This was my first shoot to get comfortable with talking to people and taking portraits of people in the streets or working in shops. This photoshoot was to collect environmental portraits of people which I found mostly worked when people were working, or when I walked past a peculiar scenario or set up of people in the streets. This shoot helped me to gain an eye for looking out for interesting scenes and people which in a way gives as much insight about me as well as the subjects in each photograph, as these pictures are essentially a collection of what I like and find interesting.
EDITS
I decided to edit these pictures in black and white because it creates a more formal overview of the pictures and a different aesthetic essence within a photograph that you cannot achieve from a coloured photograph. This editorial decision has also derived from inspiration of Walker Evans’s ‘Labor Anonymous’ where he captures portraits of ordinary American ‘labourers’ or workers on a Saturday afternoon in Detroit. Although the photographs do not necessarily match Evan’s in terms of the set up of each scenario, there is the same idea of photographing a group of people – the people that make up St. Helier. I do like the idea of exploring typography within my design and editorial stages later on in my project.
Each artist in this collection of images has provided me with inspiration for how I would like to capture the essence of St. Helier. I have selected images from the archive. I noticed a lack of portraits and the few I found were composed by Francis Foot, this has enabled the idea of capturing the people of town rather than architectural and landscape based pictures as I believe that what makes up St. Helier is the people and community.
Another artist I would like to base this project on is Walker Evans and his collection of photos of American workers - 'Labour Anonymous' set out in the style of typology. He used the method of standing still with his camera set up by his waist shooting passersby framed by the negative space of a wall in his location. The collection of images are all candid and even when the subject realised their photo was being taken, their expressions were still honest and they almost give a bigger insight of who they are as individuals. Although all the pictures are set up the same and look alike, each person creates a different mood and emotion.
The last artist I drew inspiration from is Lewis Bush. The images I chose use a technique of cutting and pasting and repeating one image that creates an intense and overwhelming feeling. If I could apply this to portraits I would hopefully like to emphasise the emotion and individuality of each person I capture on the street by repeating key parts of their portraits that add flavour and insight to who they are and what their motives are in that moment.
I think St. Helier has a lot of potential in areas of new construction, community and culture, especially because we are a small island with rich history and opportunity for improvement. Now, it almost gives me the impression as quite preservative with a need for change to improve life in 'town'.
Personally I think that we need to refine our community more than renew a concrete landscape.
In my view St. Helier is made up of the people who work and live in it. For it to become better, the sense of community and acceptance of all people needs to improve. However, the main focus of is construction, due to rise in population and demand for work spaces from the finance industry. I understand in order for the community of St. Helier to improve these steps must be taken, especially with the struggle to house the increasing population of Jersey. However I feel that Jersey thinks it has no room, time, or money for any creative art which essentially richens the islands culture and sense of community, not to mention boosting the tourism industry which once was one of the biggest industries in earlier years. St.Helier is dull and there is little art. Any time a proposal has risen to improve this, nothing has happened.
I feel that Jersey is trying to become something it has never been and this is essentially destroying the essence of the island. Jersey should improve on what we already have.
When we rebuild St.Helier it should enhance what we have in terms of landscape and history through art, photography and architecture, rather then try to be like an existing city.
The area I have been assigned includes Broad Street which was St. Heliers first shopping area with many of the retail establishments opened up by English and French immigrants.
The side of the street that is now consisting largely of financial institutions was originally a row of houses. The opposite side of the street was made up of shop fronts which are now seen as the back entrances of shops on King Street. Overtime this has flipped around with the growth of town, as today the frontage of these shops face King Street. Many of the retail establishments were opened up by English and French immigrants, which leads me to focus on the people that make up St. Helier as inhabitants of Jersey have never been truly Jersey bred.
