Final Image

Progression of the final image

I started with the original image and added the first 10 steps of 'How to create a VHS style image' to get to this point (see image below).

I then added the tracking sign.

Now that I had my base image I started experimenting. I added the multicoloured glitch and used soften to make it blend with the image. I then used distort and shear to make the image look as if it had glitched, I did this over the tracking to make it more prominent.

I then started glitching different parts of the image to see where they worked best.

I had used layer via cut when distorting the image, while I was distorting the section of the image I realised you could sightly raise the image to show the layer behind it. So I made another noise layer and placed it behind the image so it showed a line of noise running across the screen where it had been glitched. Drawing the viewers eye to the distortion.

For my final image I decided to take a slightly different approach. I had not been happy that I could not see the whole skateboard in the previous images so I moved the glitch to the right, so you could see it. But then there was an empty space so I used the clone stamp tool to duplicate parts of the glitch.

I also changed the way I distorted parts of the image, Instead of going in one directing I kept the image in the same place and just curved it so it gave the wavy effect seen in frozen VHS tapes.

I am very happy with how my final image has turned out, it has incapsulated many of my research artists and is exactly what I wanted to create.  

Experimentation's with V/H/S style images / Glitch art

I have experimented with different editing styles and images while try to create my final image. Here is a selection of image I have experimented with... 

1.

I like this image but I feel it looks slightly ridged and forced. The disruption in the images look super impossed and man made instead of a accidental. But I do like the original image, it works well when duplicated.

2.

I Think this image is really cool and would work perfectly as part of a collection but as a solo piece it is to abstract.

3.

I was torn between this image and the one bellow. I think they both work really well when distorted but as my core theme is skateboarding I thought I should chose an image where you can easily tell that people are skating in the image. Although I chose not to use this image I decided to take some aspects of it and combine the two image. So I used the tracking sign in my final image and also the wavy shear distortion instead of the blocky distortion I did in other images.
4.

I decided to use this image as my final image. I will experiment with it and add other elements that worked in other pieces of work e.g. the tracking sign and colourful the colourful glitch used in image two. 

I chose to use this as my final image as it works the best while being disrupted as it is a close up. A close up works better being disrupted as it is harder to loose sight of the core details. Also as my theme is skating I wanted to use an image that clearly show someone skateboarding.  

 

Artist research (Corey Pope and Neesmith Onzeur '$$$ - trailer'

Corey Pope and Neesmith Onzeur are two american artists who work using VHS and other retro filming devises to create there work. There joint project '$$$' is made by editing straight from VHS, it is filled with home movies, found footage, blockbusters, cult classics and lots of random footage in between. They have used lots of different techniques to create the project even the layout and sequence of the clips are interesting like switching between using the full screen, to using two monitors to then playing one video while another plays as a background.  

                                                                                The use of sound bites in this project are key, they work along side the clips and are edited in such a way that you forget you are just watching a lot of short clips. Even the mix of sound bites work together. Flicking from the audio of a home video to the audio of the film 'Friday' works perfectly. 

Although I really appreciate the video I am mainly interested in the distortion that accrues in the edited VHS clip. The static that runs across the images, the thick scan lines and the bizarre flashes of colour when to clips meet. I love the feel hand shot film gives, a rough style thats works perfectly with the crackly footage.  




I am trying to recreate this feeling in my images. I am using photoshop to add all of the little details that makes hand shot VHS film so interesting to look at. My attempt can be seen on in 'How to create at VHS style image'.

Artist Research 'Palace Skateboard co. promo videos'

Palace is a British skate brand. They create high quality skate hardware and clothing, to promote the clothing they create skate edits. This what I am focusing on.
Palace produce some of the most interesting and individual skate edits in the world right now. They have a retro and quite nostalgic feel to there videos, a real throw back to the 90's skate scene. They achieve this effect by filming there edits on old VHS cameras and adding bizarre cut scenes of old found footage.  

A still from the Shawn Powers: welcome to
Palace skateboards. 

Theses edits have inspired me to create similar images. I will be applying similar effects to my own images e.g. the noise and distortion. I will be creating images similar to the palace logo above, using photoshop to fracture and disrupt the image making it look like a retro video.
I really like this type of photography and film I feel it adds so much atmosphere and depth to the piece instead of just being a clear image it ads another layer of intrigue. The ruff and ready feel of the VHS effect works so well for a skate edit as I feel thats how skate edits should be they shouldn't be perfect the should be imperfect and spontaneous not rehearsed and perfect.

 The small imperfections such as the random colour casts and the distortion that runs across the screen from time to time or even just the little flecks of dust that are present through out the video are what keeps it interesting and individual.

How to create a VHS style image

How to create a VHS style image 

1. Start by choosing you image, Then duplicate it three times. You should now have 4 versions of the same image.

2. Change the 3 duplicated layers from normal to ex
clusion.

3.Next select one of the of the duplicated layers, go to levels and change the channel from RGB to red. Repeat this process for the other two layers but change them to green and blue.

4. Move the duplicated layers around until you are happy with the effect it gives.


5. Now move the original image to the top of the layer and lower the opacity so you can see the layers beneath it. I suggest around 40%-50% opacity.

6. Crop out any un wanted parts of the image.

7.Flatten the image.

8.Now to add the noise. Go to file and create a new page using international paper A4 size. Turn this page grey and go to filter, noise, add noise and add about 80% nois
e.
Add this page to your image, stretch it to fit and lower the opacity so you can see the image bellow but still leave a noticeable amount of noise.

9. Add a small amount of sharpness to the base image by going to filter, sharpen then sharpen. It adds a slight bit of pop.
10. Now for the scan lines. Got to google an find an image of scan lines and make it the top layer of your image. Lower the opacity to around 2%-10% depending on how pronounced you want your lines to be.













11.This bit can be a little bit tricky but it just takes trial and error. use the box tool to choose a section of the full width of the image. Then right click and choose 'layer via cut'. Now go to filter, distort, shear and do a similar correlation to this.
If you have a gap between the images repeat step 6 but make it the bottom layer and change the opacity to 100%.

12.Now for the final touches. Go to filter, blur, gaussian blur and add about 2%.
13. And your finished.

This is the final product

First skate shoot

This is my first skate shoot. It was a practice shoot to help me understand which techniques I should use in my next shoot. I first wanted to use long exposure but I soon realised that the skaters I was photographing were moving too fast for the camera to capture any detail. In some of the images you could see a vague outline but they weren't detailed enough for the image to work (the best two long exposures are bellow).
So after this I decided to use the flash. This made the images clear and sharp but gave a starkness to the images. So in future I will use a cold light to add contrast and take away the starkness of the images. I want to use a cold light as a more yellow light would make the images an orange tint and there is already enough yellow light from the street lights.
Although I do like some of the snap shots using the camera flash as I feel they look raw and less staged. But for more of a professional style shot its will look better with a light.

Artist Research (Phil Jackson)

Phil Jackson  

Traveling skateboarder Phil Jackson documents youth subculture with a distinct eye for formal composition. He captures raw, gritty scenes pulling the most out of his subjects. From the camps of Woodward to the parks of Philadelphia, Jackson covers the breadth of skating in its purest form. (taken from Complex art + design).   

Although Phil Jackson is a skateboard photographer, the collection of images I am looking revolves more around the social side of the sport. His more gritty photography show the lifestyle surrounding skating. He has captured has captured some classic images ranging from the hyper kids at camp woodward to the dusty mosh pits at FDR.  

I am going to use Phil Jackson as the inspiration for the lifestyle portion of my skate photography. Showing what happens off the board is as important as showing what happens on it for this projet. This is due to the fact I want to show the audience an insite into the life of the people I am photographing not just a brief snap shot.   

Artist Research (Sagan Lockheart)

Sagan Lockheart

Sagan Lockheart is a photographer situated in Los Angeles. He specialises in documentary style photography. Working closely with OFWGKTA he has captured some of there most famous images.  He uses film for most of his images, giving them a warm and at times gritty feel.
Sagan shows a vast array of things in his work but they majorly centre around young people living in L.A. He show parties, music events, everyday life and the element I am focusing on Skateboarding. Sagan is close friend with such professional skateboarders as Nakel Smith and Young Kevin,  so capturing such impressive images is a part of his life. I love his style of snap shot, non of his image look staged even if they are taken on a pre determined he has a certain organised madness in his image that I really enjoy.
 His shots next to the cut out of the hollywood sign have given me the idea to get some of my images from a distance, not only showing the skater in the image but another point of interest  e.g. the skater grinding on the bench next to the hollywood sign. This shows two points of interest.

I am using Sagan Lockheart as one of the artist researches for skate action shots.

Artist research (Trent Parke)

I find Trent Parkes observational and documentary photography really interesting. His work in colour is so vivid and vibrant, so much so it can look unrealistic at times. I especially enjoy Parkes 'Christmas tree bucket' project where he has shown an odd and unusual side of christmas in Australian suburbs. This project features a plethora of styles such as the surreal image 'Bugs Lauries's 70th birthday surprise' or the darkly humorous 'Fireman Uncle Heath's 37th Birthday Cake'. Trent is a real chameleon when it comes to photography, he can show humor and surrealism (Christmas tree bucket) Vivid colourful documentary shots (Coming soon/ Welcome to nowhere) and even powerful dramatic using black and white (Dream/LIfe & beyond and Minutes to Midnight). 

Bugs Lauries's 70th birthday surprise 

Well as shooting in digital and on regular analog camera he has also shot some very successful work in medium format. These projects include 'Coming soon' and 'Minutes to midnight'. Two very different but equally interesting and powerful collections of work. This has give me the idea to use the medium format to try and capture my final image.

After looking at Trent's work I really want to emulate some of his styles, the street/documentary styles shown in Coming soon and Minuets to midnight plus the eary style used in 'christmas tree bucket' would be a great feet to reach. 

Drag Races, Mildura, VIC, 2003

Introduction

Introduction to 'Expanding horizons' 

In this assignment I will be entering the Melbourne Festival 'Emerging Talent Awards'. This competition is aimed at artists aged between 16 and 25 who are in or have recently left education and are trying to succeed in there chosen genere of art. I will be showing my work through the medium of photography. 

To enter this competition you not only need to enter your final images but also a Cv and personal statement along side the usual research and evidence of progression.      

The winner of this competition will receive £1,000 but also a space to show their work in the 2015 art and architecture trail. The runner ups will also receive £250. 

I hope you enjoy my work.