Editorial: Narative & Curatorial Photography
Brief summary
The aim of this project was to create a set of 5 photographic images and arrange them in a layout that conveys a unique narrative, one that highlights one or more of their visual qualities (ex. shape, texture, pattern etc.). The resulting narrative had to avoid communicating a literal story and rather focus on the abstract.
Technical specifications and deliverables
5x Digital images (in JPG format, sRGB, 72 dpi) presented on a single canvas, comprised of 3 greyscale documentary photos and 2 greyscale or colour fashion photos.
Design Strategy
The visual qualities conveyed in the final composition are primarily texture, pattern and rhythm. The initial photographic exploration set out to capture a suburban-fringe aesthetic, and the use of a mirror and spotlight with the models helped to soften dark fall-off shadows and bring out subtle texture. The texture in the documentary images were fine-tuned using unsharp-masks to achieve a perfect balance of vibration while not overwhelming the fashion photography.
Layout exercise
This composition was created as an initial layout exercise in the stipulated final format in order to gain an understanding of the project's aim, based on feedback. The images used were self-generated and edited, and provided a jumping-off point for grasping the project brief.
Documentary photo generation
After grasping the crux of the brief, setting out to capture content to work with and further delineate the direction of the project was the next step. Different areas, landscapes and objects were explored in true documentary fashion.
Fashion photography exploration
The fashion photography was informed by the textual nature of the documentary exploration. The models were styled mostly
with patterns and paired with textual backgrounds, which served the emphasis the chosen visual qualities of pattern,
texture and rhythm.
Documentary photography exploration
Further documentary photography was explored to see if a more urban aesthetic would compliment the generated images thus far, but it was clear the visual queues of suburban-outside better conveyed the abstract concept of the narrative emerging.
Final images
The final images convey texture, pattern and rhythm in an abstract narrative that provides a full spectrum of visual tone. Each image was carefully edited in order to match tonally, and unsharp-masks were used to fine-tune the textures and draw the viewer into the focal point of each image.
Final composition
