Reflection (700+ words).

My aim throughout this project was to shoot images of human oddities in an outsider perspective. I took this role by using methods of objectification, I placed the 'Freaks' in the fashion industry so that we as an audience look at them as entertainment, not individuals with personalities and feelings.

After reading the text I was drawn to the idea of this 'Outsider' Position and the work of Diane Arbus. An outsider was supposedly a person who only receive things as they visual saw them and so this position normally used forms of alienation, isolation and used techniques to distanced their subjects from the social norm. I found this position particularly intriguing due to having studied sociology in the past having strong knowledge on how alienation and isolation can physically effect a person. Despite having this knowledge, what I really found interesting and why I did decided to follow this path was how objectification and alienation can occur in the photographic world. Having researched into Diane Arbus' work and the idea of a 'Freak' I decided to extend my knowledge by looking into other sources that referenced the term 'Freak'. For inspiration I looked at the Television series American Horror story Freak show as the series was based on the objectification of circus 'Freaks' this was both physically through how the rest of society in the series such as police officers alienate and label the 'Freaks' and also through the context of the program itself and the ethical issues surrounding it. Looking into both sides of objectification in the series I have felt has really benefitted my ideas as a photographer and set me on a good ground for the start of my project. I do feel that the program was the original inspiration for my idea of the circus names which I gave to all of my images. I came up with this idea to increase the knowledge of my work being based on an outside view and objectification, this idea originated from the programs hidden forms of objectification such as its name, 'Freak show', its referring to the human oddities as freaks rather than actual human with though and emotions. Looking into sources like this also helped me learn about passive reactions and how to reject the sympathy associated with people with disabilities.

One other source which I felt had left a very beneficial mark on my work was looking into the fashion industry and how objectification is highly ignored in the industry. I researched into how the fashion industry objectifies women as items of sex, to do this I looked into the brand American Apparel and their advertisement images. The fashion industry often utilises women's bodies in sexual representation and so will produce images for advertisement that do not represent themselves as a brand but instead of a sexual desire.

When I looked into American apparel I found that it is a brand that mainly appeals to women and despite that advertisement is produces is essentially pornographer and in my opinion gives a negative representation of women, it has not caused any controversy or extreme feminist views, it has been ignored as sexual imagery in replace for this 'Fashion' label. We are oblivious to it due objectification due to the argument that 'It is fashion', therefore we will continue to look at it with a blind eye. Researching into the fashion industry has had a heavy influence on my work and the way my work visual looks. Due to wanting to pursue a link with fashion to create a passive response, I had to look into styling my photographs from portraits into fashion images. This was when I decided to create the minimalistic link between all my images making them a complete series. Overall I am very pleased with how this went as not having tried fashion photography in the past, learning about hair and make up design and model management has in my opinion made me a stronger and more confident photographer and I am very pleased with my new skills. I do feel that the skills I have learnt from being a fashion photographer will effect the way i look into my future work, having the ability to work with models and stylize my images means that no matter what the subject of the image I am taking I will be able to personally chorography raw materials in order to bring my photograph to life.

For my final image I decided to go for a more modern take for the idea of a 'Freak'. In the begin stage of the project I looked into body modification and how it is becoming more common in our society today and also how society due to human rights wouldn't look at a person with a disability as a 'freak' anymore.Being 'Different' in modern society is looked up to, people don't want to look or appear boring therefore many people are finding alternative ways of alternating their bodies. I used this idea for the base of my final image. I looked at how a traditional 'Freak' may not be considered a 'Freak' but someone who has completely tempered with their body may be considered one. I do believe that this image was a good final point to my project as It ended at the point in society that we live in currently. Overall I am very happy with how my project went, mainly due to the response my work collected through group crits sessions and through friends and graphic designers, photographers, and video editors who are work colleagues of mine. I do believe that scouting out a response has helped me understand that I have achieved my initial idea.