January photography blog

The photography module brief this year states that a professional showreel needs to be created. A showreel is a short video showcasing an individual’s work and is similar to a portfolio for a makeup artist and other professions in creative industries. According to the website The Crewing Company (Na) to make a showreel stand out you should “make sure your name, what you do and any relevant ways to get in touch are on your showreel”, which could be included at the beginning or the end to provide the viewer with the important information. The software used by the university to create showreels for the module is called Premier Pro. So far only the basics of how to use the Premier Pro software have been shown, such as how to cut clips, add music and slow clips down for effect. As it is the beginning of creating the showreel only a couple of clips have been edited so far (figure 1), which will change throughout the year as and when more footage is filmed.

The main focus of the showreel is to demonstrate applying makeup on models, as well as showing the process of sculpting and the best outcomes from photography. As a makeup artist who focuses more on prosthetics, design and special effects these elements in particular need to be highlighted in the showreel. The website Premium Beat (2013) states that “including your best work is crucial to having a great reel. If something is kind of old, out of date or just not as good as your other work then leave it out.” When looking at other showreels, the ones that stand out the most show a consistent quality of work and reflect the artist’s overall style. The Crewing Company (Na) similarly advises that a showreel needs to “grab people’s attention instantly [..] so keep their attention with relevant, impressive and fast clips.” The showreel is going to show different spaces such as outdoor photo shoots and on set freelance work, which will be edited together to keep the interest of the viewer rather than just showing footage from the same photography.

For the photography brief also being worked on this month, artists who have experimented with formal elements will be key inspirations for the final photos for this brief. These include artists such as Rankin, Vincenzo D’Amboise and Luciano Chiarelli who have shot for Italian vogue, as well as photographer Tim walker, as they show creativity in their unusual ways of capturing the face. Tim Walker (Na) once said “I know the world that I am painting is not a reality. It is a whim, an entertainment to provoke something in people whether as escapism or relief.” Tim Walker’s style of photography is weird and wonderful, and it his idea of whimsy and being provocative through photography that will influence the style of portraiture for this brief.

References

Na, Na. Tim Walker. [Internet] Available from: https://www.azquotes.com/author/21999-Tim_Walker [Accessed: 8thDecember 2020]

Elwyn ,J.[2013] 6 ways to make your showreel or demo reel stand out.[internet] Available from: https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/demo-reel-showreel-tips/[Accessed: 8th December 2020]

Na, Na. Our top tips for creating your showreel. [Internet] Available from: https://thecrewingcompany.com/our-top-tips-for-creating-your-showreel/ [Accessed: 8th December 2020]

Figures

Figure 1: