Narrative: 

My book is about the relation between the human body and nature. I will look at taking abstract images of human body features creating intrigue, focussing on the depth of detail within the body features. I will also photograph aspects of nature, e.g. the beach, pebbles, flowers, plants. This will represent the beauty within nature. This natural beauty of the earth can be linked with the natural beauty of the human body creating love for oneself. My aim is to encapsulate the beauty of nature and our body parts, with the main focus being on depth of the image and capturing the abstract linking in the sublime.

Design: 

I want my book to look simple, with all the detail and interest coming from within the images. I will use light colours to not draw any attention away from the subjects photographed. The title will reflect the contents of the book with it linking to natural beauty. The design and layout of the book will be clear, with space between images and pages to enable focus on a single image at a time and the cover will be intriguing, engaging people to want to look further into it.

1. Research a photo-book and describe the story it is communicating  with reference to subject-matter, genre and approach to image-making.

The photo book, Illuminance shows the photographers passions through simple but striking images. Some people explain the images as solitary. Illuminance consists of 176 photos, taken over 15 years. The book was inspired by the aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi, which is “a philosophy of reduction, modesty and the beauty of imperfection” / the Japanese philosophy of accepting your imperfections and making the most of life. She creates her own unique perspective of the world.

2. Who is the photographer? Why did he/she make it? (intentions/ reasons) Who is it for? (audience) How was it received? (any press, reviews, awards, legacy etc.)

Rinko Kawauchi is a Japanese photographer, born 1972 in Shiga Japan. She lives and works in Tokyo after studying graphic design and photography at Seian University of Art and Design. She is known world wide for her varied use of colour and power in composition. She draws attention to small details and looks at the world around her with enchantment. Her images offer us a captivating view of the world around us. Kawauchi says: “differentiates between a photograph and an artwork. Seeing two images next to each other opens up the imagination and gives birth to something else. Flipping through the pages of the book, it can arouse feelings of excitement, sadness, or happiness—things that are hard [for me] to do with words.” ~ https://time.com/3776240/rinko-kawauchis-illuminance/

3. Deconstruct the narrative, concept and design of the book and apply theory above when considering:

Paper and ink: use of different paper/ textures/ colour or B&W or both. ~ Matte Paper, bold colours, smooth texture.

Format, size and orientation: portraiture/ landscape/ square/ A5, A4, A3 / number of pages ~ Portrait, 163 pages.

Binding, soft/hard cover. image wrap/dust jacket. saddle stitch/swiss binding/ Japanese stab-binding/ leperello ~ Clothbound Japanese binding.

Cover: linen/ card. graphic/ printed image. embossed/ debossed. letterpress/ silkscreen/hot-stamping ~ Printed image of a flower.

Title: literal or poetic / relevant or intriguing ~ Intriguing.

Narrative: what is the story/ subject-matter. How is it told? ~ The beauty of imperfection

Design and layout: image size on pages/ single page, double-spread/ images/ grid, fold- outs/ inserts. ~ Single pages, bottom part of the page left blank.

Essay Question:

Can personality and identity be expressed in a portrait?

Opening quote:

‘With every breath of nature’s depth, she was becoming more herself.’ – Angie Weiland-Crosby

Introduction: (250-500 words): What is your area study? Which artists will you be analysing and why? How will you be responding to their work and essay question?

Pg 1 (500 words): Historical/ theoretical context within art, photography and visual culture relevant to your area of study. Make links to art movements/ isms and some of the methods employed by critics and historian. Link to powerpoints and resources above about art movements and isms.

Pg 2 (500 words): Analyse first artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.

Pg 3 (500 words): Analyse second artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.

Pg 4 (500 words): Analyse second artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.

Conclusion (250-500 words): Draw parallels, explore differences/ similarities between artists/photographers and that of your own work that you have produced

Bibliography: List all relevant sources used

Danto. The Concept of the Aesthetic <https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aesthetic-concept/>

Oden, L. Bill Brandt, International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum <https://iphf.org/inductees/bill-brandt/>

Lewis, E. Tate. Albert Renger-Patzsch <https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/display/albert-renger-patzsch>

Coplans, J. John Coplans < http://www.artnet.com/artists/john-coplans/>

Literary Sources:

The Concept of the Aesthetic

Bill Brandt

Albert Renger-Patzsch

Agnieszka Lepka

Antonio Mora

3 Words:

Love and nature.

A Sentence:

The link between the human body and features of nature represent the simple beauty and self love created by a person.

A Paragraph:

Looking at the idea of self love I will focus on certain features of the body and encapsulate the beauty in each part focussing on the simple things. I will then link this or contrast with a piece of nature showing the natural beauty, building on these views to create a whole picture representing the journey of learning to love your individual features enabling a person to love there whole self naturally with nature connected. The views will develop as the parts of the body come together to create a whole person at one with themselves and nature. I am going to use pieces of nature that have meaning to each individual being photographed creating sentimental value to the nature being used.

PICTORIALISM

REALISM / STRAIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

MODERNISM

POST-MODERNISM

Shannon O’Donnell was born in Jersey. She has completed her BA(Hons) degree in documentary photography at the University of South Wales.

She looks at the theme of gender, focussing on femininity and masculinity as gender traits. She aims to question and challenge society and the traditional views of gender using her work. Lots of her work is influenced by artists such as: Claude Cahun, Cindy Sherman, Casa Susanna and Clare Rae. Shannon has done a range of projects, including: That’s Not The Way The River Flows, a film on identity. Here They Stood, focussing on the Suffragettes. Susan’s Sleep, about Shannon’s personal experiences and By Your Bedside, a series of images complimenting Susan’s Sleep.

Claude Cahun, who was born as Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob on October 25, 1894  was a French lesbian photographer, sculptor and writer. In 1917 Schwob adopted the pseudonym Claude Cahun, inytentionally selecting a sexually ambiguuous name. Cahun is best known for self portraits. Cahun was a surrealist photographer whose work explored gender identity and the subconcious mind. She is considered a ground-breaking artist who fully embraced her gender fluidity long before the term came into use. Cahun settled in Jersey in 1937 after the fall of the France and German occupation of the Channel Islands. Cahun and her lifelong partner and stepsister Suzanne Malherbe used their creative talents to manipulate to manipulate and undermine the authority. Cahun and Malherbe were members of a wealthy publishing family from Nantes in France. They became propagandists, producing anti-german fliers. In 1944 they were arressted and sentenced to death however their sentences were not carried out as Jersey was liberated in 1945. Cahun died December 8, 1954 as her health never recovered from her treatment in jail. Her work left a huge impression on photography and directly inspired contemporary photographers, including Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing and Nan Goldin.

A similarity between Shannon O’Donnell and Claude Cahun’s work is their ideas linking to gender. They do not conform to the stereotypes of society. Both artists use identity politics as part of their work, promoting their views on gender and how you can be whoever you choose. Gender should not define how you live in life. Both use self-portraiture to express their views in order to re-conceptualise gender.

‘Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie a Nigerian novelist is critical of modern masculinity, calling it a “hard, small cage” that forces men to hide emotion. “We teach boys to be afraid of fear, of weakness, of vulnerability,” she writes. “We teach them to mask their true selves, because they have to be, in Nigerian-speak – a hard man.”’ This supports Cahun and O’Donnel’s views on gender labels and shows how change is needed.

Shannon O’Donnell’s image above represents the struggles a woman faces. The position of the model in the center of the photo creates a focal point, with her stretched out trying to hold everything up. The stereotypes of women staying home and cleaning are represented with the heals symbolising how society perceive women. The use of black and white creates a serious tone, as it portrays a serious message. Similarly in Claude Cahun’s image below the use of black and white creates a serious tone. The mask represents society, hiding the true self. The mask being removed shows the break through as the model is not hiding behind it, but rather showing themself for who they are and being proud. This signifies the change being made, highlighting to society the importance of the ideas.

Something else: a short film on gender labelling. By Charlotte Bainbridge, Lexie Stephens and Lucie Hardisty.