Kalliope Amorphous

Kalliope Amorphous is a photographer that experiments with lighting and the use of partially or completely blocking the lens when releasing the shutter in order to distort the image. All her image are self portraits and encompass a range of techniques in order to project her idea.

1. Glass Houses

"Exploring the malleability of identity through the use of flexible mirrors."

In this set, Kalliope Amorphous has produced a range of self-portraits that show her as completely different personalities. Whilst we know they are the same person the use of the mirror helps us to associate the ideology of how easy it is for us to transform ourselves into someone else through means of distortion and fragmentation.

Amorphous doesn't make it a secret that it's a false idea. In some frames she touches the mirror which allows us to look upon the restraints of our gullibility. I like the use of colour as it adds to the day-dreamy, hazy effect that is given, however I think it would be interesting to experiment with the use of black and white because it can draw more attention to what is happening in the image. I think that this idea would work well in reference to the mental illness Body Dismorphia. 

2. Natsukashii

"These image visually explore the themes of hope, loss, regret, love and the sometimes romanticised reflections of pivotal life experiences."

For these self-portraits, Amorphous placed herself between frosted glass and other sheer material in order to blur the face and other features. What I find most interesting is the way this has created a hazy effect, transforming it into something that could relate back to my project. These images have a sense of relation to dream states and surrealism which is why I think they will work well in reference to my work. I would like to experiment with this way of production, particularly in order to portray that depersonalised mental disorder

"White several of the images have had mirroring effects added in post-production, the majority of the effects were created through the use of long exposures and a muted stroboscopic technique to create motion and doubling of the figure."

3. Saint Celluloid

"The effects for this series were created by making several short moving portraits on video which were then looped on a movie screen. The screen was then covered with sheer veils which were manipulated at the moving portraits were captured in long exposures."

This is an effect that I would never have thought of, the idea of layering and having a lot of time and hard graft to get one image is very appealing and the outcome is very interesting. However it is very reminiscent of an out of focus long exposure and stroboscopic effect. I would like to experiment with this technique and if time permits do the entire thing so that I can see the difference in one of my own images. Again it will also work well within my theme. 

Kalliope Amorphous is a favourite photographer of mine and I know her works quite well. However I think it was important for me to visit her photography with a theoretical mind for this project because it has helped me to think about the process of taking the photograph as I have overlooked that before. Kalliope's images are reminiscent of the process which is why I think they are so encapsulating and unlike anything i've seen before. Therefore I will plan to experiment with materials, movement and lighting in order to see produce an outcome different to what I may have produced before.