This is my second picture story design, I have used both archival images that I have collected from my mother’s albums and created new photographs from personal items such as condolence letters, newspaper prints and albums. Furthermore, I scanned images such as my grandfather’s passport because I thought this was an extremely interesting personal item. It held his identity and was a crucial belonging he carried around with him his whole life, therefore it had historical meaning and heritage. I included the main title ‘Three Chapters’ as well as the subtitle ‘Ten years have passed but it still feels like yesterday.’ Moreover, I included a quote from a close family friend that they wrote in a condolence card. I wanted this picture story to be clean and professional which reflected the main idea of project.
For this outcome, I have made a diptych of two images I made during the St Malo trip with Tom Pope. The top image is a graffiti-styled chalk drawing of an unhappy looking flower which I came across during our groups ‘drifting’ experiment. The bottom image is a chalk-drawing of the phrase ‘DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER’ – a reference to George Orwell’s dystopia novel 1984 . In the creation of this image, I used my study of symbolism, as presented in my manifesto and on a separate research blog
Top Image
The top image is a very satirical, clever and subversive image which uses symbolism in order to deliver its message. The depiction of a sad flower is interesting because the connotations of pain, sadness and hate are being connected to the theme of a flower, which is traditionally symbolized with beauty, delicacy and happiness. I find that this juxtaposition is therefore subversive and deeply contradictory of what is excepted. A deeper interpretation of this image is the concept of forced conformity and labeling by society. The fact that a symbolization of something labeled by society as positive could in fact have a negative connection, forces the viewer to question how accurate and meaningful conformity actually is on a practical sense.
I like how there is a certain intensity to this image. The bold, dark colour tones that is present, which I then emphasized by editing the image to black and white, helps to make the image more powerful and meaningful, as it adds a sense of sinister tone and edginess to it. This powerful visual display help the image to stand out more, and its mysterious nature is of interest to the viewer, inviting them in to question the purpose and meaning of such image
Bottom Image
This image is my depiction of the iconic slogan ‘DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER’ from George Orwell’s dystopia novel 1984 by the novel protagonist Winston Smith in protest to the tyrinnical dictatorship of ‘Big Brother’. I created this slogan by writing it out in chalk on the streets of St Malo. This photograph relates to the theme of challenge.
The reference to this slogan is significant because it is symbolic of a protest against society and establishment. The term ‘DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER’, I view as representative of the general idea of protest and challenge. The fact that this term is fictional gives it a versatile use that can be applied generally to any situation. This protest that I have made is not therefore a specific protest but instead a general criticism of society that is adaptable to the viewers own perspective. I decided to crop out a large amount of the pavement so that the writing was as clear and direct and possible.
Images Together
I find that these two images work very well together because they both relate to the idea of being subversive and subtly challenging society through the use of symbolism. They also are both form of graffiti, which directly establish a relationship between them. As a final outcome, I find that this works very well because it sends a strong, but indirect message that requires a certain degree of interpretation from the viewer. Visually the two images work well together because they are both mysterious, bold images with display a sense of sinister tone. I decided to make the two images into a diptych because I found that this was visually more effective then display either or both of the outcomes as individual images.
In this short 60 second video, I got my friend to video me dribbling a tennis ball with a hand-held camera. This idea came very spontaneously to me and I had no particular objective or meaning behind it. The idea came about simply because I had my tennis ball with me and I dropped it, causing me to kick the ball before I picked it up again, which then gave me the idea to start dribbling it. I had no time-frame in which to complete the performance and it lasted as long as I felt was necessary.
Piecing it together
The free-flowing movement of the camera is important because it establishes a sense of rawness to the video, giving it a feel that is very natural, easy-going and unspoiled. The good quality of the actual film still means that aesthetically the film still pieces together well. My performance is also very simplistic throughout and I make no attempt to attempt any skill that is highly complicated, instead making what I am doing very easy to emulate, so that it is easy for most viewers to appreciate and understand.
Meaning
This video reflects the theme of chance because of the fact that it is a spontaneous event that occurred completely by accident. It was an experiment that I attempted without any idea of how well or successful it would turn out. I find this style of filming/photographing to be very interesting because the outcome is always uncertain, it could either go very well or very badly. This in itself adds to the excitement of the piece
The simplistic manner that the video was formed presents an element of challenge. By filming a successful performance without any of these sophisticated methods I am therefore questioning the need of traditionally accepted methods of creating film, such as editing, using a tripod and planning the shoot in advance. The style of the filming is therefore a subtle protest against these methods
Influences
Dadism – I used the influence Dadaism by making my performance spontaneous, free-flowing and as un-structured as possible. By not restricting the direction of my performance it allows my work to be more creative and imaginative, using what I have and my current inspirations in order to construct the performance. The lack of direction links to Dadism because the disorder is a protest against structure and formality. Another aspect of Dadism that I will follow is to be as subversive as possible. Dada movement artist were famous for their unusual and strange artwork and this eccentric style is a pattern that I will follow
Comedy – I will make my performance comical through the subversive manner that will go about my performance. I will deliberately run into the direction of the general pubic in order to test the way that they will react, hopefully creating a sense of confusion without causing any lasting panic or effect. Subtly within comedy is key for this type of performance, I want comedy to occur without it ruing or undermining the entertainment of the performance. I will take influence from French comedian Remy Gillard, who is famous for his satirical video whereby he tests the publics reaction to strange and unordinary events.
For this outcome I have created a triptych of a series of images involving my cousin Jack. The three images I have chosen are all very varied in their style, meaning and visual effect. The intention of this piece was to explore the three different aspects of what we have covered in this 6 week module being chance, challenge and change; the aspect of chance through the blurred out of focus image on the left, the theme of challenge through the center image through the subversive statement, and the theme of change on the right through the overemphasized change in mood. Visually I find that this tipritytch works well because the images help to convey a narrative. I am proud of this final outcome because it is evident of the different skills, techniques, concepts and ideas that i have studied in the last 6 weeks. It is a very subversive statement, thats mysterious nature forces the viewer to question its purpose and meaning.
Left Image
This image is blurred and out of focus. Originally I dismissed this image as weak and ineffective. However after some consideration I changed my mind and decided to include it as part of my final outcome. The image is completely accidental, and not a traditional photo in terms of view and composition. However such a style is effective to include in a story board of images because it establishes a balance between the other two images, normal (middle), emphasised (right), and in this one spontaneous. It also highlights the random nature a photography, and that you don’t have to compose an image perfectly to be meaningful and effective. From the basis of this image, I launched my idea of representing the piece as a symbol of ‘chance, change and challenge’
Middle Image
This image depicts the mid-section of Jack’s body. He is holding up a sign entitled ‘I am exercising my right to free speech’. This is meant as a subversive statement, that challenges the viewer to question if they themselves fully appreciate such an important right. This statement is effective because through the statement, Jack himself is quite literally using this right. I decided to include this in the triptych because of the use of symbolism involved. The statement is ambiguous because it does not directly convey any particular point, and different meanings can be interpreted from it. I included this photo in the centre of the triptych because it has a good balance between the calmness of the left image and the madness of the image on the right.
Right Image
For the final image of the triptych, I decided to include a completely over the top image of Jack making a dramatic facial expression. This image is directly linked to my work on surrealism because visually, it goes against what is considered normal and formal. There is a certain intensity about this image, which is not neccesarily serious, but definitely full of energy. Linking to the Dadist movement, I find something very farcical about this image. The compete lack of structure and form makes it very chaotic. This image is the most visually powerful of the three, and gives the overall outcome an explosion of life and attitude.
On Friday 10th we got into groups and spent the first three hours of the school day creating a powerpoint which we would then present to Tom Pope and the rest of the students as a form of feedback and our response to the topic theme Chance Change and Challenge. In the powerpoint we included our research, experiments, and final outcomes.
Performance photography is a form of photography that differs from and challenges standard photography. The aim of performance photography is to challenge the social norms of society, and people’s acceptance in the things we do. Performance photography is more the act of taking the photograph and focuses on how it is done instead of the final outcome. Performance photography is mainly inspired by the situationist movement which is a psychology theory that began in 1968, when a person-situation debate was triggered by the publication of a monograph by Walter Mischel. There is also the Dadaism movement which began during the WWI between 1914 and 1918. Dadaism is the conflict which declared the lives of over 8 million soldiers and around an equal number of civilians.
For our final outcomes we used moving images to show how they can be incorporated into photography, and we tried to incorporate the project title Chance Change and Challenge by videoing activities that push boundaries by not doing what is seen as acceptable in society.
During our trip to St Malo, I experimented with the use of film. I have never used the record setting on my camera before so it was a new experience for me. I found it very different, filming something, rather than photographing it- which is what I am used to. I filmed several activities throughout the day and then edited the clips I had collected on iMovie. I have also never used IMovie before, so it was a first experience for me. In all of these clips I have manipulated the sound and the colouring to make it look and sound how I wanted it too.
My First clip was from the begging of the day, where five members of our group lined up on the steps and passed a blown up ball up the steps and rolled it back down the middle of the steps when it had reached the top.
I really like this footage, because it is very simple yet I find it very enjoyable to watch. I really like the setting of the footage, as it was in a picturesque lane and is rich in detail, because it is made up of a sandy coloured bricks. Another thing that I like about this film is that there is public interruption involved it. I very much like that members of the public walk past our perfomance as I think it gives the footage a life like feel and makes it very realistic. If i was to improve one thing about this film, it would be to put this clip on a loop- so it repeats its self. Once i have figured out how to do this on iMovie I will re edit the clip and add a loop onto it.
The second film that I recorded in St Malo was based on the same steps as my first video. I simply filmed the feet of the people in from of me’s feet as they climbed up the stairs.
I think that this film, is again very simple and focus’ on the visual side of the clip, as I have cut all of the sounds out of the footage. I did this too make the viewer pay closer attention to the detail of the people walking up the steps. I would like to experiment with this clip by adding some music to the footage.
My third piece of footage from the St Malo trip was of the ‘Flower Giving’. This was where Sian, gave out yellow roses to the public as she walked up the street. She gave these flowers out to people as a sign of friendship and happiness.
During this performance I was very interested in seeing how the public would react to the present of a flower from a random stranger. Some people accepted the flower with great appreciation however some people declined the present, and some people ignored Sian all together.
I really like this film as In comparison to my films 1 and 2, it has a lot of activity going on and is more exciting to watch. It also seems like a very good representative of St Malo’s town life as it includes things such as people walking in front of the camera and general noise from around the street.
My final film that I have edited from my St Malo trip is of the boy from the beach who was performing tricks on him tightrope.
I chose one short clip of the boy doing a backflip and duplicated the clip and reversed it. I think that is an interesting way of editing the clip and makes it more interesting to watch.
Here is the link to the presentation myself, Sammi, Dylan and Alex made. I enjoyed collaborating as a group and sharing my ideas in this communicative manner.
Here are the presentations that we made on Friday to present in front of the class with Tom and Gareth. This was an interesting task to do which ended up going quite well.
