The Gaia theory project

This is the image that has inspired me....

What i was hoping to do, was to turn this documentary image into a fashion image. I like the composition. I am going to try to stick with that but style it in my own unique way. I've found the location, i just need to shoot my photos on a day where the sea is a bit rough as it has been relatively calm recently.

The tricky bit will be the house...

I am going to photograph a dolls house in the sea and try and edit it to look realistic by pasting in parts of an actual house. I haven't found a dolls house yet. When i do, i will be straight down the beach.

I am really keen to get this shot over the next week. I will post up any test shoots. I've got one arranged for sunday.

What week is this?

I have just got back from New York and i had such a brilliant time. It was very intense and i must admit, when i returned home, the exhaustion knocked me out for days. Now, all recovered and well i shall take the time to reflect over it.

It was so jam packed with stuff, there were so many highlights. I felt so privileged to be welcomed into the studio of 2 great photographers, Platon and Phil Tolendano. They shared their thoughts and stories and spoke with great enthusiasm for our futures. I left both places feeling like i could probably take over the world if i wanted to.

The only way to describe Platon, would be to say he is small and mighty. When i first saw him, i didn't expect him to be the small guy in the room with the curly hair and red trousers. His studio space was beautiful and all over the walls was his work. I started to see the resemblance between his work and my favourite photographer's, Richard Avedon. He has recent project about people from Greece were stunning. They were laid out on a big board, i did want to just take one. He made such a big impression on me.

Phil Toledano was next in the guest speakers. Another Brit, who has made it big in New York which give me a sense of pride. He was a well spoken, down to earth man with a lot of ambition for his own projects. He taught me that photography needs more depth and to have a concept to challenge people's thoughts. He moved from art directing into photography which opened my eyes a little. I worry about how i will make it and that i need to make my mind up soon about what exactly i want to be in the photographic industry, but really, you just have to follow what you enjoy. Go with the flow.

So, I ate my body weight in burgers that week and ate so many sweets my gums were red raw, but all in all, it was a fantastic and the things i learnt were worth my weight in gold.

'Boo York'

The above photograph is by Mike Rosenthal. I always see his work on America's next top model. It's my dirty secret that i LOVE it. They do some fantastic photo shoots. You don't know what you're missing if you haven't seen it already!!

I can't wait to go to New York. I think it will give me lots of drive and excitement for my own work. I need waking up a little bit. I need to get this essay handed in and out of the way so i can concentrate on being more creative.

I received a glorious printer, which has proved extremely helpful. I have been printing off anything i see that inspires me and writing about it before the punctum wears off! I just printed off my last few blog posts and stuck them in my PPRD folder. I was getting stressed that it was looking 'thin' but now it has beefed it out a little bit. My blog looks much sexier in paper form, trust me.

I am thinking about my work placement a lot. Thinking is as far as it has gone at the moment. My note book is full of scribbles of names and places for me to chase up. I honestly think i'll be really good going out to do work experience. I've worked with a photographer before and did everything from all the crap jobs like cleaning the door step to assisting on his shoots. I feel positive about it. I am very tempted and eager to go knocking on their doors and being really persistent.

I definately need a portfolio. A nice shiny one with some good prints. The thing is... What prints? I order some paper over a week and a half ago and it still hasn't arrived. It really annoyed me because i had photographed a wedding on the 2nd and i wanted to give them some prints asap. It's delaying them even more now. Once i've got that, i'll be a printing machine (not literally, you know what i mean).

I am exhausted. I head butt the wall last night and it gave me a terribly unsettled night. So, i apologise if this is badly written and not really talking about anything relevant.

The most recent photographer that i've explored and found intriguing is Daniel Jackson. He is probably well known amongst most photography students, but i wasn't really up to date on contemporary photographers. Most aspiring photographers or fashion students will find me talking about something that was 'so last week', but i don't care. He's clearly a driven bloke. His work is every where! Dazed and confused, Vogue, you name it. He was assistant to David Sims i believe.

....And that's all i gotta say about that......