For the research of my project, I looked at photographer Allan Kaprow, who in the 50s and 60s started the ‘Happenings’ which is the earliest version of performance art, and he pioneered the whole movement. Because of this, I want to also talk about Tom Pope, a photographer I have met through school and made pieces of work with.  Tom Pope is a performance based photographer who was born in Bristol but lives and works in London. Tom is very different to conventional photographers in the way that his work is more about the act of taking a photograph instead of the actual photograph itself. His style of photography is very performance based instead of standard photography and usually creates short films for his work instead of just stills. He performs his work in public and usually involves audience participation, as he tries to break the fourth wall with his work.  

His first project entitled ‘Over The Edge’ was a project he worked on while studying at the Royal College of Art in London. The projects features Tom taking pictures of himself jumping up in the air to make it look as if he is floating, and captured these images by jumping in the air and using a cable release.  His other works include ‘Potentials’ and ‘Blinded By Armor’ where they were more about the art of taking a photograph. Potentials featured him throwing oranges at the camera to try and hit the cable release which would then capture the image. Blinded By Armor is a video where Tom shoots arrows at the camera until he finally hits the lens. Tom is heavily inspired by the work of Allan Kaprow, as the pieces he creates are usually revisions of works that Kaprow had performed and produced.