as we want our shoot to look funky but still with a good style we thought the above picture would inspire the big hair look and the eye lashes could be part of the extravagant makeup.

as a group we took a trip to the fancy dress shop and looked into clown costumes that were already there. we also wanted to take inspiration from the detailing, shaping and accessories that could be included in our shoot, but made into our own style.

A quirky poka dot dress could be a feature idea in one of the photos taken.

here are a few masks we saw in the fancy dress shop that we could take inspiration from as part of our photo shoot, the glamorous look gives off a show style.

Catwalk circus

Etros used a circus theme for there 40Th anniversary in Tokyo. Stilts, dressed up animals and clowns all set in a big top. Its not to different from the scene set by the Circus Du Soleil.

More street style fancy dress

Just enough fancy dress outfit. Bright colours hair and clothes. Mixed patterns. Clashing colours and lots of accessorise. Bows, bangles and dramatic make-up.

Catwalk combine with Circus Theactricals

The catwalk can be used to create a theatrical performance. Breaking out of the modern run-ways to create a show that's in keeping with a theatrical diverse fashion it's displaying. This can be seen in many recent collections .
Here are some shows which I feel depict the fun and atmosphere of are piece . Manish Arora put on a circus display of high couture fashion. Bright colours, applique and high decoration of circus items where used. The dresses were dramatic and encompassed the theme so minimal props on the catwalk were used, apart from a dramatic spotlight often associated with stage and the circus.

The clothes do the talking in this show so the subtle spotlight light is all that is needed. Another catwalk show which clothes really caught my attention and relates to are theme was the Ashisish 2009 Autumn/ Winter collection. This is more taken on the animal, traveling side of the circus. Gypsy chic bright colours, bold print overstated size. Bows and pompoms. The make-up is darker and slightly more Gothic but with bright extra streaks in the hair and lipstick. The prints and high neck are more daytime, slightly more casual with a traveling American style so the catwalk show is quite simple. Using the clothes as the main focal point. The clothes make a change to the more obvious circus theme you could go with. We could take inspiration from this angle. Using the circus aerobatics show they built the catwalk around but break away frm this and add our own twist to are show. Maybe use poi and street performers. A more dirty, rough show compared to aerobatics.
This next show really stood out to me it was unusual use of materials, the candy colours and props is really effective and fun. The show took place at the Fourth China Reproductive Health New Technologies and Products Expo. It helped to raise awareness of the spread of HIV/AIDS and also was held on the World Population Day organized by the U.N population day. As China put in a strict one child rule in the 1970s. The bright coloured catwalk and bubbles add interest and fun. Showing props used well and a decorative platform can add to the show not draw attention away from the clothes. The clothes are more for effect and art based rather than a
series piece to be worn. This may be the reason they get away with the over the top show. This I feel is fine to take on as the clothes used could be more for inspiration than a ready to wear range.
The show needs to be encompassing of the items displayed and create an atmosphere representative to these. This can be seen in the H & M catwalk show for there new lingerie line designed by French designer Sonia Rykie. The show had a Circus aerobatic darker undertone complimenting the lingerie. It has a more Gothic traveling show.

Fairground frolics

Fairground frolics lights and fun are aspects we want to explore. Going to look at the architecture in old circus, see how this has carried on in modern fairground and amusement parks. The colours, lights and detailing. This will influence are setting, colours and detailing. Taking aspects from all areas of circus/ fairground life.
The first fairgrounds with rides appeared around the 1840 with industrial revolution it gave opportunities of development for entertainment and technology. Here lie the start of the revolving carousels to the gravity defining designs of today.
In the 1800s the fairground invested in more ornate hand carved pieces. This has been lost now with the high-tech designs , but can still be seen on the classic carousels, slides and helter-skelter. They give a nostalgic view but with a modern take bright lights and bright colours all combined.

This over the top ornate colours really stand out with a strong vibrant atmosphere. The detailing and decoration we can take influence for the make-up and clothes detailing.


















Bright lights of the fairground and the movement of the rides really produce some interesting effects. The patterns, pictures are really envoking a fun, childhood exciting atmosphere. The attention to detail and complementary colours used really captures your attention. There designed for fun and show grabbing with a slight nostalgic look. They haven't been completely lost to the high tech, vertigo rides.Luna Park Melbourne, new theme park with a twist it's in keeping with carving detail. lights and bright colours of the old fairground but with modern rides.

Fancy Dress Street Style Jessica

Ever since I was a child fancy-dress, dressing up and face paints were always fun. A bit of imagination and escapism never hurt anybody. This trend for dressing up hasn't seemed to disappear with adult hood and putting on a bit of face-paint and glitter can have a good effect on you. This elaborate decoration and fantasy side of life is another aspect seen in the circus and performance which we want to incorporate a sort of street style to stage shows.












Image to right and below is taking from Bestival where fancy dress themes are given each year and have an array of fantastic over-top costumes.




Over the top face paints bright colours and glitter. Doesn't have to be full on overkill dress up just aspects of it.
Me and my friend admired some kids tiger face paint at green fest and decide to jump on the band wagon.

These images show really strong theatrical uses of face paint. I am really interested in the detail around the eye areas. In particular I am very fond of the second image above. The face paint conjures up thoughts of fun but at the same time portrays the darker side of clowns. I love the use of strong intence lines and colour with a pale white face as the base colour.

Clothes show live- NEC Birmingham 1997

Just full on inspiration from the colourful lighting, balloons as the props, the way the acts are positioned in the picture like a snapshot of a film. just giving off a general idea of a circus performance.

The sharp eyes with a deep glow, but still looks alone, like evil has taken over. the dirty looking beard and the black mouth. looks like he hasnt washed. The dark side for a clown that wants to show off his talent. finish of the image with a black hat.

Images by a photographer -Josh Golman

Just reminded me of travellers that are stranded with no were to go, but only have balloons to hold onto.

The guy in the picture looks like he should be part of the circus as a clown.

The woman holding onto the balloons as that is her world and nothing else will matter. just like children do when they get a balloon as its such a treat.

Instead of facepaint and scairy looking clowns, elligant approach with show stopping masks to get attetion and topping of a performers outfit.

Just looking at this image it comes across that there is a monkey behind with a beautiful bird spreading there wings. getting the attention of the audience but still trying to hide whats behind the mask.

the two images to the right give us more of a sexy feel to clowns. both images with full clown make up the left image of the two gives us a different feel more of an attitude, that she is trying to watch a performance with out distractions. whereas the right image seems more mischief as they say " its like taking candy from a baby" sneaking away with a lolly.

big neck & head pieces showing a different idea of a clown.

Above images showing a porcelain, with emphasis on the bold eyes and shocking lips. The stance of the woman looking like a statue, holding tightly onto balloons. Giving us a younger feel to the image with the balloons but quite an sophisticated look with the cloths that are worn.

looking at the image above its also an act but reminds me also of a heard of Zebras, a quirky but fun looking image. The costumes may be considered and taken further into more research depth. following on with the repeat pattern.

i think this is such a powerful image, the elephant is ready to protect and walk by the leader. Is the stronger of the two. The woman is posing againt the elephant making it look like its neccasery to have an elephant just as much as showing of a woman needs a bag

looking into prop ideas and how a prop will effect the pose of the persons image.

Above including the animals in part of the photo shoot will be a good idea to capture the circus feel, maybe for the model to be photoshoped in the correct way so the elephant is holding her in the air for a Dangerous feel. Above right- looks like she will be doing some kind of dance performance on a small stage,holding a cane, with her creative hat and slimming outfit giving off a showgirl image.

In Nottingham one of the clubs, Pink, has a monthly night called Twisted Hearts Club. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=155001088433&ref=ts

When looking through the photos from the nights, the camera and lighting effects really capture my attention.

The long exposure thats been used on the camera has created interesting and dramatic effects.

It adds a real sense of the atmosphere of the club, you can imagine the loud music along with the throbbing of hundreds of people all in one place.

These photos are from the club night so obviously they are photographed at night. The back drop of the night makes the bright colours in the photograph stand out to the viewer.

I like how in this photograph the background is out of focus and the emphasis is on the person in the foreground.

In this photograph I love the negative space in it, it adds to the atmosphere. Also the shape of the lights going around the bodies adds shape to the photograph.

I love the way the slow exposure has meant you can see the movement in the photograph. The two faces of the same girl. It creates a really quirky, contemporary look to a photograph.

This photograph shows how the use of props can create fun, playful aspects to the photograph. The use of the props gives the feel of the circus, of a show.

Katy Lamont

Traditionaal Circus too Modern acts Jessica

Escapism through entertainment has always been a pleasure, fancy dress as a kid to horror films. Are fascination with the mysterious and unknown has always drawn us in. With stage shows, glamour and overindulgent acts grabbing the viewers attention. From old travelling circus in the 1920s, street performance, Circus Du Soleil even to lady gaga. Are focus is to draw inspiration from all of these aspects to create an performance styled piece. Taking elements of extravagance, perversion and fun.
The Circus developed in Ancient Rome where it was a building for entertainment such as fake battles, chariot racing and exhibition of animals. This was lost and then later seen in travelling Gypsies shows in Europe. It then remerged as a massive form in entertainment as early as 1700 and set up stage for aerobatics, animal shows and clown's to fill time. The atmosphere of the circus can been seen in many forms of song, film and fashion and this is what we want to capture. Characters such as clowns, the ringmaster, Gypsies and even the animals have a sense of mystery, fun and allure.
In this image of 1920s sparks Circus I really love the eye catching over the top headpieces, exotic clothes mixed in with a shabby background. The clothes are heavily embellished and showy. Not much different from stage outfits now . The symmetric shape of the pose, how it's composed and the sepia tones reflect the era of the photo. It brings a eerie atmosphere which we could draw on by using effects once the photo shoot is complete.

Photos of typical clowns with overtop clothes make-up and mixed up patterns. The dramatic costuming and emphases on exaggerated features of clowns deliberately makes them look odd and stand out so they can be laughed at and used for entertainment. This dark aspect of standing out of the crowd/ freak show is another aspect we want to explore. Shocking and dramatic.

CIRCUS DU SOLEIL

With now a reinvention trend of the Circus ........... Circus Du Soleil formed in 1984 and was a frame for contemporary Circus. They focused on "a dramatic mix of circus arts with street entertainment".
Using traditional costume and characters but pushing this theatrical approach and not using animals made it one of the first in contemporary circus. The amazing mix of performance and costumes is definitely an area to take inspiration from and the idea of pushing circus values into a contemporary setting.
Other influneces are street poi and other street performance acts. The use of light, props and energy and how they engage an audience from punch and judy to fire spinning. There is always a spectacle it has been developed and pushed in modern society but still has strong traditional roots.