Contextual Research

1. Contextual Research
Olivia Waller

2. Defining FMP
• For my FMP, I had lots of time to decide what I wanted to produce, originally I had planned on photography
that nature and landscape related, however after researching different portfolios I found fine art as
something that was interesting to me. When thinking about the different projects I have produced and have
been the most happy with was definitely my fanzine, I wanted to include some of the techniques from that
project into my FMP, Fine art includes this theme. I like to take photos and edit them so I am up to date with
techniques and effects I need to use for this project.
• I have decided I will be presenting my fine art photos in a photography portfolio. I chose this layout as you
can easily see the photos and with my photos being the main focus of the project this sort of product will be
the best to show them off.
• Overall I think a Fine art photography portfolio will work well throughout my final major project, as I have
created similar products previously and they have been successful. This includes the fanzine I created a few
months ago. I managed to complete the previous fanzine project on time, doing similar techniques this
should give me enough time to complete this project to a distinction level.

3. Jeremy Blincoe
In order to create a successful portfolio, you need to ensure there is experience within graphic design,
filmmaking or journalism. One or more of these will help towards creating your products. I have minimal
experience in these 3 factors, I will look into some existing authors, journalists and filmmakers.
The first photography I am looking into is Jeremy Blincoe. The artist Jeremy Blincoe is a visual storyteller, his
purpose is not to reflect the world we see around us but to explore the interior world of the mind. He is a New
Zealand based photographer. He loves mysterious and mystical environment. He created a project called
“Wander and Wander” he wanted to take the viewer back into childhood and into the times spent wandering
through nature.
A predominate focus of Jeremy Blincoe’s work is on youth and are set in wondrous landscapes, giving the
viewers a license to create their own narrative in a mythical world he created.
This is a example of Jeremy’s work, I like his work as it

4. Oleg Dou
Oleg Dou lives in Russia and tranforms photographic images of human faces, manipulating them with
computer software to produce stylized features and airbrushed skin. His aim for photography is something
bordering between the beautiful and repulsive, living and dead, almost as if you walking by a plastic manikin.
Dou’s parents were a painter and dress designer, they gave him a copy of photoshop at age 13, he began to
alter images of his school friends and teachers faces. Initially it was inspired by 19th century tradition of
capturing child funeral portraits, for which the body would be dressed in costume and prepared in intricate
detail, Dou is interested in producing images that are both alluring and unsettling.

5. Vee Speers
Vee Speers is a Paris based Australian artist, she fell in love with photography in the 70s and assisted her father
in converting a caravan dark room as she was mesmerized by seeing his portraits appear like magic.
The theme of her photography is dramatic and surreal portraits. She describes her style as Playful, beautiful,
strange, melancholic, obvious and unexpected. Speers has exhibited her work all around the world e.g. NYC,
Singapore, Italy, Mexico, Norway and many more.
She was one of 4 photographers featured at the grand opening of Fotografiska Museum in Stockholm, Sweden
in 2010.
She also has 2 photography books which have been re-printed due to popularity. Her series, The Birthday Party,
is currently enjoying a 2 year traveling exhibition in Europe.

6. I have also decided to look at line art as this is
something I was planning on doing for my project. I am
looking at a artist called Lucia Emanuela Curzi. She is a
Italian illustrator based in London. She creates fashion
and beauty imagery. Her art is Expressive, Bold and
colourful.
She spent 4 years working in advertising and winning
awards, and as well as illustrations she produces textile
patterns. Her work has been exhibited in the V&A and
Tate Britain. She has a BA in Media Design, which she
followed up with courses at the London College of
Fashion.
Her style is strong black ink marks, elegant lines and
splashes of colour. Her variation in line weights, unusual
angles and daring compositions really set her
illustrations apart from the rest.
I really like her art as its not perfect but looks really
effective and detailed. I like the colour as well, It really
compliments the art and all goes well together.

7. This is another line artist this work is similar to
what I want to include on my project, it includes
more portrait photos which is something I am
going to do. This artist is Silke Bachman who is one
of Germany’s most versatile professional
illustrators. She studied at Fachhochschule fur
Gestaltung in Hamburg, Silke has travelled widely,
returning to Hamburg with a collection of
sketchbooks. She worked as a storyboard artist and
character designer in the animation industry
before becoming a full time illustrator.
Her clients love the way she effortlessly adapts
from one technique to the next.
Silke choose a composition and colour palette that
suits the intentions behind the image.
I like her work as I feel it is a similar theme that I
am going to use for my project and has inspired
the way it is going to be edited and how it will look.
I like the pops of colour and the thin outlines over
the top.

8. The Birthday Party
• Author Vee Speers
• Published 2008
• This book includes a series of portraits of children about to attend an imaginary birthday party. Inspired by
her daughter’s birthday party Vee Speers imagined what characters might be created if role play were
pushed into imaginative extremes.
• The portraits in this collection are theatrical, with the children in “fancy dress”, Vee Speers exposes a side of
childhood that is neither carefree nor cliched, and through the children she projects a range of emotions and
definitions that are part of our imperfect adult world.

9. Novices to Advanced Digital Photographers
• Author Tony Sweet
• Published 2011
• Award winning photographer Tony Sweet teaches novice and advanced photographers how to use 2 leading
photo editing programs to create high dynamic range photos. Over 40 stunning examples of Tony’s work,
with the artist’s commentary on which settings he chose and why, illustrate the range of creative possibilities
HDR provides.

10. Fine Art Portrait Photography
• Author Nylora Bruleigh
• Published 2014
• This book is about lighting, posing and postproduction of a portrait photo.
It shows before and after images for all the photographs and also gives a thorough explanation as to how she
took the thought process though from the initial idea. In the book it talks about how she goes to yard sales and
antique shops to find the prop for a future session. The wheels of her mind are in constant motion, sometimes
even awakening her in the middle of the night, giving her new concepts with which to experiment.

11. How photoshop is used to manipulate
photography
• Photo manipulation can include retouching photos by using ink or paint, airbrushing, changing exposure and
many other things. Most of these effects are used on a photo for a certain effect or aesthetic. When
photographers take portrait photos of a person, a main manipulation is airbrush to make them look perfect
and this effect makes everything look smooth and clear and shows no imperfections.
• Some photograph manipulations are considered as an art form as it involves the creation of unique images
and can also express a photographers work.
• All fine art photography has been edited to create a illusion or fantasy and shows a high level of skill and
imagination
• In fine art photography, photos are manipulated in many different ways, some are more extreme then
others. For example on google some photos are shown in black and white but have been edited to be more
defined and very clean, however there is other that have been massively edited by having stuff coming out o
their mouth which is more extreme then the previous black and white photo.

12. Stuart Hall Theory
This theory is more directed to filming however it can also relate to photography
and print, as audience positioning is something to think about when taking photos.
Every media text has a preferred message which everyone wants to get across to
their audience.
Dominant reading can be used in a way that fits with photography. Dominant
reading is reading something the way it is intended to be, this can be used in
photography by seeing a edited photo and looking at it in a way that it is normal
and is seen as edited.
Negotiated reading is interoperating in ways that reflect in experiences and
interests, this can be done with photos as being shown a edited photo and seeing it
in a different light and seeing something that relates to them.
This is a good theory to use and talk about when thinking about target audience as
you can use one as a primary audience and a secondary audience and talk about
how it will suit them best.
https://www.nusa.org.uk/data/documents/52/Theory_Knowledge_Organiser_B__
VTice.pdf

13. Judith Butler
Judith Butler is a feminist and has the theory of male and female gaze. I have used
the James Bond film poster for an example of male gaze. The poster is a figure of a
women, this has been used as James Bond has a primary audience of male due to the
film being action. Having this woman as the main focus of the film instantly will grab
a males attention as it is seen as “sex sells”.
I have a female model for my photos, however my primary target audience is female
so I will create and take my photos in a way that they won’t be sexualized. However
this is a good thing to consider in other projects if I make a product that is more
designed for men then thinking of producing something like the James Bond poster
will be eye catching for the audience.

14. Media Theories

15. Media Theories
Type Definition
Admiration Seekers People who wish to have products that make others admire them.
Pleasure Seekers People who look for products to give them a sense of excitement or buzz.
Security and Stability Seekers People who search for products that will give them a sense of stability and security (e.g. insurance and
mortgage protection).
Anti-Authority Rebels People who seek products that will give them a sense of being different and going against society’s
norms.
Joiners People who buy products that make them feel accepted in society.
Generation X People who don’t know what they want and don’t care so will aim to buy any product.
Materialists People who buy products that only have material value
Complainers People who are cynical about any product and believe that all products don’t work as well as they should
Do-Gooders People who always try to do good deed to make themselves feel good about themselves
Achievers People who are well off and achieved a lot in their jobs and can afford the expensive products/brands
Experimentalists People who don’t mind taking a risk on a new product that society hasn’t really started using yet
Working Class Puritans People who are keen on saving and will only buy products that are essential, not luxurious
Struggling Poor People who have very little income so can only afford the cheap versions of all products
Resigned Poor People who accept they can’t even afford the cheap version of products

16. Bibliography
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