Video Analysis of Ellie Goulding

This screen shot is taken whilst the camera is zooming out and around the artist's face. This shows extreme detail on her face and shows the emotion in her eyes. The light is coming from the left of the frame meaning that the right side of the artist's face is we lit whilst the left side is darker due to less light. This light makes her seem angelic and innocent. A fan is being used to clear her hair away from her face. This adds more emphasis on her face. 

Indirect address is used in this frame which tells us she's not performing to us. She is located in a field, which has connotations of a calm, idyllic environment. This reflects the calm lyrics and the slow music. The artist is wearing white which connotes purity. The colours have been thought about carefully for this frame because the mise-en-scene without the artist would be very dull because of the colours in the background, but by placing the artist in white clothing it makes her stand out to us and also makes the frame more interesting. The rule of thirds is used in this frame. 

This screen shot is taken from a point of view shot. We can see a window frame around the edge which gives the effect that we are positioned watching the artist. The camera is positioned high up to make her appear very small standing alone in a field, and this can reflect on her feelings in the lyrics. This is another reason why she is wearing back and white - so that she stands out against the green of the field. 

Throughout the majority of this video, the camera cuts between the scene where the artist is standing in a field and this scene where she is placed in a studio setting. The light is very strong shining from behind the artist which makes her seem angelic and pure. This is also enhanced by the strong light outline around the artist's arms. She is singing to the camera in this shot which tells us that in the studio scene it's more like a performance compared the the location scenes. 

Just before we get half way through the video, a new scene is shown. This is a birds eye view shot taken to emphasise the size of the staircase. There are strong vectors running through this frame which guide our eyes around the staircase so that we follow the artist. Again, the white clothing stands out against the blue velvet material. At the bottom the the staircase we can see a light source which appears to be a door shining light through. Earlier on in the video the camera cuts to scenes of a lighthouse, and at this point in the video we find out the relevance of it as the artist walks up it. 

This shot ends the video and pulls together the two scenes of the lighthouse and the artist in a field. The rule of thirds is used to position the artist and also the lighthouse which tells us the position of the camera has been thought about carefully. The sun is setting behind the lighthouse telling us it's the end of the day which reflects the end of the video. The artist is using direct address which is very strong gaze as her body isn't facing us. The distance has been arranged well - the lighthouse and the sky in the background, the field in the mid-ground and the artist in the foreground. The colours in the background add a nice effect to the frame.

Video Analysis of Rebecca Ferguson

The video opens with this shot which subtly introduces the artist. She is positioned in the centre of the frame, and also central within the frame of the window. The whole video is shot in black and white which gives an old-fashioned and vintage feel to the song and the video. It's also a common theme used for more sensitive videos about love, and adds emphasis on the fact that the video isn't shooting reality. The artist is seen sitting alone in a coffee shop setting. This tells us she feels alone or is waiting on someone. The camera is positioned behind a wall which gives us the impression we are watching the artist from the camera's point of view, putting us in the same location as the artist. She is looking out the window like she is looking for love - this links in with the song lyrics. 

This shot uses the rule of thirds to frame the artist. A narrow depth of field is used to ensure the background has a soft focus while the artist int he foreground has a sharp focus. Indirect address is used for the majority of when the scene is shot, which is when the intrumental intro is played. She is looking down with no real expression on her face - this doesn't tell us much but does gives us the impression she is serious. The light in the background creates a soft, calm atmosphere because of the soft focus. A strong light is used to reveal everything in the frame clearly.

Because the video is shot in black and white, it makes the detail in the wood stand out much more. The pattern of the ups and downs in the wood could signify the ups and down of her relationship. Her hands are cupped around the coffee mug like she wants something to hold on to something in her life. But we could also see this as her trying to warm herself up - this could then give us an idea that the song will make us feel warm. The cup is in the centre of the frame which adds more emphasis on the fact that it is the focus of the frame.

The framing of this shot isn't straight which tells us a handheld camera has been used to create quite a non-professional look which challenges the conventions of perfect shots in music videos. The strength of colour in the clothing worn by the artist has been thought about because the contrast is very strong and stands out a lot against the flat grey background. The artist is singing to us using direct address which tells us it's like she is performing to us.

Throughout this video, the camera cuts to various scenes using unknown characters to represent the lyrics. The main representation and theme through the lyrics and the video is love, so scenes such as these are used to show everyone experiences it in different ways. The direct address used from the girl in this frame is strong because it appears as if she is talking to us through her expression telling us she agrees with the lyrics through the position she's in - hugging her boyfriend. In the second frame the scene is just filming a young boy laughing whilst he is running. It's a scene which lifts the audience's mood and represents a different kind of love to the love being represented in the above frame.

This screen shot is taken from over half way through the video and its the first part where we see the artist smiling. It also follows with the lyrics as the music picks up a bit at this part. The framing of the scene uses a narrow depth of field as the background is in a soft focus. She uses direct address as if the song is directed to us - the lyrics 'Nothing's real but love' is quite a confident opinionated statement. The setting is quite an urban location, with a block of flats and train line in the background. The train line could signify the escape of a relationship. The skyline in the distance is very faint due to the effect the fog has. This creates quite a dull atmosphere, but this is contrasted to the mid-ground and foreground where the artist is. This suggests everything is clear in her life but in the distance, everything isn't as clear as it seems.

Video Analysis of Lana Del Rey

This frame is strong in composition because it is symmetrical and set in a very extravagant location. This gives us an idea of the image of the artist and her music style. The deep red chairs in the foreground are evenly positioned. The location looks like a church because of the carved stonewalls surrounding the artist. We see two tigers sitting either side of the artist, which adds to the symmetry but also shocks the audience because tigers are seen as quite dangerous animals and they are positioned as if they are guarding the artist. This tells us she is quite fearless, but has protection. There is a large painting in the background on the wall which again creates quite a religious setting. 

This frame is again symmetrical as the camera has just moved towards the artist, almost like a zoom. Gold candle holders are seen in the background which again suggests the location is a church along with the paintings and carvings on the steps behind the artist. She is sitting on a dark blue – grey coloured chair which is quite tall and large which suggests her power and authority. She is wearing a long white dress which connotes purity and innocence. Also, her bright red lipstick stands out amongst the other colours in the frame because it contrasts well with the white dress as both are bright colours against a dull background. She is wearing a flowery hat on her head which tells us she is a girly girl and has connotations of love and romance.

This frame isn't lit very well and the only source of light is the lighter being used to light the cigarette. A shallow depth of field is used to put the focus on the person lighting the cigarette in the foreground whilst the background has a very soft focus. The fact that the man in the foreground (who is the artist's boyfriend in the video) is smoking as well as having tatoos covering his body creates a very specific image - stereotypically a rebellious character who is seen as 'indie'. The lack of lighting creates a mysterious and secretive effect. Also, fire which is essentially lighting up the frame, has strong connotations of death and anger - this links to the lyrics 'Born to die' and gives the audience the idea that something bad is going to happen in the video. We only see part of the man's face in this frame purposely so part of the artists clothing is seen in the background.

The artist is using indirect address which tells us the song isn't directed to us specifically. It could also signify that she is looking around for answers about her relationship. She is sitting on a very dull coloured chair but has patterns engraved into it which tells us it could be either centimental or represent the scars her partner has engraved on her. Her bright red lipstick has conntations of romance, but could also represent blood to fit the song title to do with death. The red contrasts well with the white dress which becomes a common theme thorughout the video.

The camera is shooting the artist laying in bed with a sad, depressed expression on her face. There are flowers surrounding her on the bed. These have connotations of her being quite feminine, but could also tell us that she has been given the flowers by her partner and put them next to her so she can look at them whilst laying on her bed as a reminder of him. She is wearing a white night dress which has strong connotations of purity and innocence which could give us the idea that she hasn't done anything wrong in the relationship. Only half of this particular frame is lit up, clearly showing us the artist. However, through this scene in the video there are strobe lights shining on the bed which is why part of this frame is black. Whilst the lights are strobing, the artist's partner appears and disappears along with the lights. This creates the effect of us being inside her head whilst she's thinking about whether she wants him or not.

From these screen shots we can see that most of the scenes are filmed at night time (apart from the scene where she is sitting in the church). This sets a mysterious atmosphere because of the dull lighting. In most of the videos I have analysed there have been shots where the camera is looking through a window to see the artist and this screen shot demonstrates that too. It makes us feel  as an audience like we have an exclusive look into the artist's life. In this frame there is condensation on the window which tells us it's a cold environment. She is seen touching the windowwhich gives us the impression she wants to escape and get away from her partner, and even get away from the whole relationship. This is reinforced by the expression on her face as she looks into the distance through the window.

Video Analysis of Paloma Faith

Here are some screen shots taken from Paloma Faith's music video for 'Picking Up The Pieces'.

This frame is interesting because the artist is placed in a car, showing loneliness and escape. The camera cuts back to the car scene every so often throughout the music video, and the artist is seen just sitting in the car singing. Shooting through the window from outside creates emphasis on the isolation and gives us a sense of looking into her life. She puts a lot of emotion into her performance and directs it at the man. We know this because as he gets out of the car she watches him walk away.  We can see a slight reflection in the window, which makes us feel like we are looking into the artists life and doesn't fit the ‘perfect and precise editing’ technique most music videos use.

I like this frame because it is symmetrical. The building in the background is quite posh and looks very upper class, like a stately home. The fact that the artist is sitting outside of the building tells us she is alone (and this links in with the lyrics), but also has connotations that she has been chucked out of a house. Her clothing is very sophisticated and fits her image as an artist. Her body posture is straight and very close together which tells us she is contempt with herself. Also, the lighting is very dull along with the colours used, whereas her clothing and her hair colour make her stand out against the background and the rest of the frame.

The artist is using indirect address and looking down which tells us she is upset. The rule of thirds is used for this camera shot, and the camera pans around the artist. Again, the lighting is very dull and it doesn't appear that much artificial light has been used. This tells us they wanted to create a dull and depressing atmosphere because it reflects the lyrics of the song, telling us she feels like second best to her partner after his previous relationship. There are smoke canons in the background either side of the building which also adds to the dull and mysterious effect. In the majority of scenes where she is wearing this outfit she is singing both to the camera but also just performing like she is alone and expressing her feelings.

This is a close up of the side of the artist’s face. It is quite a strong frame because she is looking forward, but with no expression. This shows her unhappiness and how she is just following her partner around. The light coming from behind the artist’s face creates a very clear outline around her face against the light. This gives an interesting effect. She is wearing bright red lipstick which connotes love and romance, which contrasts with the black earrings which connote death and unhappiness. Her face is very sharp and looks as if it has been photo-shopped to create perfect skin and make up.

This frame uses the rule of thirds arrangement. The line of trees in the background creates vectors which create the effect of a vanishing point. The flowers in the foreground are central and the leaves are falling off the trees suggesting its autumn, which again creates the dull effect because of the poor lighting. The artist’s clothing is bright and white, which suggest purity and innocence. But also because it is against a dark background she stands out much more. The top third of the frame is very dark, almost black due to the lack of light on the trees, which tells us more light is being emphasised on the foreground  and the artist. 

This frame has a narrow depth of field to emphasise the importance of the hand in the foreground, with a very soft focus on the background. The hand is resting on a chair, which tells us she is rested. This frame is very strong in terms of the subject because her hand is covered in dripping wax. The detail of the wax is really clear and it is obvious that it is dripping off the artist. This could be interpreted as her cleaning her body, removing the pain from herself. The wax makes her seem unrealistic which makes us question whether she’s giving the message that she’s invisible.

Video Analysis of Florence and the Machine

The artist is wearing black clothing and has dyed her hair black, this connotes mystery, fear and the unknown. The camera is shooting from behind a window looking in on the artist and she uses indirect address. This tells us the artist is acting as if the camera isn't there by not acknowledging it. There is condensation on the window which disrupts our viewpoint but adds to the feel that we are an audience watching her. The lighting isn't very strong, but there’s enough to reveal the artist. The scene is set in the night time as the background is very dark and we can see blurred and distorted street lights in the background. 

There is a clear light being shone in the direction of the camera but slightly above the lens. This creates the shadows from the model’s legs. The socks are white which signifies purity and innocence but this is covered up because they are dirty and dripping with water which creates a strong mise-en-scene. The camera is positioned  at the same level as the feet, like we are following them as she is walking away from the camera and into the light.

This frame is very strong in terms of the composition. A narrow depth of field is used ensuring that the hand in the foreground has a sharp focus. This emphasises the focus the director wants us to have on the significance of the black paint dripping from the artists hand. The paint is black and is slowly dripping off of the artist; this connotes a dying romance and the pain dripping from her body. There is strong lighting in the background which is giving a strobe effect, and there is little light on the hand which clearly shows us the outline.  This frame is taken from quite early on in the video, the idea of dripping paint continues all the way through, shown from cuts.

Again a strong light is used from behind the subject which creates a few light glares on the lens, and this is the only light used in this frame. The compact corridor gives us a sense of being swallowed up, especially as a vanishing point is created and the artist is walking towards it. Because there is no light on the artist, a silhouette figure is created. The clothing worn is torn and appears very old – al of these points combined create a very strong and dull mise-en-scene. We also notice that there is water on the floor which we see from earlier in the video is dripping off of her.

A wind machine is used here to distort the shape of the artists hair. This could connote the fact that she is removing all the pain to become a purer person. The dark colours connote sadness and depression and this is reflected in the lyrics. Dim lighting is also used to reflect this. Indirect address is used which suggests she is in thought and singing with lots of emotion. The lights in the background keep moving around, lighting the hall she is standing in. There is a lot of empty space in the hall which she is placed in which emphasises her being lonely and makes her seem like a very small person in a very big place.

The light is caught shining right into the cameras creating a light glare in the frame. This is often seen as a mistake and is edited out of music videos, but it has been left in this frame to add to the dark effect and using every part of the light possible. The light shining from behind the artist creates an almost silhouette effect and shows a clear outline of her face. A narrow depth of field is used to ensure the artist in the foreground has a sharp focus, with the background having a very soft focus for more emphasis on her.

Album covers

In one of my first posts I analysed a few CD album covers and magazine adverts in a PowerPoint on 'Slideshare'. However, I didn't do any research on the back of album covers so here are a few:

This is the back of Paloma Faith's album. The image used is interesting because compared to the front cover which is a posed photo, she is seen being given props and this photo is taken from behind the scenes. This could suggest the two sides of music artists. The roses, doves and strong lighting behind her connote beauty, purity and an angelic personality. The track list and record label information is placed in opposite corners of the cover so the audience is able to see the majority of the image.

This is the back of Florence and the Machine's album. There is a drawing of a pair of lungs, which is the title of the album - this in itself shows a strong connection. The parts of the lungs are labelled with the numbers of each track on the album. Black and white is used for the background and writing - this makes it easily readable for the audience. Everything within the whole frame is central apart from the barcode - this is a simple but effective technique.

This is the back cover for The Saturday's album. There is no image, it just tells us the track list and information about the band the record label. The background is plain and simple, but doesn't appeal to the audience. The font and text is set out clearly and is sophisticated but because there's no image of the artist or any connection with the album it doesn't catch our attention.

Locations

Here are some screen shots from when I contacted my local swimming pool 'Hitchin Swimming Centre' and managed to arrange to go and shoot underwater with a disposable underwater camera. Because I used disposable cameras, I have to wait for them to be developed before I can upload them. 

When researching about underwater cameras, I found that they were very expensive so I had to use disposable ones instead. 

Digipak Ideas

I've had another idea for my digipak; taking photos of my artist underwater.

I researched this and found some photos I want to base my shoot on:

I like the way the model impacts with the water, and want to experiment with this idea through jumping in a pool, or emerging out of a pool.

These are all images I found on google from various professional photographers. 

I would also like to experiment with body shape underwater because I think it links in with the loneliness and freedom of the lyrics to the song I am using. The bottom image is very strong against the dark background and I'd like to do something similar with my artist by getting her hair floating through the water.

The song I am using: 'Home' by Ivy and Gold