Express Yourself: "Generationenschnipsel"
Task definition
Course 224453a Visual Language and Photodesign
Summer semester 2024
Lecturers:
Prof. Gabriele Kille, Thomas Weccard, Kristof Lange, Jörg Rohrbacher
In this course, students are first taught the necessary basic knowledge of camera and lighting technology, shooting and image editing. Building on this, the photo shoot is created at the end, in which the individual components then flow together.
In "Express Yourself", the students themselves are at the centre of the task. Within a team of four, they are asked to create a picture of themselves in a freely selectable common context. Once the concept is agreed and realisable, the subtleties of each individual shot are then worked out. This involves atmosphere, lighting mood, but also props, styling, outfits and make-up.
Idea
In the "scenic photography" assignment, self-portraits of each group member and their individual characteristics are to be depicted. We decided to stage not only ourselves, but also our ancestors, who have shaped us in many different ways, both externally and in terms of character. The title "Generationenschnipsel" was derived from this. Our ancestors take centre stage here. In this realisation of the "Express Yourself" project, the conviction that our ancestors are a part of us is to be presented. In addition, similarities and differences to our female ancestors are to be emphasised.
Realisation
For the realisation, each of us went on a journey into the past and searched for a suitable portrait picture. These were then enlarged to a size of 16 cm and printed out in black and white on matt photographic paper. These pictures were then torn in half. The white torn edges were deliberately retained to emphasise the difference between old and new. In order to show the development of the photograph in the best possible way, the contrast between a black and white physical image, which each person holds in front of one half of the face, was deliberately chosen. By holding one half of the face of each of the selected images in front of the other, differences and similarities are clearly emphasised.
A plain black background was chosen to place the person and the selected portrait image in the foreground. Based on this, the styling was kept very minimalist. Nevertheless, it was orientated towards the selected image, so that props such as glasses, closed hair, open hair or a curly hairstyle were adapted in a modern way. This ensures that similarities are emphasised in the best possible way. A butterfly light from above was used to support the dramaturgy. Depending on which side the portrait was held, the exposure was either from the right or left on the half of the face that was not covered by the image.
Realisation an team
The chosen light in combination with the styling and the background should show the contrast between modern and historical in a dramatic way. It was a challenge to keep the images congruent in front of our faces. Therefore, small nuances of the images of our ancestors were adjusted afterwards by means of image editing. In conclusion, this project is intended to honour our ancestors and visualise the fact that we are part of a larger whole that has shaped us and will continue to do so.
Student team:
Vivien Zimmermann, Lea Junger, Josefine Thiele, Pia Stöhr