FMP Thoughts

So far, my idea for my FMP will be definition by representation. I want to ask several people to choose objects and places that they feel represent them as a person and photograph the objects in the places. I may or may not then choose objects that represent the people as I see them and photograph those too.

As previously discussed this is influenced in part by Magritte’s Treachery of Images, and the idea that a representation of a thing is not the thing itself, linking to the idea that the things a person is represented by does not define them.
Other images that I have found that support this for me are below. Unfortunately I was unable to find artists for them, but I included them in my Influential Photograph post because they are images that have caused an effect on me, both with representations and perceptions.

   

Evaluation of Unit

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this unit. being able to look into the Art side of photography, and look further into the history has been great because it really helps me to understand the development of the technology.
I’ve been able to look into a lot of different artists during this project and gather ideas for my FMP. Whilst I’m still uncertain with what I’m going to do for it, I know I’ve gathered a great resource to use for future reference, particularly the timeline of artists. I’m thinking to look along the lines of Magritte and representation and truth.
I’ve loved and enjoyed the blog format, and feel like it’s been crucial in my keeping up to date – I know that I have regular posting dates, not just the idea of one final hand in date. Having the technology integrated in my casual life has also helped me to include it at home, being able to post things as soon as I finish and know that it’s done with, searching the internet and stumbling across something helpful – Instead of saving it for later, I can just include it there and then.
Although I’ve not done many actual shoots for this, I feel like this has been possibly my most successful unit from a technical standpoint, and wish I could continue this for my FMP (Although I’m aware, standardisation dictates that unless everyone does one, no-one can, and I know some other students didn’t like doing the blog format. And it’s not the MOST practical for shoots although I’m sure given a chance I could make it work).
Ultimately I don’t feel like I’ve got that much to say about this unit other than I feel like I’ve been successful in it and that it’s been fascinating and engaging, despite barely picking up a camera.

Impressionism

The term ‘Impressionist’ was originally used as an insult by people who had a superiority complex and didn’t like the work that was inexact. The artists who were called by this term then decided to set up their own exhibitions as a retaliation against the art establishment. That included Pissarro, Renoir and Monet.

Impressionism is used mostly for landscapes, using bright colours and often have very visible, textured brush strokes.

No longer used as an insult, Impressionists reclaimed the term and it now applies to some of the most revered, most famous paintings. 

  

I both like and dislike the inexactitude behind the impressionism. I think it makes it more true to reality in terms of memory, if you went to places, you would have no exacts, just basics, and I really appreciate the effort and style it takes to paint in this fashion.

Realism

The Realist art movement occurred in the 1840-1880 time period and aspired for objective truth in imagery, to create a visual reality. This was largely in response to Romanticism which strayed away from realistic qualities in favour of emotional expression. 

It emerged in the aftermath of the Revolution of 1848, often recording the existence of the humble and working class.

 

It reminds me of street and documentary photography, except it’s not almost exclusively in black and white. I enjoy documentary photography but I don’t really like taking pictures of strangers, as there’s a lot of underlying aggression in the public these days and I have a pathological fear of confrontation.

Op Art

Op Art is art that includes or consists of optical illusions. Photographers have had a hard time creating op art apparently, with art and digital artists steamrolling ahead, however photographic subject for op art is difficult to find.

Op art closely followed Pop art and Dada style and had some really interesting images such as ‘Movement in Squares, Cataract and  by Bridget Riley

   

since it is so tough for photographers I doubt I’ll do much with this, but I still find it fascinating and could spend far too long looking at these images

One Photo Four Formats Eval (Images to follow hopefully)

Our task was to take the same image four times on four different formats; Digital, 35mm, Medium Format and Large Format. I’ve worked with all of them previously and had various levels of Success….
Digital.
Being most familiar with Digital, I found this beyond easy. I think that familiarity definitely helps, I was able to compose the shots and know what to shoot at (f5.6, 125s ISO 400) with little variation. That fed the information for the other formats.
35mm.
I also love 35mm and have worked with it a decent amound. Although I dislike the semi digital 35mm cameras, the basis is still the same. I really enjoy being able to shoot on film, and should do more of that.
Medium Format.
I enjoy working in medium format too. It took me a little bit longer to remember, and we actually had a little hiccup shooting in that we forgot to remove the darkslide before attempting to shoot! Once we rectefied this mistake, we were able to shoot and the image came out fine, very similar to the others.
Large Format.
Large format was somewhat more difficult for us. Our image came out fogged because we forgot to close the dark slide before exposing our image and pressing the shutter, however with a little work i feel like it could be saved a little. That’s something to remember in the future so I could be more professional. I think that Large Format is simply to expensive to include in my work at the moment.

Liverpool Galleries

Both galleries are very impressive, however I noticed a few differences. The Tate gallery mostly seemed to specialize in surrealism which is very interesting to me, I think that Surrealism is definitely an area I’d like to explore in my FMP. There was a lot of cubism and other more expressive movements around, very contemporary and fascinating.
The Walker gallery, in stark contrast, had a lot of seventeenth/eighteenth century art in, much more traditional and older. The Victorian style held a lot of reverence with me, as I am pretty interested in the Victorian era, I definitely appreciate the Renessance style of art. The images here were much larger scale and very detailed.
I find it really hard to compare the two as they were so different, I can’t help but appreciate the styles of each and find them both incredible to behold. I’d have to say overall I prefer contemporary art, though I appreciate the talent and detail that went into art before modern conveniences, I think it takes just as much talent and detail to make interesting art these days, as everything is so competetive

Top 10 Influential Images

I don’t often get influenced by images all that much. I find them to be often very similar or manipulative and that instantly makes me dislike them, or just look past. For this task, I decided to find images that are relevant or interesting to me, usually tackling issues that I think are very important. The main themes I could find were self image and its ling to self worth, and the idea of life and time passing.

       
The first theme is very relevant to me as I’ve always struggled to find worth and value in myself and the things that I do despite being able to find it endlessly in the work and things of others. I feel like these images are a good representation. As someone who was always ‘the smartest’ as a kid, the spelling test image is really relevant, I actually had a similar thing happen to me in school, I came home in primary school really upset because someone had answered questions before me once or twice. Despite being so young, I already had some kind of complex that not being the first or the best made me entirely inferior.

 

The second theme of time passing and death is very relevant to me also. Since my first experience with death at the age of eleven, I have been to five funerals and had nine people I know and love die. I feel like that made me grow up fast and appreciate the time passing and how much it means, and how futile it can be. These images really hit home with me because it is inescapable, unavoidable and took me a LONG time to deal with in a healthy fashion.

The odd one out here is the image of the Christians at the Gay Rights Event. I really like this image because it just shows that no matter who you are or what you believe, you don’t have to fit a stereotype and I enjoy that idea because as someone who fits some social groups but not others, I feel like people don’t always understand that concept.

 

History Of Photography Feedback

A very confident presentation, you have made great progress from previous public speaking experiences.
Excellent use of paraphrasing/summarising your findings, keeping information short and sharp covering key points combined with your own views.
Your research was thorough and accurate, just be careful of the text/image balance on your slides – some were quite ‘text heavy’.
Overall a confident presentation showing great progress.
Grade: Distinction

 

I’m very pleased with this response to my presentation, I find it difficult to speak publicly and balance professionalism and colloquialisms in order to keep people entertained and engaged. 

I think I felt comfortable with slightly ‘text heavy’ slides as I knew the information would be there for people to read should they choose, but that my accompanying commentary would prove much less overwhelming, but it’s something that I can bear in mind for the future, to hold a better balance.

Reflective comparison

 

Back when I started this course I most definitely didn’t have a style. I came to the course to learn and develop basic photographic talent and learn how to properly use it. I’ve learned a lot of the technical side of photography, how to use a range of cameras including both film and digital, light metre correctly and even process my own film.
Now that the course is almost done, i feel like I’ve developed a detailed, location based, natural imagery style. I typically just shoot things that i find aesthetically pleasing, finding that often its a unique or unusual things other people may not notice.
I’m still unsure what I’d like to do for my FMP. I’d like to look at something deeply conceptual because that’s how my mind works. I’d be influenced by surrealism and Magritte, looking at representation of the self.
However, my strongest images are an entirely different genre and I don’t think I’m able to convincingly change between should I change my mind, and am struggling to think of a concept that might incorporate both. Initially, to incorporate object representation I think I could just do representation shots on location, which could be still life or not. So far this is my most likely idea for my FMP. I’d either over edit my images, or leave them be.