Practical proposals for two photos for the AKEL contest
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Following the general concept and proposal for the AKEL photographic contest, more details have been defined. Now we have two practical ideas, a timeline and some more defined vision. We can realize both ideas, but the short time could force us to focus only on one of them, that has to be chosen.
Timeline
The two ideas must be realized according to the short timeline.
- October 5 (Mon): all the details, like costumes, locations, eventually make up solution, eventually jewellery solutions, eventually lighting support — must be defined.
- October 11 (Sun): the photos must be taken; there are six days and the photos have to be taken between 5 and 6.
- October 14 (Wed): the post-production must be done and the contest form must be filled for applying.
The locations
The locations must be the very common spots representing the division (barbed wire, barrels), where photographies are allowed, with some tranquillity around to be free to prepare the simple sets and shoot, in Nicosia or nearby, with no flags or national colours, no writings or signs clearly identifying a “side”, having in mind that every details (floor, sky, plants, parked cars) will be part of the background of the photo. Some exploration will be done on Monday 5. We can immediately list some spot, from West to East:
- Holy Cross white barrels, with the issue that the park cars, there;
- Αριάδνης bench (very near to the Ledras Street checkpoint);
- Χαράτσι καφενείο, with the need of some planning because they will start to work in the evening;
- Τάλου painting, with the need of some planning because the workshop will be still working in the evening;
- Πενταδάκτυλου — Ερμού connection (the gate at the corner), with some issue because the possibility of parked car and people disturbing;
- Αυτοκράτειρας Θεοδώρας — Αξιοθέας connection (already used for another photo);
- Other spots in Palouritsa, Kaimakli, Omorfita; there are many suitable spots, not so known and photographed like the previous ones, but many of them have soldiers, flags, prohibitions, very rough soil, etc.
Prop 1: the dancer
A dancer, with a very coloured dress or coloured clothes, possibly waving with the movement or the wind. Red is our favourite colour, but other colours can be considered. The dress or the clothes have to be found.
Jewellery, shoes (or bare feet, that transmit physical power), hair and makeup must be chosen with care, but realistically, according to the lack of time. For example, bare feet, chignon or ponytail, very light makeup.
As alternatives, we can involve artisans and students in any field, but having in mind the very short time.
A “choreography” for the pose is necessary. The message should be «hey, I’m here, the division is important but, please, remember me!»
A stand can project the dancer to a more sublime meaning, but it will need colours or any other kind of visual sense.
Prop 2: the dining companions
The scene is an attempt to have an ordinary life opposite to the tough location of the division.
Two persons, dressed in a Sunday lunch style, representative somehow ordinary people in an ordinary life, sitting at a table, with tablecloth, plates, glasses, salt, pepper, bottles of wine and water, whatever represents a running meal. The table and the chairs are ahead of the barrels/barbed wire.
The idea is very simple but some difficulties are in place.
Two “actors” are necessary and they should not directly belong to a “human category”: not too young, not too old, not hipster, not punk, not business persons, etc. Mixing two characters, for example one elder person and one punk, one businessman and one hipster in shorts, one rich and one poor, can resolve the issue and perhaps give more strength to the concept.
We should avoid the «we are just having a meal in a taverna» message. The result must be absurd.
Conclusions
Everything here is, obviously, a personal point of view. Different ideas are welcome. The only restriction is the timeline.
