What started off as an undefined and nonlinear project has now transpired into an exciting and evident piece of work. Initially my thoughts were set on displaying time-lapse through photo sequence. I was blinded by the concept and despite experimenting with subject and theory; the idea seemed to be going in a stagnant direction soon to face a dead end. Upon acting on this I opened my mind and ventured my thoughts into a more achievable and creative thinking style. While still being fascinated with time theory, various theorists such as McTaggart allowed me to channel my ideas more creatively, where I started to practically experiment with different techniques. As I started researching more and more into different artists and styles, I started to define more of an articulated route in which I wanted to follow. Narrative photographers have had a huge influence on my work, Duane Michals particularly has influenced the structuring of my images, where I have kept intent on arranging them in a photo sequence like fashion. I have been fairly relaxed in the amount of images displayed within one piece, as I feel this shouldn’t be strict as I don’t want my work looking to precise; each situation I am expressing will require a different amount of images to tell the story. Nan Goldin, Philip Lorca Dicorcia and Gregory Crewdson are amongst many artists I have looked at who have inspired me along my journey, influencing my work to sculpt it to its current state. After thorough research and observation, my curiosity of how people around me spend their time carries on. After repelling yet understanding McTaggarts Theory on time, I started to delve into the idea of how people around me spend their time, within this I started to explore change and stasis, yet was drawn to the idea of isolation and identity within society, and how time engulfs it, extracting any possibility of positive change. My aims of this project now are to examine further the idea of identity and isolation of people. I feel as though the project is still in an early stage to pinpoint a concise aim of what my finale produce will aesthetically look like, yet I aim to continue producing work within a photo sequence fashion, also with single images to compliment the narrative if necessary. My final images in term one follow the lives of two different people, where the audience may be left questioning their situation. I intend on making my narrative a lot more clear in my final project, using sequence and single images in which to display this, hoping to achieve the audience’s belief and sincerity of the narrative.
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Production Schedule
(1)WEEK 13 (Starting Monday 16th Jan) -
- Review of previous terms work. Look through everything thoroughly and critically, from researched theories, artists, techniques and all practical work produced. Review, Assess and recap on term 1.
(2)WEEK 14 (Starting Monday 23rd Jan) -
- Technical workshop, am. Weds 25th (Darren)
- Lecture - 'key critical Concepts' (MH/SG)
- Refine RAW skills and carry on with independent shooting (Reminder: Buy 'card reader' to reduce stress when transferring photographs from camera, saving unnecessary trips to library)
(3)WEEK 15 (Starting Monday 30th Jan) -
- Games & Simulation (Element 1, presentation, Monday 30th) - Although this will be written in Christmas holidays, the beginning of week 14 will be interrupted, yet once finished will relieve pressure, allowing more dedication and concentration on Independent production.
- Lecture - 'Presentation & Exhibition' (RD/MH)
- Carry on with Independent shooting
(4)WEEK 16 (Starting Monday 6th Feb) -
- Booked: 'Adobe' tutorial at 'Apple' (1 Hour long, Bristol City Centre), specifically 'Photoshop' and 'Bridge' (Mon 6th Feb)
- Seminar - 'Viewers making meaning' (Weds 8th Feb)
- Book: Tutorial (Govinda) - Discuss project so far. Where i need to be heading with it etc
- Lecture - 'Viewers making meaning' (RD)
- Carry on with independent shooting
(5)WEEK 17 (Starting Monday 13th Feb) -
- Dissertation meeting at start of week (Booked), may interfere with start of week, yet needs to be done - Time management is essential with all modules, as well as work weight, resulting in less production this week.
- Technical workshop (Darren)
- Lecture - 'Narrative' (RD) (very important to attend, very relevant to work)
- Carry on with independent shooting (Start to make list for potential models)
(6)WEEK 18 (Starting Monday 20th Feb) -
- (Reminder: buy tripod!)
- Seminar - 'Narrative+Composition' (Must attend, very relevant to work)
- BOOK Tutorial (Govinda)
- Lecture - 'Composition (RD) - Vital
- RECAP, look over project so far, make a list of 'To do's' , is it heading in right direction?
(7)WEEK 19 (Starting Monday 27th Feb) -
- Technical workshop (Darren)
- Lecture - 'Useful strategies for editing, refining, polishing' (GD)
- RECAP, + EDIT
(8)WEEK 20 (Starting Monday 5th March) -
- -No Lecture- but 'Exhibition Discussion'
- Post production + exhibition + pre production
- Carry on with independent shooting (EDIT as necessary)
(9)WEEK 21 (Starting Monday 12th March) -
- IMPORTANT : Last tutorial slot, book, (Govinda)
- ((Dissertation draft due soon, time management = vital at this stage))
- Post production editing
- Skills must be on point for photoshop/RAW (the main programmes ill be using as editing software)
(10)WEEK 22 (Starting Monday 19th March) -
- Plenary : Work in progress
- Technical workshop
- - No Lecture -
- Final post production (EDITING)
- Test runs on printing, Should by now have figure out everything needed for printing, size etc
(11)WEEK 23 (Starting Monday 26th March) -
- Plenary Submission/ COMPLETION of work
- LAST tutorial (Govinda)
- Submission Q+A (MH)
- Final post production (Testing)
EASTER HOLIDAYS (6th April- 29th) FINAL POST PRODUCTION + EXHIBITION PRODUCTION
3rd MAY, FINAL HANDIN
Bibliography (Term 1)
Gerald Rochelle, 1998, "Killing time without injuring eternity — McTaggart's C series," Idealistic Studies 28(3): 159-69.
John Turner & Penny Oakes (1986). "The significance of the social identity concept for social psychology with reference to individualism, interactionism and social influence". British Journal of Social Psychology: 237–252.
http://www.squidoo.com/absolutely-cool-videos-for-romantic-evening [Accessed 29th October]
Craig Callender, 2002, “Time, Reality and experience” London: Cambridge University Press
Gould, Stephen Jay, & Eldredge, Niles (1977). "Punctuated equilibria: the tempo and mode of evolution reconsidered." Paleobiology 3: 115-151. (p.145)
Eldredge, Niles and S. J. Gould (1972). "Punctuated Equilibria: an alternative to phyletic gradualism" Models in Paleobiology. San Francisco: Freeman Cooper. pp. 82-88.
Teun Adrianus van Dijk (1985) Discourse and Literature: New approaches to the analysis of literary genres. London: John Benjamins Pub Co. P94.
Burnett, Craig. (2005) "Jeff Wall". London: Tate Publishing
Philip Lorca Dicorcia (2007) “Thousand” SteidlDangin; First Edition
Larry Sultan (1992) 'Pictures from Home'. NY:Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
John Turner & Penny Oakes (1986). "The significance of the social identity concept for social psychology with reference to individualism, interactionism and social influence". British Journal of Social Psychology: 237–252.
Henri Tajfel & John Turner (1986). "The social identity theory of intergroup behaviour", Psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 7–24). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
http://www.squidoo.com/absolutely-cool-videos-for-romantic-evening [Accessed 29th October]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0En-_BVbGc [Accessed 29th October]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_PU3D3QNE [Accessed 29th October]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIl9rO9sURE [Accessed 29th October]
http://groovescreen.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/sherman_untitled_175_Brownie_Vomit.jpg [Accessed 29th October]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I8N74t2x50&feature=related
[Accessed 23rd November]
http://www.photo-seminars.com/Fame/bresson.htm)
[Accessed 3rdDecember]
Larry Sultan
"Pictures from Home" are a particular collection of work i was intrigued by of Sultan's. As i researched further into this project I understood it was a decade-long project documentary of his own parents, showing an interesting sort of 'time lapse'. The project was initially to to be about “what happens when – as I interpreted my father’s fate, corporations discard their no-longer-young employees" and how the resulting frustrations and feelings of powerlessness find their way into family relations.
(Larry Sultan (1992) 'Pictures from Home'. NY:Harry N. Abrams, Inc. )
Sunday 11 December 2011
Lounge shoot
Contextual Theory: Social Identity Theory
From previous shoots and general city wondering and pondering, regarding the people within it, my idea has subconsciously yet predictably started to intertwine the idea of identity, and particularly social identity. The theme of isolation, (in which i have been practically and theoretically researching) no doubt runs parallel with the ides of social Identity. Its a psychology theory, in which describes a portion of ones self concept, ultimately deriving from the involvement within a particular social group, and how other people perceive this. Henri Tajfel and John Turner originally theorised this, basically explaining it was used to describe intergroup human behaviour. The theory now predicts intergroup behaviours on the basis of perceived status, within an environment. This theory is very interesting indeed, and is something that is very noticeable within our society. I feel its something we assess ourselves as humans towards one another, judging and assuming about ones self, or group.
Self categorisation theory is a cousin theory in which describes in more general terms about ones self and group processes. As simple as this theory sounds, I believe it to be very complex and in depth indeed, yet can be understood. I feel as though this theory is very relevant to what i am looking at, and after looked at, will have rebounds , for example isolation or alienation etc. The theory explains how people perceive you, and your identity, which may make that person fearful of being categorised and perceived in a way they may not want to come across, thus resulting in that person feeling isolated from the rest of the people around them, despite them most certainly perceiving people in their own way themselves.
John Turner & Penny Oakes (1986). "The significance of the social identity concept for social psychology with reference to individualism, interactionism and social influence". British Journal of Social Psychology: 237–252.
Henri Tajfel & John Turner (1986). "The social identity theory of intergroup behaviour", Psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 7–24). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
City Center/No Identity? .. (Shutter speed/ Colour experimenting)
-Artist Study: Philip Lorca Dicorcia
Dicorcia has a very cinematic approach to photography, and tends to use domestic settings in much of his photography. Alot of his work is naturalistic, where certain projects are set up for natural reaction (regarding the trip wire experiment shooting people coming back from work), and alot is also set up. Regardless, his photography is indeed very powerful, and 'morish' to look at. His book 'Thousand' has some great photography and can be studied and looked at over and over again. I was attracted to his cinematic and narrative style of photography, where I have tryed to reenact the first example of his i have displayed, this can be found in a newer post within the blog, im sure it wont be too hard to spot, and i have tweaked it in a way to show more of an isolated environment.
Philip Lorca Dicorcia (2007) “Thousand” SteidlDangin; First Edition
Contact Sheets of above shoot:
Contact Sheets of above shoot:
Friday 9 December 2011
Research: Theoretical Context: John McTaggart
"The Unreality Of Time"
As a point of theoretical study I have been looking at McTaggart's early work on time. I feel as though time is a concept in which i firstly looked at as being so very straight forward and simple, just because it is something in our lives which is always there, no matter how you spend it. You can't really choose to avoid time, as its presented to you everywhere (on your wrist in the form of a watch, on your phone as a digital display, in your home in the form of a clock) And it seems to be the center point in which everything rotates around and based on. It can be looked at in so many ways. McTaggart's ideologies explore and argue that time is simply unreal, based on the idea that our descriptions on time are either contradictory, circular or insignificant. He divides his theory into two main descriptions of time, in which he calls the 'A-series' and the 'B-series'.
The 'A-series' identifies positions in time in PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE. Yet, calls these positions contradictory, as each of those properties within each position excludes the other two, and when coming to describes these events later on, making them ultimately circular.
"...the series of positions running from the far past through the near past to the present, and then from the present to the near future and the far future..."
The 'B-series' identifies as time involving CHANGE, but because earlier-later relationships never change the B-series must be an inadequate account of time.
"The series of positions which runs from earlier to later..."
With both of these theories in mind, there is also a third idea which McTaggart includes, which is predictably called
The 'C-Series'. This idea involves NO CHANGE, repelling the other two theories. It goes on the grounds of simply being forever FIXED, yes does not determine the direction of time.
"Events have an order. They are, let us say, in the order M, N, O, P. And they are therefore not in the order M, O, N, P, or O, N, M, P, or in any other possible order. But that they have this order no more implies that there is any change than the order of the letters of the alphabet..."
As interesting as these theories are, they are far from proven. Time can be perceived differently by everyone, and have different meaning to everyone. I personally see time as being a mixture of these theories, despite McTaggart suggesting they can not all run coherently. From the start of my project i have been looking at change and stasis, within time. I believe time causes change, (particularly naturally) but change is also apparent through choices made by a person and the path they choose to go down. On top of this i do believe nature and nurture will hugely effect your well being and will generally sculpt you as a the person you are physically (to some extent) and mentally within. Despite my argument against agreeing with just one theory, time could simply just be an illusion, therefor having no genuine ontological status.I want to intertwine temporality with time and the state of isolation within the culture of todays society within England. The more i look around as a spectator, the more i see isolation and particularly alienation.
Gerald Rochelle, 1998, "Killing time without injuring eternity — McTaggart's C series," Idealistic Studies 28(3): 159-69.
As a point of theoretical study I have been looking at McTaggart's early work on time. I feel as though time is a concept in which i firstly looked at as being so very straight forward and simple, just because it is something in our lives which is always there, no matter how you spend it. You can't really choose to avoid time, as its presented to you everywhere (on your wrist in the form of a watch, on your phone as a digital display, in your home in the form of a clock) And it seems to be the center point in which everything rotates around and based on. It can be looked at in so many ways. McTaggart's ideologies explore and argue that time is simply unreal, based on the idea that our descriptions on time are either contradictory, circular or insignificant. He divides his theory into two main descriptions of time, in which he calls the 'A-series' and the 'B-series'.
The 'A-series' identifies positions in time in PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE. Yet, calls these positions contradictory, as each of those properties within each position excludes the other two, and when coming to describes these events later on, making them ultimately circular.
"...the series of positions running from the far past through the near past to the present, and then from the present to the near future and the far future..."
The 'B-series' identifies as time involving CHANGE, but because earlier-later relationships never change the B-series must be an inadequate account of time.
"The series of positions which runs from earlier to later..."
With both of these theories in mind, there is also a third idea which McTaggart includes, which is predictably called
The 'C-Series'. This idea involves NO CHANGE, repelling the other two theories. It goes on the grounds of simply being forever FIXED, yes does not determine the direction of time.
"Events have an order. They are, let us say, in the order M, N, O, P. And they are therefore not in the order M, O, N, P, or O, N, M, P, or in any other possible order. But that they have this order no more implies that there is any change than the order of the letters of the alphabet..."
As interesting as these theories are, they are far from proven. Time can be perceived differently by everyone, and have different meaning to everyone. I personally see time as being a mixture of these theories, despite McTaggart suggesting they can not all run coherently. From the start of my project i have been looking at change and stasis, within time. I believe time causes change, (particularly naturally) but change is also apparent through choices made by a person and the path they choose to go down. On top of this i do believe nature and nurture will hugely effect your well being and will generally sculpt you as a the person you are physically (to some extent) and mentally within. Despite my argument against agreeing with just one theory, time could simply just be an illusion, therefor having no genuine ontological status.I want to intertwine temporality with time and the state of isolation within the culture of todays society within England. The more i look around as a spectator, the more i see isolation and particularly alienation.
Gerald Rochelle, 1998, "Killing time without injuring eternity — McTaggart's C series," Idealistic Studies 28(3): 159-69.
Craig Callender, 2002, “Time, Reality and experience” London: Cambridge University Press
Experimental shoot
It was the irony of this situation in which i wanted to show most. It displays a busy friday night of people queuing up to use the cash point, where there sits a lonely man begging for money just behind. Despite this man being homeless and not able to shut away his emotions out with walls of a building, he simply has no choice and instead has to beg for money in order to survive. Although this man is not isolating himself from people, he is isolated from the rest of the world around around, where passers by simply que to get money out of the wall. Some will acknowledge him and perhaps give him some money, where others will simply walk past, perhaps not even noticing him. Either way he is in this sense different from everybody else, and is isolated off from society.
-Artist Study: Gregory Crewdson
"Beneath The Roses" are a collection of images I have been looking at, yet non of them are actually titled, which i find a little odd, or perhaps Crewdson wants the viewer to make up their own mind about that. I have chosen to look at this photographer, as for starters I find his photography technically brilliant, with also the sincere implication of suggestion. When first studying his photography (particulalry works from "Beneath The Roses", I was made to feel the subjects sheer alienation, isolation and rejection. His use of lighting is pure brilliance, and although all very much so staged, it doesn't matter to me, as each image is so powerful. His images are exeptionally moody, none of them are really warm and bright. Always stark and in derelict areas, and his models seem somewhat zombified and emotionless. Although I am not close to be able to produce images so powerful in my immature and inexperienced photography career, his works have been of great inspiration.
Isolation/Temporality, Brainstorm..
Isolation:
in isolation without relation to other people or things; separately
the process or fact of isolating or being isolated...
Do people isolate themselves? How are they made to feel isolated? What do they do to try and overcome the feeling of isolation?
Temporality:
the state of existing within or having some relationship with time..
The traditional mode of temporality is a linear procession of past, present, and future.
I think these two meanings tie together quite well and will help me in identifying exactly what it is i want to explore and investigate through photography.
in isolation without relation to other people or things; separately
the process or fact of isolating or being isolated...
Do people isolate themselves? How are they made to feel isolated? What do they do to try and overcome the feeling of isolation?
Temporality:
the state of existing within or having some relationship with time..
The traditional mode of temporality is a linear procession of past, present, and future.
I think these two meanings tie together quite well and will help me in identifying exactly what it is i want to explore and investigate through photography.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
"Passing through"
The whole point of this sequence of images was to document movement of people within a 1 hour time frame, taking a shot every 4 minutes. From where i had set up my tripod, i was staring through the tunnel to a homeless man, who for him time stood still, continuing to encompass him with perhaps cruel and unstructured meaning, while other people walk past him, leaving him unnoticed and unwanted. I am now exploring into the idea of isolation, where in this case, although the homeless person is out in the open, he will be made to feel isolated from the rest of the world, who wouldn't want contact with him. Despite this, he will be accepted with other homeless people, who will seem to live in their own bubble. I wanted to compare stagnant and pointless existence with busy and fast paced movement, while i was stood back witnessing and documenting. I have recently spoken about doing this with the people close to me, but i am now starting to venture out more, using the public and public spaces more as my subject. The image used at the end shows the space in which i was stood, i felt this was relevant for the sequence of images, yet overall i think it is an experiment in which i have dismissed as a piece of work on the whole.
Artist Study: Stephen Shore
An artist who deals with bright colours and domestic spaces was originally my first attraction to his work. "Photography and the limits of representation" see's Stephen Shore discuss the ways in which a three dimensional world flowing in time is transformed into a photograph, and how cultural forces are made accessible to photography through architecture.
Playing with panorama
I think this effect is great. My aim in this image was to evoke a sense of isolation of the subject. Despite our freedom as human beings in this free speech society we live in, Sometimes we are made to feel very much so like prisoners with little motivation to actually leave the four walls we live in, engulfing energy and making us feel as though we are trapped inside our own home, not wanting to leave. The feeling of isolation is something i find weirdly interesting and have experienced myself. I want to further this idea but with the use of photo sequence in which i have been doing, in order to gain a linear approach in my work, making my work more recognisable.
"Stuck Inside"
My favourite sequence of images so far. Here i have slowed down the shutter speed giving a longer exposure, making the subject look almost ghostly like. I purposely did this to show although the room is still and the person is moving around, the space in which he is moving around is very small, showing isolation. The subject appears to be doing not much with his time here. Although visually i really like this sequence, I still feel as though i am trying to be too obvious with what i want to achieve, where as id rather display a sense of mystery, and for the audience to really question what is going on in this mans life.
Inspired from
Saturday 3 December 2011
"Cardboard Box Head" (Richard Vantielcke)
1. "Food box container"
2. "Repeat the same routine"
3. "Box on the move"
"Box on the move"> shows that despite even being in a public space, he is still cut off from the rest of the world.
"Repeat the same routine"> Shows the humdrum daily routine of the character. A dreamy/fantasy morning wake up transforms into sudden realism..
"Food box container"> Shows simply automatic consumption
Exploring this further, introducing theory within my ideas
I do really like this narrative project. It aesthetically shows obvious issues people face everyday (Ones particularly involved in a city rat race) . I had a similar idea earlier on doing something similar, but instead using the box with more meaning, for example someone who is scared of public spaces, with feeling of isolation and alienation, stood alone but with a box on their head to feel safe, and to not be looked at.
This project shows the cardboard box as a head, but has a constant smile- I find this particular, as people would not be so happy in some of the obvious places the artist has put his subject. The idea of a mask used to hide a face is extremely interesting, much like some men will grow facial hair or hide behind a large pair of glasses their whole life. I think the fascination these days involving one selfs appearance , especially the face is something that is increasing in interest with the thought of actually being able to alter and "better" being more apparent than ever, particularly regarding cosmetic surgery. I have related this back to the concept of ones identity within media and cultural studies, and is something that I am really interested in, and is perhaps the direction in which I want to take this project. Someones Identity can be the result of how that person feels and acts. The idea of isolation is one of many rebounds within ones self, and can be spurred on from how they feel within their skin, and also how other people regard them.
The idea of a mask to reveal/conceal your identity
Research: Theoretical context and Research + Thoughts
Ideas...
I am now seeing that it is the way images are put together, determines how they may portray time differently..
I am still playing with the idea of 'change' and stasis..(change vs stasis) considering more things which i want to stay the same, and are bound to change... Also about things which i really want to change, but which remain to stay the same.. My subjects have been mainly people so far , friends aswell as strangers. I want to show that time is never still, no matter how still the situation someone is in, or the space where i am at seems.
Recently I have been observing things differently, with various theories in mind, looking into things which i perhaps before didn't recognise or acnowledge. Mainly regarding people within place, particularly in the city of Bristol, yet i'm sure would be the same in any city. I have been studying people (friends and strangers) and have started to think about their stasis. While i have been researching into stasis, I have come across a very interesting theory, regarding how isolation effects the theory of evolution.
Niles Eldridge and Stephen Jay Gould (1972) - Theory: "Punctuated Equilibrium"
Regards evolution taking place with long periods of stasis, meaning species will exhibit little or no change for the majority of their history - remaining in an extended state - referred to as stasis. When significant change occurs, the theory purposes that this is due to rare or rapid events/conditions happening over a course of time. Despite this theory being specific with the human race as a whole, I think its interesting theory to look at, and can be applied on a lot smaller scale, perhaps being looked at into individuals, rather than mass groups of people. I suppose this could bear the question and thought about whether people travel a life journey which most of the time remains constant, displaying little change, YET if this theory is applied, a rare or rapid change of events will then change their lifes. I think this is not so true, as an event such as a loved one dyeing, is a lot of the time common and also a way of life in a recycling sort of sense, and will have a huge impact in a persons life, repelling this theory, when looked at on a smaller scale.
Gould, Stephen Jay, & Eldredge, Niles (1977). "Punctuated Equilibria: the tempo and mode of evolution reconsidered" Paleobiology 3 (2): 115-151. (p.145)
I am now seeing that it is the way images are put together, determines how they may portray time differently..
I am still playing with the idea of 'change' and stasis..(change vs stasis) considering more things which i want to stay the same, and are bound to change... Also about things which i really want to change, but which remain to stay the same.. My subjects have been mainly people so far , friends aswell as strangers. I want to show that time is never still, no matter how still the situation someone is in, or the space where i am at seems.
Recently I have been observing things differently, with various theories in mind, looking into things which i perhaps before didn't recognise or acnowledge. Mainly regarding people within place, particularly in the city of Bristol, yet i'm sure would be the same in any city. I have been studying people (friends and strangers) and have started to think about their stasis. While i have been researching into stasis, I have come across a very interesting theory, regarding how isolation effects the theory of evolution.
Niles Eldridge and Stephen Jay Gould (1972) - Theory: "Punctuated Equilibrium"
Regards evolution taking place with long periods of stasis, meaning species will exhibit little or no change for the majority of their history - remaining in an extended state - referred to as stasis. When significant change occurs, the theory purposes that this is due to rare or rapid events/conditions happening over a course of time. Despite this theory being specific with the human race as a whole, I think its interesting theory to look at, and can be applied on a lot smaller scale, perhaps being looked at into individuals, rather than mass groups of people. I suppose this could bear the question and thought about whether people travel a life journey which most of the time remains constant, displaying little change, YET if this theory is applied, a rare or rapid change of events will then change their lifes. I think this is not so true, as an event such as a loved one dyeing, is a lot of the time common and also a way of life in a recycling sort of sense, and will have a huge impact in a persons life, repelling this theory, when looked at on a smaller scale.
Gould, Stephen Jay, & Eldredge, Niles (1977). "Punctuated Equilibria: the tempo and mode of evolution reconsidered" Paleobiology 3 (2): 115-151. (p.145)
Eldredge, Niles and S. J. Gould (1972). "Punctuated Equilibria: an alternative to phyletic gradualism" Modes in Paleobiology. San Francisco: Freeman Cooper. pp.82-88
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Again, an artist who really interests me. I have picked out two of his works which i felt relevant to me, showing movement and a general flow of time, captured in single images.
(Quote found on http://www.photo-seminars.com/Fame/bresson.htm)
Jeff Wall: A Sudden Gust Of Wind: 1993
"Amateur actors play the odd assortment of rural and city characters, surprised by the forces of nature". This image required over 100 photographs, taken over the course of more than a year, to achieve a seamless montage that gives the illusion of capturing a real moment in time.
This image fascinates me, once i found out the effort put into it. I find when looking at it you almost see it come alive and happen, visualising the paper flying further and further away. This was the first image which really allowed me to see how once image can perhaps display a flow of time (rather than having to show a sequence to show this). This one image really shows a great deal of motion and movement. Although digitally enhanced, and very mush so set up and staged, i relate this this to notions of life, and feel as though just because its not spontaneous and real, it can still has the same effect if it were. It is just because i am educated towards the fact that this image has been set up, i am supposed to change my feelings towards it?
As a carry on to my experimenting, i will also intend on producing single images to show a flow of time.
(Image from tate.org.uk)
More examples of Jeff Wall's work- a little more relevant to my work.
(Insomnia 1994)
'Insomnia' shows Wall's cinematic tendency in his work, particularly in domestic situations and settings, creating a sort of claustrophobic and alienated fantasy world, almost looking like a film set. These works have been of inspiration to me, and where i am working with isolation and temporality, these images seem very relevant.
(A ventriloquist at a birthday party in October 1947 1990)
(Reference: Burnett, Craig. (2005) "Jeff Wall". London: Tate Publishing)
Artist Study:
Sourced from :
Rosiecooper.info
Some interesting photography and creative concepts displayed within this artists recent gallery show i stumbled across; 'In the Belly of the Whale'
I was particularly drawn to the above piece of work, with the narrative and sequence composition being relevant and of interest to my research and practical work.
Lat night I spent an hour shooting peoples movements to and from a busy cashpoint in a town centre, trying to display the irony of a homeless person begging just behind, hunched on a metal pole. I wanted to query the thought of where these people were off to, how they spend their time? their obviously quite busy, and showing the contrast of how still and static time is for the homeless person. I took a shot every 2.5 minutes or so, for an hour, and wish to display all the shots in one print, showing like a contact sheet. I think this could look quite effective.
Friday 2 December 2011
First sequence breakdown/ General Feelings
Influence from Duane Michals and Cindy Sherman (mainly)
The idea behind this sequence of 9 images presented as one was to document a friend of mine who seems to spend alot of his time not doing alot..
I wanted to express his feelings of isolation, confinement and paranoia in this sequence of images, displayed in black and white as i regarded this to be best fitting for the shoot, showing contrast between black and white nicely. To show isolation and confinement, I only included the one person in the shoot, using close ups to capture facial expression. I wanted to somehow show time as being very slow but also being something that is everlasting yet unchanging to this persons life.. As people move onwards and upwards, with time being a contributor to change,, this person merely plods along, smoking weed and feeling somewhat not part of society.. From previous mention of motion and movement within photography, and life in general, i worked against this and wanted to slow time down. I shot alot of the images experimenting with slowing down the shutter speed aswell, but decided not to use them as the still ones worked better. The top middle image is the only one used, i felt this helped to slow the sequence down.
This was merely an experiment and i think worked quite well. I will continue to shoot , which will help me to refine my idea as such. So far I still havn't pin pointed what i want from this project, and also what i want my audience to get from it. I am of course prepared to rethink the project if i feel it may steer in a different direction, as i have more than enough time to do so..
I want to make the project a little bit more specific, perhaps more issue based and somewhat more critical. I don't feel it should be passive nor obey me..
I shall carry on with research,( theoretical and technical ) and will continue to piece together my project, with relevant experiments and examples, still focusing on the aspect of time..
Raising questions/Thinking about time as a concept..
In order to investigate the nature of time it may help to break it down into four main questions.
1) How does time flow?
2) Does time flow in only one direction?
3) Is there a constant 'Universal' time?
4) Is time a 'real' dimension?
The idea behind this sequence of 9 images presented as one was to document a friend of mine who seems to spend alot of his time not doing alot..
I wanted to express his feelings of isolation, confinement and paranoia in this sequence of images, displayed in black and white as i regarded this to be best fitting for the shoot, showing contrast between black and white nicely. To show isolation and confinement, I only included the one person in the shoot, using close ups to capture facial expression. I wanted to somehow show time as being very slow but also being something that is everlasting yet unchanging to this persons life.. As people move onwards and upwards, with time being a contributor to change,, this person merely plods along, smoking weed and feeling somewhat not part of society.. From previous mention of motion and movement within photography, and life in general, i worked against this and wanted to slow time down. I shot alot of the images experimenting with slowing down the shutter speed aswell, but decided not to use them as the still ones worked better. The top middle image is the only one used, i felt this helped to slow the sequence down.
This was merely an experiment and i think worked quite well. I will continue to shoot , which will help me to refine my idea as such. So far I still havn't pin pointed what i want from this project, and also what i want my audience to get from it. I am of course prepared to rethink the project if i feel it may steer in a different direction, as i have more than enough time to do so..
I want to make the project a little bit more specific, perhaps more issue based and somewhat more critical. I don't feel it should be passive nor obey me..
I shall carry on with research,( theoretical and technical ) and will continue to piece together my project, with relevant experiments and examples, still focusing on the aspect of time..
Raising questions/Thinking about time as a concept..
In order to investigate the nature of time it may help to break it down into four main questions.
1) How does time flow?
2) Does time flow in only one direction?
3) Is there a constant 'Universal' time?
4) Is time a 'real' dimension?
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