Dormiveglia

''The space that stretches between sleeping and waking''

Dormiveglia, a dark surreal and artistic exploration of the space that stretches between sleeping and waking, opening up both the subconscious and conscious mind and letting it roam free, building a place and image for others to roam and escape, with images that force the viewer to concoct their own opinion and interpretation of each shot and wander through conception, evoking empathy from the viewer. Conjuring beauty, dark fantasy, and darker surreal fashion imagery, are the main aspects within the books content, along with added effects of image distortion and camera effects, adding a more eerie feel to the imagery. There are four different chapters in the book slowly showing the progressing stages of dream and the unconscious mind, I want the viewer to open up and question, look and feel every part of the dark in between world of dream and reality making you wonder if you are awake or asleep, depicting how real this could actually be, allowing your mind to explore, escape, and question the surroundings and goings on within the imagery and own mind. The book comes inside a box, the box acts as the first step of exploration and imagination, and looks like a book itself with the title etched on the front. From the outside, the viewer will have to figure out how to access the book inside and that is where the journey begins. Dream is considered to be the peak of the unconscious mind that creates an opening of possibilities and excitement, creating imagery and art works, where the world is slightly out of touch, feeling unreal, and dreamlike, stimulating and fascinating, making it a challenging prospect that has allowed me to blur reality and dig deep into the unconscious state of mind.

The unconscious constantly communicates with the conscious mind via our subconscious, and is what provides us with the meaning to all our interactions with the world, as filtered through your beliefs and habits. It communicates through feelings, emotions, imagination, sensations, and dreams.

When you are laying in bed late at night and hear something go “bump” in the night. If you let your thoughts and imagination wander to all the horrible things that might happen, then your subconscious will throw up the feelings, emotions, and memories of past events that you’ve associated with those thoughts. 

http://themindunleashed.org/2014/03/conscious-subconscious-unconscious-mind-work.html

Final Book

My final book is here! 

So I have got my final book back at last which was a lot later than planned originally in the production schedule but its here so its fine. The layout of the book is exactly how I made it which is great, there are few issues that I have with it but there is defiantly not enough time to get them sorted and I don't know if it is just me being picky. The translucent pages and text have all been printed in the right places which is great especially after the nightmare I have had sorting it out. The images have come out good some better than others some of them are slightly to dark but that is down to the issue of having to have it printed in cmyk format. Overall I happy with the result of my book of course there are elements I would change with more time and money such as the back and front cover design but for what I have planned and achieved it has come out perfect.

Chapter names and meanings

'OBSCURITY' - The state of being unknown, inconspicuous 

'HYPNAGOGIC' - The darkness immediately before falling asleep

'ORPHIC' - Mysterious and entrancing beyond ordinary understanding

'ARCANE' - Understood by few, mysterious, entrancing 

'SUBCONSCIOUS AWAKENING' - Unnatural awakening from a dream like state and the subconscious self

The final box

The box is done!

This box has caused me so much stress but I could not be happier with the end result. After having the box altered at the beginning making it smaller in depth I was so much more happier, the draw that pulls out of the box is amazing and is just like the plan I drew up in my original proposal with it hidden away, there are a few imperfections on the box but when it is painted these will be hidden.

After receiving the box back I decided to take it to a shop in town where I live to get it engraved with the title of my project, this just added the finishing element connecting the project altogether. This also added a textured element that you could run and place your fingers across which I liked as a starting point of the project. After the box was engraved I decided it needed a colour I wanted something dark not wooden looking as I did not want it to look like furniture. I firstly decided on a dark grey but when I tested this on a bit of wood did not like the colour. I ended up going for a black wood stain in the end and for some reason originally I did not want a dark or black box but after painting it with the black wood stain I was so happy. It added to the element of mystery and unnerving nature of my project with my mum even commenting that it looked like a grave stone which is obviously not what I wanted but it meant it looked quite creepy. 

Overall  I am really pleased with the final design of my box and it looks exactly how I designed and pictured it. 

Original design 

Book plan and final layout

I had began to put a mock up layout of my book together at the beginning of the easter holidays this is so I could figure out more of a structured order for my books content and chapter development. I also had posted on Facebook looking for a graphic design student to help me compile my book together but only received one response. When I received the response I was so happy as I really had no idea how to put a book together on indesign and was panicking that it would come out all wrong. After talking to the girl she then told me that she would not be able to help me properly until after the 8th of May by which time my hand in would of gone. This got me in a complete panic again, at this point I went a visited John and Ken to see if either of them would be able to help me, Ken set up my indesign for me to the right format so I could get started and told me that if I got stuck to just come and see him for help. This made me feel more at ease about getting started. After this I carried on doing a mock layout of my book and finished editing a few of my final images ready to start to actual thing.

first mock up of book layout 

While making my mock up book layout I designed my front cover with the help of Ken, I originally planned to have a image on my front cover but decided after visiting the printers to have a plain back cover with white text. The printers told me this would look really nice especially with the matte finish I had choose. I felt it made the book seem more mysterious adding to the element of surprise when you opened it especially with its title being so questioning of its meaning. I am really happy with the front and back cover design of my book I know that it is very plain but sometimes I think plain is better and it makes the book stand out with the bold white writing and the lines adding to the books meaning of the in-between space of dream and reality. Soon after the front and back cover was made I sent this of, the printers advised me to send the covers of before the book as they took longer to make.

front and back of book cover

I have finally decided on chapter names for my book after figuring out the layout of images. Each of the names and chapters are meant to link with a different state of the subconscious mind and in-between space of dream and reality along with linking to the pictures shown in each element of the book. Once all my images were completed and edited I started to put my final book together, I found that as I was putting the book together the layout did change slightly, This is because different images flowed and fitted in better with one another. I found putting the book together much easier than originally thought. The inspiration for my book layout came from the book ' Hair em scare em' I really liked the structure of this book so used it as a reference when it came to putting my own book together with image placement slightly variating in the chapters. I am happy with the final outcome of my book especially considering I have put it together myself I would of liked a graphic designer to help me but it was my own fault as I left it to late to find one. Now my book is made I am ready to send it of to be printed I just hope it all comes back ok. 

Final book layouts on Indesign 

Netley Abbey shoot

Inspiration for the imagery I want to create at the Netley Abbey shoot comes from photographer Alexey Titarenko. His images incorporate a lot of blurred effects creating a ghostly and dreamy like feel to the imagery. His work is often photographed in black and white which is intriguing. I plan to do a shoot at Netley abbey which is a ruined late medieval monastery. I feel I could create some really interesting imagery within the rooms of the medieval monastery and also outside with the monastery in the backdrop hopefully creating a similar affect to Titarenko's work looking very dream like concentrating on this blurred vision and state of the unconscious state of mind. 

I found out about Netley Abbey from my photographer she had done a shoot here before and because she knew the theme of my work agreed it would make a perfect backdrop for an image needing my kind of atmosphere. We prepared for the shoot and I made sure the model was ok to still come and that she was not going to let me down. The photographer was concerned how we would create the movement effect without any lighting and also out in the day light but we decided we would figure it out when we got there as there was no way of us carrying the portable lighting along with all the other equipment. It was a beautiful day by the time we arrived at Netley abbey which meant we would struggle to create the low shutter speed effect outside without the camera going to bright. The styling was a big element to this shoot as it was more about the figure and the background I had taken a few different options for clothing and styling so I could create a few different changing images while on such as good location. The make-up and hair I kept very simple with a dark lip and smokey eye and I done this before we left for Netley abbey so I had less kit to carry with me. 

We got 10 minutes into the shoot and hit a major issue for some reason the SD card starting displaying an error on the screen and would not less us take any more photos saying it had to be reformatted. We transferred the images to a laptop and re formatted the card and started again, still the card would not work and the photographer did not have a spare card. I thought the shoot was ruined and then realised I had brought a spare camera along with me and luckily had my SD card also this was so lucky as otherwise we would of had to of scrapped the shoot. we managed to carry on the shoot with no other major issues. 

The end result of the shoot was ok it had not turnout exactly how I had planned and wanted with the shutter speed cropping up as a problem. There were a few images I could use but I had to add the ghostly movement effect I wanted in post production. I only really had two images I really liked but edited a few different ones in hope I may have some more options. In the end I edited one of my images with a moving effect transforming the background to black and white and keeping the girl in colour with the yellow jumpsuit that I had used which I felt worked really well in the image. This image was my favourite and I was really pleased that I had managed to edit it myself below are a few more images from the shoot that I have also edited that I quite like. For the book I think the only image I will end up using is the yellow ghostly one I have edited, I planned to use some still images that I took of the building and surroundings in the book also. If I had more time I would of defiantly re done this shoot and planned the entire idea more.

The Vault shoot evaluation

After emailing back and forth with the woman about the Vaults I did manage to book it out this took way longer than I expected with the booking being completed a matter of 3 days before the shoot was meant to happen. Previous to that I had emailed my model who is a professional dancer a mood board of the kind of poses and moves I wanted her to create in the shoot and let her know that I would like her to bring her pointed shoes for the look. I had also hired out a smoke machine to add effect when she was dancing and create an atmosphere in the vaults settings. I decided to get a professional dancer as I knew that her posture and self awareness of her body movement would be amazing and she would be able to create some stunning poses. Within this image I want it to portray the focus of the mind and body working together being in control even in a dream like state of mine with dance being a perfect form of expression to show this.

On arrival at the vaults we set up lighting and the dancer got warmed up. It was a very long day of shooting, I first done the models hair and make-up keeping it very classic and simple with straight hair and a red lip. The shoot I feel went well we managed to capture the dancer in many different movements with the vault and smoke machine looking and working really effectively together to create a final outcome. I trialed using both keiron Levines headpieces for this shoot but felt neither worked when I looked back at the final images. As well as capturing the beautiful poses and movements of the dancer I took a few images of myself of parts of the vault this was to put alongside some of the imagery in my book to create an atmosphere such as the smokey candles in the fireplace. Without the smoke machine these images would not of come out with the same effect as they had I am so glad I researched into hiring one out as it really did help to complete the look of the imagery. 

feedback for book title

While coming up for a title for my finished product I researched and explored many names. I realised I did not want a title that was really obvious I wanted something that would make the viewer wonder and want to explore the meaning of the word they were reading and to feel a connection from to word to the imagery inside.

After searching long and hard I came across a word; 'Dormiveglia'.
Dormiveglia is an italian phrase that means - The space that stretched between sleeping and waking. It was a perfect word to describe what my project was about and what it aimed to achieve, it sounded great and had that sense of marvel that would make you really wonder unless you knew what it meant. After finding the word I contacted Flavia, I knew Flavia was italian and could advise me on if the word really meant what I had researched it to. Within an hour Flavia had responded.

I was so pleased that the word meant what I had researched it to. The next step meant creating my final book cover and title design for my book with my finalised title Dormiveglia.

The Importance of re shooting 'Gas masks'

I was so glad I got the opportunity to re shoot the gas masks. I had worked so hard creating them that I wanted to defiantly use them. I am so much happier with the result of these images the masks looked so effective in the images and really gave of a sense of unease with the photographer even explaining that she found them uncomfortable to look at. The response I have had from the gas mask shoot has been great. A mixture of creatives in my target market have all loved the images and stated that they made them feel uneasy and even stated that they had a dark catwalk feel about them being very relevant to current exhibitions such as McQueens where a lot of his models and manikins faces were obscured and covered with a mask. The styling was an important part of the look I wanted the clothing to be very relevant to the trends happening in 2015 incorporating textured bodies with lace and wide legged trousers midi skirts. I want the images to connect to that dream like state where you feel as if a person or moment is so real but that the person your sharing it with are unrecognisable. Personal communication within a dream is very relevant we come across so many different people within a dream both that we might not or never have met but almost none of them are rememberable or they are very jumbled up perceptions of people, the gas masks question this moment of exploring a dream and not knowing who you have met and come across with there face being obscured and unrecognisable. 

Nails shoot

I planned to do a nail shoot, I wanted to create some really unusual nails incorporating feathers. I made and painted all the nails and applied them to myself for the shoot as my model had let me down that day.  I found the nails so hard to apply to myself  but in the end they looked really good. From then on the shoot went really down hill, the photographer could not get the lighting to go right and we found it really hard to pose my hands in the images. The shoot only got worse from here midway shooting the lens feel of the camera and broke and by the time this got fixed I had to go and do another shoot. I have decided not to re shoot these images as I don't have the time and also am not quite sure where they could fit into my book moving forward. 

location shoot and evaluation

The location chosen for my Gas mask shoot is in a forest near my home town. I took a wonder down there with my dog to see what it was like before doing my shoot, only to discover that there are these two abandoned huts, only one of them you can fully access and you have to drive down there as they are down a very long dirt track in the middle of nowhere. You can openly access one of the huts they are very odd and really intriguing being abandoned in the middle of nowhere with lots of odd objects surrounding them making them perfect for the shoot creating a odd location in the middle of nowhere almost like a dream where you are lost in a darkened forest. 

I had a lot of anticipation about this shoot as I was photographing it myself with only a camera and a portable flash pack. I wanted it to be dusk when I shoot the looks creating a atmospheric look in the background of the imagery as if these two faceless strangers have met in a weird nightmare.

The first look I shot was with these very gothic cyber goggles. When the goggles were on you could not see the persons eyes and they could not see out of the googles either linking in with this obscured vision connecting to the idea of meeting complete strangers in your dreams with an masked vision. The first look of the shoot went really well I was really please with the poses I placed the models in as well as the styling aspect. I managed to capture images that included the background which really helped to create an atmosphere within the imagery.

By the time it came to shooting the gas masks it had become a lot darker without us even noticing. This became a challenge because it meant I had to use the flash which would cause issues when picking up the mask. As you can see from the images below the flash was a massive issue a long with the lighting becoming very dark. I tried my best but really struggled to capture images I was happy with as an end result I decided this was not working and there was no point carrying on when it was starting to get darker and colder, I decided I would re shoot the images but was disappointed I would not be able to use the location due to defiantly needing the help of a photographer and not being able to get a team there again in short notice. I was happy that I had at least managed to capture some images with the location but was feeling apprehensive slowly falling more behind with a second re shoot. 

The importance of a re shooting

As you can see the re shoot for the mask has gone a lot better than before. I have changed the look completely, I have decided to keep the make up really natural with only some foundation on the skin with the help and advise from Elizabeth Barnett who mentioned that the mask could look very McQueen with a natural face. I have added a textured element to the hair placing fullers earth on the head and painting this black. I originally was going to place the cracked effect all over the face and down the neck of my model but realised this could be very over the top and was not needed with the mask. I added in the accessories of the candles which added a unnerving feel to the imagery especially when applied with the slow shutter speed effect. The slow shutter speed picked up the gems and the candles creating a motion effect on the image that allowed the face to stay in focus. The images looked great as a final outcome and do not need any post production as a result. I believe the image below would look really great across and double page spread in the book.

Final print company

After not having a lot of luck with printing companies I have finally found one that I really like and that can make exactly what I want. After exchanging a few emails with Patrick from Fineprint I have decided on a final book design. I plan to have a cover exactly like the image below with a maximum of 20 pages and some translucent pages in-between with text and possible images on. I feel so relieved that this part of my project is finally sorted.  

I decided to visit fineprint just to get a feel of the work they produce and I am so happy that I did, Patrick showed me how my book would of looked if I had gone with the material on the front cover. Having the fabric on the front cover meant I had to have the book staple bound which resulted in the book not being a hardback but almost like a magazine. This is defiantly not what I wanted I wanted a hardback book which resulted in me having to change my book completely I decided to change this to a matte back hardback cover that would have white text on the front. I also realised that I needed to change to layout of the book from portrait to landscape I was disappointed in this as I prefer the look of a portrait book than a landscape but most of my images were in landscape so I had to go with what would work best with my final imagery and I only had myself to blame as I should of made sure I photographers all my images in either landscape or portrait. 

Gas masks inspiration

The concept of the unconscious mind has proved a source of considerable frustration because it defies objective description and is extremly difficult to objectively test or measure. 

Inspiration for a shoot using gas masks comes from the element of not knowing who you could meet in a dream I want to create an image where two strangers connect and meet but there faces are obscured and unrecognisable meeting in another realm that is a true assurance in dream for many people. This idea has come from the idea from the connection on social media. Social media is like another realm you don't know who you are going to meet and come across especially on social media platforms such as Facebook and the popular app tinder. I want two models for the shoot both being female and I plan to decorate two gas masks in studs. I could keep the masks plain but I feel by decorating them it adds to the mystery of the look and creates a current looking image that relates to fashion. I plan to photograph this look on a location I feel it will add to the image rather than being in a studio creating a odd location in the middle of nowhere almost like a dream where you are lost in a darkened forest and on social media where you image is lost in a screen. 'Dreaming is a reminder that we have very powerful instincts, emotions and even inclinations of madness that then become suppressed when awake'

The gas masks 

shoot evaluation

Inspiration for this shoot is based on the state of mind immediately before falling asleep where the mind is falling into the unconscious state that contains all sorts of disturbing material that the conscious mind keeps out of awareness because they are to threatening to acknowledge fully. I wanted to create a beauty look something quite simple to show this effect in an uncomplicated way showing the selfs thoughts changing falling away opening up that space for the unconscious to take control. 

I planned to wet the hair and layer it over the face and create a dark lined brow that makes the featured of my models face look dark and confusing, keeping the rest of the make up very natural leaving all concentration on the hair and brows that are the two features that can be played and messed up in state of unawareness and sleep.  

The shoot went really well I am really pleased with the outcome of the final images, I do feel they have a very different feel to the rest of my imagery and am wondering how they will fit into my book.   My favourite image is the first one I love the angle of my models face you can really see the eyebrows even though the hair is covering the face. I hope I am able to fit the images into my book as they do indicate a stage of unconscious mind leading to a dream like state and have a dark feel about them incorporating my skill of make-up and hair design.