Throughout this exam theme of truth fantasy or fiction, I decided to predominantly on the aspect of truth (more specifically, the truth behind closed doors). My first research point was getting into contact with the women’s refuge in Jersey and seeing if meeting could occurs in which I would be able to learn more about the help that is available in Jersey. After thinking that it was not longer a possibility by not getting a response, I decided to just focus on the stories that I have been told by friends (with their consent), and found the photographer Donna Ferrato, whom I found highly inspiring. I couldn’t believe the work she produced and it encouraged me to produce staged images. I then came across a photographer called Daria and her visual outcomes were really inspiring for me. I responded to her by creating my own body of work which experimented in the style that she used. There was also another photographer (Valerie) who was also very important and influential throughout my work, as I used statements that she had shared to represent the voices that had been heard.
Very close to the exam the women’s refuge contacted me and although there was no time to create anything visual from this, I found out lots of information thanks to the chairman of the organisation Pat. It would have been very beneficial to have spent more time on the topic of the Jersey refuge for women and It would have been interesting to get to know more of the volunteers more personally and explore their roles within the organisation but I am glad that I got a change to know more about the organisation personally.
Overall, I am quite happy with the outcome of this project. At first, I was quite nervous as this is such a touchy and intense subject and I was afraid of doing something that would offend someone somehow, however I think I did okay and I am happy with the experiences and experimentation’s within my body of work. If I could go back and improve this project, I would probably create more shoots to have more of a variety of images to choose from to create a final outcome.