Continued Research & Techinques

The class has been told to look back at my previous projects and pick 3 pieces of research and 3 techniques I am going to continue and develop further for my FMP. I have shared this too the classroom spreadsheet (called FMP Research & Techniques) which I have copied here.

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Dmitry was all of my concept for my last terms project, approaching strangers is now less than half involved due to more developments in many other research and techniques. 

Vivian Maier is related because I want close to the same range of diverse topics that are seen throughout her pictures in mine.

Platon methods of being polite, courteous and friendliness towards his subjects in prepared conversions. I am going to use surveys and portrait improvement as a way of reflecting Platon’s method but in an outer world rather than the studio environment.

 

 

FMP Surveys

For every shoot of the project, I’ll do independent surveys on individually of the subjects, topic or reasoning to why I have chosen the person, and finally their view on current British more pacifically their rural living area. Here I’ll show photographic examples of the written surveys and how I intend to record the answers.

I find a few questions will be the same on each survey along with some being completely based around the person and their interest. Questions for instances, Do you like or ever tried photography? as my first inquiry to break the ice of continuous conversations. How do you find Devon’s culture is coping in this worlds’/countries’ present state? as my last question. 

Frist Practice Survey

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(Explain how it was useful to practice)

 

 

I’ll record using a dictaphone. It is a useful tool because I won’t have time to write my subjects answers down also use the answer in my evaluation, parts of texts for my final end product a book.

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The dictaphone came with a pair of earphones, changer and mini clip-on microphone at the price of £22.00. (remember to add to the budget)

Local Time/Action Plan

I will add the dates of shoots to my iPhone calendar.

Ask for help with what equipment for my different shoots that would help my concept?

Research – Organised times for exhibitions

Tony Homer – Paintings and Prints: Monday 2nd March – Friday 27th March 2020 – Tavistock Wharf. To gather Primary Research.

Practice Shoots  – Saturday 15th, the location is an old run-down train track bridge to practice A. Portraiture takings as it’ll be recurring in some places throughout the project. B. Fast movements with sports props like a football, basketball, frisbee because of Idea 1 entails loads of gymnastics, materials being thrown and caught.

Plans have been moved to the later date of the 19th with a new model Benedict who does juggling. Location is still the old run-down train track bridge. I am able to undergo both A and B practice techniques with one less model. Technique B which is capturing movement with less shutter speed noise is to get ready for Idea 1 circus people.

Practice Technique C

I’ve Figured that can do a practice interview as well, before starting the shoot, technique C. This is in preparation for the many surveys, I’ll be doing throughout the whole project. I will record the answers with a dictaphone.

Practice Survey

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Idea 1 Circus People – I’ll ask Morwenna who’s introducing me to Cirque du Ciel, on tips for the questions to be put on the survey. Along with some of my own which rotate around what they are like and the thoughts on their own culture.

My first day for this is set Thursday 20th February and another day is several weeks later. Both days will have a varied array of talented subjects. It’ll be located in Cornwall

Survey

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Idea 2 Bristol Barbers & Tattooists

Equipment: ask teachers

Date: James is arranging suitable times with him and hopefully with steve after he’s asked. Estimate within one or two weeks. When I find out I’ll add the proper dates.

Location: Exact

postponed till lockdown is over.

Practice shoots D E & F

Both are during some time in march…

D. Editorial – Firstly I’ll show how I choose to do simple edits depending on what is in the image and if it was badly captured I can retouch it using photoshop slidders.

E. Familiarising with the Sigma 10mm f2.8 EX DC HSM Fisheye lens (Nikon) before planned skate culture idea. Tavistock’s outside area, one model walking so I’m able to get used to capturing the fast shots with this particular lens.

F. Nikon Speedlight SB-700 Flash Gun is an extra experiment for adding lighting to the frames when needed and if it goes well I’ll consider for other ideas it might seem useful.

Idea 3 Skate Culture

Equipment: Sigma 10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE Lens (Nikon). Nikon Speedlight SB-700 Flash Gun.

I will be practising with this equipment in the upcoming days toward my skate shoot and record the results on WordPress. Location is in Tavistock skate park but I am going to talk to the models and ask where they like skating also if we could all go to Uskate Tavistocks skate club on the same day.

My plans for this idea has changed, a lot of them will now due to the Covid-19 Vuris. I’m using only one model now and Uskate club is cancelled. I shall still go to the skating park in Tavistock to take portraits of the skater and capture tricks using the fisheye lens.

I will follow my model jack around my newly isolated hometown of Tavistock as he skates through the abandoned streets I’ll be running, stopping, and quickly snapping. Now and then I’ll stop completely to switch lenses.    

Date:

Survey

Idea 4 Tavistock MarketDate is Tuesday ? I will wake up at early enough to be on location before 9:00 am as that’s when they start putting stalls together.    

Survey

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Idea 5 National Geographic cover

Location: Calstock

Equipment: tripod, wide-angle lens AF-P NIKKOR 18-55mm

Arranging for meeting at home/workplace.

Side note: will find out on the first week of March

Date:

Survey

Idea 6 Bin men

Location: Tavistock

Equipment: wide-angle lens AF-P NIKKOR 18-55mm

Date:

Survey

Idea 7 Gardening

Location: Kelly Bray

Equipment: Tripod (looking into the different, suitable lenses)

Date:

Survey

Idea 8 Jewellery maker

Location: Plymouth (Moola)

Equipment: Ask Teachers

Date:

Survey

Idea 9 Local Pub Scene

Location: Tavistock Pub (Union)

Equipment: Ask Teachers

Date:

Survey

Idea 10 record store

Location: Plymouth

Date:

Survey

Back up Ideas

  1. Fishing 2. Children and Animals 3. Army Cadets 4. Sesh House Vibe 5. Football Club 6. Church Talk To a Priest 7. Spray Painters 8. Bude’s surf Culture 9. Kingsman Fire Department 10. Record store. 11. Sarah (photographer)12. Mr Traumatik Club Scene 13. Sound Generating Person Studio In Cornwall

Ideas that I’ve decided on not doing

Prince Town: because of not knowing enough about the rural area, wouldn’t know what to do.

Individual Musical People: simply too boring It would just be a Women or man with an instrument.

Friends Dad Office Space: I haven’t contacted the persons involved in while and feel it would just get in the way of making better photos for the project. I also have other shoots in development that are similar even better than this plan.

 

FMP Local Plans

In this blog, I’ll continue to add more ideas for shoots before also throughout the final term. Each idea plan will differ in prepared and unprepared ways. A few are out of the blue approaching strangers in local areas and searching then asking in work environments. Some will be friends doing interesting creative topics sometimes in their personal domains. The rest are friends of friends who also do intriguing activities. Plans? and? were suggested by a lecturer and a student peer in the class.

I’ll be practising on my photography by learning new tactics in books from the library and internet resources. I will also spend time improving on specific strategies before a particular event. for instance, I’m doing circus day at some point so I am getting ready for that by capturing two subjects doing a couple activities. So I am ready to take the fast initial shots with fewer amounts of shutter speed blur.

One other method that will be used for the majority of the concept is focusing on one perhaps two models in portrait angle with whatever expression makes them comfortable followed with a blank face shot. I am read up and making notes on basic ways of capturing portraits, perfect background, rule of thirds and focusing of the eyes. I’ve also added methods from famous photographers such as Platon who is renowned for his portraiture, I”ll inhabit his skills of decency toward his subjects.   

I cannot predict what the overall response to my imagery will be on the day of the summer show. Separated as single photographs or as the end result product (Book) but I’d like them to be thought-provoking to our individual questions toward society we live in.     

I’ll use unique surveys for every shoot I do. Loads of questions will differ depending on set circumstances, of what I’m shooting but to develop the project more I’ve figured out an inquiry that can be added to all surveys. I thought due to where the country/world is in its current situations (Brexit, Prime Minister, Wars, Environmental issues) and the fact my project is based around culture. As the last query, I could ask: How do you feel Devon’s culture is coping in this worlds’/countries’ present state? (I am still working what wording I could use for the final question but will reveal it when I have).

I am capturing my imagery in many angels Portraiture, Landscapes, close-ups of still life and many more as the project develops’ from shoot to shoot.

I am conducting the shoots for my FMP by breathing in and out the intriguing points within stories/activities of individual people and creative groups to later be captured in the amount of time I am given. All my models and there chosen topics play a part in the community or others simply apart of society. 

I must give good examples of these seven units in my project.

1. Context/Concept

2. research – Artist skilled in Documentary, Dmitry Markov, Tom Barnes, Deirdre O Callaghan, Richard Billingham. Artist skilled in Portraiture, Platon, Anton Corbijn more… Artist skilled in Street Photography, Vivian Maier, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Charles Reynell Mohun (great grandad). In each genre find a new photographer local or not.

3. Problem Solving – Explain how I struggled with the fisheye lens at the beginning didn’t realise you had to crop and was worried whether I’d ever figure it out.

4. Planning and Production

5. Practical skills – Practice/Experiments – A portraiture Perpareration/Improvement. B Fast Movement Prevent shutter speed blur. C Survey Practice. D Sigma 10mm f2.8 EX DC HSM Fisheye lens. E Nikon Speedlight SB-700 Flash Gun.

6. Evaluation and Reflection

7. Presentation – Book form Lookup options of how.

Ideas

I have invented 24 shoot scenarios on iPhone notes which I understand is more than enough the difficulty is in choosing the right ones best suitable for my concept.

  1. One friend (Morwenna) has done circus skills with a bunch of associates who are all tremendously talented and dress as zany bizarre characters. They apparently give great performances with quirky outlandish personalities. From what Morwenna showed me on Facebook I’d estimate there are about 20 people maybe more who all teach circus skills to children some with special needs and others who are homeschooled.

They go by the aliases Cirque du Ciel or Airfish Circus Works Devoran. It includes a strong man with a handlebar moustache, clownish people who can juggle, diabolo, lots of gymnastics who have there own show and many more talents. The Practice happens at a big warehouse in Cornwall, Truro this is my set location also I have two dates arranged.

2. I’m hoping to go bristol soon to visit my brother (James) to get more understanding of the city. I thought up 2 ideas for when I’m there. Idea 1 is visiting my brother’s trendy barbershop. I can take images of styling hair then afterwards a few more shots around the shop. It would be good to do a survey on both my brother and his boss about the business. 2nd Idea is getting in touch with a phenomenal tattooist called Steve Mckenzie before ending half term, using the same technique as James’ shoot. Both shoots I’ll come prepared with an independent survey.

Talk to James and Steve before the end of the half-term week…

3. The part of Tavistock’s stake culture I know. I have three mates who know each other and are all really into their skating. When deciding on a date I plan to ask them if they can bring as much of their skating posse as possible more the better I’d like a happy family fun gang crew atmosphere. 

People to ask Kieran, Jack, Smurf and try to arrange for during half-term.

4. This shoot was planned during project Genres. I’ll arrive at Tavistock Market on any Tuesday just before 9 am. To capture workers setting up their stalls for the day. Whilst arranging for permission from the stallholders to attain their portraits I feel this will be a good opportunity to find out about their personalities and day to day working lives. I already have a survey from the last term.  

Budget

Dictaphone – £22.00

FMP First Draft Proposal/Local

Since not reaching the full potential in my project “Genres” I’ve abanded my old plan of live band shoots for the FMP. This continued idea will expand diversely where I’m able to include interesting activities and jobs people invest in for sometimes life. 

FMP’s goal is 6-10 shoots consisting of strangers stories that define the culture they live in. The title I decided will be ‘Local’. I’ll venture out contacting people, some never meeting before, in a professional courteous manner. I hope to gain confidence in socializing during this time, to be prepared for university.

Extending my artist influences in areas of documentary, social and street photography will help add gimmicks to my pieces which will go alongside the main concept. Markov’s concept will be developed by well-accomplished photographers that have relation to him e.g. Vivian Maier, Richard Billingham, Alec Soth, also altered by my own style. 

I’ve made a list of possible people with an era of oddness about them or that play a part in the general community. I’ll invent surveys for each person that surrounds questions on their individuality and record their answers to add it into evaluations. 

I plan to produce my work in book form with text revealing stories behind the colored imagery as it’ll suit perfectly.  

My budget will be determined during the planning process.

 

 

 

Genres: Evaluation

I am happy with my results for this terms project, however, I’ve recently decided to extend it further into my FMP due to the concept of not taking it to its full potential this time around (didn’t interact with strangers).

Research

Genre: documentary – Exploring parts in peoples’ lives that give a story portraying how I perceive the culture in Devon, England. I took the idea from Russian photographer Dmitry Markov who I’ve been enthusiastic about for nearly a year now. All the research that I undertook helped my ideas develop. Although I kept Dimitry’s techniques, such as having the exact angle view he uses for his imagery as my main inspiration, other photographers I researched throughout the term, have also influenced the concept.

I wanted a grungy, almost sad social/street style to be told in my photos, I feel I’ll improve on that significantly for my FMP.   

During the editing process, I relooked through Dimitry’s photographs at the same time to get a closer understanding of how he edited. The first thing was to de-saturate the photos. The lowest I could decrease was up to -40, whilst some I started adding +5 to +15 clarity as I noticed there was a sharpness within most of his images. The contrast would differ up or down the slider when deciding whether it would fit well with Markov’s style of edits. I ensured that I avoided cropping the imagery apart from one, as it appeared Markov did not crop his. Except for desaturating all pictures, edits would go one of two ways which depended on the shadows, brightness and angle of how I captured the initial shot.

Concept

Achieving the concept meant my intentions were forced on myself approaching/meeting strangers in the street and local places. Tavistock market was the only place I set for greeting people. However, as a safety precaution, I planned a list of 6 ideas where I’d use models I know in invented scenes which seemed from a stranger’s perspective.

I was meant to engage with strangers to capture a chapter in my life as well as documenting theirs hoping to define the culture they live in. As Dimitry states when documenting that his pictures are not portraying just social situations but marking a chapter in his life. Having said that, I did not do so. I felt this was because I was struggling with interacting with people at this time of the year and I sensed that other people were not in the right frame of mind. I am encouraged to develop the idea in my FMP as I believe this will improve my photography and social skills.

Each shoot is its own decisive story told in the order I shot them. Two of these I created and made using the surrounding materials within my home and placed models performing activities that reveal their unique personalities.

Technique Shoot 1

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The first shoot represents people that go hand in hand with poker, bringing strangers together potentially allowing friendships to grow.  Firstly, I concentrated on the hands, moving further away due to not zooming in or out, using the angle of view technique that was inspired by Dimitry’s hand image. This was a comforting start to the beginning of the first of three shoots.

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I used the table as the focal point as its where the game took place. Adding different things that showed the progression of the story and defined games.

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Looking at the images, I did not realise before, that the main subject seems to be left waiting. I like the angle of the image on the left and how its followed by a close up of the shuffling hands.

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In this image, there is a major difference from the rest as seen in the main subjects body language. He seems more alive and motivated, communicating, relaxing and participating as he is not alone anymore. Finally in the game with another.

Technique Shoot 2

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This is Finlay, he spends some of his afternoons practising how to use a firestick on the fire duct above his house in Tavistock. As you can see  “Talk To Us” samaritans and “Danger Do Not Climb On This Wall” signs. These have been put up about a year and a half ago, due to suicides happening before in the exact place. I believed this to be an intriguing story taking place, in an equally thought-provoking area that matched exceptionally with the whole concept.

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The model let me know that there had been enough fuel for one maybe two go’s with firestick and he wasn’t certain how long each go would last. I kept in mind that I should use the time wisely and in preparation, we did test composition poses before lighting the stick. Both images show Finn soaking either end of the stick sponge’s in petrol, I focused on how I framed the left image a lot using the nine squares on my camera.

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Firstly the left image shows him lighting one end as the flame is ignited it flickers in front of the samaritans sign with the words”talk to us” untouched. This was a minor mistake that turned out to be in my favour but one tiny thing I’d changed is to move my footing and attempt getting the rest of the yellow danger sign whilst having the flame flickering effect. The right image shows the concerned reaction of not getting burned after he’s lit both ends. Although this was taken by mistake, I can’t see anything I’d want to change.

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In this picture I aranged the model in this position before starting the shoot. Although I like the arrangement, I feel I could have taken more time with this one. For instance, if waited awhile longer capturing more frames, the highest flame might have shaped different more interesting forms perhaps, pointing upward. Another thing is I could of ask him to look directly at the lens with a blank, staring expression. 

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I remember asking my subject to look directly at the signs to give the impression as if he was thinking on the symbolisation. I Realize that this now to be a great technique, as it defines the seriousness of the story I want the viewers of the pictures to unfold. 

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For a final position of the first go-around with the stick (planned ahead days maybe weeks beforehand) my model was lined up in between the signs. Using only my feet because zooming in or out was out of the question when maintaining the self tasked angle of view. I lined up Finlay between the danger symbol and “Talk To Us”, this is the only image slightly cropped to get it as horizontally level as I was able. 

2nd Time

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We both sat down for roughly 20 minutes and then he soaked both ends for one last time, although he’s offered for me to do this idea again so I could really flourish this in the future. The lens was changed to where it was pointing to unveil each side of the fire duct and also to give a new perspective of the surrounding. The image shows the subject relaxed-looking down at the soaking sponge after he’s lit it yet again. 

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I remember this was taken not long after both ends began properly flaring up I thought quick to capture him simply just looking at the fire or stick while moving it slowing hand to hand in a back and forth motion. The flickering of the flame above the models’ head is a pleasant touch I noticed after.

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The left image of the model performing easy two-handed stick movements, I recall him saying that the motion is for cooling the stick down and to lower the flames. The right image follows the previous one after doing multiple two-handed moves he can achieve one-handed spinning tricks which allowed me to capture the stick in mid-motion as it was close to vertically straight. The jitter of the shutter speed made me question how vertical the stick was in that still moment, also I like how due to spinning, each flame points in the opposite direction. 

I’m happy with capturing the lighting across the blank expression, also to me this was faintly hopeful or curious which I feel was derived from him wondering if he’d drop the stick but not being too bothered if he did. His body language is very chilled in this image possibly due to the hand trick-taking one armless effort.

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Shoot 3 Final Shoot

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Here is James a singer-songwriter who’s talented with many instruments, piano being his speciality. He is seen setting up the piano in my living room as he pops by now and then to record, make music or just jam with me, my stepdad martin and whoever might be round. The apple mac has an open song displayed which he adds adjustments to it as I am capturing him in his creative process.

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There was not very much interacting within this shoot because I didn’t want to interrupt his musical process. He also suffers from poor mental wellbeing and was in a very sombre frame of mind at this time. If I were able to go back to this precise moment I’d modify the level of straightness whilst also altering the wooden line to fit diagonally in the corner.

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I added a light source for an intense flare defining the inner music genius of my subject. There is a small variation between the two images than just the lighting, the left I pointed the lens further left as it includes the dog staring at me in the low left corner. The right picture embraces the technical half of the kitchen showing whats laying out on the table.

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Core Skills

Throughout this project, I have tried to engage in using a time plan arranging dates and times for different shoots. This has kept my motivation in check and organizing my mind to actually achieve the goals I set. The notes I wrote for during the shoots were to ensure I stayed in tune with the concept I wanted to capture.

Technique

The whole project was shot with only the angle of view 30mm which was a challenge for me personally due to not being able to zoom in or out but I could use my footing. I believe this has developed my eye in photography as it made me need to move around more trying different angles.

I wanted my imagery to convey the story  I experienced whilst capturing the events. To do this I revealed the images in the accurate order of how it was shot. There were many things I had planned to achieve. Some were invented scenarios that told a story and I planned others which involved greeting strangers to understand and tell their story through a picture. I feel that I achieved the invented ideas to the standards that I aimed for. However, although not achieving the social/street side, this has now encouraged my main focus for the FMP.

High points/Low points

The artist studies became a great inspiration and enjoyable research. It was fascinating to hear the originality of some photographers than others. My favourites, such as Dimitry, Vivian Maier, Richard, Billingham, Steve McCurry, and Deirdre O Callaghan, became useful to motivate me in creating my ideas.

I enjoyed doing all the shoots because I felt that it was helping my photography in framing. By not being able to zoom the lens and having to move my body instead made me capture angles differently.

Probably the lowest point was not having enough courage to take the whole idea of meeting strangers and discovering their stories to it’s potential. It is difficult finding a comfortable way of approach. In spite of that, as I mentioned before I now feel confident I can set this in motion for the next term.

Character Development

Curiosity

My main concept came from researching in-depth different documentary photographers. Through this research, the technique of how to shoot the images was inspired by Dimitry. The way I presented my images in an ordered fashion came from other photographers of the same genre. Doing the research I would not have been able to develop my ideas to the standard which are displayed.

Communication

Firstly, the lecturers gave me productive tips and beneficial advice which I took on board. One was about how Dimitry desaturates his pictures which I had not noticed and made me reflect on how to edit the work match his style as well as I could.

During the shoots, I wanted to portray a darkened, mundane vibe so I communicated this with my subjects. I made sure we still had a sense of humour going at times to enhance a sense of honesty as well. Within this project, my communication skills have definitely improved and felt more relaxed which I feel comes across in my images.

Bibliography

News, G. (2020) Streetkid visions: Russia’s Instagram star. [Online] Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/may/01/dmitry-markov-russia-instagram-star-photography-iphone-photographs [accessed 12 September 2019].

White, N. (2018) Black Dots [2015 – 2018]. [Online] Available from: https://www.nicholasjrwhite.co.uk/blackdots [accessed 10 December 2019].TreeMedia, O.

(2018) Dmitry Markov – Draft. [Online] Available from: https://www.liberdistri.com/en/accueil/129-draft-dmitry-markov-9789526850665.html [accessed 01 January 2020].

V&A, O. (2018) Contemporary documentary photographers. [Online] Available from: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/contemporary-documentary-photographers/ [accessed 02 January 2020].

Perello, I. (2014) How to Improve Your Documentary Photography. [Online] Available from: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/07/26/tips-documentary-photography/ [accessed 07 January 2020].

Chapple, A. (2018) This Photographer Uses an iPhone to Shoot Russia’s Grittiest Streets MAR 15, 2018 AMOS CHAPPLE. [Online] Available from:https://petapixel.com/2018/03/15/photographer-uses-iphone-shoot-russias-grittiest-streets/ [accessed 07 January 2020].

Visual-arts-cork.com, V. (Date unknown) Documentary Photography. [Online] Available from: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/photography/documentary.htm [accessed 10 January 2020].

Adams, T. (2016) Richard Billingham: ‘I just hated growing up in that tower bloc. [Online] Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/mar/13/richard-billingham-tower-block-white-dee-rays-a-laugh-liz [accessed 27 January 2020].

Web exhibits, O. (2014) Richard Billingham’s Urban Visions. [Online] Available from: http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/billingham.html [accessed 27 January 2020].

Editors, A. (2018) The Story Behind Steve McCurry’s Iconic ‘Afghan Girl’—And How He Found Her Again 20 Years Later. [Online] Available from: https://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/book_report/the-story-behind-steve-mccurrys-iconic-afghan-girland-how-he-found-her-again-20-years-later-55612 [accessed 30 January 2020].

Howard, R. (2016) ‘Afghan Girl’ Arrested on Charges of Using Fraudulent ID. [Online] Available from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/10/afghan-girl-sharbat-gula-arrested/ [accessed 30 January 2020].

Newman, C. (2002) A Life Revealed. [Online] Available from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2002/04/afghan-girl-revealed/ [accessed 30 January 2020].

Vivianmaierphoto, N./.A. (2011) Vivian Maier, Photographer. [Online] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDewAU-rgIM [accessed 31 January 2020].

N/A, N./.A. (2016) Nat Geo Afghan girl arrest: Now, photographer Steve McCurry offers to help Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/nat-geo-afghan-girl-arrest-now-photographer-steve-mccurry-offers-to-help/articleshow/55091151.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst. [Online] Available from: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/nat-geo-afghan-girl-arrest-now-photographer-steve-mccurry-offers-to-help/articleshow/55091151.cms [accessed 30 January 2020].

Boone, J. (2016) National Geographic ‘Afghan Girl’ arrested in Pakistan living under false papers. [Online] Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/26/national-geographic-afghan-girl-arrested-pakistan-false-papers-sharbat-gula [accessed 31 January 2020].

 

News, G. (2016) After her arrest, the ‘Afghan Girl’ is once again a symbol of refugees’ plight. [Online] Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/03/afghan-girl-arrest-refugees-sharbat-gula [accessed 31 January 2020].

Vivian Maier

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A talented street photographer born in American originally French who was way beyond the skills of her time but was never discovered until after her death, it is known that she lived a very private and isolated life. Her biggest enjoyment was taking care of children, being a nanny was her main source of income and perhaps kept her mental state intact which from her self portraits and other workings I think may have been quite fragile. I found that she has a lot of relations in Vincent Van Gogh’s personality, two themes in their characteristics I can’t help but see is problems in mental health and lack of recognition for their art pieces in each era, that in today’s time are beyond anything else I can view.

The lack of recognition is different between them, Van Gogh wanted people to see his work being acknowledged/appreciated which only began very close to his sudden death and carried on increasing after he was killed. While Vivian remains more of a mystery still as she did not release her work and nobody knows the full extent as to why although she wrote in a journal once “Who am I?” “Why should I tell you?” “When I was alive I didn’t want people to know about me” “That was my business”. Possibly she didn’t like too much attention perhaps because she wasn’t a people person like everyone less was back then. If she wanted to be adored for her photography she’d prefer if it was after she would have been gone forever, so there wouldn’t be any need for judgement, criticism or questions about the content within her photographs which can cloud even damage creative minds.

John Maloof

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I could not do a small bio on this artist without mentioning John Maloof, if not for him Vivian’s work would have never been discovered and shared to the eye’s of the world. After he bought his first house he envisioned making a historic book about the neighbourhood to promote the ignored outlooked charm it gave, he decided to co-author the book (Portage Park) this changed his life.

Approximately 220 vintage photos of the neighbourhood were required for Portage Park, John and the co-author (Daniel Pogorzelski) had nearly a year searching for pictures great enough to make the cut. John visited a local auction house named RPN to purchase any materials that might have been used to the book. He found a box filled with negatives depicting the local area and parts of 60’s Chicago, the box was brought for the lucky gamble of $400.

John and Daniel discovered there was nothing that matched the concept of the book they were making so they put in a closest and simply forgot it was here until John revisited the box of negatives when the book was finished. John had absolutely no background in photography to know what to look for but he was inspired so much by Vivian that he took photography then fast forward a year he is using a Rolleiflex just like she did.

John managed to save about 90% of her work from the other buyers at the original auction to accumulate a collection of 100,000 to 150,000 negatives, more than 3,000 prints, hundreds of rolls of film, home movies, audiotape interviews, and various other items. Another collector, Jeff Goldstein, managed to salvage the rest.

Image evaluations

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When I looked through Vivian’s vast collection of imagery yet again, I had trouble determining which one to evaluate due to each revealing such a unique story and emotional vibe of an incredibly harsh time. So I chose this picture because it relates to a shoot I’m preparing myself for on the 4th that involves capturing the busy day to day lives of stall owners in the Tavistock market. The sleeping elderly man would have obviously captured Vivian’s eye as she is drawn to not just the brighter side of life but more to the boring, mundane and depressing side of life.

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This shows how truly time changes. I wouldn’t expect to see a young person riding a horse that size, bareback down which appears to be a busy built-up area. It’s unusual because of how random and bizarre it is giving the image a story of its own mystery. Although the boy is comfortable/relaxed as the horse also calm I can’t help but feel worried about what might occur next. 

Afgan Girl

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Q1. When Steve Mckay was working for National Geographic he was assigned to go to Pakistan refugee camps as people were fleeing from the war in Afghanistan. She was the last person he photographed in the room she was in. Mckay has described in articles that he surprised her with the camera, which ultimately gave her a shocked reaction. Naturally, as she had just fleed a war zone that day her expression leaves a mystery to what length the trauma she must have had to endure. Her green eyes are the focal point drawing the audience in and thus the girl became an international symbol to highlight the plight of the refugee.

 

Q2. The first thing that caught my eye was her green eyes and her stunning features. However, the more you read into the article the more your opinion of the image develops. She looks very isolated and distraught as if she does not want to be seen or talked too. Slightly hostile in the fact that if someone was to touch her she would react with a distressing jump and scream.

This image makes me feel both grateful and guilty. Grateful for being born in a safe geographical area of the world, where I don’t have to deal which such horrific, political outbursts and dramas which have a major impact to the country especially on the poor communities. I am guilty of not giving or doing my part to those who are truly in desperate need. Something I have made an ambition of and endeavour to achieve.

 

Q3. The National Geographic television and films EXPLORER decided to try and reconnect Steve and the Afan girl, her name unknown, to find out what had happened to her and how her life had unfolded. If she had indeed even survived the war-ridden land.

 

Q4. In 2016 the Afgan girl made national headlines due to being arrested by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency for allegedly having false legal identity documents. 

McCurry shared on his Instagram and Facebook pages that he was disgusted to hear of Shabbat Gula’s (Afghan Girl) arrest and was motivated to do anything in his power financially and legally to help. 

 

Q5. Once they were reunited Steve McCurry and the National Geographic were able to assist in lifetime medical treatment for all the family. Although money was never mentioned personally by Shabbat, Steve wanted to financially support them in multiple ways and continues to do so.

I believe at the time the image would have had a major impact on any readers of the National Geographic as automatically gives you a feeling of guilt, remorse and empathy to all people who are suffering in similar situations. She became an iconic symbol for refugees around the world.

 

Q6. Equipment used to take the intail shot was a Nikon FM2 camera, Kodachrome 64 slide 35mm film, 105mm Ai-S f/2.5 lens, or some say might have been A 180mm lens.

 

 

Andreas Gursky

A German photographer and professor, he’s known mostly for large format architecture and landscape photographs however his work falls into the fine art category. His driven focus is a scale with gigantic prints up to 8 meters wide and high large photographs stitched together when doing his exhibitions. Due to the scale of choosing, the detail has to be and is absolutely matchless so photo manipulation is always added. Mainly his method involves helicopters and drones so his pictures can be captured at lofted vantage points. 

Each concept of his work reveals humanity’s experience, condition and impact on the landscape and the environment. There’s lots of juxtaposition within his photographs, of the natural with the unnatural, the organic and the artificial/man-made. 

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In this landscape, I find Gursky is trying to unveil the aftermath of the human population increase issue by showing what becomes of beautiful places when they are found. Each separate tent represents the amount of space two perhaps three or more humans take-up then considering the amount of tents waste is a bigger problem.

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The River Rhine was once the most expensive photographs ever sold took in Germany and the price of 4.34 million. The reasoning behind why this is a marked in history is due to the horizontal lines of the river, grass, pavement and overhead sky. At first, I felt very little about the image hadn’t completely no interested except why was once the most valuable image in the world. Until researching the images and reading about horizontal lines I then realized why it had worth to some admirers but it still is not that remarkable to me.

Nicholas J R white

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In a strange way, I recognized that Nicholas well accomplished Photographer who was a student at PCA on the same course I am currently attending and came in for an artist the last term has a style alike Andreaus. Within Gursky photography, he shows the human impact and the fact we can overpopulate areas on earth making us even more destructible to the planet but he also defines the dangerous curiosity to larger things we can’t control which are both possessed in all of us. Nick focuses on how we are very small in large places far away from civilisation in his project Black Dots I suspect that if White wanted, he would be able to alter his style very close to Gursky’s I’d definitely class them in the same style of the landscape genre.  

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Black Dots was a fascinating topic that was thought up by White due to it being clearly a demonstration of the insignificance to size ratios, between humans and the world surrounding and beneath them. I’m intrigued to know what gave him the idea again I think it was because he liked hiking but can’t remember for sure. There are similarities that lay in the concept of the human condition and insignificance to size but the main difference I noticed right away is lofted heights that are seen in Gursky’s photos. It would be entertaining to view one of Nick’s images from a lofted height because some of his other photos were from much lower heights then Gursky’s. I don’t know for definite if it would help the main concept of his project but it could possibly promote his career slightly more then it already is.

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