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Of the photos I took over the course of this assignment, this is the photo I chose to upload to Instagram.
The reason I chose to upload this image is because the context of which it is now perceived being different to that of the original, therefore defining appropriation. The original photo was used in a ‘Topman’ display and was therefore designed with a purpose to sell the clothes in which the models are wearing. However, when cropped to remove the ‘Topman’ logo, the context of the photo has been changed entirely (with less focus on the clothes) and therefore leaves the audience bearing questions because of this. Also, with the filter in which I have placed on the photo, the focus is less on the clothes and more on the individuals wearing them, therefore giving them a more of an identity as opposed to its specific purpose, especially with the slight shine on the right model’s face. This was interesting for me as I wanted to take a mundane advert in which people see on a regular basis, and slightly switch the perspective in order to portray a different message and change the context of the photo – something I believe I have successfully done with a lack of emphasis on the clothes and more on the people wearing them.
I found this photo interesting because, due to its tight cropping, the audience have to infer its message and context.
As well as this, the eye can be associated as a way of seeing a person’s identity and therefore the clear focus of the eye in this photo is important in not only decoding the photo in terms of context, but also giving the audience insight into the subject’s personality. In a similar way to my photo, this photo diverts the audiences’ attention away from materialism, for example, and puts a heavy focus on personality and identity – something of which I find very interesting. It can be inferred that such a photo came from an advert, due to its clarity of image and focus on one specific person, and could be associated with such brands as ‘Specsavers’ because of the focus on the eye, potentially promoting clarity of sight. However, once removed, this photo focuses on the individual identity of the subject in the frame as it has been stripped of any commercial persuasion, and instead the photographer has focused more vividly on the person’s identity over anything else.
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