Drugs

Analysis Orange and white shelled drugs labeled; ethex 096 a prescribed drug, the whole photograph is a close up of these drug and nothing else. The photographer i feel wanted us to think the user of these drugs has overdosed simply because there seems to be a lot. The colors orange and white are bright, cool colors and are the main captivating colors in the shot, maybe these particular colored pills were chosen for their brightness; personally the combination of these colors remind me of sweets. The photograph from a distance I think could be mistaken for sweets because of the shape and their color and it’s only when you look closely at the image that you realize each capsule is joined by these separate colors making the drug shell. The centre of the shot is a pill facing us with it’s labeled side and seems to be focused on; on it we can clearly read ethex 096 where the other pills we only see parts of their label. I think that possible the shot is a close up of inside a drug container.

I arranged the table so there is an set of drugs in the background completely blurred and out of focus and in clear focus individual packets pouring out of a container which is blurred but just about visible. The idea this particular packet is the only thing in the shot in focus makes it therefore a lot more captivating and centre of attention. My intention was to make the audience think that this is a drug users table and he or her isn’t too keen on the use of drugs; as we can see the container has been opened however the individual packets are untouched. The positioning of this packet as it angles from the top right of the shot was again to enhance the imagery of being poured out however the reluctant to use them. The collection of sepia looking colors was due to the lamp I placed nearby which I use to increase depth and impact of the shadow; this filter I feel gives a sense it’s morning – a time when some take their prescribed drugs.

Initial set of Photographs

Similar to the last shot the individual packets are placed as If they’ve poured out of the container; however this set out I wanted to portray a bit more unrealistic as I arranged everything on a fabric sheet which I intended to use to give a wavy effect on the shot. That packet closest to the camera is very hard to read off of where the packet further away though the same is very legible; Packets of prescribed drugs pain killers swimming around in a sea like environment all the same however some more legible than others. The drug user isn’t sire about the packet closer. I specifically filtered black and white to enhance the shine of the packets which helped to increase contrast in itself and also gave the waves of the fabric sheets a lot more depth.

Here I significantly wanted the viewer to feel as if he or her is in the eyes of the drug user. I personally always thought that foil on drug packets were quit sharp. In this shot I focused on the packet specifically away from the drugs, the piece in focus has been crumpled up and the detail of the edges and faces are quite fascinating. Focusing on the crumpled foil; the edges are thin and presumably sharp enough to cut skin so there is a factor of fear and caution. I wanted the audience to feel in the eyes of the drug user repelled and again cautioned to pulling out the last capsule which is barb-wired by this sharp piece of foil which interestingly is designed for the users comfort. As I HD toned I increased the detail really helps impact the detail of the edges and packet design.

The use of close up lens in this shot is fairly obvious; interestingly though the packets are out of focus and not at all legible from this tiny segment I angled towards the camera you are aware these are prescribed drug packets due to the small visible printing of ‘PAR’ on the foil which presumably reads Paracetamol. I wanted to portray the idea last breathe; what the victim is seeing just before her or she maybe sleeps or possibly passes away. The victim presumably has one eye open judging by the depth of field his left eye as the right of the shot is completely out of focus ; to enhance this I increased the radius slightly which gave the blurriness an higher definition of blurriness in a way, through HD toning increased detail as the small segment was initially slightly on the blurry side and lowering the exposure adding to impact and depth.

Similar to the last shot I focused on a small segment of the packet. I decreased exposure to the extent the surface the packet was on completely vanished and gave the packet a floating effect which I feel looked very fascinating and captivating as it looses a whole sense of realism; you almost get a sense that someone is on the other-side handing the packet over; someone invisible. The depth of field due to the angle of the packet appears scrambled – the view of the user is dizzy and he’s about to loose consciousness.

Particularly in this shot unlike the others I used a strong visible filter affect which enhances the grainy look of the drugs and slightly gives the packet more of a cartoon edge. The capsules have been taken out however haven’t been used – left still in the packet; the drug user possibly had second thoughts on the usage or maybe just didn’t have enough strength to put it in his mouth. This is significantly why I placed the packet in the upper segment of the shot; to portray the idea the user is crouching on the floor leaning over the table where he or her can just about see the tablets.

1st DEVELOPMENTAL SET

Megan Wheeler

This photograph by Megan wheeler has a captivating collection of colors; the white powder on the mirror has a strong impacting appearance as you can just about barely see it’s reflection. Though the container is out of focus the orangey color stands it out in the shot. The arrangement of the capsules make them look like they’ve been poured out of the container; possibly the container has been tipped over. Interestingly none of the capsules appear to be open however theirs powder maybe this is another drug possible cocaine maybe. The general idea I take from the shot it that the drug user is either struggling to get out he’s drugs and the camera is the eye of the user hence the angle of the shot a low angle possibly lying on the floor reaching for this container which has tipped over. The white of the capsule though is bright blends in slightly with the surrounding when out of focus as you can see with the further capsule to the right of the shot. The purplish burgundy color I think really compliments the brightness of the white of the powder and capsule making them stand out in some aspects of the photograph.

The third shot from the initial set of photographs I experimented on I attempted to emphasize the idea of foil acting as barb-wire restricting access to the drugs, 3 capsule are missing and there is no foil conveying that the drug user overcame this packaging; psychologically seen as a barrier blocking in him or how to their cure. However the other packet which one has been opened still has it’s foil wrapping arched round it as if it’s protecting the capsule or even maybe cautioning the user.

The darkness in this shot is quite significant; I placed the arrangement underneath a light however moved the arrangement slightly to the right so the light hugely impacts on the left side of the objects leaving the right in complete darkness as I took it in a completely dark room. I specifically crumpled the paper to distort the image making it illegible. The light compliments the shine off the packet to the left of the shot giving the sector out of focus a gentle appearance where the sector in focus appears more edging and impacting.

Instead of experimenting with more tablets her I hung the sixth initial photograph outside late at night however shone a torch to keep it alone visible in the shot apart from a small light in the background which I feel is an interesting contribution to the lights in the shot. I made the image black and white to blend the different tones of color more significantly; the bright flame isn’t as noticeable until you look carefully however the piece of paper in the flame in a way stands out as I focused on in particularly, the edge appears very detailed in comparison to the rest of the shot.

The effect of the filter in this particular shot is very visible as the darks and light tones in the shot really blend together making different sectors, the pegs appear almost to dimensional from some perspective and I edited the left bottom of the shot to give the idea that the photograph is in a way disappearing into the surrounding. Contrastingly the rest of the shot generally is made up or vibrant however dull colors standing out . I particularly like the way the way though the line to the left is a strong impacting white still steadily disappears into the darkness in the left of the shot, another interesting aspect in view of the placement of the subject.

Similarly to my third development I burnt away a sector of the photograph and photographed it as it was burning, unlike my third development the flame in this shot is more feasible and there is an production of more smoke which also contributes to the subject as its also slightly in focus so some attention is placed on it. Interestingly at times you don’t notice the closer peg until you view from a wider perspective. The peg further away though is in the light blends into the darkness of the right of the shot as the line is visible however out of focusing again keeping the audience attention of the main subject; the half tablet which is the only feasible thing in the burning photograph.

FINAL SET

Here I combined the first initial photo and the second developmental photo; I specifically made the second developmental shot translucent making the initial photograph look as if the texture is crumpled; the fading packet at the top left of the shot I think makes a very relevant addition as it shares the same tone and appearance to that of my initial photograph. Interestingly when you focus on the big packet out of focus closest to the camera you loose a sense of attention on the whole combination likewise when you focus on the crumpled piece of paper the initial photograph almost appears to be an reflection.

In the initial set of photos I mentioned I wanted to incorporate the idea of the foil acting as barbwire a barrier or form of caution restricting the drug user form accessing the tablet. Here I made the tablet slightly translucent through the foil which seems to be arched over, the detail of the packaging printed over the tablet gives it more of an harsh look as appears almost scared. This helps contribute tot the concept of the drug user trying to break through the sharp edged packaging to their some what cure.

When looking closely at the subjects you realize there's a unrealistic sense of proportion and relation; at first glance the whole combination in itself appears normal but actually the joining of both photographs is faded as it blends into one another so in stead of being one in front of the other the photographs are actually joining. The darker peg in the middle indicates that the its hanging behind the photo to the right however the line its hanging on strings in front of the left photograph when you get a sense of this you then understand the bizarre complex appearance of the shot.

You almost get a sense of waves through the centre of the subject as the packets branch out of their container; this particularly is just about feasible however very faint as the darker shot is in attention. The faintly faded packet at the bottom of the shot fades into the distance; underneath the main packet in the shot. The combination of the shots almost appear realistic as one photograph – the faded packets only differentiate in terms of translucency and definition.

Artist Analysis

An idea I didn’t really explore in the topic of drugs was including humans; though I did try to incorporate the idea of the drugs users perception of different shots and arrangements of drugs. This particular shot taken by Becky Hitchman I feel focuses on a drug users addiction to drugs as her mouth full of tablets is the subject of the photograph, her appearance almost seems completely oblivious as we cannot see her eyes discarding a whole sense of identity. One of the tablets in her mouth are almost falling out; her mouth Is pretty full to an extent she could possibly chock and this addiction becomes a somewhat form of disorder. However contrastingly to my explanation the shot is titled relief portraying some kind of necessity for this over dose. Looking at the feature in the shot there appears to be no sign of struggle or extreme form of emotion she just seems almost too patient, interestingly I’ve presumed the person in the shot is a she this Is probably due to the shape of her lips and face. Her lips seem a bit more feminine as the upper lip is more archly shaped. Her chin is a lot smaller than the average persons; a masculine chin is normally either wider or rounded.