The aim of this photoshoot is to capture images which are able to capture the contrast of Jersey’s seawall during the war compared to now, the same aim as Gina Socrates. In order to do this I will capture more macro and texture photographs, to capture the war side as it showcase the more unpleasant side of the sea wall. To capture the walls beauty, I will look at capturing more landscape images which outcast onto the beach. I want to be able to show experimentation with camera settings and so I will be adjusting the ISO to create a subtle noise to work with the textured images. Moreover, I will look at experimenting with different angles, shutter speeds and white balances. One thing I noticed from Socrates images was that her images seemed to have a hint of orange/yellow to help show historical factors, by adjusting my white balance and using the Hue setting on photoshop I believe I will be able to achieve this effect within my work. The location of the photoshoot will be down at First Tower// Saint Helier sea wall, as it is a long wall which will provide multiple opportunities to capture different images of the same stimulus. I will also capture St Ouen’s sea wall as that is the wall Gina captured when she conducted her photoshoot.
Contact Sheets:
Evaluation:
To evaluate this photoshoot I believe that I have been semi-successful with the images that I have taken. I believe that I have met my artistic aim by capturing the two bipolar uses of the sea wall, in order to present Jersey’s journey through the second world war. However, I do believe that I could have taken more images in order to have more outcomes to work with during the editing process. I was able to capture my images at different viewpoints, from a straight on angle to a birds eye view (which where not as successful as they where captured on a plain ride create a blur to the images). In order to further develop this idea I am going to manipulate my top outcomes on photoshop. I am wanting to create double exposures, level, adjust curves, hue and saturation in order to not only make my images have stronger links to Socrates, but to further develop my presentation of the change in the sea wall in the second world war.
Gina Socrates is a current photographer who is based in Jersey.
“As a photographer, I draw inspiration from the island of Jersey on which I live: its sometime soft and delicate, sometime harsh and rugged coastline. Its traditional and contemporary architecture, its abundant flora and the individual characters of the locals.” – Gina Socrates
“This series of photographs contrasts the horrors of war implicit in the wall with the beauty of Jersey’s coast and the life which goes about upon it. Through the use of multiple exposures, other surrounding elements are brought into relief; elements which both modify the wall’s surface and its meaning: the beach, the sea, deckchairs, and shadows.” – Gina Socrates
Gina Socrates
Contextually. the sea wall was built by the Nazi’s during the second world war, in order to prevent the British from reclaiming the island of Jersey. The wall was built by prisoners from Russia and Spain, who where hold captive by the Nazi’s. The sea wall has now become a key feature of Jersey Channel Islands, with it useful uses of prevent the island from being flooded at high tides. The seawall holds a lot of history which many islanders are not aware about. Photographer Socrates wanted to capture the seawall in order to present the history of it and to show the “contrast the horrors of war implicit in the wall with the beauty of Jersey’s coast and the life which goes about upon it.” Thus, presenting her artistic aim. When first looking at the image my eyes are immediately drawn to the center of the image, where the subject of the wall/rocks are located. They then move around the image taking in the rest of the detail and scenery found. As an emotional response I can clearly see the metaphorical message trying to show how the sea wall has developed and how it was effected during the second world war, which can be considered emotional as it reflects the negative impact the war had to how beautiful the wall is in Jersey now a days. The image above is an example of a double exposure where two images overlay one another in order to make an overall abstract looking image. In the case we are able to see Jersey beautiful coast line (nowadays) and what looks to be a macro shot of dents and holes (presenting the horrors of the war). The main formal elements which have been presented seems to be space, texture and shape which are mainly presented through the double exposure technique. Both images are presented in color, however the hue seems to have been adjusted as the images look more yellow, which creates a vintage and rustic effect towards the image. This could have also been done by adjusting the white balance on the camera. The overall image seems to be in focus, which suggests that the shutter speed is likely to be quick. It is hard to tell, however I believe that the coastline image presents a large depth of field, which helps to maintain the image being completely focused. It seems that there is an intended blur, which could be because Socrates raised her ISO for one of the images, this has added to the overall vintage effect being created. On the other hand, the blur could have been added using a photograph editor on the computer. Moreover, the aperture could have been set low, as the images seem quite light, which helps the two images to blend in nicely with one another. The two images captured are landscape and follow similar camera techniques, which makes the double exposure seem more natural, the two images fit nicely together. When visiting Socrates work at Jersey’s CCA Gallery, I discovered that the double exposure was created with the camera settings. She changed the settings so she took one image and then another and the camera merged the two images together. The contrasting images are put together to create an overall metaphorical image which successfully meets the aim of the photo shoot. In my opinion I really like her work as I believe that camera settings and her editing work together to create interesting and eye capturing photographs. Her image begins to present the idea of Journey and Pathways, as this is one element which impacted Jersey Channel Islands during the Second World War.
Physically showing the camera techniques used, In order to show my understanding of the techniques used to create an effective image.
Action Plan:
As an action plan I am wanting to recreate Gina’s photo shoot on Jersey’s sea wall. I want to be able to show the contrast of what the wall is used for now and how it was in the second world war. This will begin to develop my interpretation of Jersey through the second world war. I will look at using a double exposure and different techniques when manipulating my images on photo shoot.
My initial idea for this project was to look at the Journey of Jersey and how it has developed into the way it is today. This lead me to a wide range of approaches and ideas, but with conducting research I have been able to narrow down this idea. I want to look at Jersey during the Second World War and how the island developed over the 5 years. This will provide me with the opportunity to explore the different styles of landscape photography by gaining inspiration through landscape photographers. Moreover, it will broaden my understanding of photography as a whole. Within this planning I wrote down a variety of locations which have a connection between WW2 and how it effected the island. This list includes:
Jersey War Tunnels
Jersey Bunkers
Royal Square
Dolmans
Jersey Sea Walls
Fort Regent
Fields of Poppys
Channel Island Military Museum
These places will all help to present the journey Jersey underwent during WW2. Furthermore, I have considered different photoshop and photograph ideas I could implement into this project. These ideas include:
Tableaux Photography
Photo-Montage
Landscape Photography
Double Exposures
The use of a disposable camera
1940 – 1945 Jersey CI:
30th June 1940 Jersey was invaded by the Germans. On this day they sent a squadron of bombers over the islands and bombed the harbors Jersey.
lack of news from the mainland after the Germans had outlawed the use of crystal radio sets.
The island was also moved to Central European time. In the months following D-Day, as the Allies regained control of France, the source of supplies fueling the islands was now no longer available.
Food shortages on Jersey were finally relieved by the arrival of the Red Cross ship SS Vega, bringing food parcels to Jersey. Before then, substitutes had been used to replace everyday foods, with seawater replacing salt, for instance, and a mixture of parsnip and sugar beet replacing tea.
Hitler ordered the conversion of Jersey into an impregnable fortress. Thousands of slave workers from countries like Russia, Spain, France, Poland, and Algeria built hundreds of bunkers, anti-tank walls, railway systems, as well as many tunnel complexes. In late 1943 the Tunnel Complex Ho8 (now known as the Jersey War Tunnels) in St. Lawrence was converted from an artillery workshop and barracks to an emergency casualty clearing station able to cope with up to 500 patients.. All of the fortifications built around the island were part of Hitler’s “Atlantic Wall”. Today, traces of Jersey’s defenses and wartime occupations can be discovered across the island, especially in St. Ouen’s Bay.
By 7 May 1945, the German army had surrendered and the end of the war in Europe was announced. During the week leading up to 6 May islanders had been hearing reports of Hitler’s fall in Berlin by way of their hidden radios. In spite of the fact that the island was still officially under occupation, rumors began circulating of an imminent end to the war in Europe.
On 8 May the units that made up Force 135 received their orders to move to their marshalling camps in Portsmouth. The main body of the Force was due to arrive in the islands on 12 May, however, a small contingent of Force 135, including their Commander, Brigadier AE Snow, left for the Channel Islands aboard HMS’ Bulldog and Beagle the morning of 8 May.
At 7.15am on 9 May, on the quarter deck of HMS Bulldog, Second-in-Command for Guernsey General Siegfried Heine signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the German Command of the Channel Islands, effecting their capitulation. On completion of this, General Heine was then ordered to “immediately cause all German flags and ensigns now flying in the Channel Islands to be lowered”. At Midday an overjoyed Bailiff Coutanche accompanied a German delegation led by the island Commander, General Major Rudolf Wulf, aboard HMS Beagle anchored in St. Aubin’s bay, where the separate surrender of Jersey was to take place. Arriving at the same time in St. Helier’s harbour was a small naval inspection party sent to report on the health of the islanders, who were promptly overwhelmed by an enthusiastic crowd delighted at seeing their first liberators landing on Jersey soil.
Information taken from: https://www.jersey.com/discover-jerseys-occupation-story
After conducting this research I have come upon different aspects of the war, which I could capture within a photograph in order to present the journey of Jersey through the second world war. Moreover, looking at the history has provided me with some artists which could be used in order to help inspire photoshoots. These artists include:
Martin Parr – Liberation Day
Dorothea Lange – Affect of War on People
Gina Socrates – Seawalls
Don Mcullin – War Photographer
CriticalMass – Ruin photography
As I go through this project I will realise what works and what does not work, which will lead to more/different artist inspiration being used.
Evaluation:
