MAYA
Source: http://www.mayaalmeida.com/UNDERWATER/FACES/1/thumbs
Maya is inspired by the "creative energy of movement, fluidity & the feeling of life as boundless. ". Although Maya is based in London, she originates from a seaside house in Portugal where she first discovered her fascination with the movement of water.
In this photograph, Maya has captured the head and shoulders of his model, with the water line interrupting the face so that the model is only identifiable from the mouth downwards. On the other hand, the bottom half of the image is reflected above on the water's surface to create an abnormal figure of a person.
To take this photograph, Maya would have used an underwater camera case and bright lighting for a high key set up, as a result, the ripples on the water casts shadows across the chin and lips of the model in streaking patterns. Consequently, the lips are emphasised, this is furthered by the use of vibrant lipstick on the model From this the audience can assume that the model is youthful although her true identity remains hidden. On the other hand, excluding the top section of the photograph, the water appears to be serene and peaceful, this calm atmosphere is projected onto its audience. I am inspired by the way that Maya has used the ripples of the water and the waterline to dissect the conventional portrait of a woman, leaving the audience to assume her identity through small clues such as her lip colour. On the other hand, if I was to interpret this technique, I would take the photograph from above the water although I would take inspiration from Maya's use of bubbles and ripples to distort the facial features |
This photograph was taken underwater in a swimming pool, the ripples of the water have cast pale reflections on the face and shoulders of the male model. The whole image is very simplistic, the predominant colour is white and the man has a pale, smooth complexion with no facial or head hair to distract from his face. To add to this, the model is standing far away from the background, this combined with a shallow depth of field has blurred the background for a tie-dyed effect that does not distract an audience's eye away from the face of the model.
In my project, I intend to take inspiration from the reflections across the face of the model however instead of taking the photograph underwater, I think that I can imitate this style using a projector directed at my model's face, |
In contrast, this photograph is set above water although a film of water covers the face like a barrier between the face and the air. In order to take this image, Maya has used a fast shutter speed and was positioned close to the surface of the water although the image is taken from a slightly above angle; the model is snapshotted bursting from beneath the water with her eyes clenched shut and her mouth slightly open, as a result her facial expression does not look staged. It is obvious to an audience that the model is moving at speed through the motion capture of the water drops that create a waterfall-like shape below the nose and chin of the model. On the other hand, similarly to the second photograph, a shallow depth of field has allowed Maya to blur the background so that the sole focus is on the face of the model.
I am inspired by this photo shoot to create my own shoot in which I will use a fast shutter speed to capture water as it runs down people's faces and their reactions to it (facial expressions) to do this, I will need large buckets of water, a tripod and a flash. |