Developing my Ideas:

As i have said in my previous post, i have expanded my original idea of ageing through portraits to pictures that suggest ageing etc ie; hands, eyes, wrinkles. However, i wanted to take the idea further and find an idea that would capture all of these things and have more power and interest to it. Therefore, i began to think of who i knew that had grubby, dirty, wrinkly hands because of their working condition/environment. I felt if i could find this, it would help me find a new path for my project.

• Builders- Worn, dirty, rugged hands. Also many builders enjoy and do smoke which would enhance the whole appeal of a close up of the hand.
• Artists- Paint stained, lead smudged hands and overalls that contrast dramatically with the elegance and beauty of their work. Holding a paint brush etc.
• Jewellers- This was my favourite out of all the ideas. When we think of jewellery, we think of elegance, style, sophistication, clean cut, sparkling etc, however, i want to portray the hard work and 'cost' of providing this sophisticated living. I have a very close family connection to a small jewellery workshop in London and i feel this could be a great place for me to capture my ideas.

Below are a few pictures i have found on the Internet that relate to the above ideas;

Also it is not the best photo, i am attracted and do like this idea as it incorporates both the paint covered hands idea with the contrast of ageing of my first idea. The indelicacy and naive way the hand on the left is holding the brush automatically suggest that is a young child, which thinks to my idea of an 'suggestive' image rather than a portrait that puts it on a plate for the viewer.

Just a simple but effective photo due to the pose and grey scale colour scheme. I feel being in grey scale it places emphasis on the wrinkles and the dirtiness/grubbiness of this (what i presume) is a males hand.

This is one of the favourite shots i found as it is exactly what i was imagining in my head whilst thinking of this idea. I also like the quite powerful use of natural light coming from the side as it creates a contrast and emphasis between the paleness of his hands and the brightness of the paint. The light also adds a dramatic, eye catching sense to the image.



This photo captures all my ideas of a jeweller. The ruggedness of the worn, wooden bench, the copper and rough, dirty look of the jeweller's hands. However, in contrast to all of the this the delicacy and attention to detail that is suggested through the position of the hands also attracts me and works well with my idea of this physical, hard working 'cost'.