STELLA MORAIS

Stella Morais is a 30 year-old self made fashion photographer and art director. She has been a photographer for over 10 years. Her style includes taking images and having the concept of femininity as well as feminism.

“Empowering women is so important to me and it shows in my work from production to final product because I use all female teams where I can and my work is femme, soft and emotive. It’s the impact I make on the industry and the photography I produce.”

She has had the opportunity to work for a plethora of high end established clients like Jimmy Choo via Conde Nast, Stella Lunar via Karla Otto, Toni&Guy, L'Oréal, Babyliss, Skiim Paris, Mariana Raphael, Midnight00, Myriam SOS & others.

In the image that I will be describing, the focus of the image is a portrait of a woman. Her face and the top-half of her waist is in the center of the image in the direct center of the rule of thirds with slightly space above her head. She is standing sideways to the camera with her hands surrounding her chest, and her face looking directly into the camera. This pose is quite gentle and femme which Stella Morais wanted to highlight in her images, this is exacerbated by the sheer skin-coloured fabric that is draped around her body. She is wearing very natural makeup that emphasizes her paleness that is contrasted by the freckles that decorate her skin. Her hair is in a slicked back ponytail with her edges covering her forehead like a fringe. Lastly she is wearing large gold squiggly earrings that help to give the image a sense of completeness. The photo is extremely clear, meaning that the photo was taken with a mid-level aperture and high ISO, and fast shutter speed since the subject of the image is real in focus whereas the background is slightly distorted.

The lighting source appears to be direct warm artificial ( studio ) lights that give the image a softer feel since the warmer tones bring out the pink and red (peach) tones that are in her skin. This complements the range of blue hues that are in the background. The crinkly texture of the plastic background contrasts with the model this amplifies her delicate and soft nature.

The most dominant lines of the image come from the organic shape produced by the model alongside the four curved lines made by the fabric that move from the top left towards the center of the right side of the image. This draws the eyes towards the head of the model, especially the eyes. Within this photo there are only subtle patterns for example the lines made from the plastic. Everything in this image appears to be three-dimensional from the dynamic background to the contours in her face to the light shadows on the fabric. There is a sense of depth within the images that is produced by the transparent plastic that is used to make the background. The deep blue that has been altered behind the fabric makes it appear that there is something being hid behind her.

Stella Morais’ work reminds me of my previous artist Peter DeVito's work with expression and exploring the limitations of the ideals of the spectrum of gender. Personally i find her work extremely inspiring and empowering since she takes photos of the female body highlighting breasts or nipples for example without objectifying the model and presenting the female body in an elegant and beautiful way. This may influence my work by teaching how to present a concept in a minimalistic way to leave room for interpretation from the viewers. Something that i have learned from analysing this image is how texture and simplicity can really change the emotions that will be conveyed.

~PHOTOSHOOT PLAN ~

This photoshoot plan is to help document my ideas for my upcoming photoshoot. I have created this so can carefully brake down each part of the photoshoot so i can be fully prepared for when i am able to take the photos. For this photoshoot i intend to have my model encased in many different ways with fabric that is somewhat transparent ( e.g. clingfilm, clear plastic bags and also a black bin bag). i will have my models face hands and arms covered with the fabric. They will also be ripping through it to show the idea of 'breaking through stereotypes' , whilst expressing different emotions and facial expressions. I will be taking this photoshoot in a white room with artificial and natural lighting so that the subject of the image will be the main focus. This photoshoot will aid me by having a plan to always go back to if i go off track or if i want to make sure the images turn out the way that i want them. This photoshoot links to artist Stella Morais since i will be mimicking her concept of being emprisoned by something that some can barely even see.

~CONTACT SHEETS~

The photoshoot i did for my artist well. I created a series of images with mu model. I created these by using a plan background as proposed in my photoshoot plan i then used materials such a cling film and an opaque plastic bag. she then safely put the bag on her head then took image using hat material. Creating the series of images you can see before you. The Photoshoot allowed me to collect the objects that i would need for the photoshoot. Something that i changed with the photoshoot was the placement of the clingfilm, i also i used water on top of the clingfilm to add texture and helped to create a since of depth within the images. I have created this contact sheet to analysis the pictures that i would want to continue editing. the crossed on the photos represent the images that i deemed were unsuccessful due to poor lighting, camera angels or they may have not been in focus. the images that have a red circle indicate the most successful images. Something that i learned from this photoshoot was how to use the surroundings around you to our benefit since i used poles within the studio to hold up the materials. to improve upon this photoshoot i would like to have my model in positions that show more femme poses since they were quite neutral. To edit my photos i plan to slightly edit the contrast and levels to tweak them slightly so you are still able to see the natural beauty that my model exudes.

~INITAIAL EDITS : ~

Here are my initial edits for the artist Stella Morais. I have created them by using my model to position her self in a range of positions whiles entrapping her self in the clingfilm and a transparent plastic bag. To convey different emotions . when she has the bag over her head it is to represent feelings of entrapment and claustrophobia to show how she is shading her identity. Where she has broken a hole through the bag represents breaking through societal pressures and slowly behind able to show he identity freely. Where we have placed a large clingfilm screen and she is hiding behind it again resembles having to break through boundaries in order to be herself. That's why i some images she is ripping through the plastic.

I took these images in a studio so i could have the clear background which i already thought through in my photoshoot plan. I also used natural and white studio lights for my lighting source. i Wanted to keep my model within the center third of the frame so that she could be the center of the photo since she would be blurred in most of them.

To edit the photos i did not need to make a lot of changes. But what i did do them was crop the images to make sure she was in the center i also increased the saturation of the images and changed the levels of them. So the different tones of the images could stand out more. To improve my edits i could of used more full body angles so that more could have been done with the models body. I plan on taking another another photoshoot using colored light to get varying effects with my work.

~HIGHLIGHTING DEVELOPMENTS :~

These are my most successful images. This is because all of these images because, each of the images resemble differing emotions and messages whilst still embellishing an element of femininity and ambiguity. The lighting in these images are what i wanted when i was planning my photoshoot plan. the composition of the images and the placement of the model is in the center third which is what i wanted. The way that she used the differing materials form hiding behind it, to peering through it and even wearing it to depict emotions such as feeling trapped or claustrophobic. I also like the varying aperture levels of the images.

~BLACK & WHITE EDITS :~

Here are my black and white edits for the artist Stella Morais. I have created them by using my initial edits . I fully lowered the saturation and then changed the levels to take control of the tones and values of the images.

I made black and white edits so that i could show different emotions within the images . The fact that the images no lack color it creates a sense of sorrow and mystery. This is why these edits were successful.

~HIGHLIGHTING DEVELOPMENTS :~

These are my most successful images. This is because all of these images because, each of the images can evoke differing emotions and messages whilst still embellishing an element of femininity and ambiguity. The images that i have selected show feelings of sorrow and a feeling of wonder. Since the images are black and white emphasizes these emotions. The way that she used the differing materials form hiding behind it, to peering through it and even wearing it to depict emotions such as feeling trapped or claustrophobic. I also like the varying aperture levels of the images.

~SECOND PHOTOSHOOT:~

~ CONTACT SHEET 2 : ~

The second photoshoot i did for my artist did not go really well. I have created a series of images with my model. I created these by using a plan background as proposed in my photoshoot plan i then used materials such a cling film and an opaque plastic bag alongside LED lights . We then wrapped the clingfilmed around two poles the create a screen. I the splashed water on to it. and used the LED's to shine through them. Creating the series of images you can see before you. The Photoshoot plan allowed me to collect the objects that i would need for the photoshoot. Something that i changed with the photoshoot plan was the placement of the clingfilm, and the lights that were used so the modle could have multiple colors on her face the water i used water on top of the clingfilm to add texture and helped to create a since of depth within the images. I have created this contact sheet to analysis the pictures that i would want to continue editing. the crossed on the photos represent the images that i deemed were unsuccessful due to poor lighting, camera angels or they may have not been in focus. the images that have a red circle indicate the most successful images. Something that i learned from this photoshoot was how to use the surroundings around you to our benefit since i used poles within the studio to hold up the materials. to improve upon this photoshoot i would like to have taken the images in a darker room so the lights could stand out more . I would like t take more images surrounding the idea of aperture and focus.

~SECOND DEVELOPMENTS:~

Here are my second developments for the artist Stella Morais. I have created them by layering my images from my photoshoot where i used colored light and my initial edits. I took these images in a studio with no light showing other than the colored ones. i Wanted to keep my model within the center third of the frame so that she could be the center of the photo since she would be blurred in most of them.

To edit the photos i did need to make a lot of changes. Firstly i cropped the images so they were the size i wanted . then i had the initial edits layered underneath a colored one the lowered the opacity of the colored images and changed the effect to lighten so that the colors could be seen. i also increased the saturation of the images and changed the levels of them. So the different tones and hues of the images could stand out more. To improve my edits i could of used brighter colors . I plan on taking another another photoshoot using aperture.

~HIGHLIGHTING DEVELOPMENTS :~

These are my most successful images from my double exposure experiments . This is because all of these images because, layering the colored images below the vibrant photos creates a sense of the persons identity shinning through. With different images resembling different emotions. I did not plan these edits in my photoshoot plan but i wanted to experiment with varying color's in my images.

~ THIRD PHOTOSHOOT:~

~ CONTACT SHEET 3 : ~

The Third photoshoot i did for my artist went really well. I have created a series of images with my model. I created these by using a plan background as proposed in my photoshoot plan i then used materials such an opaque plastic bag. We then wrapped the bag around my models then i put the bag around the camera where i have ripped a hole whist having some of the bag to create a sense of aperture. . Something that i changed from the photoshoot plan was the placement of the bag. I have created this contact sheet to analyze the pictures that i would want to continue editing. the crossed on the photos represent the images that i deemed were unsuccessful due to poor lighting, camera angels or they may have not been in focus. the images that have a red circle indicate the most successful images. Something that i learned from this photoshoot was how to use the surroundings such as the natural and artificial sunlight. I would like to take more images with the same concept.

~THIRD DEVELOPMENTS:~

Here are my third developments for the artist Stella Morais. I have created them by using my models to position there self's in a range of positions whilst covering there faces by a see through material like clingfilm or a transparent plastic bag. I have done this to convey emotions of entrapment. Even through this photoshoot represents a feeling of being trapped (when they have the bag over her head it is to represent feelings of entrapment and claustrophobia) I wanted to take these images i the natural light (specifically during the golden hour) so that the bright golden hued light can represent hope.

I took these images in a studio so i could have the clear background which i already thought through in my photoshoot plan. For this photoshoot i still aimed to have my models in the center thirds of the frame but i wanted more of the images to be taken closer up and to focus more on the eyes.

To edit the photos i did not need to make a lot of changes. But what i did do them was crop the images to make sure the placement was correct. I also increased the saturation of the images to emphasize the golden hue. But i did not do this on all of the images since they seem to fake and over edited so i stopped doing that after five images. I also changed the and changed the levels of them of the different tones of the images could stand out more. To improve my edits and photoshoot i could of used more angles so that more could have been done with the models face.

What i plan to do next is add color back into my images.

~HIGHLIGHTING SUCCSESS :~

~A04 DEVELOPMENTS :~