LILY HALLIDAY
Y O U T H
S M O K E B O M B S H O O T
To refine my experiments working in the style of Demaison and Rikalo, I have decided to carry out my own smoke bomb shoot experimenting with different smoke effects that will allow me to incorporate into other refined photographs later on.
(IMAGES SOURCED FROM PINTEREST - ARTISTS UNKNOWN)
​For initial inspiration of how to control the smoke bombs are create various effects, I have searched the internet and Pinterest for various photographs that include bombs. Even though I know at this stage that I will be experimenting with white smoke to represent the cigarette smoke I have incorporated into my work so far; I have referenced photographs including different coloured smoke solely for the smokes position itself and how it has been used within the frame of the camera. I will also try to experiment in the style of Rikalo, even though I have used the artist as a reference and not necessarily to work in the style of it has still informed my ideas and processes.
To refine my ideas, even though I am currently working in the style of Demaison and Rikalo who incorporates a black background into their work, I will capture the initial photographs in the location I set my first two parental influences shoots. This is not just to refine my ideas as they progress, but also because it is a wide open space that it away from any main roads or peoples living areas. If this experiment is as successful as I hope and I decide to change my location, this is still an aspect I must consider...
I N I T I A L S M O K E B O M B E X P E R I M E N T
Initially, before carrying out my actual shoot, I will have to see for myself how smoke bombs work and the effect they create in person. For both safety and photo shoot planning, I will refrain from using my model within the first experiment of the smoke bomb to see the initial outcome...
I plan to set my initial experiment and shoot in a remote area away from any housing and roads, to ensure no one else is effected by the smoke. Also, the instructions stated that the smoke bomb must be lit in a well ventilated area, again something I will ensure. To follow through with these safety aspects as well as showing development through my work, I will set my shoot near a viaduct, the same area I shot my more developed parental influences shoot. I felt that the surroundings of those particular shoots helped to emphasise my message, but even though at this point in time I may be leaving a harsh background behind to focus on the subject, this will still allow experimentation and a purposeful shoot.
The remainder of the smoke bomb once the smoke has died out.
​Unfortunately, I found that the smoke bomb wasn’t as successful as I had initially hoped and didn’t produce as much smoke as I thought. I also found due to the weather, even though I chose a less windy day, the smoke changed direction whilst it was being produced making it hard to photograph. I am glad I experimented setting off a smoke bomb prior to including my model due to the fact that it allowed me to see how the smoke bomb reacted and how long the smoke was produced for.
F I R S T A T T E M P T
I found my first attempt not as successful as I had hoped, due to the lack of smoke that was produced. Firstly, the smoke took a while to take off in front of my model, creating a very minimal effect which I don’t want. But, once more smoke was created the outcome became slightly more effective, being able to surround my model like I had hoped. I found that it was difficult to capture the same poses and facial expressions that I have been exploring for this shoot due to the fact that the smoke never stayed in one place at a time. It meant that m model had to constantly move around in front of the smoke, and often laughed or held her nose from the smoke making the photographs less effective. To create even more smoke, I had decided to burn 2 smoke bombs together.
S E C O N D A T T E M P T
I found setting off two smoke bombs at once was a lot more effective and produced more smoke than before. Ideally, I would have liked even more smoke but at the time my model struggled keeping a straight face anyway and not trying to breathe the smoke in too much, therefore I believe even more smoke would have created problems. If I were to change anything it would be the poses and faciual expressions within the photos, but due to the technique and process I was using this is hard to ask for from a young girl. Throughout both shoots I have still included the aspect of the bunny, as I have always found this is the aspect that refers back to my main theme being youth. For me, the use of the bunny could represent how the smoke from a parents addiction covers a childs life, leaving behind a layer over their possessions. In the end I have only found a selection of successful mages but have found the experiment very purposeful in exploring my ideas and portrays perfectly the aspect of addictions surrounding a child.