A comparative study between Claude Cahun and a contemporary photographer.

Shannon O’Donnell

classic simple design

Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word cave can also refer to much smaller openings such as sea caves, rock shelters, and grottos, though strictly speaking a cave is exogene, meaning it is deeper than its opening is wide, and a rock shelter is endogene.

Caves can range widely in size, and are formed by various geological processes. These may involve a combination of chemical processes, erosion by water, tectonic forces, microorganisms, pressure, and atmospheric influences.

When I imagine caves for myself, they don’t usually astonish me with color. Of course, caves that hold darkness hold the unconscious. My fears lie in those shadows, as do the very gifts I need to stay conscious to larger patterns and bigger purposes than my human self tends to notice on a quotidian basis. So a cave in a dream is an invitation to explore my shadow self, to look deeply into the parts of myself that I like to believe it would be easier to ignore. In truth, if I ignore them too long, they will get my attention, through feathers or bricks.caves for me meant the fear of being trapped and crushed by falling rocks, as well as the fascination with total darkness and the amazing rock formations. A very mixed set of emotions.

Depression is a natural condition, they write. It is natural formation. Better yet it is a natural resource. 

Every cave is unique. The forces in nature (erosion, stress, upheaval) that form caves have emotional equivalence. Trying to figure out how a cave was formed doesn’t change the cave. The ENTRANCE to a cave also serves as the EXIT.

Caves are better for temporary shelter rather than long-term residence.Caves can be fascinating, comforting and starkly beautiful but at the same time , very dangerous. Going too deep and getting lost in a cave may require help to return to the EXIT/ENTRANCE

Caves are useful for storage. Unwanted unneeded, painful and harmful memories can be consigned or stored in deep pits. Treasured memories and precious thoughts are best stored near the ENTRANCE/EXIT.

Attempting to fill in a cave creates a depression somewhere else. Remember the adage: In a cave or any dark place it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Of becoming obsessed with the idea of suicide as the one certain means of escape and this is so terrifying.

Of a fearful terror borne of complete helplessness that then fuels anger or a desperate isolation borne of shame and then indeed the full gamut of overwhelming and drowning emotions.

On the 10th of september 2020, 6pm at ‘Havre Des Pas’ on the pier I am going to take photos of my sister ‘Nadia’ for my environmental portrait assignment.

I have used my sister because she has been there for me through everything. Nadia and I’s age gap is 11 yrs her turning 28 in a couple days and I being 17. Out of my whole family her and I have the strongest bond and growing up together meant we faced every difficulty with one another which helped form the current bond we share.

I chose this specific location because this is one of the locations where she used to take me as a little kid whenever we were both stressed out with home life, school or her job and spend time together just having a laugh and a good time.

I would like for the out come of the images to be moderately bright background with little to no bright colours for example white’s browns some dark-ish blues and then my sister in a bright cheery outfit in the center of the images for her to be the main focus of the photo.

PLANNING: Write a specification that provide an interpretation and plan of how you intend to explore A Love Story. This must include at least 3 photoshoots you will be doing in the next 2-3 weeks (these could include photo-assignments). How do you want your images to look and feel like? Include visual references to artists/photographers in terms of style, approach, intentions, aesthetics concept and outcome. Remember the final outcome is a 16 page photo-zine so you will need to edit a final series of 12-16 images that sequenced together as a set forms a narrative that visualises your love story. 

STORY: What is your love story?
Describe in:

• Love and insomnia.
• Love, heartbreak, self love a personal story about my best friends and how we grew apart.
• A story about a young girls relationship with two boys that have some dark moments, filled with tears, happy moments, good memories and love showing how she dealt with losing both her best friend. Stumbling through life with a smile on her face ignoring and hiding the pain.

NARRATIVE: How will you tell your story?

• Images > new photographic responses, photo-shoots recreation of moments in the story.
• Archives > old photos from family albums, iPhone
• Texts > letters, documents, poems, text messages, words with meaning.

AUDIENCE: Who is it for?

Most image makers tend to overlook the experience of the viewer. Considering who your audience is and how they may engage with your photo-zine is important factor when you are designing/ making it.

• Reflect and comment on this in your specification (age group, demographic, social/ cultural background etc.