1. Describe which themes, medium (photography, film), approaches (documentary, tableaux, conceptual), artists (incl contextual references to art history, movements and isms) and photographic skills, processes, techniques and methods (incl learning new software) inspired you the most and why.
2. Include examples of both previous and current experiments and imagery to illustrate your thinking.
3. Produce a new mind-map and mood-board based around how you interpret one/ or both theme(s) of IDENTITY & COMMUNITY using new artists inspirations and visual references etc. Reflect on the Island Identity project and also consider themes more broadly (see below)
Inspirations throughout the course;
During the photography course, in both year 12 and 13, we have learnt a considerable amount of photographic techniques around portraiture, landscapes and abstract images. My favourite medium to use is taking still shots on a camera, although I have enjoyed learning about film making and taking moving shots I believe my skills lie more in the world of static photography. I believe I do well in portraying a certain storyline or narrative with my images, it is something I wish to continue in my personal investigation – I was very inspired by the work I created in response to photographer David Hilliard during my Identity and Place project. I enjoy the way he captures naturalism in his images, they connote a sense of normality and honesty that I really loved recreating. I have taken lots of inspiration from the documentary technique of photography, I believe it allows the observer to understand the subject more within their storyline. I really enjoy using natural lighting in my images, I have used it during the course a lot more than artificial lighting and am therefore more confident photographing with it.
More on how Hilliard inspired me.
Additionally, I was inspired by our year 12 abstract photography project, specifically studying repetition, pattern and rhythm. The photographer Ernst Haas was one I really enjoyed looking at, I enjoyed his use of repeating lines and shapes to create movement and rhythm in his images. I gained inspiration from the abstract unit as I loved experimenting with how different shapes and patterns could represent meaning and themes – I want to continue learning about how I can manipulate an image in terms of geometric aestheticism, using symmetry and repetition to connote ideas of memories being re-lived. I also really enjoyed studying Saul Leiter during the abstract unit, his use of colour and distorted aperture settings were really interesting to experiment with. I found inspiration with how Leiter captured windows and reflections in his images, I like how the abstract elements are still recognisable as everyday sights and objects – a sense of normality is something I really hope to experiment with further in the course. Additionally, I was influenced strongly by colour during my Saul Leiter study, I wanted to exaggerate the bold colours I captured to create an expression of freedom and non-naturalism. Previously in the course I focused on black and white photography, however during this project I enjoyed working with colour and emphasising different emotions through tones and hues.
During the photography course I have enjoyed learning about different software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Premier Pro and InDesign. Creating a Zine during the course has inspired me to produce a photobook for my final assessment. I believe having a physical copy of my work, where I can layout sequences of images with narratives and meaning, allows me to better use my imagination. I have been influenced throughout the course by several different artists, photographers and creative individuals that demonstrate ideas through different mediums – I look forward to experimenting further with the compositional elements of photography in this Identity project. The three areas of study that I have mentioned and shown evidence of above have been my most enjoyable parts of the course – I have been inspired by creating meaning and speaking out on prominent topics during year 12 and 13, this is something I wish to continue working on during my new project.