This photographic series explores the contrasting emotions of dreamy and sinister. The sinister feeling is created through the use of red, and the sharp contrast of light and dark. There is intentional lighting on both sides, which captures the edges of my subject’s face, whilst leaving the centre dark. Having half of the face lit, whilst the rest is in shadows creates a sense of mystery, and makes us wonder what the subject is thinking. It was also important to have the background black, as this makes the photograph feel claustrophobic, and forces the viewer to focus on the figure. This creates apprehension, and the matched red colouring creates a very sinister atmosphere.
Contrasting this, dreaminess is created through the use of colouring and lighting. The colouring of the background is very important - the blues and pinks create a “cotton-candy-like” atmosphere, it makes the image feel other-worldly. A spotlight is used to create the pattern on the background - further emphasising the otherworldly aspect of the image, and almost making the subject look like they are floating. Lastly, to further ensure a dreamy photograph, I wanted to have a warm light on my subject’s face, to look like the sun was shining on her. I did this by using a honeycomb light high above my subject and having her directly face the light. In this way, It looks as though she staring into the sun, or looking into another world, emphasising the dreamy feeling.
Model: Ashlee Stevens
