Video & Image Ref: 'Organic' - Lindsay Adler, June 2013. URL: http://blog.lindsayadlerphotography.com/organic-beauty-editorial-by-lindsay-adler.
Accessed 15th Oct 2015
This video is taken from the official blog page for Lindsay Adler's photographic collection 'Organic' in which she explores and explains how even lighting can accompany that creation of a organic focused image. Within the footage Adler discusses how natural light can be manipulated much like studio lighting though the use of polyboard and reflectors to bend the direction of the light, therefore allowing for flattering shadows to be created onto the models face. From this video I took a great deal of inspiration as it demonstrated how beautiful photos can be created though the most simplistic methods, but also how by using the elements, such as that of natural lighting for example the makeup and styling within the photo is better complimented. As discussed by Adler the studio lighting was too harsh for the softer shadowing that she wanted to create for the final photograph. Due to this fact natural light was reflected from both black and white polyboard to create a similar effect as the studio lighting, but significantly softer.
These images are taken from Lindsay Adler's collection titled "Organic" in which she created a series of photographs that embodies the use of natural products and lighting to produce a heavily organic piece of work. The use of lighting within this body of work is heavily complimentary of the model and makeup as it is a very pale, soft light. As I have discussed previously the use of lighting within these images is done through the use of natural light bounced from a variety of polyboards, by doing so the models complexion is much softer as no harsh shadows are created through the use of a bold studio light. In regards to the use of makeup within these images the overall complexion is very clean and natural with only a subtle tint of colour added to the brows (which appear bleached) and the lips. Even so the whole look is very clean and minimal. Through the makeup being applied in such a way it emphasises the organic nature of the image by keeping the model clean and as close to her "natural state" as is achievable for the purpose of beauty imagery. The more dramatic elements to the look include the addition of organic matter such as twigs, vines and netting that appears like that of fishing netting and the white clay. All of which can be found on beaches, woodlands and other environments untouched by human interference. What stands out in particular in regards to the makeup of this body of images is the use of the white clay like substance that is applied to the hair and forehead. Realistically this substance is most likely a mixture of paint and natural grit (Adler doesn't specify in her video description) however the fact that it appears to run down the forehead suggests a more liquid based consistency. This method of adding natural matter to the hair line is a reoccurring feature in a few organic based images including that of Alex Box, as demonstrated in my initial inspiration post. This medium however does not appear to be that of Fullers earth due to its more liquid texture and also it's colour. The use of a bright white allows for the models complexion to appear even paler and creates an almost angelic halo effect around the hairline, perhaps to connote the purity of nature. The use of the white also contrasts more heavily against the brown tones of the props and builds a colour palette that follows throughout the whole collection of work.
This use of the natural substance in the hairline is of high inspiration for my own work, focusing in particular on the earth theme. Although I like the elegance of the textures used within these images I think within my own work I will use Fullers earth as it will be more dramatic and noticeable on camera. By doing so it will allow for the focus to remain on the key texture of the look e.g. The earth and the rest of the makeup will be kept very natural as to not draw away from the organic elements of the makeup.
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