Photographic Intent

In my photography course I was assigned to shoot a landscape. The interpretation I had initially was a place that evoked feelings of warmth and belonging, felt in my neighborhood (seen in my "Landscapes" post). I changed my mind.  I decided to shoot more conceptually and below is the result. My submission entitled "The Omnipresent" is below and below that (not submitted) is my close second place. Enjoy!

"The Omnipresent"
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

This photograph is a depiction of the role of the photographer's "self" in their works. The omnipresent bias of the photographer is reified by the shadowy figure, representing the subjectivity of the photographer as it always a factor when taking photographs. I assert that no photograph is free of bias and completely objective. Even in instances when objectivity is required (journalism or documentary-style photography), one's personal experiences; cultural bias, or biases associated with gender, race, age etc., are factors when one shoots with intent. The intent of this photograph was to highlight the importance of critically engaging photographs. Whether in media representations or other, it is important to critically analyze what we take in and be cognizant of possible biases. Even as a viewer, when presented with images or messages to interpret in mass media, we often fill in the blanks with preconceived notions based on our personal experiences. This gives meaning to the phrase "Every picture is worth a thousand words".

"The Details"
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

I chose not to submit this photograph for my assignment. It is a depiction of personal style; the little personal details, the calculated choices and points of expression associated with individuality.
The rolled cuff of the jean, and the down-turned leather near the pull straps of the boot, were both choices made to enhance the look of both components of the outfit. I'm reminded of a conversation I had early last week about high fashion being unattainable to the masses and that runway fashion is not practical. If you find yourself in a position like this where you're wondering the same thing, remember that it's all about what you take away from the show. Think more broadly about what you're seeing. The salient features of runway collections can be the idea or inspiration behind the fashion. For instance, Gucci- we saw colour blocking and playing with proportions, Louis Vuitton- we saw feminine elegance with men's tailoring with using a dark pallete with pops of colour, Celine- structured coats etc. A famous quote by Yves Saint Laurent "Fashion fades, style is eternal". Fashion trends come and go, personal style is an extension of your self and a form of self-expression. For some, myself included, expression through fashion is important. Hopefully after reading this and pairing it with the photograph you can see the subtle side of style.

In Conversation, With Yohji Yamamoto

I found this interview so inspiring. I love Yohji's demeanor and advice. He's so humble, such a genius and again, so inspiring.


SHOWstudio: In Conversation with Yohji Yamamoto from SHOWstudio on Vimeo.

Homage to Willie Doherty

Willie Doherty is an Irish photographer, video artist and installation artist. Doherty's work is influenced by the tragic events that took place on Bloody Sunday where twenty-six unarmed civil rights protesters and bystanders were shot by soldiers of the British Army. Doherty's artistic practice is rooted in the history of Northern Ireland, and much of his work refers to undercurrents of fear, oppression and the uncertainty that he has experienced. However, his photographs and films convey a timeless quality and carry a broader significance. In his recent works, Doherty has begun to explore wider notions of representation, identity, memory and truth. Through photography and film, he tries to undermine the boundaries of truth and fiction and creates open-ended narratives. Below are his works, followed by my recreations. Enjoy!

 

Photographer: Willie Doherty

Photographer: Willie Doherty

Photographer: Willie Doherty

Photographer: Willie Doherty

My Homage

Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Tonnes of Visual Interest!

My room is all about me, It's a reflection of my ideas, my taste and everything me!
I have a dark wood bed set with matching bedside cabinets on a deep red accent wall. I had an idea for a focal point for my room that involved photographs of my personal belongings and other things related to fashion. My idea for above the headboard was a collage of mismatched ranging from sleek plain black rectangles, bold ornate gold frames, mixed with everything in between. Inside the frames would be the string that ties the chaos together; fifteen photographs done in black and white of objects relating to fashion, but the fine details. The jumble of frames together on the red wall will create a tonne of visual interest and be the focal point of my room. The items I photographed were all fashion accessories, personal items or spaces where I like to create (my desk and closet).
So below, are the images I selected to go up on my wall! Enjoy!

Bangles in love
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Mon Monogram
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Leather charm on bag
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Assortment of gold, silver and gunmetal chains
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Assortment of gold, silver and gunmetal chains
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Various washes and applications to denim
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Close up of stitching details
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Reflections of Gold
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Charmed
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

The Lineup
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Decisions, Decisions
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Charmed
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Ideas
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Inspiration
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

The Details
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

 

Landscapes

The word can be interpreted in various ways. There are landscapes of every variety, whether they are internal, external, geographic, psychological, or however else you interpret the word. I have a photography assignment that I'm playing with in my head right now on landscapes and the first thing that came to mind was the concept of the self. The self as a landscape is more than a physical body; it is a living breathing entity, a being that experiences through senses, it is affected, it affects and it is ever changing and growing. However to capture one's true self in a photograph is a challenge. I need to develop this idea so my true self is captured to my liking in a photograph, but as inspiration, the first thing that came to mind was home. I recently took a few pictures in my neighborhood of places that I pass on a daily basis. Though they are physical landscapes, the feelings associated with these places are personal as they remind me of home.

Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Auto Show 2011

Recently I went to the Canadian International Auto Show. The show was great and I saw the most amazing lineup for 2012. A trend I noticed, besides the electric hybrid cars with lower and lower emission rates was the amazing paint finishes on some of the cars. At first what I thought was matte paint, was actually a new finish provided by 3M. The Carbon Fiber Anthracite Car Wrap Film manufactured by 3M, is a long-term, removable, cast film designed for solid vehicle detailing.
The product is a great modern finish to elevate the look of any car, and as soon as I get my Mercedes Benz CLS, I'll definitely opt for this finish. The product goes for around $370 a roll, excluding installation,  and each roll is about 5 yards, so you'll need quite a bit to properly fit your car.
The last shot is one that I did not take- it was a fashion shot taken by Scott Schuman "The Sartorialist" for his blog - the rest are mine =)

Mercedes Benz CLS
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Mercedes Benz CLS
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

BMW M3
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

BMW M3
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Photographer: Scott Schuman

Here's a link of a Mercedes CLS having a 3M Carbon Fiber Anthracite Car Wrap applied to it.

York Secrets

I'm so excited! My work, "The Struggle" was chosen to be shown in an exhibit at the Alaska Gallery at York University. The event entitled "York Secrets" showcased sculptures, painting, photographs and interactive media installations from the community. The theme of the exhibit was centered around identity and portrayals of gender, masculinity and femininity etc.
The event took place this week and I snapped a quick photo on my phone of my installation.

The event was a great success! Thank you so much to everyone who made this possible, it was a great experience to have my work shown! =)

Industrial Settings

Lately I've been intrigued by the beauty in industrial spaces around Toronto. I haven't had a lot of time to put these together but I will be adding to this post from time to time. I like the way these places can be empty and hollow but still feel warm and inviting.

Hallway at York UniversityPhotographer: Priyan Rajdev

Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Stairs on Brick Wall: Downtown Toronto
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Toronto tracks by the CN TowerPhotographer: Priyan Rajdev

Frank Gehry facade at the Art Gallery of Ontario
Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Photographer: Priyan Rajdev

Fast Fashion

I haven't posted this week because I've been so busy with essays and assignments- but this got me thinking about 'Fast Fashion'. Being so busy with school had me thinking about staple pieces of clothing I can depend on, and the dilemma we're sometimes faced with as we're rushing out the door 10 minutes before class/work is, what to wear!? If you're like me, you (try to) plan, plan, plan, your outfits the night before (or, if you're crazy, the week before on your outfit-planing app) to save yourself time the next morning when your eyes are barely open and you make a puffy-eyed reach into your closet and fish out just any old lumpy blue sweater.. or was it cerulean perhaps? ....because you don't care about this 'stuff'.
[annndd GO Miranda Priestly]

'This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent... wasn't it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of ...stuff.
-The Devil Wears Prada 

(LOL love) 

However, the question is, what if you just don't have the time to get it all together in 10 minutes?
The answer: YOU FAIL, you must plan! lol no
I've been in this position all week! I mean, the last few nights I've been up 'till 4am typing away, trying to finish up my work.

So where am I going with all of this? How can you make 'rushed fashion' work for you? You need an 'I had no time, but I still look good' outfit (names of outfits are subject to change without notice), for those days when time just isn't on your side. So think about what your staple pieces are, one's that you can't live without, and also, pieces that you can without-a-doubt just throw on and still look put together. Is there an accessory or bag perhaps that just brings together your whole outfit? These pieces don't have to be expensive or designer, they just have to be versatile- that's key. So I'm not talking about trends here.

Below are pictures of me in my quickly put together outfits.
I can honestly say that they took no time at all. The pieces are versatile and I don't look like a homeless person...Unless you think I do =/ in which case, my response is- that was the look I was going for.
I had a vague idea of the look I wanted to achieve and just went with it. The ingredients are easy. Combat boots, fitted jeans, a t-shirt and loose top over it all. Most importantly, my to toque (for days when doing your hair isn't feasible).

First and foremost, thank you to Maisan Caines for taking these photos. Secondly, I know I look homeless, it illustrates my point!



The Breakdown
T-shirt: Club Monaco
Cardigan: Zara
Jeans: Gap
Boots: Energie
Necklace: Souvenir from Mexico
Bracelet: Louis Vuitton (Charm it)
Belt: Louis Vuitton (Initiales Damier Ebene)
Bag: Coach (Harrison Leather Slim Tote)

The Breakdown
T-shirt and Cardigan: Zara
Jeans: Gap
Necklace: Souvenir from Mexico 
Bracelets: Gucci Chiodo Silver Bangle (FW08)
                 Gucci Ruthenium Plated Silver (FW09)
Boots: Gucci LeatherCombat Boots (FW2011)

The Breakdown
T-shirt: Zara
Necklace: Souvenir from Mexico
Jeans: Gap
Watch: Adidas
Shoes: Pierre Hardy
Socks: RED 'cause they're AWESOME!

These are some quick and easy looks in my wardrobe. As you can see, some elements were repeated, like my Gap skinny jeans. Staple pieces are fun and easy to play around with, and because they're so versatile makes them a quick grab for days when you just don't have time.

Gucci Women's F/W2011-12

Dear Billions of Readers Worldwide,
As you no doubt know, I have a sick obsession with Gucci, and have chosen to feature a few of my favourite looks here on my blog to share with you all. Frida Giannini's done it again! I think this season's collection is amazing!!

It was so hard to narrow it down to just these few. I felt that this show in particular was very strong, I loved the vibrant colours, textures and especially exotic skins (seen primarily in the accessories). I loved the fact that the jewel tone colours sort of bled into this collection from Gucci's S/S2011 collection, which featured bright oranges, purples, yellows and turquoises. All these elements added to the overall strength of the show, and I was impressed by it all!

To me, the looks were strong on their own and each style had beautiful elements. The thread, however that tied this collection together was Giannini's ability to combine modern flare to traditional elegance, and that's what Gucci stands for in my eyes.