Tom Hargreaves Blog

CAMDEN DAY OUT

2010-05-24T19:49:00.006+01:00

Went to camden market & regent's park yesterday with zaneta. Decided to take a few pictures on my iPhone.

PRISON BREAK SCREENCAPS

2010-04-30T19:59:00.003+01:00

Recently I have been watching season 2 of Prison Break, partly because I like the show, and partly because I have always been thinking about it in regards to my major project editorial.

I originally watched the show as inspiration for my first image, breaking over the prison wall (screencaps here), but the more I watch it the more I see connections between my other images.

It's quite a good feeling, as it shows that my ideas are relevant to the jailbreak theme.

Plane Scene:

Phonebooth:

TV News:

SQUIRRELS LIKE BOMBAY MIX!

2010-04-26T22:36:00.004+01:00

(Taken on my iphone in battersea park).

FAILED CLINK PRISON VISIT!

2010-04-26T22:19:00.003+01:00

Back in mid february my mum & dad came to london to visit for a couple of days.

We attempted to go to Clink Prison Museum to see if it might have been possible to shoot there...

...It wasn't =P

CATCHING UP ON BLOG POSTS

2010-04-26T21:51:00.005+01:00

I've been really busy shooting my major project final images recently, that I've not had much time to blog on here.

I currently have a large piece of paper titled "blog entries todo", which keeps getting longer and longer, so I thought it was about time I ticked a few off the list.

My last blog entry was a rather negative one, as I had just lost my stylist with only a few days until I was due to shoot my first batch of final images.

From studying in first and second year, I realised that an aspect of my work that really suffered was time-keeping - I find it hard to motivate myself to work until time forces me to do so. Due to the importance of third year I really tried to correct this and prepare everything earlier on.

I therefore met the stylist in December, and emailed on and off for 3 months to arrange the shoot. This preparation made it all the more infuriating when the son-of-a-bitch cancelled on me two weeks before shoot time.

Don't actually think the punk had even begun to arrange clothing for me - never emailed with any confirmations nor any interest in meeting up again to view the clothing.

So anyway, after sending over 40 emails to london-based stylists I managed to find 1 within 5 days of my shoot.

Happy in the end, as both my stylist and hair/mua have been a great team.

As of today, I am 14 images done, with only 1 more to shoot.

By this time tomorrow I will have shot them all.

Then a hell of a lot of editing ahead of that.

I'll start uploading some of them to this blog, as I'm working on them.

How is everyone else getting on? It seems the uni blogging has slowed down quite a lot, and I'm really interested in seeing other people's tests/finals.

NOT A HAPPY CHAPPY

2010-04-02T13:50:00.005+01:00

Been getting all testing out the way before my final shoots begin on saturday 10th.

Very stressed at the moment.

Spent the last couple of days in Manchester testing out lighting for the first couple of shots in my storyboard.

Trying to organise locations for the first shooting day is bad enough, and now it seems I don't have a stylist any more...

If anyone knows someone who would be willing to work with me on short notice please, please let me know.

Here's a couple of tests (with lighting) of the phonebooth and the hotel blinds shots.

FREE ISABELI - BOB WOLFENSON

2010-03-22T17:34:00.000Z

Here's another fashion editorial of a prison-like environment, this time photographed by Bob Wolfenson.

I couldn't be bothered to upload each image, so click the link below to visit the website:

http://www.fashionising.com/pictures/s--Isabeli-Fontana-Vogue-Brasil-February-2010-5150-1.html

After doing my whole dissertation based around how police uniforms are used in fashion, I'm beginning to get sick of the same old "police restraining model" shit - completely overdone, and I'm glad that I decided against including police in my major project.

That said, the editorial is still good as research. It amazes me how much "prison-like" fashion shoots are out there, once you set your mind on looking for them.

TEST IN LE TOUQUET TOMORROW (?)

2010-03-12T19:25:00.006Z

It seems that tomorrow could be the day I finally get to do a test on the aeroplane and in Le Touquet.

Checked weather with pilot today and it seems all clear.

He (kindly) informed me that the plane we would be flying has the registration plate "G-BYES".

I decided to do a youtube search to check what the planes cockpit looks like, for photographing. They (kindly) offered me other search terms...

All this, on top of the fact it's the 13th tomorrow has officially made me shit my pants!

Also, due to all the problems with lcf camera rental (lack of priority), I don't have the canon 5D MKII to test it all with.

Stressed about the camera.
Stressed about fl(d)ying.
Stressed about time.
Stressed about disser-fucking-tation.

Life's good! ;)

LEVI'S ADVERT

2010-03-03T22:35:00.004Z

Good reference for both my dissertation and fmp:

THE WOLFMAN DVD COVER

2010-02-23T19:31:00.002Z

Good lighting reference on the forest part of this dvd cover.

STILL NOT ABLE TO FLY

2010-02-08T18:55:00.004Z

This is the reason I have still not done a test in Le Touquet:

Probably makes as much sense to you as it does to me, but basically the good old english weather is providing too much low cloud and fog for the flight.

Going to try book the plane again for next weekend, so I will have progress to show in my tutorial.

Meeting with stylist tomorrow too (last week was cancelled). So once this is done I can get underway with my final shots.

Does anyone else think the deadlines have closed in ridiculously fast?!

10 UNBELIEVEABLE PRISON BREAKS

2010-01-30T18:17:00.004Z

http://oddee.com/item_96931.aspx

The link above was partly responsible for me having the idea to break out of prison by digging underground, as opposed to jumping over the wall.

Also has some old and contemporary references of wanted posters and mugshots.

LONG OVERDUE PROGRESS UPDATE

2010-01-30T01:20:00.005Z

Been seriously lacking inspiration recently, so I thought i'd do a (long overdue) blog post.

My feedback from the term 2 progress presentations was overall pretty positive, but the tutors still have a concern with the styling side of my project leaning to being 'tacky'.

The simple answer to this is that I don't give a shit about styling - don't really have much interest in that side of photography, so I will require a good stylist to boost that criteria up.

Found one on model mayhem that seems to fit the bill, so will be arranging to meet with him in the near future, to discuss ideas.

Ordered my second prison uniform which arrived today - The first being waaay too big for Zaneta.

The new one is an orange boiler suit, and fits her much better - after researching different prison uniforms it also looks very realistic.

Going to visit battersea dogs home tomorrow to look at a possible location, as well as go to the library to find case studies/books for my (f***ing annoying) dissertation.

Zaneta pointed me to fergie's 'glamorous' music video which is great inspiration for my plane shots too:

WARDROBE STYLIST, HAIR STYLIST & MUA CASTING CALL

2009-12-19T18:14:00.015Z

Hi all,

You are most likely viewing this from my model mayhem casting call, so please read below for a clearer explanation of my photoshoot as well as details for each of the team.

So as I said over at model mayhem I'm a 3rd year fashion photography student at London College of Fashion, and am in need of a Wardrobe Stylist, a Hair Stylist and a Makeup Artist to collaborate with for my final major project, on a 'TFP' compensation.

The project will be a 15 image editorial with the theme of a Jailbreak (think Prison Break TV Show).

The storyboard for the editorial will start with the model breaking out of prison and then 'following' her escape from the police to try to get to France, which will ultimately be her freedom.

It will include scenarios like shoplifting for supplies, and being transported in a taxi to the airport.

I have access to a plane via a friend who is a qualified pilot, and the final few images will be taken both in the air and in Le Touquet, France.

This is a shot of the model I will be using:

Due to the nature of the editorial, it will require many different locations and at different times of the day (some at night-time), so the main criteria for you guys is that you are available on multiple days. This really is important.

The time frame I have for this editorial is from now until the end of April, so you must be living in London from now until then.

Regarding the Wardrobe Stylist:

You must be able to source and provide the clothes for the images, so therefore I require someone who has good contacts.

However, I can provide the prison and police uniforms.

The model is petite (5'2") so this will need to be taken into consideration with clothing.

I am mainly looking for someone who has access to fairly unusual, yet beautiful clothing, that will work well with my jailbreak theme.

Regarding the Hair Stylist:

I do not have any specific look for the models hair yet, so again you must be creative and come up with different looks that will compliment the styling.

I may incorporate the use of wigs into my idea to tie in with the storyline of the model disguising herself from authorities, so may need to work on wigs. However this is just an idea at present, and depends on the accessibility of the wigs.

Regarding the Makeup Artist:

The model is naturally very pretty so I am looking for a makeup artist who can provide their creative input and come up with various different looks that will compliment the styling.

You must be available over various days, and to do a test.

If you think you are suited to what I am looking for (and still awake!) after reading this then please leave me a message, either via this blog or over at my model mayhem casting call and I will get back to you asap.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you all!

LAW AND ORDER - STEVEN MEISEL

2009-12-15T18:00:00.008Z

Another editorial by Steven Meisel (W Magazine, March 2009) that relates well to my jailbreak topic.

Thanks to Zaneta for finding this one.

Really great inspiration in terms of styling and 'prison-like' setting.

Only let down by Peaches Geldof...it seems more and more non-talented nobodies are finding their way to pages in magazines.

This girl should not model!

Jeez.

Anyway, the shoot:

ATTENTION LCF'ERS!

2009-12-05T23:47:00.006Z

Book"Smart" by blurb.com is f***ing (censored cos my mum now reads this) awful.

Laggy, buggy, restricting. Just terrible.

Just a warning for you all - give yourself a few days in advance to put the book together, or make it from a PDF file and avoid the software altogether...

I can only hope the printed book is better quality than the software.

MUGSHOT TEST

2009-11-30T00:22:00.003Z

Did a 'mugshot' test today with model.

For the final image these 2 mugshots will be incorporated onto a 'wanted' poster, which will be tied to a lamp-post outside, and then photographed.

Forgot to make a nameplate for model to hold up, but it was mainly to test out the lighting/backdrop.

Made the backdrop in photoshop, printed onto A4 paper and then glued together...very much a 'blue peter' day.

...and there's one I made earlier =)

Appreciate any feedback/critique. Do you think the poster tied to lamp-post idea would work, or is it too cliché?

NOTHING'S GOING RIGHT FOR ME

2009-11-25T16:44:00.003Z

In a rather shit mood at the moment, nothing's going right for me.

Starting to think that my jailbreak idea was too ambitious...

Tried ringing EDF Energy to get access to their entrance to photograph...kept getting different numbers to call, and when I finally got through to the 'right guy' he wasn't there.

So I asked the woman who picked up, and she said it seemed doubtful that I would get access.

*&$^%£*&^*%

This was 2 days ago...tried ringing today, and he's still not at his office.

Also, I wrote a letter to the governor of holloway woman's prison, to try and borrow a prisoner's uniform to shoot with. Got this reply from her today:

Dear Mr Hargreaves,

Thank you for your letter to the Governor that has been passed to me to reply to on her behalf.
I am sorry but I cannot supply you with a ‘prison uniform’ because women prisoners do not wear them. I think the only prisons where a uniform is worn is in the High Security Estate, for example a prison that holds Category A prisoners and due to security implications they would not be in a position to loan you a uniform.
I am sorry I cannot help you any further but wish you well with your studies.

Yours sincerely

Zara Gill

So no luck there then, either...

Question:
Do you guys know of any locations that appear prison-like, ie have a wall with barded wire along the top, and a building behind that could be passed as a prison? It doesn't need to be a prison, as access is impossible, but something along the lines of my last recce.

If so, then please let me know, cos I am struggling =/

I BLAME YOUTUBE...

2009-11-24T19:46:00.000Z

...For me not being able to concentrate on my dissertation!

FIGURING OUT LENS EQUIVALENCES

2009-11-21T21:03:00.007Z

As a follow-up to my last post indicating my difficulty in renting the medium format digital back & 50mm wideangle lens, I decided I need to resort to plan b, and shoot on a DSLR for my test images.

The digital camera I own at current is the Canon 10d (old I know), so to find out what lens will have a similar area of coverage to the medium format 50mm lens, I need to do some maths!

According to this graph at graflex.org the 50mm medium format lens is the equivalent to a 24mm lens on a 35mm camera.

However, my Canon 10d has a ~~stupid~~ 1.6x crop due to the small sensor, so I need to do the following:

24mm / 1.6 = 15mm.

...So my DSLR will need to use a 15mm lens in order to have a similar coverage to the 50mm medium format.

Apparently, the equivalent focal lengths can be inaccurate, and I have read on other websites that the 50mm equivalent on 35mm cameras is more like 28mm, which would be 17.5mm (18mm) on my Canon 10d.

The nearest lens that I own to either 15mm or 18mm would be the crappy kit lens (18-50mm) that came with the camera, so I will probably take this out in order to get the closest representation that I can.

My brain hurts now.

LCF MEDIUM FORMAT DIGITAL REQUEST!

2009-11-18T21:05:00.003Z

Hey all.

After my tutorial today, I was told to book out the Hasselblad 503 medium format camera with leaf digital back as soon as possible, so that I could get underway with testing.

However, the earliest I could get it for is just under 3 weeks time...which sucks monkey balls.

Basically what I am asking is if any of you have reserved it, but don't think you will be needing it for the full amount of time please let me know, so I can try get it to test. Cheers.

MAJOR PROJECT TUTORIAL 1

2009-11-18T19:29:00.007Z

Had major project tutorial with Kelly today. She helped me with my approach to locations - told me to look at location finding websites, not to purchase their service but rather to see their take on different locations. Basically stating that a prison break scene doesn't have to be staged at a prison, but needs to include the semiotics that the viewer would recognise.

Anyway, this was something I covered last night when out testing, as the best location that I found was an EDF Energy substation (of all places).

Kelly also pushed me forward with my tests, giving me guidelines to meet by next tutorial:

• Type up a full detailed list of my 15 storyboards.
• Location test shot at the correct time of day, with the correct camera (medium format digi), correct composition and correct lighting to see if it will work.
• Get hair/makeup artist to test a look on Zaneta (model) to see if she has the right image for the jailbreak concept.

Got my work cut out then...

FRAME 1 LOCATION RECCE

2009-11-17T23:50:00.010Z

Went out after uni today to try to find a decent location for frame 1 of my 15 images.

I found it quite stressful to be honest. It's hard to find a suitable location when you already have an idea of the image you want to create, especially considering I had not visited the area before. Involved a hell of a lot of walking, and not much image taking.

That said, I did manage to spot a couple of places.

Firstly this place, which I need to ring up to try and get access:

Returned later in the evening, to see what kind of lights are available around the time I will shoot:

Also looked briefly at a tennis court, as the type of fencing could be represented as a prison. When shooting at night-time, most of the background 'distraction' would be blackened out:

Reminded me of an old shot for a first year project, so dug that out too:

I also took a trip to Holloway Women's Prison. One thing that struck me was that the building gave very little visual reference that it was actually a prison - mainly consisted of very high, bland-looking walls. Therefore it wouldn't be a very suitable location to shoot. Clicking the link will also show this, as the place looks like a fucking holiday resort on the inside.

The main reason I went though, was to enquire about borrowing a prison uniform, to give my shoot a little added authenticity. There were 2 officers there, 1 had to leave the room from laughing at me, but the other kindly gave me an address, so I could send a request to the governor.

Well that was my day. Legs are aching now...

DISSERTATION MID-TERM PRESENTATION...

2009-11-13T14:48:00.014Z

...Also went quite well.

Very relieved to get positive all-round feedback, as I have been struggling for so long to come up with a topic that relates to my major project idea.

Itai's Feedback:

Good presentation. Good thought process. Good research. Gathered information is all valid.

Need to make a decision on what I want to write about - too many subjects in dissertation.

Preferred the second half of my presentation - regarding the authority of police uniforms and deindividuation.

If I decide to focus on "How authority is represented in Fashion Photography", it would be a good idea to look at contemporary American fashion photography as opposed to British, because I will find a better representation there.

Quite a lot to research for that topic, and might end up going over 8000 words, but this is not a concern.

Mark's Feedback:

Already got the questions on uniforms, and as soon as I start reading Uniforms Exposed By Jennifer Craik the contradictions that I have identified will be highlighted.

Kelly's Feedback:

From where I was 2 weeks ago I am doing really well.

My Reflection From The Feedback I Was Given:

Obviously I need to start reading much more academic sources, so that my direction/argument will become clear to me - Uniforms Exposed By Jennifer Craik, Language of Fashion By Roland Barthes, etc.

Need to make a decision on what area to focus on - think I will look at the Authority topic, as opposed to the Controversy topic, but I need to find out what route to take with it.

STATE OF EMERGENCY - STEVEN MEISEL

2009-11-10T15:01:00.017Z

Steven Meisel seems to be a big inspiration for a lot of people on the course.

His editorial below, entitled State of Emergency (Vogue Italia 2006) ties in well with my jailbreak major project theme, as this shoot is stressing the "authoritative" element in my idea.

Found an interesting article relating to this shoot, that discusses its controversy. This can be found here.

Interesting read, and is helping me to find a dissertation topic to look at, but I am still very unsure =/