings. These of course do you not reflect my current practice. I felt like I had come round in a circle once again in my practice, feeling unprepared for third year. In effect, I allowed self-doubt  to overwhelm me.

Despite this difficult time, I did produce a lot of imagery, focusing on the naval references in the novel. I drew lots of abstract and expressive drawings which most definitely helped a lot later in the project when I was in need of extra inspiration. A lot of my initial drawing came from found imagery or those from books. I think that its important in the next project to collect a vast amount more of my own imagery sourced either through photographs I take myself or location drawings. These perhaps would give me more scope for development and make sure I don't rely so much on secondary research.

My initial drawings led me to experiment a lot with 3D paper modelling. A lot of the skills I applied to these experiments derived from the convergence/divergence unit, where I experimented a lot with paper masks and costume accessories. In contrast, this project took me further. I found myself making large objects out of cardboard and thick paper card. I started to think of the objects as installation pieces or pieces that could be added to a set. I do regret not taking some of my initial making experiments further. For example; an abstract paper head, in which i weaved paper through to create hair never as finished nor used. Many experimentations never got finished because of my lack of enthusiasm at seeing them finished. I also regret not taking them further with varied materials. Some experiments that didn't necessarily work in a particular material could have worked better in another: My only comment about this is that there was obviously a reason behind this and that is that i needed some middle ground between drawing and more tactile illustration. I didn't fully acknowledge this until past the mid-way point of the project. This was my recognition of my paper cut artwork as a technique worth investing time into. It was a evident way in which i could translate my often expressive mark marking style of drawing. Compared to the mechanics of paper modelling, I was given more scope to be fluid and more abstract with my creation of imagery. As I started to become confident in this technique, image making became much easier again, and I thought more clearly and constructively in my image planning. Furthermore, I constructed a way in which illustrations could become performative. This would involve layering simple paper cuts to create an overall sophisticated image, with the help of a box. These would be then be photographed as an installation. The atmosphere created within this photograph would overall be as performative as a theatre performance itself. I also love the  interactivity with my work from the paper cutting to the creating the installation, and find that physicality really exciting. I'd like to think that the photos suggest some of this.


In my final major project, I'd like to explore performance in other methods of installation work. I would also like to focus more on an original topic rather than a chosen text. At times I felt limited by the text to create imagery. I like the idea of creating work that relate to issues closer to home. I think it is important that i base the next project on more primary research than this project.

I am happy to say that I no longer aspire to be a theatre designer but an illustrator that explores the idea of performance in her work.

Alterations to model box 2

My decision to spray paint the model box black was a idea generated from my conversation with the David, the senior lecturer of photography's suggestion to use a black background as a background for my images. Also being a stagnant colour, meant that not much light light would be reflected off the surfaces making it easier to control the direction and colour of the light. I liked the idea of having a contrast between the background and the box as well. On top of this, i feel like it makes it look all that more presentable.

Another tip that David gave me was to photograph my images with north light (natural light). I went about doing just this. However, the stark contrast between the black of the box and the white background didn't quite sit right with north light. It seemed inevitable that i'd need to create an ambience with artificial lighting. In reflection on the photographs i'd already shot, I decided to unwrap the lights form around the table as I decided it was too distracting from the layered scenes. I was determined to direct the viewer's attention directly at the middle of the composition.

I decided also to play around with the positioning of the lighting within the model box. The above image shows how I lined the ridges with the LED fairy lights. This made sure that each scene would be equally lit: Here are some of the results from this experiment....