A picture story usually include 6 or 7 pictures, the pictures are visually strong and informative and together they should be able to tell you a visual story.

• Establishing shot – this photograph could show where and when the photo took place, and can include other elements such as mood, other people and weather.
• Environmental shot – emphasizes the location of where the photograph is being taken,
• Relationship shot – this photograph should be able to show you what is taking place and the relationship between the people.
• Detail shot – concentrates on a place or a subject in particular.
• Formal portrait –  where you are in control of the photograph.
• Observed portrait –  more natural, the subject usually isn’t aware that the photograph is being taken.
• Person at work – this photograph should be able to show you who the person is, what they are doing and what context they are doing it in.

Martin Parr is a British documentary photographer and photojournalist.  He is known for intimately looking at modern life in a critical way especially through documenting different social classes within England and more broadly documenting the wealth of the western world through anthropology, being the study of human beings and their ancestors through time.  In 1994 he became a member of the Magnum Photos he has published 40 solo photobooks and has been part of 80 exhibitions world wide. Martin has also won many awards for example more recently in 2014 he won a  Lucie Award, Achievement in Documentary Photography and an award for an Exceptional Achievement in Photography, Amateur Photographer, London.

The Last Resort

“…if the seaside was tatty, and more than a little run-down, it was also vibrant.” – Martin Parr

In 1982 Parr and his wife moved to England permanently, where he switched to colour photography being inspired by photographers work such as William Eggleston and Stephen Shore.  During the summers of 1983, 1984 and 1985 he photographed the working-class people at the seaside in nearby New Brighton a couple miles from Liverpool.

I think that the composition of this photograph is good because, the woman’s head was cut out of the photograph however in the reflection of the mirror we can see her face as if she is about to eat something. This picture is also environmental, it shows litter scattered all over the floor which allows the viewer to interpret what type of place the picture was taken in. The photograph also captures emotion the little boy seems to be red in the face from crying. The photograph was taken from a right angle rather than standing in front, I think this makes it look more like an outsiders perspective and the people in the photograph are probably not aware that the photograph is being taken. There are no bright colours in the photograph apart from a speck of red from the coke can however I think the photograph is still eye catching however I can’t grasp why.

http://www.martinparr.com/books/

What is a community?

A social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.

A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

I think that community is a broad theme which incorporates a wide variety of people and both family and faith. Although it’s not as personal as family, community gives people a sense of belonging and identity.  As well as community being a large group of people who share common interests it can also refer to shared values and beliefs for example: religion. The people whom you trust and rely on can also be you’re community, in a way you’re community can also be seen as almost like you’re second non blood related family.

Types of communities?

• Religion
• Culture
• School/work
• Sport
• Night life
• Friends
• Hobbies/ interests
• Geographical area
• Island events
• Politics
• Parishes
• A group of people unified by the same interests

” He is gone. He has left orange peel in the wastebasket,the fresh eggs on the windowsill and the remains of a croissant which I polish off. I shall miss him.”

Sophie Calle who was born in 1953 is a French writer, photographer and conceptual artist.  Her work often shows human vulnerability, identity and intimacy. She is well known for her ‘detective’ ability to follow strangers and investigate a photograph their private life. She is known to be strange in a good way.

One of Sophie Calle’s projects is called ‘The Hotel’, on Monday 16th February 1981 Sophie was hired for three weeks as a chambermaid in a Venetian Hotel  she was assigned 12 bedrooms during this time she examined the personal belongings and observed through details the life’s of the people of who she didn’t know within the hotel rooms.  She published photographs of what she found in room 26 and room 47 and what looks like a diary entry of everyday she was in the room in her book’ Sophie Calle’, she also included two smaller photographs of work being exposed in a New York museum and in a National photography center in Paris. In the book only the guests beds are in colour were as there belongings are in black and white, I think transmits their personality.

I chose to look at Sophie Calle’s project the Hotel because she incorporated work into her photography, which is linked to what I am going to do however in a different style, I am going to photograph my mum in her working environments and like Sophie Calle the belongings and surroundings within her workplace.

“I think the photographer should have some reason or purpose. I would hate to risk my life to take another bloody picture for the Daily News, but if it might change man’s mind against war, then I feel that it would be worth my life.” – Eugene Smith

William Eugene Smith is an American photojournalist, known as a humanitarian photographer. His devotion to projects on a professional and a standard ethics level came with the purpose of creating a profound response from his viewers . He developed the photo essay but, began his career by photographing for two local newspapers. His most famous projects include photographs of World War II, the city of Pittsburgh and of Dr Schweitzer in French Equatorial Africa.

Country doctor

Eugene Smith spent around one month in Kremmling, CO in 1948, documenting Dr. Ernest Ceriani’s daily life, which was double the amount of time he was commissioned for.  This is shown in how personal the photographs are. His photographs for this project were then published in Life Magazine on the 20th September 1948 along with his famous essays.  Eugene choose to photograph Dr Ceriani over several other candidates due to his appearance and because he was married with 2 children.  Eugene photographed the Dr’s  work life and personal with his wife and children as well as his patients and surroundings for example he photographed the aerial view of Kremmling and the outside of the hospital where the doctor worked this gives us a bigger perceptive and understanding of what is going on which allows us to visualize what hasn’t been photographed.  His work is done in a documentary style therefore the photographs are of him ‘ bare witnessing’ which make them more relate-able and credible. I think that his photographs are interesting and very personal which capture’s the viewers attention.

Eugene’s work is similar to the work that I am going to do with my mum because I will be photographing her in a documentary style , I will be doing this over a few weeks which I hope will also capture the personal element to the photographs.  I will also be photographing my mum like Eugene did both at home and and work which will show the difference between the two. I think Eugene’s photographs are of high quality which is something I really like about them as well.  In his photo essay’s he uses quite a traditional layout with a variety of observed portraits , environmental shots and establishing shots. Although he doesn’t use any detail shots. He also uses large titles which gives the viewer a snapshot of the story and makes them curious as to what else is in the story. I think the layout flows well and you’re able to understand the story line without reading the information.