Preview: Flight of an Imagination

Above is an online display presentation of my final photo-book. ‘A Flight of Imagination’ is my photographic book surrounding the narratives of some of the folklore tales in Jersey, Channel Islands. Some of the tales date back hundreds of years and still showcase themselves in ways to the residents and tourists of this island in todays society. The book includes landscapes of the sights surrounding the stories as well as staged tableaux photographs which I went out and produced in order to tell these tales in a way in which showcased them still inhabiting the areas of the island. I split the photo-book in two, focusing on one tale in the beginning of the book and then moving forward to the next as I feel this made the most sense. I began each story with a starting image, heading off and leading into the story, the use of text in my book helped to elevate the stories most I feel, as the photographs need context to help make the narrative make sense so the best way I felt to do this was tell the story throughout the photo-book. For the first story I mainly focused on the landscape that surrounds the tale of Devil’s Hole, as it is something that brings a lot of locals and tourism to this specific point, now having a pub and cliff walk around the hole itself, I tried to create and include a small amount of tableaux photographs in this section however focused heavily on the landscape area. For the second story in my photo-book I mainly used and focused on the staged photographs, taking myself out and putting models in specific costumes to create these photographs, I wanted to tell a specific narrative with these photographs, the story specifically, although also using text to help add context to the photographs I focused on moving from character to character to create the story and narrative with minimal words. The use of the disposable camera in this section I feel adds a different touch to the photographs, they have a mystical hue around them which I feel works well with the subject of the story in telling it. I chose to have my impactful or important photographs larger and on double page or 3/4 page spreads as this makes them stand apart from the others. I decided to use some of the physical prints into the book to add a different effect to showcase the idea of these tales still being really in the island, to have them captured ‘on camera’ makes them seem more real and there I feel. I have ended my second story on a strip of negatives from the disposable camera to add a human, realistic touch, while displaying a subject which does not seem all that real. The essay, my personal investigation, found at the end of the photo-book, gives some context and insight to the lengths and extent that these images are influenced and derive from stories. I chose to place this at the back of my photo-book as I feel it helps to add some substance to my images more, it gives context into the idea of staged and tableaux photography and the idea of fact and fiction and where the lines are blurring of what separate individual people believe and how this also effects the outcome. This design has gone through many experimentation and trials to find the best way to produce and display the photographs, I believe I have successfully been able to produce what I aimed to of a book which displays the idea of stories and folklore tales occupying the island of Jersey, Channel Islands, I feel it has a clear narrative and I have been able to produce photographs that work well together and flow to clearing show meaning and narrative discussion.

Here I have my final layouts for the print work I produced at the end of the personal investigation in relation to Occupation and Liberation. I chose and finalised on the specific layouts I did as I feel they all enhance and showcase the work well. Choosing to single out one large photograph against the black I feel works well with the particular image due to the colours and the forms in the image works well by itself as I do not have many like it. For my other photographs I chose them together as they work well in a sequence, telling a narrative together to create a larger picture to take from.

Final Print 1:

For my first final print I wanted to utilise the eclectic layout to illustrate my Grandparents lifestyle. After consideration I decided I did not want to use all of the photographs as I felt, that it became to chaotic and took away from my intended narrative. I decided to use the three interior images and the two photographs inspired by LaToya Ruby Frazier as I felt these images complimented each other to convey the ideology of lifestyle, authority and luxury. I decided to come away from the ‘randomly spread out’ idea and made it all lined up and straight in order to show more structure within their lifestyle. Personally, I really like the way the images compliment each other as they follow a similar simplistic composition, as well as conveying my narrative for the project.

Final Piece 2:

Using these two images almost juxtapose one another, however I believe it informs us a lot about my Grandad. They both hold the ideology of spirituality, the top image shows red wine which suggests the last supper and a common drink had within church services as it represents Jesus’ blood. Additionally, the photograph below is an image of intimacy showing my Grandad reaching out and praying to god. Placing these two images together clearly represents the ideology of spirituality, and therefore making it a successful outcome.

Final Piece 3:

In my third final outcome I selected the two portraits, one of my Grandma and the other of my Grandad inspired by Walker Evans. I chose to use a window mount to illustrate the ideology of authority and family structure and hierarchy, as the portrait of my Grandad is larger in size, thus implying the conceptual representation. I really like the way in which they compliment each other through a similar composition as Walker Evans, as it suggests a relationship with the outdoors and their home, which showcases lifestyle. I believe this outcome is strong and clearly shows my narrative, thus making it successful.

Final Outcome 4:

For my last final outcome I chose to frame the A3 photograph of my families interaction with my Grandparents during a religious period in time, Christmas. The image is displayed in a black window mount, and holds an ameliorative atmosphere, as it explains how the two different lifestyles compliment one another. The photograph alone is structurally quite busy, thus making it effective on its own, as the monochrome composition allows detail and structure to be emphasised, reinforcing the happiness shown on the subjects faces. Personally, I really like this design as I feel it clearly illustrates the meaning of family as well as informing viewers about my intended narrative.

Evaluation:

To evaluate, I believe I have successfully selected some of my strongest imagery from the project in order to display my intended narrative within the project. I have creatively experimented with ways in which I could display my photographs, with showing a variety of methods, window mounts and stuck on foam board. The simplicity of the display allows the authenticity of my photographs to be up held. I have shown my ability to place ‘like’ photographs together in order for them to compliment and almost hold a mini narrative of their own which adds to my overall narrative. Therefore, I have successfully displayed my photographs, as well as being satisfied with my outcomes.