Final Pieces.

Below, I have selected 12 photographs that will represent the novel 'The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer' as part of my final piece. Each photograph has been cropped square for consistency. Under each selected photograph, I have explained why I have chosen that specific photograph for my final piece and how it reflects the narrative of the novel.

Now that I have selected these, I can now experiment with my presentation and dimensions.

This photograph was chosen under the topic concerning the abandoned building. Essentially, this is the first composition of the story that I am portraying.
-The abandoned building represents the first time we encounter Mara and her friends. The building, then plays a huge role within the rest of the novel due to the accident of the building collapsing, leaving Mara, as the only survivor. Objectively, this photograph shows myself, as Mara, approaching an abandoned building. Subjectively, my aim was to portray the confusion and desperation that Mara encounters throughout the novel to remember that night. The roughness of the building creates a disturbing and distressed look, reflecting the emotion that Mara is feeling. Objectively, there is negative space around the subject, this makes me, as the model, to appear smaller. Subjectively, this reflects the feeling of isolation, as Mara is now exploring this by herself.
-This photograph has elements from my chosen photographers, Shaden and McKenney. The location chosen, is similar to the locations of both photographers. This composition, reminds me of my responses to the photographer McKenney due to the background and de saturation. Also, you can't see my face, which seems to be a theme that has occured in all 3 of my chosen photographers. This ambiguity relates to Mara deciding between what is real and what isn't.

The next photograph that I have chosen, is the second from the topic concerning the abandoned building. Objectively, this composition is different to the other selected photograph for this topic. I have cropped the image to create the rule of 2/3rds. I am present within the composition to the left side, with a section of the abandoned building within the negative space. Subjectively, my aims were the same as the previous photograph, yet can portray a different aspect of the storyline. Objectively, I appear to be glancing around the corner of the abandoned building. Subjectively, my body language appears hesitant, therefore reflects Mara's vulnerability of her current condition.
Comparing both of the photographs in the same topic, the dress I have chosen to wear throughout this project represents purity and innocence. This then becomes a contrast with the location of the building. There is clear destruction within the background, which subjectively represents the mind of Mara herself. It also could represent the fact that, at the beginning of the novel, Mara feels she is a normal and innocent girl, yet there is more destruction to come.
-Similar to the previous photograph, this chosen photograph was influenced originally by my chosen photographers, Shaden and McKenney. The location and ambiguity play a big part within my whole project, as well as location. The location of my photographs helps tell the story from start to finish due to the scenes I picked out in my initial planning. 

My next chosen photograph, comes from my developmental work. This appears under the scene where Mara is hallucinating over some water. Objectively, this still photograph, shows a close up of my hand placed delicately over the lake. This represents Mara searching for something that is not there. Subjectively, the hand being pale and delicate also reflects the innocence of Mara herself. It describes her as someone who did not ask for this to happen to her, therefore, she is taking each day as it comes, exploring this sensation every time it happens to her. Objectively, the reflection in the water creates the illusion that she has discovered something in the lake. Subjectively, it can compare to the hallucination to the reality.
- This next photograph, was inspired by the photographer Lissy Elle Larrichia. Her still life photographs, influenced me to take a selection that didn't include the movement, from my first experiments. This gives me a variety within my final piece, creating a more interesting composition.

This next photograph, is also from the scene in the lake. Comparing this to the other photograph from the same topic,  the composition creates a more dramatic aspect. Subjectively, it reflects the second part to the 'calm before the storm.' Objectively, my whole body is central to the composition. There are clear ripples, upsetting the calmness of the lake. My head has been thrown back, and my arms are limp beside my body. Subjectively, this creates a distressing feel. The contrast that is present within the composition, aids the dramatic effect. As I have enhanced the contrast and destaurated the photograph, the darker areas within the photograph are highlighted. Subjectively, there is a feeling of empowerment. Along with my body language, the camera angle is looking slightly up at me, mimicking my position. This reflects Mara's power and her realisation of this power.
-This photograph, also, was inspired by the photographer, Larrichia. The still life/close up compositions, help reflect Mara's contrast, between her hallucinations and everyday life. Subjectively, it creates a confusion to the audience, as, like Mara, you begin to question what is real and what is not.

My next chosen photograph was chosen under the topic with the mirror. Objectively, the mirror is the main subject to this composition. I chose this photograph due to it's ambiguity. The dress that I have been wearing throughout this project, has been a distinct and important factor that links everything together. This photograph represents this element, without having to see my face and expression. This composition, was taken from above eye level creating the cut off from my hips. The lighting used has created a shadowing effect on the dress and the wind has blown the dress slightly right of the composition, balancing out the proportion. Subjectively, the dress is creating an elegant and delicate feel. Comparing to the quotation that this photograph is based on, it speaks of 'clutching a broken mirror in my bloody hand.' This photograph is the complete opposite, creating a contrast. Subjectively, the negative space and deserted area behind me creates an empty atmosphere. This then focuses on Mara's emotions and how she has lost all of her friends, linking to the loneliness she would have experienced by moving house and starting a new school whilst suffering with these hallucinations.
 - Relating this back to my earlier experimentation, this is very similar to the work of Laura Williams, and I feel the meanings behind both her photographs and this one are very similar.

This photograph, was taken from my extended shoot which related to a photographer I researched on flickr, Bobbi Fox.  I did not capture this photograph using inspiration from quotes from the book, however, I felt that this was a successful shoot, as it related to the narrative of my project.
Relating this to my project, it can represent Mara encountering a hallucination. Subjectively, the light that I am holding, represents the source ( the hallucination). Objectively, I am looking towards the light, my body turned to face it as if I am longing for the light. This then, represents Mara's focus and mind set when she is hallucinating. Subjectively, I appear to be determined and intrigued by this light. The wind, in which is blowing my hair, creates the effect of the light being the power source. 

This is the second photograph from the light shoot. Objectively, I am central to the composition. The light is held out infront of me and I am standing facing the camera straight on. Subjectively, as I am looking directly into the camera, the light reflects up onto my face, creating a haunted and mysterious effect. This also represents Mara's focus on these hallucinations. Furthermore, it can portray the light as an overwhelming power. The seriousness of my expression, shows the concern of Mara and the light to be uncontrollable.

This next chosen piece, was taken from the graveyard scene. This photograph comes from the beginning of the novel. This composition contains the movement that I had learned in my early experiments. Objectively, I am central to the composition. I am centred in the middle of a path within the graveyard. There are gravestones either side. The composition contains leading lines. This photograph, essentially represents Mara's upset and confusion at realising her friends are dead. It also relates to the fact she can't remember what had happened, due to the accident upsetting her memory. The slow shutter speed that I have used, captured my movement as I was running along the path. Objectively, my face within the composition is in focus, compared to my body which shows the movement. Subjectively, this creates a paranormal feel. This could also portray the fact Mara is alive. Subjectively, the ghostlike effect represents the dead, therefore comparing her being alive to her friends who died. Within the storyline, Mara is confused as to why she did not die. This photograph can then represent her confusion between life and death.
-This photograph, was inspired by the photographer Shaden. For this composition, I incorporated the movement that Shaden uses in her photographs. 

This next chosen photograph, is another from the topic concerning the abandoned building. Objectively, this photograph is taken from afar. I appear in the composition to the right, creating the element of 2/3rds. There is negative space behind me as I am walking off the composition. The negative space within the composition shows a wall with graffiti on it. This reflects the modernism of the book, as I wanted to portray the novel as it were in the modern era. Subjectively, as the graffiti appears taller that me on the wall, it is overshadowing me as the subject. This can then reflect everything that has happened to Mara, to be too big for her to cope with. It also portrays her mental state, in that she feels lost and unable to cope with the massive challenge that is ahead of her. Objectively, I am looking off into the distance, as if searching for something. This is portraying Mara searching for answers to what happened that initial night at the abandoned building.
-This photograph, was influenced by the photographers, Shaden and McKenney. Again, with the other abandoned building photographs that I have chosen, the location was an important aspect in telling the story of Mara. This particular location, relates to the photographers, in that the composition is reflective of isolation and emptiness.

This photograph has been chosen to reflect Mara searching for a remedy/solution to discover her problem. Compared to the previous photograph, this, objectively, is a close up of me. This creates a wide variety of different view points within the whole of my project.
Objectively, I am gripping the jar up close to my face, and I am crouched down on the floor. I am looking directly at the camera. Subjectively, my gaze into the camera creates an intense mood to the photograph. It shows the desperation that Mara has in finding this solution which will make her remember, as she has had enough of her various hallucinations. The location, being in the woods, was used to create a link with all the photographs. It enhances the rawness of the novel and the subject matter.
-This photograph, was inspired by the photographer Larrichia. This, is another chosen photograph, which includes a more close up composition, with still life. This also creates the variety of different styles of photographs within my final piece to enhance the disjointed storyline. 

This was another photograph that contained the movement. This photograph was taken using the quote from the book that contains Mara occurring another hallucination. It stated that she had seen her ex boyfriend who died in the abandoned building, and that she was running away as she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Objectively, I am central to the composition. My body is facing away from the camera, yet my face is turned towards the camera. Subjectively, the movement enhances the desperation of Mara trying to get away from the situation. As my face is turned towards the camera, it portrays Mara looking back at her ex boyfriend, almost to portray the uncertainty of her hallucinations. Is it real or not?
-This photograph, was inspired by the photographer Shaden. I have taken the movement from Shaden and incorporated it within my photographs to enhance the desperation that I wanted to create within this composition. 

This last chosen photograph for my final piece, is also taken from  the shoot for the abandoned building. Objectively, I am lying on the floor, and the point of view is from behind and slightly above, looking down onto me. I am surrounded by broken glass on the floor where I am laying. Subjectively, this represents Mara not being able to cope with her hallucinations and her realisation of the deaths that occur. It could specifically only relate to the beginning of the novel, in that it is the realisation that she occurred the destruction of the night in the abandoned building, therefore Mara finding out she killed her friends accidentally. Yet, it could represent the novel as a whole, linking in all of the hallucinations together, to portray her mental wellbeing. Essentially, this photograph, is a clear indication that Mara struggles to cope with this realisation, resulting in her breaking down.
-This photograph, was inspired by the photographers McKenney and Larrichia. This includes the still life and the camera angle taken from Larrichia. The location, again, was taken from McKenney. 

Upon choosing my final 12 pieces, I then needed to create an order for them to go in. As they are part of a novel, I wanted them to tell the story, however, I realised that the whole narrative of the novel was confusion and disjointed- with things that don't add up. I then set out my chosen photographs in a random order, trying to separate the sections from each other.
1) It starts with the light, representing the darkness and realisation of what is to come.
2&3) Abandoned building- reflecting the start, where the story began.
4) Graveyard- The aftermath of what happened in the abandoned building.
5) Abandoned building- representing the memory coming back to Mara.
6) The lake- A specific hallucination experience that Mara encounters in the middle of the book.
7) The Jars- Representing Mara wanting to find a solution to her problem.
8) The lake- Recollection of the event previous.
9) Running- Another specific hallucination of Mara seeing her dead friends.
10) The mirror- reflecting the emotions of Mara.
11) Abandoned building- reflecting back to where it all began- portraying destruction.
12) The light- Ends with the light- portraying the power of her skill. 

Using my sketch from my initial presentation ideas, I experimented with the sizes that I wanted to make my photographs. They vary from A5-A3. I wanted to dramatically vary the sizes to enhance the broken and uneven theme that has ran through the storyline of the novel. Above, I have placed them in the order that I originally decided and was quite happy with the results in how it looks placed together. As I will have frames, the photographs will naturally be spread out a little more.