I took these images at a wedding that i was at. I took these images as it was my Aunt that was getting married and this was a family and friends occasion which i thought tied into this project. I took some of these images of the bride and groom but also of the setting to show how beautiful the location was. I took some detailed images of the bridesmaids hair which i thought would work well in a picture story as a detailed shot.
Bride and groom with ring boy and bridesmaid
I took this image which is of the family. This is a traditional family shoot that i took, however i think that it is good to have at least one or two traditional wedding images. This image was taken at the reception which was at The Radison and i think that this is a beautiful family portrait.
For this photograph that i took of the bride, i took it from behind so that you can see the detail of the back of her dress, this is so it shows how beautiful it is. I think that the lighting in this image could be improved as the bride is in a shadow and there are streaks of light coming through the windows to the left of her. I think that this image shows the idea of family, as this is my Aunt on her wedding day interacting with all of her friends and family.
This is one of the images that i took in the night time of the wedding, i did not use the flash for this image as i liked how the lighting looked in this image. I think that the different blues, purples and pinks in the image make this image very ‘cool’ and unique. In this image the bride and groom and the bridesmaid who is their daughter having their first dance on the dance floor, i captured this family moment which i think this image is very warming.
At first when I was introduced to this project I found it hard to understand the concept and the meaning behind Tom Pope’s work as there was no explanation and most of his videos were in silent of him doing a repetitive performance. However after the day at the Societe where Tom explained what he was trying to achieve,I got a better understanding of the idea of pushing boundaries and his videos made more sense to me. I also liked that we were working with a photographer making our work more practical which is something we haven’t done before. I found this project interesting because it was something I hadn’t given much thought to or questioned before. I also like the fact that we were working with the archive and got to explore Jersey’s history, before this I wasn’t aware of the archives existences. I think it was challenging to think outside the box however the more the more you think about it the easier it becomes. In France I was able to do most of the ideas that I had planned to do and I was pleased with the outcomes.
Family, faith and community
At the beginning of this project when we were first introduced to documentary photography, I thought that it was a powerful form of communication. I enjoyed looking at ethics within documentary because I think it is a interesting and a subjective topic which allowed me to think deeper, although I didn’t find any right or wrong answers I was able to develop my opinion. I also like that we were able to draw on real life situations such as the Vietnam war which documentary had a big influence on, this also gave me a better understanding. I also learned about the sub genres within documentary such as photojournalism and street photography which is something I hadn’t done before.
At the beginning of this project we started looking at the theme of family. I enjoyed exploring this theme both taking photographs and researching other family photographers. I found that I connected with this theme more than the others although I think it’s more personal than the other two themes. When I first started photographing my family I felt that I was making them vulnerable and opening them up to be judged, however after a few photo shoots this ‘feeling’ faded. I started to explore the theme of community through research and a photo shoot however, I struggled with deciding what and who to photograph. Due to the lack of time I didn’t get to explore the theme of faith, which is something that I would have liked to do as most of my family is religious.
Overall I enjoyed this module and I am going to carry on with the theme of family for my personal study by photographing my mum in her working environment.
To what extent has Martin Parr incorporated the concept of ‘islandness’ in his work and in doing so how has he influenced the likes of those who nominated him.
‘Islandness’ is a shared sense that transcends the traditions of local island cultures. The concept is reinforced by being surrounded by bodies of water which illicit feelings of closeness to the natural environment. It is a metaphysical consciousness derived from experiences of isolation. ‘Islandness’ is a term which can be interpreted in a multiple of varied ways, for example, each photographer in this project has created their own perception of the idea. Ultimately, it links communities together forming a mini society and network.
This unique collection of artists have produced their individual portfolios of work which have explored the complexity and rarity of the term. I especially want to highlight the connections between certain photographers which have gained influence and passion from one another.
My own experiences of ‘islandness’ have been grounded in the morals and values of Jersey, Channel Islands. The idea combines vulnerability and resilience. I think it is significant when considering the theme of Jersey and how you can represent the island and create art from it. Naturally, my research began into the Archisle where I could explore the talents of Martin Parr and the work he produced of the island. The Societe Jersiaise Photographic Archive introduced in 2011, The Jersey Contemporary Photography Programme. The main goal of the scheme was to promote contemporary photography through a continuation of exhibitions and education links. The island itself has attracted millions of tourists and fellow artists as it is known for its natural beauty. The island’s identity evokes a sense of pride and enthusiasm for the project.
‘Island arts engage with the land and the sea and the community. They address the large questions of existence, but they do it within a context of shore-bounded particularity.’- Peter Hay
Focusing more on my intention, Martin Parr was commissioned in 2013 by the Archisle to photograph Liberation Day in Jersey. It is significant that of such a high esteemed photographer, Parr decided to indeed take notice of our small island and beautifully captured the light and importance of the day. In my opinion, Parr’s distinct style represented the happiness and joy of the day. However, his work also included the more solace and memorial moments of the day’s proceedings. With the world constantly being flooded with media, Parr offers a sanctuary of his unique perception of the world. His work tends to be exaggerated, the colours tend to be garish and the angles are normally strange. However, amongst the humour, Parr produces entertaining and insightful images which translate to our way of life. We can almost recognise ourselves in his art work, especially with the theme of ‘islandness’. When looking at Parr’s work and considering my hypothesis I think Parr’s photographs capture this concept exceptionally well (even if this had not been initially intended). This ‘feeling’ has been photographed in the light of Liberation Day, it exemplifies this particular meaningful and important day carefully and accessibly. I think it represents the islanders resistance and perseverance even at the most difficult and tragic of times.
GB. Jersey. Liberation Day. 2013.
GB. Jersey. Liberation Day Supper at Trinity Parish Hall. 2013.
With regards to the links between the photographers in the project, Martin Parr is an influential and inspiring artist who’s work has been and is an in depth observation of our personal identities and values we hold in society. The work he produces is innovative, intriguing and contemporary, strongly reflecting the way we act and our inner natures.
In conclusion, ‘islandness’ is much more than a concept, it is a feeling, an emotion, a community. Therefore, it has the potential to be photographed and interpreted in many different ways. The term has layers, which each artist in the project has stripped away and identified their own version of what ‘islandness’ is. Quintessence is a benchmark of the five years of the Archisle Programme. It is a success of contemporary photography and shows the work of native islanders and welcomed visitors. The project enables inspired artists to shed light on the shifting society of today and produce art for public enjoyment.
Three questions that you want to find answers to on your visit:
Q1. How did the term ‘islandness’ come about? Is it significant in today’s society? Does it isolate us as a community, or, reunite in as a family?
Q2. How influential and successfull do you consider the archive to be?
Q3. Do you think the JEP is a successful media for documentary photography?
The first thoughts about the exhibition that enters your head when you walk in:
The images that I initially liked when looking at the exhibition:
Al Gore Was Here:
The first image that I thought was really interesting was produced by Finn Larsen. This particular photograph was taken in Greenland, Illulissat Icefjord. This image stood out as one of the most captivating photographs in the exhibition, I think it is very beautiful and is most definitely one of my favourites. I really like the textures of the rock in the foreground it contrasts with the wooden bench creating a rustic look. I also really like the simplicity of the sky, it adds to the feel of the lonely and forgotten feel you get from the photograph. The composition of the photograph is perfect, having the bench in the middle of the image makes it the main focal point. This specific photographer has really captured what I would like to translate in my previous project and potentially my personal study.
Beachy Head Boat Trip:
This is the second of my favourite images, I especially like the romance and personalities captured in this photograph. I think it is clever how the photographer has managed to capture most the faces in order to see all the different expressions and emotions of the people. I love how the image is in black and white I think it adds to the feel of the photograph. The composition in this photograph is also important and significant because of the focal point being in the centre of the image, with the surrounding subjects adding to the photograph further. Although, the couple are clearly a main focal point, I get drawn to the man standing at the back. I think he is really interesting in this photograph, possibly the way he is standing or his clothes and glasses but he makes the image have more depth. This image was taken by Tony Ray-Jones in 1967.
Liberation Day Supper:
GB. Jersey. Liberation Day Supper at Trinity Parish Hall. 2013.
This third image is taken in Jersey of a Liberation Day Supper at Trinity Parish Hall in 2013. It was taken by Martin Parr which you can instantly tell due to the distinct style of his photography. I think this photograph is brilliant, it captures the main theme of the day without complicating it. This photograph is part of a collection of images Parr took of the celebrations, others include; Liberation Day, Robes of the Jurats of the Royal Court of Jersey and Liberation Day.
Two questions that i would like to find answers too when visiting the exhibition after reading the text are:
Q1: Why did you choose these photographers to be exhibited?
Q2: Did all of the photographers which you choose explain why they choose the other photographer to be placed alongside their images?
A photograph of Elsie Wright (1901-1988), taken by Frances Griffiths (1907-1986), in August 1920.
GB. Jersey. St Helier. Liberation Day. 2013.
GB. Jersey. Liberation Day Supper at Trinity Parish Hall. 2013.
These are some of the images that were displayed at the Quintessence, i choose these images as i think that these were the best images that were displayed at this viewing. I think that these images, whether they were taken in Jersey, Channel Islands or in other places around the world, are interesting to see the different cultural changes in different locations. I think that at this exhibition it was interesting to look at what artist a photographer choose to place their work next to, and what photographer they choose made me think why did they choose that photographer? and was their any specific reason, for instance, did they choose that photographer for their work to be placed by because they inspired their work that they have done as a photographer, or was it because they enjoyed their piece of work that they had done, this is what i thought when i was at the exhibition. As these are the images that i liked at the Quintessence their were also images that i did not like, this was because i thought some of the images were a bit explicit and should not of been displayed at this exhibition, however as these images were taken by Tom Pope i think that, by his nature he was just trying to change the perception of what people think is acceptable to be displayed at an event like this, and for that i think that the images he choose were good images to be placed into the Quintessence.
Essay:
When thinking of an essay question, things that need to be included are what are the connections, influences and relationships between your chosen pairing of photographers? Common themes, subject matter, form, visual language, aesthetics, methodologies can be looked at to gain a further understanding as to why the photograph choose the other artist to sit by their work but also others that were displayed in the show.
These are the two images that Tom pope choose of his own images from when he was working with the Jersey Archisle, but also the two images of Peter Finnemore that he choose.
Q – How has Peter Finnemore influenced the style and genre of Tom Pope’s photography?
Through researching Peter Finnemore and looking at his style of work, i think that their is a link with Tom Popes, as both work seems to display an idea of fun and play within their pieces of work. I think that both of the artists, Pope and Finnemore seem to have a wild imagination, where they add an aspect of what could be called ‘child’s play’ into their images. I think that through this you can directly see links between both artists which draw connections and show that Tom Pope has been inspired by Peter Finnemore.
Peter Finnemore’s images seem to be colorful, as of the ones that Pope has chosen of his images to display, i think that Pope choose these two images because he himself found these images very imaginative and liked them himself, but also because i think that Peter Finnemore’s work is one of the artists that inspired Pope to start taking his images. Both of these artists seem to have a similar style, in a way that they bring their humor into the images that they take, whether this is to make their audience laugh, or just for their own amusement. I noticed something which i found quite interesting in both pieces of the artists work, i think that both of these artists seem to take their images in their everyday life, of these that they are doing at the time, not many of the images seem like that have been staged, however a few are staged so that both photographers get the right image that they want. The image called ‘garden shoes’ which Pope chose of Finnemore’s to be displayed is a simple image, this image silently has an idea of fun and playfulness behind the image, i think this because the shoes are colourful and have paint splattered on the images. Within Finnemore’s photographers i think as some of Popes images are, there seems to be an idea of chance within the images, as some of the images would not just occur, the photographer has to be ready, for at any time an interesting idea for a photographer could occur from a location, this is known as a theory called psycho-geography, this is where a location can give a photographer an idea of a photograph to take.
It can be argued that Pope does not seem to be inspired by Finnemore because some of Finnemore’s images seem to be set up, whereas most of Pope’s images are because of being in the right place at the right time, for this reason i think that there are not direct links between the two artists. Also one of the images that Pope choose to display of Finnemore’s is called ‘Koan Exercises. 2004’ i think that this image shows how both of the artists work is not as similar as it is made out to be, this is because most of these images in this series do not include people, a few of the images in the series do, however i think that this shows how Finnemore prefers to not have people in his images, he likes for a location or a setting to describe what is happening in an image on its own.
Overall i think that it is clear that there are some direct links between Finnemore and Popes work which shows that Pope has been influenced by Finnemore in that they have a similar genre and style of photographs that they both choose to take, however it is also shown that both of the artists to not share all the same connections, because i would say that their style differs in how they choose to take their images, to a certain extent Finnemore takes his images using the theory of psycho-geography, however i think that most of his images are staged in comparison to Pope’s photography which is all to do with the theory of change. Furthermore it is clear that both artists challenge the perceptions of what people think is ‘normal’ to photograph and they do this through their quirky images that they both take.
In what way has Martin Parr been influenced by Tony Ray-Jones photography with his work on celebratory events in Jersey in the late 1900’s.
This art exhibition is a representation from past to present. Presenting images both from our past in Jersey achieve at the Jersey Societe. This creation of photographs were produced in celebration of contemporary photography in Jersey and to mark a 5 year milestone for the Archisle. Immediately, I gathered a sense of patriotism as soon as I entered the exhibition as the first set of images I looked at were Martin Parr’s representation of Liberation day in 2013. The overall vibe of the exhibition felt very welcoming and as I could relate to some of the images, I found them very satisfying to look at in depth. Each photographer chose a photographer that inspired them to pursue their idea, and were presented next to their work in smaller print. This idea of recognition proved to make me, and others want to learn more about why and how these new images were created. It was amazing to hear where the inspiration came from as it got me thinking about linking the achieve with my final pieces but it makes the photograph worth more with regards to thought and power.
Tony Ray-Jones took these images from 1967 and in the photographs it is visible to see that they’re doing the same thing that happens each year, being together eating cake and drinking tea. In Martin Parr’s photographs, the type of people look different by the way they dress and they place they’re sitting, but really are ordinary working class people enjoying this day of celebration. His famous quotes was, “Photography can be a mirror and reflect life as it is, but I also think that perhaps it is possible to walk like Alice, through a looking-glass, observe the puzzles in one’s head and find another kind of world with the camera.” Tony Ray-Jones photography career spanned only one decade, he defined a new way of looking at his own society — with irony, nostalgia, compassion and humor. His point of view exerted an enormous influence on the development of British documentary art photography from the 1970s through the present. I personally think this is how Martin Parr got his inspiration from Tony because his thoughts and visions were admirable.
Tony Ray-Jones
Martin Parr
“Away from St Helier, you might not realise that May 9th is a special day in the Jersey calendar. Unlike Guernsey, where flags flutter from virtually every house, tree and telegraph pole across the island, Jersey seems to take a more low key approach. In some of the quieter and more remote settlements, aside from the occasional bed of strategically planted red and white geraniums, there is little to indicate the significance of the date.”
GB. Jersey. Liberation Day Supper at Trinity Parish Hall. 2013.
“After the meal, John thanks the cooks and leads a sing song, shouting out numbers from the parish song book. This is also a brisk, no nonsense affair, just one verse from each of the old favourites – Pack up your Troubles, Daisy Daisy, There’ll be Blue Birds.”
Martin Parr focus’ on the true meaning of liberation day, his work is displayed in a story, whilst explaining his images show the true beauty of people who are involved in the event, together representing true patriotism. His work corresponds with Tony Ray-Jones as the simplicity of the photographs allow you to see the true events that occur on this special day. I like how Martin’s photographs are in colour as I think that the reds the blues and the whites really stand out and make the photograph look more eye catching and then you notice the true meaning behind the colours is in correspondence to the British flag. The innocence of the photographs really made me think about the events that occurred and therefore made me want to look into the achieve and find out more about the images. Martin’s captions to the photographs are really touching especially when he notices the pure enjoyment from ex-service men, “Soldiers like Eric were overwhelmed by the rapturous welcome they were given as they arrived in Jersey back in 1945. Although the number of people who experienced and can remember the Liberation is in inevitable decline, it has been marked every year since with dances, concerts, meals and parties across the island. Perhaps the most sombre event, fittingly held at the crematorium, is the memorial service commemorating the hundreds of forced workers brought into Jersey by the Germans to build fortifications. Tellingly, only one survives: Emile Boydens, a Belgian, who still lives on the island.” Background information make the photographs so much more meaningful and I think that Martin has perfected that art. The positive connection between the two artists is visible as you can see that Martin wanted to capture images of the current and ex service men and women and Tony Ray-Jones captures images of people returning home with the sense of relief from their loved ones being by their side. The emotions between the images from both photographers is really what I found special.
This photographer was chosen by the creator of the whole exhibition event Gareth Syvret. Jem Southam is a landscape photographer who makes rural landscape images used as a way to document man’s intervention in nature. Something that Southam does is photograph the same locations over months and years to show the difference that mankind has made in such a short period of time. Southam has photographed places across England. Southam was born in Bristol in 1950 and is one of the UK’s leading photographers.
“I became heavily influenced by the Bechers, and pursued architectural landscape work.” – Jem Southam [interview with Seesaw Magazine]
Jem Southam photography
Jem Southam photography
Jem Southam photography
Jem Southam photography
Overview | What I think
After having a look at Jem Southam’s work I have actually been quite inspired by how beautiful his images look. I think that they are all effortlessly beautiful images and I also like the way that Southam makes images of the same locations over a period of months and years, this is really interesting and shows how we are constantly changing as a society and how much people can effect the way the natural world is and looks. I find it so interesting that Southam makes images from the same locations and tends to stick to around the same area when usually quite a lot of photographers will travel around to a load of different locations and places. I do think that Southam is working on a huge project to make images of the same places which will give the most effect in years to come when spectators will be able to see how much has changed and how much people have changed it.
Jem Southam photography
Jem Southam photography
Jem Southam photography
Jem Southam photography
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Q. How does the work of Jem Southam reflect the way we are as a society?
In this essay I will reflect on how much our society can be changed and re-moulded just by the environment we are living in and how much manmade objects change even the natural world. Firstly, I really like the work of Jem Southam as it is really visually pleasing and interesting as the natural beauty of the images is really intriguing to look at. I can really relate to this work as growing up I always found the beauty in the natural environment around me like around an area where Liberty Warf and the office buildings are now. I had so many memories of playing and running around with my friends along there and memories with my family just from that patch of grass but now it seems that all those memories have been taken from me with the creation of offices and shops. I find that we live in a world that wants to become a lot more corporate and we tend to forget about the natural world and how beautiful it was before humans inhabited it. This is why I like to look at the work of Jem Southam so much as I feel that I can personally relate to it.
Another way that Southam’s work reflects our society is that his images are so simple yet is really interesting.
Secondly, I chose this mini set of images above as I found them really interesting. It looks so lovely and almost like a fairytale book, where you would expect a fiction character or someone to live. I like that there is one house in the far distance on the left hand side of the image as it shows how much the natural world rules over this part of the countryside but it also shows how our buildings and our society have moulded themselves and pushed into the natural world making more of a manmade one. This image interests me as I want to find out more and see what that particular location looks like in a couple of years and to see whether or not the natural beauty is still there or if the corporate world has taken over. To me Southam’s work represents the greed of people and how much we seem to benefit from creating more and more corporate and unnatural environments just to make a bit of money. It really is fascinating to think about the lengths people will actually go to in order to make money, even destroy the natural habitat of so much wildlife, creates and just natural beauty and plants.
I really like the work of Southam as it is so interesting and he somehow makes his images look really beautiful even though the message is showing how much man has changed the way our world looks. Southam seems to make images more in the woodland areas or around the coastline to show how different these places may look after months and years. I think that Southam’s work reflects our society in somewhat of a beautiful and positive light with all of his images being visually pleasing and almost magical looking, however the meaning behind these images is a really strong one showing how much society has changed and how quickly we are expanding in the world and how much the populations are growing that we have to go into natures territory and claim it for our own.
Michelle Sank is the local photographer part of the Quintessence exhibition here in Jersey, as a visitor to the island previously she has a localized body of work. When asked who her influences were and her inspiration Sank said David Goldblatt. He is one of the most well-known photographers across the world.
Michelle Sank was the photographer in residence at the Jersey Archisle back in 2013. Sank was born in Cape Town, South Africa but moved and has been living in England since 1987. Sank usually makes images of social documentary and tends to focus around issues of social and cultural diversity. While in Jersey Sank worked on social portrait images showing the difference in social classes and the way locals are compared to how they used to be in the Archisle images.
Michelle Sank photography
Michelle Sank photography
Michelle Sank photography
Michelle Sank photography
About David Goldblatt
David Goldblatt is a South African photographer and was born in 1930 in Randfontein, South Africa. Goldblatt has an interesting history as he was the son of Lithuanian-Jewish parents who fled from Europe in the 1890s [with their own parents] and Goldblatt lived in South Africa at a time of deep segregation between black and white people. He seemed to challenge this and made images of black people, showing that they aren’t so different. Goldblatt became a full-time photographer in 1962.
Q. Through the work of Michelle Sank and David Goldblatt how are we able to see the difference in society and the way our world has changed?
In this essay I will compare and contrast one of Michelle Sank’s chosen images compared to that of David Goldblatt and what social impact they have. I will be comparing the differences in world opinion from the time David Goldblatt made his images [1950s] and to present day when Sank made her images back in 2013.
The above image made by David Goldblatt really interests me. I just like the composition of this image with the two right in the center of the frame and are looking very seriously with a neutral expression into the camera, making the image a lot more personal and as if the pair are actually looking at the spectator. I find this image so intriguing as I wonder why they are holding a bumper to a car with a number plate, suggesting that the man is a mechanic as he is also wearing dirty looking overalls. They could also be stood outside their own house with the door off to the right side of the image. I really like that this image is in black and white, mainly because of the time it has been made, as it makes the image a lot more effective and allows the spectator to focus in on the subjects within the photograph rather than staring a the colour of the door or the colour of the lady’s dress.
Furthermore, I did some further research into the time period that this image was made, 1950s, and saw how South Africa was still a very racist place [it still isn’t completely desegregated today]. In South Africa they segregated everything, much like early 1900s America, there were separate toilets, cinemas, buses, schools etc. This, for me, is a very powerful image as David Goldblatt was a white photographer and it would have been seen as a radical notion to go out and photograph black people, it was seen as wrong to even talk to them at all. I really love the message behind this image showing that black and white people are no different, showing that we all have similar jobs and can work to the same standard there is no real difference between any of us. I think that this holds a strong social message showing how people can change, this photographer went out and made these images on his own free will.
I chose to compare the images above as they both hold significance. The photograph made by Michelle Sank that I chose really went well together and almost complimented each other through their social attributes. The image made by Sank shows how far we as a community and society have re-moulded and adapted our closed minded way of thinking to becoming more accepting beings that realize that everyone is equal. Sank’s image would seem like a revelation if it was shown to those photographed in Goldblatt’s image. This image shows two men, one black and one white, stood next to one another as equals both wearing suits and ties. These men both represent workers and their attire represents this too showing how far we as a society have been able to change and develop our way of thinking. However, if I had no context or hadn’t been comparing Sank’s image to Goldblatt’s then I would not have thought anything of it at all and don’t find it to be a visually interesting image a part from the history and meaning behind the whole thing it isn’t really a strong image to me. I do find it similar in composition to the photograph of Goldblatt’s in both the subjects are slightly off center and to the side of the image but that is just how each of them made their photographs and I don’t think that there is any real relation there.
Likewise, I really do find Sank’s visually boring as there isn’t much going on in the background a part from an empty country road and it doesn’t really give any extra context to who these men are and where they possibly work. As an environmental portrait I don’t like it but what the men are both wearing suits shows what kind of people they are and suggests what they do as a job. I feel like the background is all too perfect with the blue sky and perfect light but with nothing in the background it just looks really quite dull to me. Comparing the two images I much prefer the work of Goldblatt visually and with everything that it represents too. I do like the work of Michelle Sank and like that she makes images showing the different communities and people within our society.
Overall, I feel that these two images alongside one another work really well and do show how society and world view has changed from the 1950s to present day. Through these images the spectator is able to see how far black and white people have come together in the creation of equality of life and jobs. I like these images and think they are strong together and reflect how much has changed in such a short period of history.
I wanted to look more into these two as I have studied the work of Tom Pope and found it really interesting and unique. I find the chosen photographs of Peter Finnemore’s really interesting and engaging, they are strangely unique linking to the work of Pope. I find the two have very unique styles and the idea of performance really shows through their work. Finnemore was Pope’s teacher who he looked up to and was influenced by in photography.
Tom Pope was the photographer in residence at the Jersey Archisle in 2015. He is a performance photographer and is currently living in London after graduating with a Ma in Photography from The Royal College of Art back in 2011.. Pope’s work is very unique and has strong political and social messages behind it. Much of Pope’s work is based around his project of Weak Anarchy and challenging the way we think as a society and what is right and wrong in the eyes of the community surrounding us.
Tom Pope photography
Tom Pope photography
Tom Pope photography
Tom Pope photography
Interview with Tom Pope:
About Peter Finnemore
Peter Finnemore is a photographer born in Llanelli, Wales. He was one of the first students at the new Fine Art Photography Course, set up in 1984 by Thomas Joshua Cooper, at the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland. Finnemore gained an MFA in Photography at the University of Michigan, USA. Finnemore is a visiting professor in Photography at the University of Derby. He also lives and works in Llanelle, Wales. Finnemore’s work consists of many landscape images, environmental images that show the natural world.
Peter Finnemore photography
Peter Finnemore photography
Peter Finnemore photography
Peter Finnemore photography
Comparison | Tom Pope and Peter Finnemore
Tom Pope photography
Peter Finnemore photography
Q. How has Peter Finnemore influenced the style and genre of Tom Pope’s photography?
In this essay I am going to compare and contrast photographers Tom Pope and his chosen artist, from the Quintessence exhibition, Peter Finnemore. I really love the style of Finnemore and wanted to explore it further and find out more about the location of his work as well as how Pope relates to him and how their work differs.
I find that Pope and Finnemore have similar styles of photography. They tend to take the element of performance to the next step and really get into their role and what they want to do. One thing that they differ in is that Finnemore seems to prepare a lot of his work and knows what he wants to do and will usually make all of his images in his back garden whereas Pope tends to have a basic idea of what he wants to do and leaves it all up to chance in one image taken on a film camera and will perform in public and not stop if there are any passersby. Their work differs in the sense that Pope is very classic with the types of cameras that he decides to use and Finnemore is more modern using newer digital cameras as you are able to tell in the different ways that the images above look, with the way they capture the light and everything in the frame of the image.
I chose the two images above as they interested me the most. I really love the photograph by Finnemore, there is just something about it that is really intriguing and makes me want to find out more about what is going on in this image and possibly a deeper meaning behind it. It reminds me of war and how during the war, in Jersey, they had to cover up an underground hospital with grass and dirt to make it just look like more land when the enemy flew over looking down and not actually being able to see that something is there. This image really interests me as the subject in the image, a man, blends in with his atmosphere and at first glance I didn’t even notice him at all. I really do find this image engaging as it is so odd and random yet it seems to remind me of war and how the world was at one stage in our recent history. To me it looks as though the subject just jumped at the shed and is clinging onto it to try and hold himself up. It’s also interesting to know that this was all taken in his back garden. Something that I really like about this image is that I am so interesting in it and really would like to find out more about it and if the meaning that I have generated from looking at it is actually the meaning and the message that Finnemore is trying to put across.
Contrary, I find Popes image very different. It doesn’t really make me think of anything political at all, I like the image but I am unsure as to what influence it has over me. I guess I could say that it makes me think we should all just be as carefree as Pope is and do things in public without worrying or being overly aware of the other people around, to be the real you. This image also reminds me of going on holiday as the lane and the brick flooring just reminds me of a place like Portugal or Spain or even the South of France. I do find this image interesting and almost amusing because of the way Pope is positioned in this image. I also like that he uses film cameras in his work to make everything authentic and when he does do his performances it is all down to chance that the camera will capture the moment that he wants it to really get.
The reason that I chose to compare these two images is because of the way both photographers approach photography as a performance and they do it for themselves and if someone happens to walk past then that performance has been seen by someone else but primarily they will just do it for themselves. I feel like Pope has been influenced by this through Finnemore’s work. Finnemore’s work is more of a poetic symbol in that it is about showing the world his home, his territory and his paradise. He wouldn’t want anyone else to steal his home or to invade his personal paradise. Contrasting to this I find that a lot of Pope’s work is very abstract and unusual but can also be poetic and symbolic of a deeper more political meaning.
