Week 1: Introduction – Segues in Time

Meisho, meaning somewhere that is frequently visited, and often a famous place that might be visited at least once in your lifetime.

I have a wishlist, of places which I hope to visit in my lifetime and I was lucky enough to visit one of my places on my list this year in February, Rome. For such a long time I wanted to experience this place and the art, culture, architecture and food. I went on tour around the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. I remember pointing my camera up to the ceiling and the image of when god touches the fingertips of man and thinking to myself I wonder how many people have taken the same image?

Nothing is original but we try to be. I am constantly haunted by the inner voice that I need to try something new within my own practice. I take images of flowers and the photographic world is saturated with images of flowers, how can I stand out and be different? I am on Instagram and I find it so interesting and inspiring to look at other practisers in my theme of work. I have my own taste, I love the dreamy soft and poetic photography, more like pictorialism, yet images I produce seem to be bolder and more colourful but I would like to think I have my own style and this is my style. I am inspired by others and take small sections of their style to work with but I can improve but not completely change the photographer that I am. I look at images I have taken over the last year and I can see I massive change in my style of work.

I am learning and developing my techniques and I wonder where I will be in an anther year time. This is all due to learning and looking at other photographers which is a positive thing. I feel I am standing in the same body but my I am a different person then I was a year ago. I do return to places more than once but I take photographs of flowers which grow in the same place. I have included to images below which have been taken a year apart.

The image on the left was taken this year and the image on the right was taken last year.

Week 2 Introduction Remediation:

I use Instagram a lot to show my photography and my niche is macro flowers, so for my own curiosity, I decided to look at one of the hashtags I follow to see how many images there was e.g. #roses and found there were 21.6m images. Bolter and Grusin focus on three main subjects and how the media are portrayed, represented and presented. The two main areas are Immediacy and Hypermediacy. I feel my practice works within the area of Immediacy when I take an image the view is to not see the medium but to be mainly focused on the image itself. I am showing the macro world around us and my main topic is the subject not so much the medium but I use the medium to communicate my art. Compare to Hypermediacy the main focus is the medium itself and not making the medium transparent. This reminds me of my favourite artists is Tara Hardy is a fine art, illustration and graphic design. She is deeply passionate regarding environmental, animal, humans’ right issues and within her work, she uses both photographies of others to show her concept.

Tara Hardy-The Warrior 2010 (Left)

My interpretation I did in 2017 based around the theme of my son for a school project (right)

I have used my photography within this image which is illuminating the medium and not hiding it, this would make this style of work hypermediacy. This style of art isn’t where I feel the happiest for myself but I do enjoy this kind of work. Within Tara Hardy’s work, she has used other photographers’ images, not sure how I feel about this.

Week 3 Introduction: Working with Others

If all photography starts as a collaborative act, who, or what, are you collaborating with? Are you giving your subjects and participants a voice or platform to share their perspective? Are you asking for their complicity for your work, and if so, what do they get in return for their complicity?

Discussion

Thinking about your own research, which is of more interest to you: the subject or your view of the subject?

Within my own research subject is more important to me. I could say the view of the subject but to me, the subject itself is more important. It is the subject which I need to create a natural reaction.

How could you be influencing your subject and is that something to be avoided?

I do influence my subject, this is the form of the surrounding area connected to colour. Also, I try and find flowers which are in their best condition. I will edit the images in postproduction if I feel there are any imperfections.

Conversely, how could your subjects be influencing you and your approach?

I strongly believe that I don’t pick my subject but my subject picks me. When I walk around I am waiting to be inspired before I take any photographs.

Week 4 Forum: Human?

For this task, find an example of a photographic image NOT made by a human, then share and discuss that image with your peers: is a human truly not involved?

These incredible images have been taken by a satellite up in space. They show the fascinating landscapes and structures on earth from space.

Week 6 Introduction: Thinking About Spaces:

In this week, we will look more at how you could display your photography at the ‘group’ exhibition. This includes not only consideration of venues and spaces, but also ways in which the work can be installed, and how the audience can be engaged. Regardless of whether you are looking for an idea or have already got something in mind, the aim is to give some context to your chosen approach.

For this activity, find and post one example of an ‘alternative space’. Try to think outside of the (traditional) white walls of a gallery, such as a supermarket (see above), a billboard, or even a shoe. Don’t be afraid to post what might seem obvious, or unexpected, or even crazy, but please include an image. A brief repository of possibilities here could easily benefit all in the not-too-distant future.

While researching for this task I come across an exhibition by Jason deCaires Taylor. His exhibition is an underwater sculpture museum between the coast of Cancun and Isla Mujeres. Taylor creates impressive installations that contribute to marine conservation by doubling as coral reefs. To experience this installation firsthand the viewer must travel to the bottom of the sea, temporarily inhabiting another world altogether. Taylor is an environmentalist as well as an artist. His sculptures are intended to not only attract viewers for their own sake but draw them away from the endangered coral reefs nearby.

One place, in particular, is Kew Gardens where I was visited last year the exhibition of Marianne North. Marianne North was an English Victorian biologist and botanical artist who explored the world to discover new species of plants and flowers. Marianne was born in Hastings 24^th October 1830 and her father was very special to her. They both shared a love for nature and travelling and when father passed away in 1869 she decided to pursue her passion for painting the plant and floral life in distant countries. Over the course of 14 years, Marianne visited many different locations and on her return to Britain, she offered to give the collection to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Kew Gardens claims that the North Gallery is the only permanent solo exhibition by a female artist in the world. She leaves a legacy of documented plant life in all parts of the world before photography because of a practical option.

The botanical painting was normally done in watercolour or sketch on a white background but Marianne her paintings were done with oil Paints and included the natural surroundings. She was one of the first to take the images she produced to educate others in a more popular way of botanical life. The exhibition of 832 painting fills the walls from bottom to ceiling and acts like a moving image as the viewer’s travels their body thought the world and visits the places Marianne did.

I like this concept of exhibition having a connection to the work and interacting with my work, for me I want the viewer to have an emotional response. The emotional connection is what I find really important. I also connect to the concept of educating people on botanical life like Marianne North.

Week 8 Introduction: Thinking About Helping Others

Activity:

Post a list of your strengths and weaknesses within photography. Think broadly about what ‘photography’ includes but be specific with your list (e.g. experience working with cyanotype).

Strengths:

I have a good understanding of technical knowledge when it comes to camera settings.

I have a firm understanding of how composition works well within the frame.

I have a good understanding of how light can be used within a photograph.

Weakness:

I need to learn how to develop and experiment more. I need to come out of my comfort zone more.

I need to research other photographers work which is not similar to my style.

I need to have my work analyse by others a lot more. This will help me with my own practice.