Experiment: HDR Photography

I wanted to have a go with landscape photography while I was in Whitby, I thought the graveyard at St. Mary's church was a great location. The graveyard is situated on a cliff top overlooking the sea and Whitby town. Death is the ultimate force of nature.

I have been reading about HDR photography, and find that results can be stunning. While in Whitby the weather was really dull, I was hoping for some dramatic clouds, however they didn't come.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. I created the following images by taking three images at different exposures, then using software to convert these images into HDRI. Once processed it takes a lot of playing around with different levels, such as luminosity, saturation, and different contrasts to result in a successful image. Before altering the levels the image looks highly unnatural.

The finished images are in black and white, I feel it enhances the mood, and the mortal themes. I also think B&W in these particular images work best with the HDR settings.

I would like to experiment more with this; I'd like to capture dramtic skies, and work with vibrant colour.

Ideas: Gods Based on the Elements

I really like thinking about the natural elements, and how I can develop them. I have been thinking about the Gods and the different deities for each element. I am going to look further into this.
I looked for specific gods for each of the elements, which was harder than I thought! I thought there would be a god for each earth wind fire and water, but there isn't, not within one
group anyway.

I did come across gods for days of the week though, the ideas and structure here interests me.
Here are some interesting things associated with each day of the week:

Sunday

Color: Yellow & gold
Planet: Sun
Metal: Gold
Deities: Brighid, Helios, Ra
Gemstones: Quartz crystal, diamond, amber, carnelian
Herbs & Plants:Marigold, sunflower, cinnamon
Associations: Agriculture, beauty, hope, victory, self-expression and creativity

Monday

Color: Silver, white, light blue
Planet: Moon
Metal: Silver
Deities: Thoth, Selene
Gemstones: Pearl, opal, moonstone
Herbs & Plants: Wintergreen and other mints, catnip, comfrey, sage, chamomile
Associations: Childbearing and family life, purity and virginity, healing, wisdom, intuition

Tuesday

Color: Red and orange
Planet: Mars
Metal: Iron
Deities: Lilith, Mars, Aries, the Morrighan
Gemstones: Garnets, ruby
Herbs & Plants: Thistles, holly, coneflower, cactus
Associations: War and conflict, enemies, initiation, marriage and protection

Wednesday

Color: Purple
Planet: Mercury
Metal: Mercury (Quicksilver)
Deities: Odin, Hermes, Mercury, Athena, Lugh
Gemstones: Adventurine, agate
Herbs & Plants: Aspen trees, lilies, lavender, ferns
Associations: Business and job-related issues, communication, loss and debt, traveling and journeys

Thursday

Color: Royal blues, greens
Planet: Jupiter
Metal: Tin
Deities: Thor, Zeus, Jupiter, Juno
Gemstones: Turquoise, amethyst, lapis lazuli
Herbs & Plants: Honeysuckle, oak trees, cinquefoil
Associations: Honor and family loyalty, harvests, clothing and riches, fealty

Friday

Color: Pink, aqua/blue-green
Planet: Venus
Metal: Copper
Deities: Freya, Venus, Aphrodite
Gemstones: Coral, emerald, rose quartz
Herbs & Plants: Strawberries, apple blossoms, feverfew
Associations: Family life and fertility, sexuality, harmony, friendship, growth

Saturday

Color: Black, dark purple
Planet: Saturn
Metal: Lead
Deities: Saturn, Hecate
Gemstones: Apache tear, obsidian, hematite
Herbs & Plants: Thyme, mullein, cypress
Associations: Agriculture and creativity, fortune and hope, protection and banishment of negativity

I'd like to do a modern fashion shoot, seven images each representing a day of the week, containing symbolism for each day using the information above.

Research: Hologramatic Clothing - Atton Conrad

While reading the current issue of 125 Magazine, I came across these stunning images by Atton Conrad. I have seen light graffiti a lot before, but never in a fashion photography sense.