Week 6 - Reflection
Looking at the Learning Objectives for this module I consider the following:
LO1 Process
- I have been creating photographs every week since the start of this module, at points shooting twice a week in order to capture the ebb and flow of the Oxford Road.
- I have explored different styles of photography from portraiture, landscape, still life and what could be described as reportage. These styles have involved a range of different techniques aiming to communicate the context of the images. Some have been successful and other not so much. From these experiments I feel I have discovered that the most successful style for portraiture involves the person in the image being centre of the frame, looking away from the camera, not smiling, with enough space around the edges of the frame to give an audience an idea of the space the person is in and context for the project.
- The current concept I am working on is an allegory for hopes and dreams – I want my images to show that the people of Oxford Road’s ambition cannot be confined to a box. Once these things feel possible and these ideas, aspirations and targets become like birds soaring in the wind, caught in the flow of the place. We/they are no longer in control of the dream anymore, the road is in control. Some fade, break and disappear, other develop, grow and prosper.
- Reflecting on my process I feel I need to take a break from making images. I am currently struggling to manage the number of photographs I have taken and am making mistakes and missing images that could contribute to the narrative I am trying to communicate. To aid with this I have printed all the images I have created so far to produce a rough edit of the work and work out what is missing in relation to the narrative. I have bought cork boards and pins so I can live with the images and invite other people to look at the photographs and create sequences. I also plan to create and share a Miro board with photographers I know in order to gain opinions from outside of the course in the development of the work. I cannot rely on this as people have their own lives and busy worlds, however I feel there is the potential for people to be involved in the project more and give advice and suggestions I may not have considered.
Determine appropriate research methods and methodologies to develop, produce, inform and critically underpin your creative practice
LO2 – Research
- I have tried to explore a range of different research sources in this module from films like America Beauty to YouTube interviews with photographers, and podcasts, alongside the usual photographic, theoretical and technical research that underpins the majority of my working practice as a photographer.
- Paul Graham continues to be a big influence on my project. In an interview with the Louisiana Channel he spoke about letting life flow around you like a stream. I have tried to use a similar style of photography as he did in a shimmer of possibility but currently it is not working for me. I have attempted different approaches, such as sitting in one location and observing the world photographing the things that are interesting to me. I have also tried standing in one place with a tripod and photographing life as it moves past. The first example was more successful than the second with the images having a flow like quality as if a person was looking around them. However, the second set of photographs were too busy and need simplification in order to be more successful.
- I am to continue working in this style but may aim to achieve the concept of a flow through editing my sequences rather than when shooting.
- Daniel Chandler’s writing on the gaze has continued to give me more perspective on different types of gaze. I was most intregiued by the gallery security guard perspective and how they could be looking at me looking at the photograph.
- There is a great learning here in the way that people observe a photograph and reinforced the need to transfer power back to the person being photographed in my images.
- Laura Pannack and David Campany’s conversation as part of PhotoLondon 2023 has been
LO4 – Context
- I feel there are a lot of cultural references that have impacted the creation of my work so far.
- The first comes from the initial and ongoing survey I produced on the town and how that most people referred to the Oxford Road as detrimental to Reading’s reputation.
- The concept of migration for betterment and increased opportunity is an influence on the work. People move to Reading and specifically the Oxford Road from all over the world. Each of them has a dream or aspirations like any other person, however whilst some people are able to build these dreams and make them a reality, others get broken or destroyed.
- ‘Okay the streets aren’t paved with gold. At least they paved tho.’
(Sandman 2014)
- This quote is from a song about people being more grateful about what they have access to in America. I think this relates to my work, people that arrive on the Oxford Road don’t expect the pavements to be gold, but they come with the aspiration of making their part of the world gold.
- The current political landscape makes me want to create work that shows hopes, dreams and aspiration in a community that is looked down on. I am frustrated by the political system in this country and the constant negativity towards people that are trying to live and improve life for themselves and their families.
- I’m not looking to create protest work, nor do I expect the images to change anything, if I wanted to express my anger at the political system in Reading and the country I think I would have to do more than an allegorical, anthropological study of the Oxford Road.
Action points – what are you doing next?
- Review the edit of my work.
- Gain my insight into my work through sharing it with peers on the off the course.
- Prepare presentation for mid-point critical review of the work.