Michelle Sank
Michelle Sank was the ‘Archisle: The Jersey Contemporary Photography Programme Photographer in Residence 2013’. Her project, ‘Insula’ presents a series of photographs by Sank responding to Jersey culture, community and landscape.
Michelle Sank was born in Cape Town, South Africa and currently lives in the U.K. She describes herself as a ‘social demographic’ photographer – she says ‘My Practice is concerned with the notion of encountering, collecting, and re-telling. I am interested in creating sociological landscapes, interplays of human form and location that are significant in their visual, cultural and psychological nuances. I see my work as a celebration of the constantly changing moments and phases in life.’ Her work encompasses issues around social and cultural diversity.
In 2009 Sank undertook a three month residency in Aberystwyth, South Wales where she produced work that formed the exhibition and book called ‘The Submerged’ in 2011. The project took its title from parts of an ancient forest buried under the sands of Cardigan Bay which surface after stormy weather. These fragmentary boughs
symbolise occasions when people or places seize Sank’s attention to be photographed.
I chose to study Michelle Sank as her photographs contrast but also relate with Albert Smith’s in the sense that they document people but they are different styles of portraiture. This will allow me to produce a diverse set of photographs when I have a shoot in town.
Analysis of a Michelle Sank Photograph
In this Michelle Sank photograph, natural lighting was used to allow a natural environmental feel to the photograph due to the natural shadows and contrast. A deep depth of field appears to have been used as the whole of the photograph is in focus which helps to convey the idea that this is more of a documentary photograph than a commercial one. A shutter speed of 1/40-1/100 will have been used to capture this photograph along with a low ISO of 100 or 200 in order to allow enough light to enter the camera lens whilst keeping the quality as high as possible. There is contrast in the photograph between the feel of a warm day and the cold blue of the models’ outfits.
There are very vibrant colours in this photograph that contrast with eachother, such as the bright orange hair of the subjects and their deep blue jackets. There is not a massive range of tones within the photograph as it is generally a fairly light and summery photograph. The light reflecting off of the leather jackets creates a texture within the photograph, creating a more interesting subject. This use of texture and shadows helps to create a more 3D and realistic feel. The two subjects have been placed side by side to show the differences and similarities between the two.
This photograph is from a Michelle Sank project about Young Carers, children under the age of 18 who are often the main carers for a sick parent or sibling. In addition to performing daily household tasks like washing, bathing, cooking and shopping, they also have to manage the additional pressure of school. Because they are different, they are often exposed to bullying from schoolmates and lack a sense of identity as an individual in their own right.
Due to Michelle Sank choosing this subject, I think that with these portraits she is trying to empower the young people with a sense of their own identity and normality. It shows the subjects dressed in their own choice of clothing and being themselves, in a situation where they could be free.