Rustic Seascape.

This Post features some of my Photographs I took with the theme of Rustic Seascape in mind.
I like how the seaside has been slowly weathering away the subjects, creating more character, texture and feeling to the picture.
But I will let you decide about that...

Hope you liked them!

Statue.

This post features a selection of Photographs of some Statues and sculptures I like.
I prefer shooting Statues and sculptures in black and white, I feel it helps contrast the shadow creating more depth and emotion out of the subject.

Free French Memorial - Lyle Hill - Greenock.
Fuengirola beach statue of Virgen Del Carmen - Spain.

Troon War Memorial.

Troon Anchor.

Troon War Memorial.

Glasgows Duke of Wellington Statue.

Seaside Structure.

The following post is a selection of photographs reflecting the theme of Seaside Structure.
Growing up in a small seaside town, I have certain appeal towards the coast. I like the rustic, wind battered and wave washed texture. I like how the contrasting depth between black and white helps highlight the industrial, mixture of wood and metal which can usually be found along the coast.

Silloth Harbour.

Skinburness Lighthouse.

Greenock Shipyard.

Port Glasgow Shipyard.

Fuengirola Beach - Spain.

Skinburness Lighthouse.

UpsideDown Water Scape

The following post is a selection of photographs I took on various photography trips around Cumbria.
The theme for this post is titled UpsideDown Water Scape.

Water is a very interesting subject, it has a strong and somewhat primal character which I love.

For this project, I played around with the image, turning it upside down, in attempt to give you a different perspective and meaning of the photograph.

I hope you like it!

Small Rowboat Silently Still.

Lonesome Cottage lakeside retreat.

Rustic Boathouse.

Water Tree.

Music Video - Burn The Negative "Smash and Grab" Art Direction Project

The Following Music Video is the Burn The Negative "Smash and Grab" music video that I participated in as Art Director.

please read the Article below this one for a more in-depth brakedown of my role and my experiance working for this project.

hope you like the Video!




Credits:

Produced by: Owain Lacey
Directed by: Steve Wightman
Director of Photography: David McClenaghan
Art Director: Gordon Gray
Edited by: Gavin Cowen

Burn The Negative - "Smash and Grab" Music Video Art Direction

I was given the oppertunity to Art Direct a Performance Based Music Video for New-wave Electro pop-punk band: Burn The Negative with there song "Smash and Grab".

My Director wanted to capture the nostalgic 80's pop culture through Style, Overexposure, Strong Visual Colours and Abstractivity.

Group shot of BTN.

Overexposure:
Overexposure was a very important element for the video. to achieve this I created a white room, using photographic paper, covering the walls and floor.

Overexposed headshot of Bass player.
Overexposed headshot of Lead Guitarist.
Overexposed headshot of synth/keys player.

Overexposed headshot of Lead Singer.

Fashion:

the element of Fashion was very important for the video in capturing that 80's style. To create this I toyed around with the use of Minimalism, contrasted with strong visual colours (the red of the jacket).
The use of contrasting colours and minimalism along with some interesting and fashionable cinematography help create that sence of style and Fashion.

Close-Up of Mic.

Group shot, utilising depth of field.

Red directly contrasting and highliting the minimal white.

Fashionable and stylistic Guitar pose cinematography.

Abstractivity:

The video being perfromanced based, usually doesnt convey any underlying meaning. In attempt to make this genre of music video more interesting for this piece I decided that the use of creative abstractivity through the use of prop selection and cinematography (basically filming through objects like glass to create a warped and abstract image).

Unfortunatly during filming most of the Abstract ideas were abandoned due to lack of time. what abstractivity remains reflect some of the simple elements of the Abstractivity I originaly intended.

filming though 35mm photographic film to create an interesting and moody image.

The TV was a requirement from my director, I like its conceptial element to it.

This was done by filming through a red lightbulb. I like its moody and more abstract effect.

Guitar Strings CU through the other side, creating an interesting and abstract use of cinematography.

Art Direction - Jersey Budd "Bright Soul" Music Video

We were given the opportunity to film a Music Video for singer/songwriter Jersey Budd. I was focused in making my role as Art Director more important. I really wanted to get my teeth stuck into the production. I wanted the production value to be better than my previous work and play an important role in the presentation of the Music Video.

I feel that I couldn't connect with the concept my Director finally rested on, in truth I hated it. I thought it was uninspiring and didn't represent the artists music and style one bit.

I was set the task to design and construct Two main sets. one being the main performance background, involving lots of pictures, for the story to unfold. The other set would be Jerseys Love interest's Bedroom.

The following pictures document my effort to construct the two main sets for the Music Video.

The "Love Interest's" Bedroom was easy to design and construct. The room had to be realistic, and seem like your average girl's bedroom.

Simple and basic structure of Girls bedroom.
I decided to liven up the Mise-en-scene with a deep purple paper for the center wall to give the room more depth and interest.
I felt that the space needed something more interesting than wallpaper. I wanted to make a window, as both a source of light, and simply to make the room more realistic and interesting.
The window was to be the main focal point of the room, as most windows are, it also helps towards tying the room together better.

The window acts as a warm source of light, complete with lamp to help set the mood. the bed and set dressings go together to help build the rooms presence.
Final photo of end result minus the television and Jersey Budd poster.

My second Set that I designed and constructed for this production was the main performance area.

This basically required a wall containing many different pictures. My attempts to help create the sense of nostalgia and a feeling of long lost love, led to me using a mixture of different styles and aged picture frames, which cluttered the wall space in an effort to create the sense that his nostalgic feelings, and love for this woman, cluttered his mind and was a great source for his troubles etc.

the following Pictures document the sets construction.

Basic wall structure to form the basis of the main performance area.
This was my choice in wallpaper. I liked its nostalgic connotations.Wallpaper fully covering the wall, organizing the picture frames in a cluttered pattern to fill the wall.
Setting the picture frames up to create the sense of clutter and style.
Final result. The pictures in white would be containing the live action scenes where the camera would travel into.

Final photo of both sets completed.

I feel that my role as the Art Director was unimpressive on my part. The production as a whole was a massive failure. I admit I was heavily unimpressed with the concept and overall idea of the production, however I was not prepared to let that influence my work. I feel that I done the best I could for the concept I was given, however, I also feel that the style did not compliment the song in any way shape or form. I feel that the final style doesn't represent the concept due to it being constantly changed throughout the production.

I first approached this production as a chance to really express myself both creatively and technically...

Unfortunately, as an Art Director, or Production Designer, your limited by your Directors creativity... which unfortunately hindered my hopes for this project from the offset.

My resulting opinion of this production and the Music Video is that of remorse. I feel that my failure to produce something visually interesting, is a learning experience I wish I didn't have to go though, but I feel motivated to learn form this mistake and move on with my work.

As you will tell from viewing the video that the concept I had been given was changed, and replaced with a series of unattractive motion graphics, and questionable camera angles... Hope you like it...

Although I am not proud of my work in this production, I feel that it is important to learn form ones mistake and there fore I feel it is important to show you the video not just for the sake of it, but for me.

Ullswater Black & White Photography

The following photographs are the Black and White section of my Photography trip to Ullswater in the Lake District.

Through Black and White, I tried capturing my feelings at the time through texture, reflection, light and stillness.

Ullswater ferry.
Small empty jetties help to frame the picture nicely.
Solitary boat silently waiting.
Water capturing the reflection perfectly.
Misty hills rolling.

I was overwhelmed by Ullswater natural solitude, its tranquility. I have been raised in a seaside town all my life, where the water is constantly moving, it is such an alien sight to me, seeing a lake that is completely still, and reflecting the landscape perfectly.