Phobia - A phobia (from the Greek: meaning "fear" or "morbid fear") is, when used in the context of clinical psychology, a type of anxiety disorder, usually defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational.
In the event the phobia cannot be avoided entirely the sufferer will endure the situation or object with marked distress and significant interference in social or occupational activities.
Project ideas and approaches
Conceptual portraits: Create images that personify a phobia. This can be done by having a model express fear or by using abstract elements to symbolize the feeling of anxiety, such as a person surrounded by a swarm of birds for an ornithophobia project, as seen in Ezo Renier's work.
Surreal and symbolic imagery: Use surreal compositions to make fear more "tolerable" or visually interesting. For example, a project could use symbolic props like a disfigured clown doll to represent coulrophobia (fear of clowns), or a burning door for the fear of fire, notes a Daily Bruin article.
Still life photography: Use still life elements to represent phobias without a human subject. For example, a project could use still life photos of funeral-related objects to represent necrophobia (fear of death) or cold objects to represent frigophobia (fear of cold), suggests a WordPress.com article.
Personal and introspective: Focus on the photographer's or friends' and family's own fears. This can lead to a more personal and meaningful project. For example, you could photograph your own fears or fears of people close to you and use text to add another layer of meaning, as in the Isabel Mendoza project.
Planning your project
Research: Research your chosen phobia(s) thoroughly. Understand what triggers it, its symptoms, and how it manifests, suggests stmphotography.ca.
Brainstorming: Before you start shooting, brainstorm ideas and create rough sketches of your shots. Consider elements like subject placement, lighting, background, props, and how they will contribute to the mood and narrative, says stmphotography.ca.
Technical considerations: Think about how to use technical elements like lighting to create a certain mood. You can use lighting to create a sense of unease, or use a specific lens to distort reality, creating a sense of claustrophobia or panic, says stmphotography.ca.
Execution: Execute your plan, but also allow for flexibility. Sometimes the best ideas emerge during the shooting process. Be prepared to adapt your plan as you go, notes stmphotography.ca.
Figure(s) & Object(s) (which should reveal something of the phobia in the photo)
Format: Horizontal
Subject Placement: Rule of Thirds
Background
Point of View
Lighting: create mood/feeling (if needed)
Clothing: can suggest personal style/career profession
Subject: mannerism, reactions, expressions and body language
You will end up with 1 final photo - 1 final poster per person
STEP ONE:
RESEARCH by completing the RESEARCHING PHOBIAS handout. (download here)
STEP TWO:
BRAINSTORM possible ideas for your Phobia photo.
REVIEW the above “things to consider” points before taking your phobia photographs
STEP THREE:
Create a rough sketch (landscape format) that shows - model placement interacting with phobia, type of shot you are using, backgrounds, props needed to be downloaded or brought in and any special effects you will be creating in PhotoShop.
Discuss with me your final ideas and how you will go about shooting them. Also if there are any photos you will need to download from the internet and how you would use them in your composition.
STEP FOUR:
GET APPROVAL and photograph your ideas based on your conceptual sketch(s).
In Photoshop make a new canvas 5.5" tall by 9" wide with a transparent background 300 pixels/inch.
As a class we will add a white border to your finished photo in Adobe Photoshop and put the name of the Phobia and description as depicted in the above examples.
STEP FIVE:
REFLECT by answering the following questions on your finished works:
What aspect of your finished works do you find most successful?
What aspect of your finished works do you find least successful and why?
If you had to complete this assignment again, what aspect would you change/improve on and why?