The Darkness of Fairy Tales Photography

I am currently doing my final major project for my Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, I have spent the year trying to improve my art skills so that I can combine them with my photography when needed and where I feel it fits. Throughout the year I have been reminded about my passion for photography and am happy that I have been able to go back to doing the thing I love with more experience, knowledge and creativity. I chose to do the theme of Fairy Tales because it is something I have always wanted to photograph and after doing my surrealism project, I have been opened up to the world of darker photography, something I really enjoy and something I want to do more, this gave me the chance to explore the true darkness and origins of some fairy tales and combine the present day interpretations such as Disney with a twisted mind behind the camera changing them.
Here are the few photos I have done so far....


All of these photos are based on Snow White, as a signature thing of the Snow White story is the apple, i have focused a lot on that, but I am currently in the process of photographing  more of the story such as the heart in a box (jar in my case) and other fairy tales such as Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood...

These are some photos of my Sketchbook where I have been brainstorming visual ideas in preparation for my photographs...

Surrealism Photography and Influences

Also for my A Level photography I chose the theme of Surrealism. When first hearing the word 'surrealism' (not releasing its place in the history of art) I thought that it would include weird and wonderful photography which I really wanted to create. After looking into different artists and photographers that had surrealist work, I used some of their work to influence my own as well as my own creative thoughts. For my final piece I chose to do a small collection of photographs based on song lyrics. I found this theme to be very difficult, but I enjoyed the challenge of trying to create surreal photographs.

These photo are by Chema Madoz. After a small amount of
researching  I fell completely in love with his work. His photographs
are my favorite but very difficult to recreate and gain influence from.
I used the photo on the right as influence for a few of my photos,
 the idea being internal things displayed externally on the body.

This photo is by Lucas Samaras. Fulfilling my hopes of weird and wonderful  Lucas' work was  perfect
for what I was looking for to fit in with my work.



 

I used the influence of his mutilation style work and the combination of my fruit photography I had done above to create the following photos....

This painting is by Rene Magritte. I like the idea of the couple kissing regardless of the fact that
their mouths are not actually touching, something I recreated but with
different props and as a photograph.

I took littoral photographs of classic idioms such as 'walking on eggshells' and a 'stitch in time'.

Below are some photos of my surrealism sketchbook.

These are the photos from my final piece, they were all based lyrics from singers such as Marilyn Manson, Emilie Autumn and Deathstars.

"Your sell by date expired"

"Burn all the good things in the Eden eye"

"I only wanted a hand to pour my heart into"

"Glam and Champagne filled with nails"

"Oh, human doll"

" Her hearts a blood stained egg, we didn't handle with care"

"I want to mix our blood"

"The wrist said let me smile for you"

"Tear-away face"