IdeasTap Photographic Award (16-22)
After having completely a form for personal information, I had to respond to the following questions. Responses are shown also.
1. Which theme are you responding to?
Memory
2. Provide an explanation of the photo essay that you have submitted. (Up to 100 words). This should also be entered into the Summary field when applying at IdeasTap.com.
Upon
visiting the locations of my childhood past (along the shores of Merseyside) I
was surprised that the once homely feeling that had resided there was gone. The
only sensation that tugged at my gut was the residual echo of the connection I
once had with that place. It felt almost barren, whilst the surrounding
landscape happened to compliment my vacancy with wide expanses with minimal
feature. These images reflect a personal response from my own past, yet I hope
that other individuals would understand the residual fog of a memory, one you
are no longer a part of.
3. Describe any research or photographic techniques used to create your submission.
Two
photographers that helped to inspire:
- Jitka Hanzlova –
Forest. Returning to the area of her childhood, she reflected upon what it
meant to her. Not exactly describing the landscape, but expressing how she
experienced it.
- Hiroshi Sugimoto –
Seascapes. Although articulating his spiritual connection with water and air,
these images speak to me with a beautiful sense of placelessness.
A Yashica TLR camera was used, alongside Digital SLR.
I personally enjoy the aesthetic of square format images.
4. Describe which other elements you would add to your images to produce a multimedia essay - photographs that are combined with moving image, words, sound and or music. (Up to 200 words).
If I
were to incorporate video to the visual aesthetic caught within the series, I
would keep playing with the theme/sensation of emptiness and residual echoes.
An idea would be to set up a gallery installation, videos projected and filling
every wall. The videos would be simple, non-narrative. The visuals would be
based on the photographs I had taken, still shots of landscape on constant loop
- although shot without a tripod, so moving slightly with the movements of the
individual holding the camera. It would feel as if you are the individual,
staring out to the blank expanse, not moving, lost deep in thought.
The
audio alongside the visuals could go two ways in my mind.
- Completely silent.
- Minimal but effective,
perhaps drones or wind sound effects.
Either would play on the eerie/barren sensation I would
be aiming for, hoping that the audience could get lost in thought themselves.
5. Tell us about yourself and your experience in photography.
I
thrive when photographing nature, landscape and fine detail. So an obvious
favourite for me is travelling with my camera’s. I tend to let my art-eye do
the composing which leads my images to lean towards abstractive a lot of the
time.
I’m
currently studying Photography & Video at university, starting my third
year in October 2013. Although having
some knowledge in video making I prefer to stick to still-image making, having
been my starting point with lens-based media as a teenager.
I love the ease and technology from Digital SLR
camera’s, but I also preserve an appreciation for analogue photography, currently
exploring with medium and large format. I think it’s the amount of detail you
can preserve in these two larger formats that enthuses me.
