3D Craft & Lens

Initial Ideas

Using the theme of mutants/mutations, my aim for this brief was to create a successful "one shot" photo/image using a camera, focusing on craft.
I wanted to be really cleaver with this brief, as I was really inspired by our briefing presentation and the possible ideas to come from it. I was also really excited by the fact we could focus on the crafted/hand-made element and/or the manipulation of camera/lens element, 2 of my favourite ways of working.

Idea 1 
Format: Panorama using camera
Craft: Masks to represent a mutation. 1 person being more than 1 thing at once. Multiple mutations at one time/in one place.

One of my ideas that I thought would be really interesting for this brief (if done successfully) was the idea of a continuous image/panorama of myself wearing different masks/costumes. One person appearing over and over again in one image, set in one place (my living room) standing, sitting, jumping, posing etc etc gives the idea that that person can be more than one thing/mutant at a time and I thought it would be a good play on the brief.

I have an app on my phone which I thought would be perfect for testing this out before researching into how to do this more professionally using my DSLR (if even possible). The app was great to use because it lets the subject move into their next position without effecting the previous image.

Panorama Test

Stereographic Test

After spending a while trying to achieve a clean continuous image with my boyfriend as the subject, it became apparent that this was going to be extremely difficult to get the effect that I wanted and I hadn't even began to make the masks/costumes yet for the multiple mutations. Moving on one spot to record the next position was not working well, as despite the subject being clear and separate throughout the image - the background was not as the image edges did not overlap and connect together well. Because of this, the overall continuous image still looked extremely fragmented despite my best efforts. I struggled for a whole day trying to make the images work - these above photos being my best attempts and after losing the will to carry on with this process I decided to give it up as my main idea.

I think if I had had more time to work at this and really test out different ways to create the desired effect that I had wanted (tripod, DSLR techniques, marked positions for the subject to stand etc)- it would have been a really striking and interesting final piece. Something I definitely want to re-visit as a future project.

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Inspiration

After feeling I had failed at my initial idea, I needed to become re-inspired and decided to re-visit some crafty works I had recently been introduced too. (Some in our briefing and some through my own exploration).

I really love the idea of creating a realistic, recognisable scene/object/model made completely out of a different material such as paper. That element of surprise, craft and beauty generated when the audience realises that the subject isn't real and is in fact made out of something completely different - is something of great interest to me.

Paper craft/engineering has had a huge influence on my personal practice and is something I will forever continue to explore and improve upon. Bringing 3D to a 2D medium is a great skill and here are a few illustrators/set designers/ "craftists" that have inspired me recently.

Hattie Newman

I can't believe I have only just found out about this lady and already her work just blows my mind. A lot of practitioners attempt to create work like this, now that craft is becoming so much more popular - however not all work is as successful and - dare I say it - as perfect as this. Hattie is wonder woman in my eyes. A huge inspiration to me and my practice the more I find out about her and see her work. The meticulous attention to detail, quality of cut and craft, use of colour, ideas and subject matter - if I was to pursue craft and paper-cut in my practice after university and in industry (a huge possibility), this is how I would go about it. Clearly a perfectionist knowing all too well how unforgiving paper and card can be to work with. Its all just so freakin' AWESOME! (and looks like a lot of fun to create as well)

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Owen Gildersleeve

Owen is also a pretty a new find for me, and what draws me to his work is his use of block colour and shape. These 2 elements are pretty paramount when it comes to paper craft, but he executes his work so well and professionally - everything looks so clean and pleasing to the eye. He has had some pretty big gigs throughout his career, from Ben and Jerry's advertising to film festival posters/brochures to rolex campaigns and this is why I find him extremely inspirational - Owen and his work is out there and is successful and showcases what is achievable/possible in industry.

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As paper-cut and engineering is one of my main practises and influences within my own work, I own quite a few books on the subject, one of my favourites being "Paper Cutting" by Laura Heyenga, Rob Ryan and Natalie Avella. A few of my favourite pieces ad practitioners within this book are as follows...

Yulia Brodskaya

Matthew Sporzynski

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Idea 2 
Format: High quality DSLR image
Craft: City/village scene made from paper to accompany me sat on a cloud

This may seem like a bit of a strange one and a loose link to a mutation - more of a "super power" if anything. This idea stems from something I used to wish for when I was younger. I have always been fascinated by clouds, their formations and used to wish I had the ability to sit on them really high in the sky and watch the world beneath me go by.

I really enjoy working with coloured paper/card as in a way it limits the process for me and I can really focus on the finish of what I make instead of getting caught up making decisions of what media to use/how to draw certain elements. Of course learning how to assemble each element does take it's time, however my brain seems to like working in this way and I never have too much of a hard time working out how to make things. I am usually pretty pleased with the finish I can create with paper/card as each piece tends to be a set flat clean colour, creating a professional finish to the work and even simple shapes can create an interesting final piece.

Process & Development

I began the process of creating my paper scene by making the buildings, and this was probably the easiest part of the task for me as it took me back to my school days and making 2D "net" templates for 3D models. I wanted a variety of shapes for the buildings so focused on the 4 walls and windows for each, some long and thin, some sort and square, not needing a base or roof at this point.

Cut template with windows

Net template drawing

Cut templates and roofs

After all the building templates were cut, I focused on finishing the windows. Although this has a simple effect, the slicing, assembling and fixing of the thin slips of card  was extremely time consuming. Each building has different coloured windows to that of its walls, so that this element would stand out and not become lost in the final image.

Window detailing

Final templates complete with windows

Once the main buildings had been assembled, I decided to create a few extras to help set the scene and add interest to the final image. Details like this always help bring a composition together, and in this case - add colour (as all my buildings were looking a little bland and boring together at this point).

Pond detail

Pond detail

 

Fiddly bridge assembling

Leaf details using hole punched paper

Leaf elements folded to take their shape

Cutting out tree element

Leaf sticking using PVA glue

Finished tree detail

The final tree needed to stand in the final composition of the
image. My solution was a little thin and wobbly but did enable
the tree to stand, without the additional wedge being visible

Mock image assembly against a white background

Issues with testing out the "blue sky" background. More tape needed

At this point I was pretty pleased with how all elements were coming together, so decided to keep it simple, finish there with the set and begin the last element of me sat on a cloud.

Original photo to be cut and manipulated
into a sitting pose

Cloud made from cotton wool and PVA glue

Me bent into position and stuck on the cloud

For me to be suspended above my paper city/village in the image,
I needed to create a contraption to hold me in place whilst I took the photo. Wire thread through the cloud
and attached to a pen (handle) worked best. I could slot/fix the pen onto something
out of the shot to hold me in place.

Now that all of the elements within my image were complete, I could spend some time assembling them how I wanted too and creating various light sources to get the most clear/clean image possible. This was done via multiple lamps, torches and the flash of my camera.

Arranging main elements

Final Image

Successes, Failure and Reflection

Overall I am really pleased with the outcome of my image and despite being an odd idea, I think the execution and finish creates a strong final piece and I feel it fits the brief quite well.

I have never created a 3D scene from paper before, and as a first attempt I really like the colour palette that I have chosen and the details I have incorporated help tie the whole scene together and create interest/depth.

The use of a good DSLR camera to capture the scene was really important in the end as it was able to pick up how clean the shapes and matt colours are. I did try to use my phone to see if this was an easy solution, but because of the grainy quality of the image, it was not worth using after so much effort had been put into creating the elements of this piece.

I really struggled with the lighting in the final stages as I had 3 light sources in the end and still felt like the image was not bright enough. I do however like how the flash of the camera generated subtle shadows against the blue backdrop, emphasising the handmade 3D quality of all of the elements.

If I was to attempt this piece again, I would love to create more buildings/elements resulting in a larger "city" effect instead of this very tiny, quaint village. I would also like to have me in colour sat on the cloud instead of in black and white, as unfortunately for this image my printer had completely ran out of colour. Although this effect doesn't necessarily take away from the final composition, it was not intended and I feel I would be a lot clearer and more of a main element within the final piece if I was in colour.