Category

Fashion

Location

Arts university Bournemouth, Film studios

Gear

Mamiya Rz67, 110mm F2.8, kodak portra 400, Scanned with Sony A7R5, 105mm Sigma Art

Description

ARTIST STATEMENT: Nature Finds a Way is an editorial project that blurs the lines between the documentary, fashion, and fine art genres. The series depicts the ability we as human beings have to not only adapt to different environments but thrive while doing so. This idea is explored using the visual motif of flowers juxtaposed with people who travelled from all around the world to live in the United Kingdom in pursuit of a better life. Each subject is transformed into the national flower of their home country and then photographed in a landscape representing the United Kingdom, creating a tapestry of migrant voices. Pictured in the image is Chidera, originally from Nigeria where the Golden Trumpet is the national flower, the environment around her is West Pentire Poppy Fields. INTENTION: As a migrant myself, I created this project to shed light on the often overlooked aspects of migration, aiming to reveal not just the challenges, but also the profound transformation that comes with the journey. The images in this project are designed to be a visual companion to a collection of first-hand written accounts from real migrants of a specific country. I noticed that the narrative around migration often overemphasizes the highlights and successes, while not enough attention is given to the immense struggles each migrant faces. Migration involves an instantaneous shift in one’s entire world, and this project seeks to capture that reality. I want this work to be a raw, unfiltered documentation of migration in all its forms—whether it’s the experiences of asylum seekers or skilled workers, moments of beauty or terror. Through this project, I hope to present a more complete and honest portrayal of the migrant journey. TECHNIQUE: This image was shot in a studio set where the background of poppy fields was projected onto a screen. I was inspired by a recent innovation from the film industry called ‘The Volume’ where LED screens are used in place of compositing techniques, the visuals achieved in this image are 100% in camera. I didn’t have access to a volume space, so instead i turned to the tried and tested rear projection technique used in old Hollywood movies. Chidera was carefully positioned and lit in front of a screen made out of a specialised diffusion filter (Lee 252 1/8 white diffusion), an image was then projected onto the screen from the back of the studio, forming the background of the shot. The image was later developed in a Colenta c41 machine and later personally camera scanned and converted CAMERA SETTINGS on set - f5.6, 1/125s, Film speed ISO400 (Exposed at 200) Scanning - 1/6s, f11, ISO64

Photographer

Nicholas Teo

Social Media

Instagram: Nickneedstosleep

Website: Nickteo.photos

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