Friday 24 June 2011
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Updatin'
Been attempting to finish off work for the ear photographs in my earlier blog post, what to really use them for!
I've been thinking about the intimacy of them, that ever old public and private debate. I thought it would be interesting to find out common secrets that people share. Possibly record each person 'admitting' these secrets and have this playing on a loop which would be played at a soft volume on a speaker concealed behind each ear, so that the viewer would have to get as close as possible to make out each individual voice. The collective sound would most likely be a soft murmur of a distant crowd. This is a reference to confession at the church, where many of the confessions are mundane and generally meaningless, however some may be more significant than others. I want to keep quite a generic, almost factory produced feel to the series, and I think this (although this idea is very basic right now..) use of repetition might do the trick. I must do some experiments.
Also, as of yesterday I'm now finally on Central Station! You can view my page here. There isn't much on it as yet, but hopefully willed be filled with some new stuff quite soon!
I've also just finished my application for a 4-week residency at the Market Gallery in Glasgow, it sounds like a fantastic and fun opportunity. Here's hoping I'm lucky enough to get it, although I can't say I'm filled with optimism. You don't get if you don't ask I suppose.
Also been reading this book...
I've been thinking about the intimacy of them, that ever old public and private debate. I thought it would be interesting to find out common secrets that people share. Possibly record each person 'admitting' these secrets and have this playing on a loop which would be played at a soft volume on a speaker concealed behind each ear, so that the viewer would have to get as close as possible to make out each individual voice. The collective sound would most likely be a soft murmur of a distant crowd. This is a reference to confession at the church, where many of the confessions are mundane and generally meaningless, however some may be more significant than others. I want to keep quite a generic, almost factory produced feel to the series, and I think this (although this idea is very basic right now..) use of repetition might do the trick. I must do some experiments.
Also, as of yesterday I'm now finally on Central Station! You can view my page here. There isn't much on it as yet, but hopefully willed be filled with some new stuff quite soon!
I've also just finished my application for a 4-week residency at the Market Gallery in Glasgow, it sounds like a fantastic and fun opportunity. Here's hoping I'm lucky enough to get it, although I can't say I'm filled with optimism. You don't get if you don't ask I suppose.
Also been reading this book...
Wednesday 11 May 2011
Ears 'n' Holes
Friday 6 May 2011
"Anyone can take a photo, it takes skill to draw"
Tonight I was shocked by a conversation turned nasty argument with a former Grays School of Art Painting Graduate ' Jonathan Shearer' (graduated in 1993).
www.jonathanshearer.co.uk
As I'm sure all artists do, I constantly have to fight my corner for choosing to study Art at University. The term 'Micky Mouse Course' has been thrown my way a few times and has stuck in my mind. To be undermined by another artist and told what I am devoting the rest of my life to is not art, is quite frankly unacceptable. I'm ashamed that this way of thinking is a product of the University that I love to be a part of.
It is not a requirement of my degree to be a skilled painter or drawer although, when appropriate, these skills can be exercised. I do occasionally use drawing as a tool to better convey my ideas/resolutions and due to the nature of my chosen course, if I felt it was right to do so, I could submit paintings, sculptures, written works etc. This is not to say by any means that myself, or anyone else that chooses to pursue a career in photography, film or audio does not have a talent for these things.
The requirement of drawing to be awarded the title of a 'real artist' is an archaic and utterly ridiculous and narrow-minded way of thinking. So you're a landscape painter, yes this requires technical ability, which I grant that you have, but the content of the work is documentary at best. If you can learn to write, you can most definitely learn to draw or paint. One of the turning points for me considering myself an actual 'artist' was when I was taught how to convey an idea through visual language (the content of the work and it's connotations). This to me is probably the most important stage of art-making (within my field). This is complex and very difficult to perfect. On top of that of course there is technical ability, just with painting and drawing it takes a lot of time to get these skills under your belt. I don't want to make art for arts sake and become commercial, I don't really care if I make money or not and certainly don't feel I need financial gratification to be deemed 'successful' in the art world.
I have always considered Grays School of Art to be an unpretentious and open learning environment that nurtures not only technical ability but also the minds of the students, teaching us how to see the world in different ways and to penetrate a deeper level of meaning and perception. So to hear from a former student (especially so close to the looming hand-in) that what I do, what I love to do, is not considered 'art', I'll be honest got me quite angry indeed! Although I may have to thank you Jonathan, you pissed me off so much with your condescending bullshit that I now have the energy to get everything done and to prove you wrong.
www.jonathanshearer.co.uk
As I'm sure all artists do, I constantly have to fight my corner for choosing to study Art at University. The term 'Micky Mouse Course' has been thrown my way a few times and has stuck in my mind. To be undermined by another artist and told what I am devoting the rest of my life to is not art, is quite frankly unacceptable. I'm ashamed that this way of thinking is a product of the University that I love to be a part of.
It is not a requirement of my degree to be a skilled painter or drawer although, when appropriate, these skills can be exercised. I do occasionally use drawing as a tool to better convey my ideas/resolutions and due to the nature of my chosen course, if I felt it was right to do so, I could submit paintings, sculptures, written works etc. This is not to say by any means that myself, or anyone else that chooses to pursue a career in photography, film or audio does not have a talent for these things.
The requirement of drawing to be awarded the title of a 'real artist' is an archaic and utterly ridiculous and narrow-minded way of thinking. So you're a landscape painter, yes this requires technical ability, which I grant that you have, but the content of the work is documentary at best. If you can learn to write, you can most definitely learn to draw or paint. One of the turning points for me considering myself an actual 'artist' was when I was taught how to convey an idea through visual language (the content of the work and it's connotations). This to me is probably the most important stage of art-making (within my field). This is complex and very difficult to perfect. On top of that of course there is technical ability, just with painting and drawing it takes a lot of time to get these skills under your belt. I don't want to make art for arts sake and become commercial, I don't really care if I make money or not and certainly don't feel I need financial gratification to be deemed 'successful' in the art world.
I have always considered Grays School of Art to be an unpretentious and open learning environment that nurtures not only technical ability but also the minds of the students, teaching us how to see the world in different ways and to penetrate a deeper level of meaning and perception. So to hear from a former student (especially so close to the looming hand-in) that what I do, what I love to do, is not considered 'art', I'll be honest got me quite angry indeed! Although I may have to thank you Jonathan, you pissed me off so much with your condescending bullshit that I now have the energy to get everything done and to prove you wrong.
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Two For the Road Blog
twofortheroadblog.com
"Two for the road is an editing experiment based on the visual similarities that can be found when photos are presented side by side."
This is great! You can put forward photos if you have a flickr account or you can email them straight to the man in charge. Brilliant idea.
You all might have noticed in my work that I've been working increasinly with both strong and subtle similarities with my photo collections. In pointing out the obvious similarity I feel this also makes the differences so much more evident on further inspection. On first glance (or second, depending on whether you're into my sort of thing...) you might think 'Oh okay.. similar photo, so what'... I think repetition (or volume of different photographs) is the key here and has also been a strong theme in my work this semester. It's kind of like that phrase/fact (can we call it a 'fact'?) that no two snowflakes are the same, I guess I'm trying to collect all those different snowflakes, or desks, or people or armpits or whatever.
Repetition also forces the viewer to make connections in their own mind. I've found this to be a great tool because I'll be honest sometimes I really struggle with my visual language and making it open enough for others to understand what the heck I'm trying to tell them. Probably another key here was to tone down the kind of autobiographical work I've done all the way through art school, which is hindsight is so unpenetratable by others that it's no wonder I got myself so confused when attempting to explain what it is I do and what my work is about.
So, simplicity is working for me at the moment.. and on that note, check out that website!
"Two for the road is an editing experiment based on the visual similarities that can be found when photos are presented side by side."
This is great! You can put forward photos if you have a flickr account or you can email them straight to the man in charge. Brilliant idea.
You all might have noticed in my work that I've been working increasinly with both strong and subtle similarities with my photo collections. In pointing out the obvious similarity I feel this also makes the differences so much more evident on further inspection. On first glance (or second, depending on whether you're into my sort of thing...) you might think 'Oh okay.. similar photo, so what'... I think repetition (or volume of different photographs) is the key here and has also been a strong theme in my work this semester. It's kind of like that phrase/fact (can we call it a 'fact'?) that no two snowflakes are the same, I guess I'm trying to collect all those different snowflakes, or desks, or people or armpits or whatever.
Repetition also forces the viewer to make connections in their own mind. I've found this to be a great tool because I'll be honest sometimes I really struggle with my visual language and making it open enough for others to understand what the heck I'm trying to tell them. Probably another key here was to tone down the kind of autobiographical work I've done all the way through art school, which is hindsight is so unpenetratable by others that it's no wonder I got myself so confused when attempting to explain what it is I do and what my work is about.
So, simplicity is working for me at the moment.. and on that note, check out that website!
Thursday 14 April 2011
Today I found some fish...
Found some fishies in my living room today! My flatmate saved them from her work, they belonged to all the people that worked there but the fishies had started to get depressed so needed a change of scenery.
They now stay in my living on the windowsill and are apparently looking pretty chuffed about it!
So, meet Wanda, Graham and Squishy 4th (apparently the 4th as this girl's fishies kept dying... some people shouldn't have pets I suppose..) Graham is a little camera shy, or maybe he was just too interested in looking out the window but couldn't get a decent photo of him which is a shame because he has really funny big round eyes on the side of his head. Wanda is the big gold fishy and Squishy is the speckly one. I like 'em.
They now stay in my living on the windowsill and are apparently looking pretty chuffed about it!
Wednesday 13 April 2011
Monday 11 April 2011
Alternative Portraits
Today I had my Alternative Portriat photoshoot. It was fun! Thanks to everyone that helped out.
Here's a few of them so far, I still need to edit the ear portraits. So what am I going to do with these? I'd quite like to get some big prints of them, bigger is better after all. I want them to be lifesize and hung at eye level so that the audience is invited to interact with the image. I want to see the reaction of how people connect with an image, what do their eyes lock onto when there are no eyes to look at etc..
Sunday 10 April 2011
Chairs
Spending a few hours on Blurb.com this morning trawling through their lovely books I found this one..
It's a great little collection of empty chairs, and it's great to see the photographer taking a critical view at the images rather than just saying.. here's some chairs, i like chairs.
It's making me a little dissapointed that I didn't spend the time perfecting my description of my book (which I ended up not including, so that there are ONLY photographs in my book), and the cover which I really should have made better. But, there is still time, I am viewing my book as a test since the last time I ordered a Blurb book I made, half of the images were so dark that it was next to impossible to determine what they actually were. So, we shall see. In the meantime while I'm mulling this over, it's been great to look at some other collections people have. Strange collections like this one. I've touched on the idea before in my earlier works about 'hoarding', I'm a hoarder/collector of various strange things, (my latest obsession seems to be anything owl related...?) So I really like the idea that the process of photographing is another way of collecting, collecting moments/memories/emotions etc.
Anyway, here's what he said about his book, I may buy it...
"I'm not exactly sure what got me started photographing chairs, but over the years they've become a common subject for my camera. So much so in fact that many people know me as "that guy that shoots chairs." The style and composition of my chair photos are similar to that of other inanimate subjects I photograph, yet chair photos often evoke a much stronger and often emotional reaction from viewers.
This stronger reaction could be attributed to chairs being a uniquely human object in design and therefore more easily personified than other subjects. This leads to chairs grouped together being seen as interacting socially. A chair left alone against a wall is often described as being lonely. For me what often catches my attention is that the chair in my viewfinder is probably where it was left by it's last occupant. This creates a mystery as to who was sitting there and what were they doing--reading, thinking, smoking, or just waiting. In that sense the photo can be seen as a portrait without the person or perhaps even a stage minus the actors. In this way of seeing, what is not present in the photo is just as important as what was left for the camera to find."
This stronger reaction could be attributed to chairs being a uniquely human object in design and therefore more easily personified than other subjects. This leads to chairs grouped together being seen as interacting socially. A chair left alone against a wall is often described as being lonely. For me what often catches my attention is that the chair in my viewfinder is probably where it was left by it's last occupant. This creates a mystery as to who was sitting there and what were they doing--reading, thinking, smoking, or just waiting. In that sense the photo can be seen as a portrait without the person or perhaps even a stage minus the actors. In this way of seeing, what is not present in the photo is just as important as what was left for the camera to find."
Saturday 9 April 2011
It's Finished!
So now you can buy it, or just look at it! The price is the original that Blurb set as it seemed pretty steep already I've put the preview on so you can view the whole book.
In the final I decided to edit all of the photographs so that the windows either side of the door would not appear as with them it loooked messy and was pretty terrible...
So yeah view it here...
My House - Blurb.com
So I've ordered my copy, apparently it should come by 18 April. I have a big smiley face!
Also just a reminder, I'll be doing my Alternative Portrait shoot on Monday at 3pm if anyone else would still like to help out! I will only need each person for around a minute or two each hopefully, so I'll be providing some black t-shirts for you all to wear as I want to make the photos as uniform as possible, or if you have a plain black t-shirt, you can bring it along.
In the final I decided to edit all of the photographs so that the windows either side of the door would not appear as with them it loooked messy and was pretty terrible...
So yeah view it here...
My House - Blurb.com
So I've ordered my copy, apparently it should come by 18 April. I have a big smiley face!
Also just a reminder, I'll be doing my Alternative Portrait shoot on Monday at 3pm if anyone else would still like to help out! I will only need each person for around a minute or two each hopefully, so I'll be providing some black t-shirts for you all to wear as I want to make the photos as uniform as possible, or if you have a plain black t-shirt, you can bring it along.
Friday 1 April 2011
No Lifeguard on Duty
Really loving this series of diss-used swimming pools 'No Lifeguard on Duty' by J. Bennett Fitts. I've always been strangely attracted to derelict buildings and abandoned spaces. Maybe it's the trace of people that I find most interesting, obviously theres the dangerous aspect attatched to running around these places trying not to be seen or get caught out, usually ending up in a good old chase.J Bennett Fitts
Im particularly interested in this series, I can't figure out why, I think it might be to do with the way we are seeing these spaces as they are not meant to be seen, these pools have been drained, they seem somewhat dead I suppose. A nice little graveyard of swimming pools! It also reminds me of how angry I was at Aberdeen Council's decision on the closure of Bon Accord Baths. A beautiful building, with a great history, probably the best swimming pool in Aberdeen, which without maintenence will probably fall into a state of serious disrepair given five or ten years. Bloody love this website, I'm about to shamefully show my nerdy side...
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=33725&highlight=aberdeen
One of the best places I have ever visited was 'Spree Park', an abandoned amusement park in Planterwald, Berlin. Extremely creepy with forgotten decaying rides, it really felt like walking through a film set on a horror film.. always jumping at the slightest whistle of wind or birdsong. The bit that sticks out most in my mind was approaching the massive ferris wheel, because of the wind the damn thing had started to rotate, as if it was in use and I have to admit I did act like a little girl and hide behind my friend.
Theres a documentory about the background story of why the place got shut down, something to do with the owner smuggling drugs in the ride carriages or something, as yet I have been unable to find an english subtitled version of it, but it looks like a great watch if anyone could help me out as my german translation is pretty much non-existant.
Where Children Sleep
Someone, can't remember who told me about this yesterday, so it seems crazy that I stumble upon it by complete accident today. Great idea, brilliant thought-provoking photography. It's so interesting to see the vast differences between each childs background.
This blog can probably explain it a bit better than I can...
Mammoth Blog
Also in other book news, my friend is making a collaborative book! Kind of like that game consequences.. Add a sentence here!
Book Bonding
This blog can probably explain it a bit better than I can...
Mammoth Blog
Also in other book news, my friend is making a collaborative book! Kind of like that game consequences.. Add a sentence here!
Book Bonding
Thursday 31 March 2011
Thomas Ruff and more alternative portrait ideas...
Thinking about more alternative portraiture I could work on I thought it would be worth it to take a look at Thomas Ruff's work.
We all know him, we've all seen them and to be honest, as stand alone images I never really appreciated these photographs. However, seeing the series as a whole and now understanding the workload that has gone into them has made me feel differently about them.
I admire how Thomas Ruff has perfected the way he photographed this series, at the beginning there were different background, different poses etc and then he narrowed it down to a uniform formula; same background, same pose, same lack of facial expression...
The only thing that gives us any insight to these people is the clothes that they have chosen/been given to wear.
For my portraits, I would like to shed light on some of the uncelebrated parts of the body, some parts we may forget about. Rather than focus on the face I would firstly like to take a series of images of the back of people's heads. Contradictory to Ruff's portraits, I would like to supply the clothing, I would like these images to be as uniform as possible, so why not have an actualy uniform. The subject/person will be given a black t-shirt to wear and stand infront of a white background, facing the wall, back to the camera. The use of black and white throughout will create a connection through the series and will also act as a positive aesthetic... hopefully.
I'm interested in doing this because when we view a portrait, our eyes automatically dart to a person's eyes, taking this out of the equation it would be interesting to see how an audience reacts with the 'portrait'. It is possible that the audience may feel uncomfortable, almost like a peeping tom as they do not have that visual connection with the person's eyes. The final photographs would be of a large scale, so that the audience is forced to view something that we would usually gloss over and not take too much care of interest over.
I have also been thinking more about the private/public aspect of portraiture and would like to transfer this idea to people. I like the idea that any orifice on a person's body can be a public and also a private place. For example one's ear is at most times on view and could be argued that it is a public space. However the inside of a person's ear is private, just like behind a front door of somebody's home.
SO! It would be great if I could get some volunteers for this. I have booked in a slot in the photographic studio for MONDAY 11TH APRIL at 3.00PM, any help would be greatly appreciated, and as always all images will be anonymous and efforts will be rewarded with a chocolatey treat!
We all know him, we've all seen them and to be honest, as stand alone images I never really appreciated these photographs. However, seeing the series as a whole and now understanding the workload that has gone into them has made me feel differently about them.
I admire how Thomas Ruff has perfected the way he photographed this series, at the beginning there were different background, different poses etc and then he narrowed it down to a uniform formula; same background, same pose, same lack of facial expression...
The only thing that gives us any insight to these people is the clothes that they have chosen/been given to wear.
For my portraits, I would like to shed light on some of the uncelebrated parts of the body, some parts we may forget about. Rather than focus on the face I would firstly like to take a series of images of the back of people's heads. Contradictory to Ruff's portraits, I would like to supply the clothing, I would like these images to be as uniform as possible, so why not have an actualy uniform. The subject/person will be given a black t-shirt to wear and stand infront of a white background, facing the wall, back to the camera. The use of black and white throughout will create a connection through the series and will also act as a positive aesthetic... hopefully.
I'm interested in doing this because when we view a portrait, our eyes automatically dart to a person's eyes, taking this out of the equation it would be interesting to see how an audience reacts with the 'portrait'. It is possible that the audience may feel uncomfortable, almost like a peeping tom as they do not have that visual connection with the person's eyes. The final photographs would be of a large scale, so that the audience is forced to view something that we would usually gloss over and not take too much care of interest over.
I have also been thinking more about the private/public aspect of portraiture and would like to transfer this idea to people. I like the idea that any orifice on a person's body can be a public and also a private place. For example one's ear is at most times on view and could be argued that it is a public space. However the inside of a person's ear is private, just like behind a front door of somebody's home.
SO! It would be great if I could get some volunteers for this. I have booked in a slot in the photographic studio for MONDAY 11TH APRIL at 3.00PM, any help would be greatly appreciated, and as always all images will be anonymous and efforts will be rewarded with a chocolatey treat!
Wednesday 16 March 2011
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Another Blurb - 'My House'
Still in the making stages.. but got all my doors! some to still be re-done. going nuts.
Wednesday 9 March 2011
Google Street View
Yes, I've been Google street-viewing near enough every street in Aberdeen to find my house (and others exactly like it). I'm limiting my search and collection only to buildings that appear just like the ones above. My specifications are the double windows, and garden at each side of the door. There's a lot of them without the garden, so I have to say I'm a little glad I don't have to photograph them all. Needless to say, even just photographing all of the other ones will be quite a task.
Today as I started on my mission I came across a gentleman that asked me what I was doing photographing his home, being a little hazy this morning I just said 'it's an art project, would you like me to delete the photo?' I was actually all too happy to do this because thankfully I'd taken another due to shoddy exposure. So I deleted it in front of him, but now I feel a little guilty and as I can't remember which one it was, I'll just have to keep it.
SO! So far I have found 19 more streets with 'My House' on it, and I've already photographed 6 streets. I guess I better get out there and get snapping eh.
Tuesday 8 March 2011
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