From A to B

Throughout all my experimentation so far, from A to B, I always ensure that there is at least one element present to develop on when photographing my subject.

During my initial ideas I was influenced by photographer Lee Friedlander and his project 'Mannequin' which Friedlander focused on store front windows whilst roaming the streets of New York City, photographing the mannequins whilst capturing the window reflection of the high story buildings towering over. I knew this was an available development that I could experiment with such as the compositional skills and incorporating the reflection with the mannequin.

In which from doing so this gave way to new elements in my outcomes that I could develop in the future.

Once I experimented with Friedlander's techniques, I then developed this concept into my own style of capturing mannequins in changing rooms in which represented mimicking human characteristics whilst still being influenced from Lee Friedlander through the use of mono-chrome tones and dynamic lines.

After doing around two shoots in the changing room location (Ann Summers), I then recreated this in the studio to make it more accessible for myself. From doing so this allowed me to have more control with lighting and to experiment more with concept I was exploring.

At this point, when I felt like I have exceeded to the point of repetition, I always think to myself how can I develop my work further, I would write a list of everything contained in my photograph/s, research different ways of representing the elements contained and most importantly new influencers.

I then discovered Ziqian Lui, in which this was my second major development, as now I was considering combining the human form with reflections, in which changed my style of photography, from studio to street photography to surreal portraiture.

This was the point where I discovered my passion for Surrealism.

Being under the influence of Lui, I produced around four shoots in different locations and used different tonalities, I was focusing more on how I wanted to represent fragmentation of the human form rather than the meaning behind the photograph. When you focus deeply on a specific meaning, you can subconsciously limit yourself in how far your work can go and I definitely didn't want that.

For me personally, the more I can experiment, the better.

Think outside the box to see what is inside the box.

Harley Kelly.