Two contrasting photos.

Torii, Study 1, Takaishima, Biwa Lake, Honshu, Japan. 2002

This photo was taken by photographer Michael Kenna an English photographer that mainly focuses on landscapes in black and white, his portfolio {http://www.michaelkenna.net/imagearchive.php}  is enchanting as he has captured  many beautiful shots from all over the world. I love the simplicity of his photos and he  is known to use dawn and dusk lighting and long exposures to get these shots. In the photo is a Torii- a Torii is a Japanese gate that symbolises the entrance or within a Shinto shrine (place of god) this Torii stands in lake Biwa across from the shrine. 

Kabukicho, Study 3, Tokyo, Japan, 2010

This photo was took by Martin Stavars who is a polish photographer that specialises in cityscapes and night photography in black and white {http://www.martinstavars.com/portfolio/ } .This photo was taken in Kabukicho which is a red light district in Tokyo where there are many nightclubs and  "love hotels" as well as being known as the "town that never sleeps" As well as having a high crime rating as there is large number of Yakuza which are " transnational organized crime syndicates" {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza}  that are known for  drugs and trafficking. 

When i found these two photos i immediately saw the difference in  as the first picture is very minimalistic and tranquil making the audience only look at  the Torii as its the centre of attention where the second photo has a lot going on as there are billboard with lights and a sense of energy as the photographer used a slower shutter speed  to capture the movement of people.The after researching the location of these shoots i saw even more of a contrast as Kenna's photo is taken in a traditional Buddhist shrine in the middle of a lake  where as Stavars photo is taken in a red light district in the capital city so obviously there is a huge contrast in environment in these two photos. 

For my collection i wanted to create one outfit  stylized minimalistic and taking in elements of traditional Japanese garments like Kimonos then another outfit  being more modern and energetic with a lot going on and out there .Then the final outfit taking elements of both. 

FMP Proposal

Proposal

My theme for my collection is contrast as for my final major project I intend to create my collection inspired from two pictures showing a contrast in Japanese culture as one shoes a minimalistic tranquil Japanese scenery and another photo is of a busy energetic street in Tokyo, my plan is to create one garment minimalistic and another maximalist then the final one will be taking elements from both pictures. I had many reasons why I chose this theme as I have always took an interest in other cultures especially Japanese as I have seen many designers taking element from traditional Japanese style like kimonos and Geisha’s and using them in their designs. Having an interesting in black and white photography also helped me come up with this theme as I always have been drawn to the contrast between minimalistic and maximalist photography and what the photographer is trying to express with these styles. I had previously did research on the photographer that took the minimalistic photo as I thought the photos were simplistic but highlighted key items that the photographer found interesting. So for primary and secondary research I'm going to research photographers and as well as taking my own photos that shows an element of contrast. Japanese pattern cutting has had an huge influence in the fashion industry as they have changed the way garments are put together as well many Japanese designers that have influenced my work like Issey Miyake, Comme de Garçons Rei Kawakubo’s and Yohj Yamamoto. For my collection I have ideas to use embroidery and origami, layering, draping, oversized clothing and taking ideas from the pattern magic book these are all things I will sample in when staring this project. I came up with these plans when i stared to collecting images I liked in a small sketch book.