Christmas Task: Germain vs. Toropstov

Task for Christmas Holidays on Tracking Sheet

Plan a photo-shoot and make a set of images that respond to your chosen pairing of artists and your essay.
a) Upload shoot, process and select best 3 images

b) Show experimentation with images using Lightroom/Photoshop appropriate to your intentions.

c) Evaluate and present images on the blog.

My Plan to this Response

In my essay I looked at the similarities and differences between the work of Michelle Sank and Yury Toropstov. After discussing with Mr. Toft about the context and style of my project he advised me that the work of Michelle Sank would not be helpful or relevant to study further. He explained that because Michelle Sank is very direct and impersonal in her photographic style, my own project exploring the absense of my Granddad in my Grandma’s life does not reflect this distant style which Sank evokes. Instead he advised me to consider the work of Julipan Germain, filing the place of Sank. This change was recommended because Germain, in constrast to Sank, photographs from a much more personal and subjective approach. In the ‘Faith, Family and Community’ task I briefly explored Germain’s photographic book ‘For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness’. This study explores the life of an elderly man who lives alone having lost his wife. Immediately, I can detect similarities with the type of project I am doing.

I will therefore re-visit the work of Germain, completing research tasks and photographic responses in order to aid the basis of my ‘Personal Study’.

We both agreed that Yury’s work was however relevant to my theme because he photographs from an insider perspective, exploring retrospective themes with a historical basis. I have already looked at the work of Toropstov earlier on in the year, through his project ‘Deleted Scene’ whereby he explores the theme of his father, who died when Yury was one. This will be the centre point for my study on Yury as it has direct relevance to my own project, a retrospective study of my Grandfather, who died over 30 years ago.

Then, during the Christmas Holidays I will make some new photographic responses whereby I consciously try to evoke the style of both Germain and Toropstov. This task will be a good context of which I can base and inspire responses for my upcoming ‘Personal Study’.

The task I have set myself will be a one-two week task and will be make the study of my essay relevant to my project. It will be a good theme to explore through the beginning of our new coursework project ‘Personal Study’. I will give me to incentive to continue making photographic responses, as well as being a good way to reflect and evaluate my pre-existing work.

These are the tasks I will complete.

Blog post on what I will do during personal study (continuation of existing project)
Artist Reference on Yury Toropstov and Julian Germain
Blog Post comparing Germain and Toropstov’s style (with specific examples)
Comparing my work with Germain and Toropstov
2 – 3 photo shoots over Christmas holidays
Evaluate new responses in relation to Germain and Toropstov – 2 bog posts
Evaluation of overall project

YURY TOROPSTOV

Yury’s photographic style cannot be defined as formal photography nor can it be defined as vernacular photography. It encompasses a ‘grey-area’ of work which although formal in terms of composition, nevertheless incorporates a less fanatical approach to form and composition, as some of his images, although not perfect in terms of arrangement, re still visually strong because of the mood in which they express, done through Toropstov’s use of lighting and through expresses certain symbols/metaphors.

Yury’s style is relevant to the personal nature of my theme, and by incorporating his subjective nature into my own style I will hopefully be able to convey a strong body of emotionally charged work into my final photographic response at the end of the personal study project. Also, Yury’s work will be good to reflect on for a lot of non-portrait images, as I have noticed plays quite a big part to the nature of his work.

Yury also likes to make links to archival images which is of further relevance to the historical relevance which my project has.

Deleted Scene

Fairyland

The House of Baba Yaga

JULIAN GERMAIN

Although a vernacular photographer, Germain has a very formal and considered approach to this style. In contrast to the work of iconic vernacular photographer Richard Billingham, who takes extreme vernacular shots – acting on instinct and relying deliberately on accidents within the shot, Germain does not however and maintains complete control throughout, carefully composing and designing his photographs. Germain’s photographs are therefore a lot more subtle than the traditional vernacular style, and furthermore have a sense of order and structure to them.

A key aspects of Germain’s photographic style is his ability to tell stories through his images. For example in ‘For every minute of anger you loose sixty seconds of happiness’, Germain uses the symbolism of a flower to make a connection with the deceased wife of the main subject of the story. Germain’s use of such symbols and metaphors highlight his thoughtful and considered approach to storytelling.

This considered approach to vernacular photography is something which interests me and I will attempt to replicate this style as I continue to photograph for my ‘Personal Study’.