Object of Desire - The final image

The idea behind my object of desire photo was the idea of bringing the high end designer world back down to earth. I used the imprint of the bag to represent the higher class consumer and the flour to represent the lower classed consumer. The idea of entwining the two together presented the idea of how we establish the two classes from one another; the imprint of the bag (higher class) presents the idea of perfection, every part of the bag, even the creases within the leather can be seen in perfect detail..this presenting the idea of the higher class lifestyle being desirable and perfection. Yet by contrasting it with the crumbling flour surrounding the imprint (lower class) it reflects the idea that the lower class are seen as imperfect and unstable-the two being together therefore were used to present the idea of a class divide.

I decided on this particular image to be my final image as I felt that out of all of the photographs that I took this one had the most texture. I like the way in which the texture of the leather from the bag, the zip and logo are the most prominent features and almost create an illusion for the person looking at the image as the bag has a 3D effect to which makes it look like it is an actual bag. The way in which the flour is crumbling around the imprint of the bag creates a contrast against the soft flour which forms the imprinted bag, I feel like this adds a really nice effect and makes the image more interesting to look at.

I am really pleased with the final outcome for my objects of desire image as I feel it is presented in exactly the way that I had anticipated when planning the idea.

#FCPreflection

Object of Desire - Editing

After collating my images I decided to use Pixlr to edit them. I wanted to keep the editing to a minimum as I wanted to produce a more relaxed and effortless image, therefore the main features of Pixlr that I used to edit my images were the 'auto adjust' tool, as well as playing around with the sharpening tool to which I felt helped to add more texture and depth to the images. I did explore with the different effects that Pixlr had to offer but subsequently decided to keep it more simplistic.

Here are my final edited images...

Object of Desire - In the making

To prepare for my photograph I placed plain flour onto a baking tray and chose some bags that I felt would have the best impact when printed onto the flour.

Where the two Mulberry bags worked well due to their bold logo's, the Kate Spade bag did not work as well as I had hoped, I feel that this is due to the more simplistic logo and the size of the bag.

They're Real!

In the first week of starting Uni there was a freshers fair, despite it taking us 3 hours to get in, we were determined to see what all the fuss was about. Inside it was a free-fall, full of people pushing and shoving to try and get discounted drink flyers and all sorts! Until I came across a beauty stall which were selling the latest issue of Elle magazine and a Benefit cosmetics mascara for only one pound! I couldn't hand them the pound quick enough I was so excited! I came out after not being too fussed about the mascara as it was only one of the small sample ones but after using it for the first time I was obsessed! The way in which the mascara brush is formed helps to add an extra curve and height to your lashes, I'd never really considered my eye lashes to be long before yet after using Benefit's 'They're Real!' mascara I felt like I was wearing false eyelashes all the time, I was amazed! The mascara itself retails for £19.50 which is a little pricey for a mascara but it is definitely worth the money, I feel that it just goes to show that spending that little bit extra on makeup really does show through the quality of the product..no more £1.99 Natural Collection mascara for me!!

Object of Desire

As part of a photo brief, we have been asked to create one image to which we personally feel translates the 'Object of Desire' whether it be through the use of people, places, products or objects.

When looking into possible ideas to what type of image I would like to create for this brief, I was immediately struck by this particular image.

The image shows a Louis Vuitton bag having being imprinted onto a layer of flour. The way in which the designer logo is imprinted onto something so basic such as flour connotates the idea of giving an expensive item a cheap edge. The way in which the logo sits on the flour adds an almost 3D effect which inevitably makes the imprint look like an actual bag. The cracks within the flour surrounding the bag also present the idea that however perfect the designer world may present itself to be, it is perhaps not so perfect after all. I hope to take some inspiration from this image and inject my own ideas into it and see what outcome I can achieve.

John Lewis Christmas campaign 2014

Every year consumers eagerly await to see what new idea John Lewis will come up with for their Christmas advert. Last year we had the bear and the hare, this year we have Monty the penguin to which tells the story of a little boy called Sam and his best friend and toy Monty the Penguin. It is a tale of love, friendship and giving someone the gift that they have always wanted this Christmas.

Following the release of the tear-jerking £7 million TV campaign, sales of the toy version of Monty the Penguin sold in less than 24 hours. After the selling out of these desired Christmas gifts, people began selling them on sites such as Ebay for over triple the amount of money. The two foot tall toy penguin that was being sold in store for £95 was being sold on Ebay for £459, and the smaller ten inch toy that was originally selling for £12 was going for £70! So what exactly is it that makes John Lewis' Christmas advertisements so desirable?

I feel that the reason that John Lewis' Christmas campaigns succeed is because they know how to connect to their target consumer. As a brand, they know that most children have a favourite toy to which they probably believe to be real, so by creating a campaign in which shows a child with a real life penguin as a best friend reflects the real life child consumer. Also by showing Monty the penguin as a real life penguin throughout and then revealing that he is only a toy at the end provokes a sense of magic within the child consumer as they will be more than likely believe that if they have a toy version of Monty the penguin then they will experience the same relationship with Monty that the child has within the commercial.

Overall, I feel that John Lewis are very clever at knowing exactly what their target consumer wants. The brand seems to be all about connecting and listening to what the consumer wants rather than creating a random campaign which has no meaning. Yet they are also very business headed as they know that by creating a campaign that is targeted for the child consumer, it will be more likely to boost sales at Christmas rather than if it was to be a campaign aimed at adults because Christmas is generally seen to be all about the magic that surrounds the idea of Christmas for children.

Sourced from: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/john-lewis-christmas-advert-95-4587556

Pink Faux fur- glamorous or tacky?

This Autumn/Winter faux fur has been all over the catwalk and highstreet, whether it be in jackets, hand bags, shoes, scarfs, gloves or even phone cases! We've all seen black, brown, beige, cream or grey coloured fur before..but recently there seems to be a sudden trend for pink faux fur..its everywhere! Whether it be pastel or crimson pink, there seems to be a product of every shade. No matter how popular it seems to be with designers, I can't help but feel that it is somewhat tacky...to me, wearing a baby pink oversized faux fur coat takes me back to my childhood, when I wanted everything in my possession to be pink and would not settle for anything less..which I am pretty sure every girl has experienced this obsession at one point or another! It all just screams 'Legally Blonde' to me! Yes I agree that some of the more subtle pink products are not too bad, such as the dusty fur pink clutch bags that are being sold in most leading high street store chains such as ASOS, Zara, Topshop and Whistles. However despite this, I can't help but feel that the hot pink crop jackets that resemble that of a muppet or a care bear are maybe a bit too much..