Tag: Context and narrative

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Exercise 3.1 – Autobiographical self-portraiture (P.78)

517401 OCA Photography

Reflect on the pieces of work discussed in this project in your learning log and do some further research of your own. Here are a few questions you might ask yourself: • How do these images make you feel? The works presented in this project are self-portraits by three female photographers; Francesca Woodman, Elina Brotherus and Gillian Wearing. I found myself reacting to them in different ways. I was aware of Frencesca Woodman’s work and her suicide at the age of 22. My reaction to her work was to question what she was trying to communicate? Were her self-portraits trying … Continue reading Exercise 3.1 – Autobiographical self-portraiture (P.78)

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Assignment 1 – Tutor feedback

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My feedback for assignment one can be read here I thought that the feedback was fair and that the point about the resdient images being too homogenised was something that I had not realised prior to submission. I have decided to change two of the images, convenience store and Sunday morning rowing. Looking again at the set I think that these are the weakest images and I intend to replace them with images that high-light some of the issues that Cambridge residents experience. Continue reading Assignment 1 – Tutor feedback

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Kaylynn Deveney – The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings and Karen Knorr – Gentlemen

517401 OCA Photography

The Day-to-Day Life of Alfred Hastings is a collection of 83 images by KayLynn Deveney, 77 hand written captions by Alfred Hastings and an assortment of his poems, drawings and family photographs. Deveney first met Albert Hastings in 2001 and shortly afterwards began taking photographs of him, continuing until his death in 2007 at the age of 91 . As the title suggests, the photographs depict everyday events from Albert’s life. I like this work, I think the images combined with the hand written captions on lined paper by Albert are personal, intimate and give an indication of the connection … Continue reading Kaylynn Deveney – The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings and Karen Knorr – Gentlemen

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Research point – Sophie Calle – Take Care of Yourself

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In contrast to Sophy Rickett’s collaboration with one person, Dr. Willstrop, Sophie Calle’s work Take Care of Yourself was a collaboration with 108 other people, her ex-partner who emailed to tell her he was ending their relationship and 107 of her women who responded to her request to comment on the email which she had sent to them and asked them to comment on it in their professional capacity. She then photographed or videoed them and their response. The email from her boyfiend that Calle shared is set out below: Sophie, I have been meaning to write and reply to … Continue reading Research point – Sophie Calle – Take Care of Yourself

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Research point – Sophy Rickett – Objects in the Field

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Sophy Rickett’s Objects in the Field is a work produced when she was undertaking an artist fellowship at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy. The work was produced from the 125 negatives taken over a 2 year period by Dr Roderick Willstrop using the Three Mirror Telescope that he developed. Dr Willstrop’s involvement was not limited to providing the negatives but also the captions for the images and narration for Rickett’s video Afterword (Polishing, Not Grinding). Reading about the work it is clear that there is a tension between the Rickett and Willstrop in their appreciation of the images. … Continue reading Research point – Sophy Rickett – Objects in the Field

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Assignment 1 – revised approach

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After trying some initial test shots I have decided to revise my approach to this assignment. Whilst taking some pictures around New Year, I was struck by the number of tourists taking pictures of and selfies in front of the famous sites in Cambridge and that some were even brave enough to go punting in January, so I have decided to portray Cambridge from the perspective of a tourist and a resident. My main reasons for changing from the other approaches I had identified was that I was concerned that there would be a lack of variety in the images … Continue reading Assignment 1 – revised approach

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Assignment 1 – initial thoughts

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Create at least two sets of photographs telling different versions of the same story. The aim of the assignment is to help you explore the convincing nature of documentary, even though what the viewer thinks they see may not in fact be true. Try to make both sets equally convincing so that it’s impossible to tell which version of the images is ‘true’. As with many of the assignments I find it difficult to think of a subject that appeals to me, that could be visually engaging and meets the criteria set out in the brief. My initial thoughts are … Continue reading Assignment 1 – initial thoughts

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Reasearch point – Paul Seawright’s Sectarian Murders

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Look online at Paul Seawright’s work, Sectarian Murders. How does this work challenge the boundaries between documentary and art? Listen to Paul Seawright talk about his work at: http://vimeo.com/76940827 [accessed 24/02/14] What is the core of his argument? Do you agree with him? If we define a piece of documentary photography as art, does this change its meaning? Paul Seawright’s series of images referred to as Sectarian Murders is a collection of 12 colour images taken in 1987/88. The photographs are of locations around Belfast where bodies of victims of sectarian murders in the early 1970s were found. Each image is … Continue reading Reasearch point – Paul Seawright’s Sectarian Murders

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Exercise 1.2 – Reportage (P.33)

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Find a street that particularly interests you – it may be local or further afield. Shoot 30 colour images and 30 black and white images in a street photography style. In your learning log, comment on the differences between the two formats. What difference does colour make? Which set do you prefer and why? The following images are from a set of about 50 that I took in and around the market square in Cambridge. They were taken on a day with light grey cloud cover which gave a flat, even light. The images were taken with 50mm and 85mm … Continue reading Exercise 1.2 – Reportage (P.33)

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Street photography

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Do some research into contemporary street photography. Helen Levitt, Joel Meyerowitz, Paul Graham, Joel Sternfeld and Martin Parr are some good names to start with, but you may be able to find further examples for yourself. What difference does colour make to a genre that traditionally was predominantly black and white? Can you spot the shift away from the influence of surrealism (as in Cartier-Bresson’s work)? How is irony used to comment on British-ness or American values? Before looking at the work of the photographers mentioned in teh question I thought I would try and find a definition of the … Continue reading Street photography