Project completed. Although I haven't managed to create anything from the photos (was up all nite trying to make the book but it just wasnt working) I think the photos stand on their own. I can say that for once the images have turned out as I wanted them to, working stylistically as well as being drenched in symbolic meaning. I beleive I have communicated the narrative well and produced some interesting shots. Now that I have experimented with photography I definaltely shall be continuing with it in the future...

Final Photographs : Gallery

* Please double click pictures to open in a new window and enlarge for best quality

The three stages are represented through past, present and future. The first stage denotes her innocence and naiveness through her bridal veil. The second stage shows her tangled in mauli thread (traditionally symbollic as the western engagement ring, also seen as a form of protection) as she explores within its binding knots. The final stage shows her collapsed, as if she has been forced down, over a pot of spilt rice (an Indian bride kicks over a cup of rice as she enters her new home to bring luck and prosperity).

In Indian culture the lotus is seen as the ultimate symbol of purity. It is important to recognise the traditional symbollic meanings of an Indian wedding in order to understand the irony within the photographs.

This image juxtaposes the bride and her ties with her new husband and family. Her helpless posture in the first shot is seen as she is tightly binded into the marriage; with no concept of life beyond. The second shows her as an almost sinister character, clutching the mauli thread with a threatening fist and a stern expression as if she's about to speak.

The image of Shiva is encaptured in this photograph where all thre stages of the womans life is expressed through her seven arms, (the seven steps in the Hindu tradition symbolise the seven lives or janamas that the scriptures decree exist for a human).

Further images from the shoot...

I've been working on the photos all day today - but it's going surprisingly slow.. I checked some of the 'best' blogs out and found them interesting - looking at mine I realised I haven't been explaining the thinking and concept of what I'm actually doing like the others have...Maybe I'll post the final images up along with an explaination once everything is finished. In brief I am exploring the role of the Indian woman as a bride - looking back at the issues that were topical during the migration periods of the 60's and 70's. Some might think that the issues I'm raising - that are still relevent in todays society - portray the Indian culture in a bad light but I'm really not...you need to see the pictures to understand.

WOOHOO! The photo shoot has been done, and I got to say I am quite pleased with the results! I was really nervous at first because I haven't done anything like this before and kept worrying that it'll end up being rubbish! True it's not exactly how I'd like it, and there are quite a few dodgy errors but overall I feel the shots accomplish what I had set out to do. Thanks a lot to my assistants - Mary, Asya and model Melissa and of course Alex, the photographer I collaborated with!! Right now I'm deciding what to do with the photos. There's a lot of retouching to still do in Photoshop which I shall be working on in the next few days.... I am also considering words to go with the shoot, something that will help generate the narrative without being too descriptive....but I'll see once I have finalised and selected the images.

This shoot is turning out to be more expensive than i expected grrr. Yesterday I went to Southall to purchase some wedding ornaments that will help communicate the narrative within the photograph. Today I finally managed to find a lotus flower - and it was on sale too, woohoo! In terms of organisation I think I am on track, it's been really easy to keep in touch with my assistants via email, letting them know the schedule and any changes etc. I want everything to go smoothly on Monday as I will be unable to book out the studio again in time for the deadline so the best thing for me to do right now is make a plan of all the shots and looks that shall be composed. I am also considering putting a small 'portfolio' together of the fashion story providing I have enough good photos. At the moment I am seeing the shoot as one final image composed of three - however I think it's best to consider the final outcome after the shoot.

Yesterday I had to rearrange the shoot as the model (Meilissa) had an urgent doctors appointment to attend to on Thursday. The schedule is now for Monday morning. The initial test shots identified some key errors with the styling which were refined in today's test shot. The styling was also refined closer to what it will look like - Mary done a great job on the make-up. The clothes have been made from genuine Indian attire from the 70's, but had been updated so as to reference the decade in the narrative. Within a fashion story it is important to visually communicate as much as you can without being too literal, otherwise the meaning loses its depth. So far I am on track, In a way I'm glad the shoot got put back as this gives me extra time to improve the narrative and styling of the story. Where can I get a lotus flower from?

Symbolism in the Indian wedding attire...

In different parts of India, brides wear different kinds of clothes, ornaments, and adornments. The bride's clothes are usually typical of the area. A Rajasthani bride would wear a lehenga, a Punjabi bride would wear a salwar-kameez, and a Maharashtrian bride would wear a nine-yard saree. Most brides wear saris nowadays, usually in shades of red, pink or mustard. A bride sports as much traditional jewelry as her family can muster, for today, she is incarnate, harbinger of prosperity to her new home. Like her clothes, the bride's ornaments also differ according to local tradition. However, necklaces, earrings, bangles, rings, a nose-ring, anklets, and toe-rings are worn by most brides. Ornaments like armlets, tikas, hathaphula, and waistbands, traditionally important, are optional today and not worn in all areas. Traditionally, the bride was adorned with natural beauty aids. For example, a paste of henna was put over her nails, which stained them red. Her eyes were lined with kajal and scented water was sprinkled on her. Today, however, most brides, both in the urban and rural areas, use branded cosmetics and perfumes. In south India, flowers were, and remain, an important adornment, while the north is now beginning to rediscover this pretty custom.
Bindi is derived from the Sanskrit word "Bindu" or a drop, it is supposed to signify the mystic third eye of a person and therefore, when properly marked, becomes the central point of the base of the creation itself. It is a symbol of auspiciousness, good fortune and festivity.Bindi, which is often described as Sindhura or Tilaka means red, and Gandha which is also a term for Tilaka means pleasant odour. The colour red is significant. Red represents Shakti (strength). The red colour, some believe, symbolizes the far more ancient practice of offering blood sacrifices to propitiate the Gods - particularly the Goddess Shakti. In time, communities put an end to actual sacrifices and offered gifts instead, but the colour red remained. Red, it is believed, symbolizes love. The yellow of the turmeric has the power to influence the intellect. That is why the red kumkum and the yellow turmeric are placed side by side in temples or in any homes during a celebration. Both are offered to women at the time of leave-taking in certain parts of the country. This is to express goodwill and the hosts' prayers for the visitors' continued good fortune.
The mauli (red thread) is also tied around the bride-to- be's wrist as a form of protection to her. When the tradition first started, the mauli was used instead of engagement rings. The number of knots tied, represented the number of days remaining before the wedding.
Upon completion of the choora ceremeony, the Mama is expected to sip the milk in which the bangles were dipped; symbolic of his good wishes to his niece. At the conclusion of this ceremony, the bride is fed a Chhuhara (dry date). Unwed girls are asked (often by their eager mothers) to bite the same Chhuhara hoping that the brides bliss will rub off on the single girls and they too will be married soon.

http://www.guybourdin.org
http://http://www.stevenkleinstudio.com/v2.html

Following the 1960’s Britain became the place for many Indians to seek their fortune. These were new times were things were different and ever changing. Many Indians experienced a whole new way of life that challenged their traditional upbringings and beliefs.
The fragile role of the working-class woman within traditional Indian culture was predominantly based around her marriage. As a child of innocence she was a burden on her parent’s who considered her as having no value to the extension of the family, and to carry the hefty price of a dowry for her secured future. After this first stage came the actual marriage, a contract in itself where many times the Bride had never even met her husband to be, knowing nothing in the world but to be a dedicated housewife for him. However, this was the normal way of life, and so in most cases the bride would not have any objections or reason to lead a different life. The third stage followed the bride adapting to her new family and carrying out her maternal duties.
During the migration period many Indian woman were exposed to a new western lifestyle where there was a strong focus on free speech and where morals seemed less important than they were back home. They started to question their roles as a mere bride and wife, much provoking abuse from their husbands and disrepute from traditionalists. Confrontations with their new families, though small, soon broke the cycle and made way for the independence we see in today’s third generation Indians.
The story does not end here. The East meets West is still the main cause of problems within Indian society. This is just one example still evident in today’s modern world as the Indian culture continues to evolve and adapt...for the better? Who knows?

After researching on the whole confessions idea I found out it had already been done - and it had been done very well. There would have been no point in me continuing it. Much to Pete's delight I changed my idea again (twice now) and I shall now be concentrating on something I've always wanted to experiment with, fashion photography. I have been thinking about my concept for a very long time now. Peer assessment today went okay, however I do still feel some of us could pay more attention to eachother to give constructive advice. Perhaps I shall bring this up next time. Today me and some other group members done some tests to experiment with the styling. To be honest, it went really bad - it looked very amateurish ...However I am glad I did it since I can hopefully learn from it, and I think its best to do another final test on Wednesday before the final shoot on Thursday. I didn't realise just how much preperation goes into a shoot - you have to be extremely well organised. I am having doubts about Thursday now - I really hope it works because what I'm picturing in my head is amazing- but what if it all goes wrong again?