For my first photoshoot I will look into the idea of Jeff Wall’s ‘The Drain’ I really like the narrative the photos tell, they appear quite nostalgic in a way people playing in the stream. Equally they also have a creepy undertone as it looks like some of the people have appeared from the tunnels.
Photoshoot Plan
‘Window’ Photoshoot Plan
I have always had an interest in capturing candid sports photos, when researching this project, mirrors and windows, my first thought for windows was motorsport pit lanes or service photos. A true insight into raw emotion, small details, the machines themselves and how teams work.
A photo zine, or a photography zine, isa small, self-published booklet or magazine that features photography. Zines are a tool used by photographers to tell a story in a visually capturing way to inform an audience about a specific topic or issue, to showcase and advertise a new idea or simply create a preview of an ongoing project.
To begin a zine, the photographer would decide on a range of photos that relate to each other. Zine’s generally will tell a kind of story or will at least have something in common.
Zines can be made on InDesign or can be handmade. For example, the settings I used for InDesign were: width: 148mm, height: 210, pages: 16, orientation: portrait, columns: 2, column gutter: 5mm, margins: top, bottom, inside, outside: 10mm, bleed: top, bottom, inside, outside: 3mm. When you fold your sheets, your front cover and back cover should always be the first and last pages of your layout.
My Own zine: My zine is going to be focussed on the photoshoot from St Helier Harbour which focusses on the new and the old harbour. I am planning to keep my zine all in colour and keep a brighter tone to the overall piece. I think I could make the old harbour photos black and white but I have decided to keep it all in colour so that all images have something in common.
Once you have considered the points made between the differences in narrative and story and thought about what story you want to tell about St Helier Harbour and the images that that you have made in response, consider the following:
STORY:What is your story?
My Zine doesn’t necessarily have a story, I more focussed on the layout. I made sure that the photos that I liked the most had their own page spread and I made a page like this as every other page.
I’m going to go out and get some pictures of trees mainly focusing on dead ones and maybe get some of abstracts of leaves on the floor depending on how damp they are cause if they are mushy it wont look brilliant. I’m going to look for mushrooms whilst I am out as they don’t have a very long lifespan. I will also look for weeds that have pretty flowers though it might be the wrong time of year or this.
mirror shoots
I’m gonna buy some flowers and use some that we already have in a vase at home and stage them to look romantic I may even get my father to hold some. And I may even experiment with shutter speed.
I am going to ask a friend if she would pose for me as we like late-night walks and especially in cemeteries
For this topic, I would like to focus my photographs on identity and feminism. I want the result of my photographs to depict the ins and outs of girlhood, and show the difficulty within the lives of women.
Photoshoot 1: For this photoshoot, I am planning to use the photography studio to take photos for window and mirror photography. I am looking to focus on the story behind the photographs by making them unique and understanding. I will use different lighting and angles to accentuate my ideas.
Photoshoot 2: For my second photoshoot, I will go to the studio again and aim to improve my creative skills within the photography. I will try and use different props, like a microphone for example, to present different narratives. I will also make sure my model is using a range of different body language and facial expressions to exert different moods to do with personal identity and individuality.
Essay plan Introduction (250 words): Reflect on the origin of photography and describe in your own words the difference between the two photographic processes, Daguerreotype and Calotype. Consider how they could be viewed as either a mirror or a window of the world according to John Szarkowski’s thesis. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s text and comment if you agree or disagree.
Paragraph 1 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a mirror and analyse how it is a subjective expression and staged approach to image-making. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review which either supports of opposes Szarkowski’s original point of view. Make sure you comment to advance argumentation in providing a critical perspective.
Paragraph 2 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a window and analyse how it is an objective expression rooted in the notion of realism. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review and follow similar procedure as above ie. two opposing points of view and commentary to provide a critical perspective.
Conclusion (250 words):Refer back to the essay question and write a conclusion where you summarise Szarkowski’s theory and Pearl’s review of his thesis. Describe differences and similarities between the two images above and their opposing concepts of objectivity and subjectivity, realism and romanticism, factual and fiction, public and private.
Introduction:
Looking at the basics of photography and trying to gather the difference between Daguerreotype and Calotype helps us identify the Mirror or Windows theory. A Daguerreotype is a ‘positive’ image that creates a highly detailed image in a sheet of copper plated with a thin coat of silver. Whereas Calotype is seen as a negative and positive process where the image is printed using paper coated with silver iodide, the texture of the paper limits the ability to see low contrast details and textures on the image. The easiest way to identify a Calotype is due to the lack of clarity in the details and a mottling of tones and a Daguerreotype is identified by its mirror-like, highly polished silver surface and its dually negative/positive appearance when viewed from different angles or different shades of lighting. The concept that an image is either a window or a Mirror creates this idea of the photo whether its personal and foreshadowing something or its just taken unexpected. The mirror image would portray a Daguerreotypes as it made from a highly polished silver-plated sheet of copper that appears to look like a mirror. This creates an image but still allows you to see yourself due to the copper. This image is captured by its reflective surface echoing the surrounding scenery. The photographer Szarkowski came up with the theory of the windows and mirror and suggested that windows are not seen to be personal as when you look through a window what you see has nothing to do with you where as a mirror is seen as your reflection although there may be a debate about this as a window could be a path through to what is important to the photographer. A specific quote stated by Szarkowski “Whatever else a photograph may be about, it is inevitably about photography, the container and vehicle of all its meaning’s.” This quotes suggest that there is a lot of information about each photograph taken and it has a deep meaning whether it is a basic photograph. The idea that the photo does not just have one meaning, it can put multiple things together to create the real story of the image. Though this could also show that Photography was not invented to serve a clearly understood function, sometimes it would be better to not understand the concept of the photograph and have a basic understanding to be able to visual your own ideas towards the image, sometimes the real meaning of the image doesn’t justify the actual shot of the image. Photography is so widely spread to any topic that any image could have any deep meaning towards it.
Hannah Starkey, Untitled – May 1997
Mirror Reference:
The idea of an image identifying as a mirror could vary in many ways; the main reason this image could be a mirror is because the people in the photograph are looking through it. Some people could suggest that the older lady in the image is looking through the mirror at her younger self, as if she is looking through her memories. Though looking at Hannah Starkey’s work, she states that her work is staged and based on women in London based on fake sceneries, she uses actors within carefully considered settings, Hannah Starkey’s photographs reconstruct scenes from everyday life with the concentrated stylization of film. Starkey’s images picture women engaged in regular routines such as loitering in the street, sitting in cafes, or passively shopping. Starkey captures these generic ‘in between’ moments of daily life with a sense of relational detachment. As Starkey is a women she may the need to portray the idea that women don’t get enough recognition, or she simply wants to explore all the stereotypes women have been pinpointed to do such as shopping and sitting cafes, which isn’t the case for every women’s daily life, it could be an analysis of what women are seen to be doing everyday making their roles useless and quite in vain. Though that could depend on analysis does not mean the be dependent. This may not have a specific meaning as said by Szarkowski that photography is not purposed to provide a meaning to each photograph taken. Most of Szarkowski concepts stated, “The hard part isn’t the decisive moment or anything like that—it’s getting the film on the reel.” This could imply that the photograph does not have to be the best captured image but it needs to be taken at a certain point to prove that something happened, this could be similar to Starkey’s concept of staged photography, she isn’t capturing the real moment of the event happening but she recreating it to the best of her ability portraying the events as happened but without capturing it in the right moment as its being replayed with different people, possibly in a different scenery, at a different time of the day but the event is still getting shown. this therefore represents the idea that this image is a mirror as Starkey may have seen these event happen and that is why she recreates them, this makes the images real meaning feel more personal to Starkey than other people as they don’t know the real story behind the image of the lady holding her hand to the mirror with an older lady behind her. One quote stated from Jeds review notes that at some length, “Szarkowski writes about the death of the pictorial press (Life, Look) which supported public documentary photography” .This can tie in with the fact that Szarkowski’s quote states that some images aren’t always the best but they take a picture of the moment. Almost like a documentary, they don’t really get people to pose for their images, they just want to get the message across. This Image could also represent the imagery of the lady’s downfall as you pay attention to the mirror it seems to be cracking, and the lady behind her is looking quite concerned. Therefore, the point of an image being identified as a mirror is to show the personal aspects, the fact that this image is foreshadowing the future or even just replaying past events.
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Seville, 1933
Window reference:
The windows theory of identifying a photo is context based. This image is almost created like a window, it is like a scene is happening behind the closed wall, but the small hole is letting us see the perspective of what is happening behind closed doors. This is seen as a window because this might not be personal to the photograph, this image is based on small children playing around. This image is of a poorer place or country at war. The photographer Henry Cartier Bresson is known as a humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography, Bresson focuses on street photography and produced the idea of a decisive moment. Bresson described his photography journey as hunting without killing, he describes photography as a passion, he used his passion to turn images into the unexpected, Bresson goes out an takes photo of what is walking past him, the people in his surrounding, he is not looking for a specific thing. As seen in the image none of the little boys are looking straight at the camera, there seem to be occupied playing around as little children do, this image could represent a nostalgia of one’s childhood, as none of the children are on their phones messing around doing negative things exactly like when we were children and then the world grew bad. The concept that all children are innocent as they do not know the cruelty of the world, they do not have anything to focus on except playing around. the purity of this image shows how generations have changed the word of childhood, childhood to older generation would mean playing in the garden with your friends, drawing, doing fun activities whereas these days a childhood is which child had the best phone at the youngest age, all everyone focuses on is social media and knowing about the latest news. A way of linking Henri Cartier’s work to Szarkowski concept of windows. An important quote stated by Szarkowski “They were … pure and unadulterated photographs, and sometimes they hinted at the existence of visual truths that had escaped all other systems of detection.” This could link in with the idea that social media has taken over people’s minds, all people want to do is go on their phones and message people or scroll on apps brain washing people to believe fake news. This quote shows us that this image is an example of the purity of the world, showing us that these children look grateful for everything things may get, they do not seem to be complaining, these children are content. We are letting the truth slip away that social media is slowly taking over and no one is stopping it. Another quote stated by Szarkowski was ” Photography’s failure to explain large public issues has become increasingly clear… most issues of importance cannot be photographed.” this shows us that this photograph may have contextual factors to it, these children look like they are playing in a dangerous place, all the walls are broken, there are pieces on the floor scattered everywhere. But the idea that these children look happy navigates us away from the idea that they are in danger. The impression that the war isn’t really major here as everyone looks happy, safe and there isn’t any graphic images shows us how inhumane we have become, the world wants to forget the fact that war is happening and just because the image doesn’t capture the actual moment of the bombing an shooting happens then everyone is safe and not in danger anymore. one quote from Jeds review states that “realism,” involved with the “exploration” of a private “window” on the world. This states that window is meant to represent the struggles of the world and how war is effecting us. This ties in with Szarkowski thoughts that some photographs are gonna be revealing the visual truth of the world. Therefore, the concept that windows are all about the concept of the image shows how forgotten some of the key concepts are left behind due to the atmosphere being content and not graphic.
Conclusion:
Overall, the idea of mirrors and windows describing an image has been looked at in depth, by allowing us to understand how to identify what image symbolises a mirror or a window. The main point that photographs can be both ‘mirrors’ and ‘windows’ of the world, is all dependant on how you may look at the photo. Many believe that a photograph is a mirror and window, but they let their imagination control their thoughts. The photographers that have helped me understand the concept of windows and mirrors have opened my eyes to see different perspectives. The idea that a window is a way to portray the events of something historical, it’s almost a way to spread news without writing anything but just presenting an image that has a historical background. The concept that a mirror is to be presented as a documentary is quite a reasonable way of stating what a mirror image is, as it is meant to portray life events about the photographer, or the model, or ever yourself. It’s meant to reflect a past or future event or making the image personal and reflective. Although an image can be seen as both mirrors and windows it shows us that not all images are meant to represent their purpose, sometimes images are taken for memories, for positive or negative reasons. Although some images could be taken to spread news, like war and violence that people need to be cautious about, it’s a way of presenting an image with expressions that tell a story without displaying it with words. Both images show different people and also show different emotions, the coloured image shows a sense of mystery and confusion as to why the image is cracking. Whereas the black and white image shows a sublime moment, the concept of the image is to report the damage of the war, but the point of the image is taken over due to the joy on the boy’s face, playing in the image. The image almost gives us a sense of romanticism as it captures the beauty of the image, the way these boys turn the downfall of the country in a positive way, without causing problems but they know they can’t for anything to save their countries so they try to see the positives of the situation where as the first image in colour automatically shows a personal side, something you can try and pick out to make a story, the story seems more familiar and homelike, not that the scene is cosy, but it shows a day to day scenario in London that would be seen on a daily whereas the black and white photo is not an image that is displayed worldwide as it is seen as a negative image, the way the world is at war and nothing in the world is peaceful whereas the first image in colour shows a sense of relaxation, even though its seems to a mysterious image of the two ladies, it does feel more comforting, also with the fact of the colour. The colour can create visual contrast, direct attention, evoke mood, this image makes the mood fee quite bewildering, and makes the audience want to pay attention to the detail whereas the black and white image is quite straight forward. Therefore, the overall idea that each image tells a story whether it’s personal or not is decided by if it’s a mirror or window, or possibly both.
Photographer, John Szarkowski, grouped photographers’ work into categories of those whose work reflects the subjectivity of the artist in comparison with those who look to portray the outside world. Szarkowski wrote, ‘The distance between them is to be measured not in terms of the relative force or originality of their work, but in terms of their conceptions of what a photograph is: is it a mirror, reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it, or a window, through which one might better know the world?’.
Photographs that could be seen as a ‘mirror’ would be photographs which are subjective, reflections, expressions, staged etc. Whereas, photos which are ‘windows’ would be more objective, documentary, real and truthful, they show the external world.
Windows:
This photo above, from Rafal Milach, would be seen as a ‘window’ image. This photograph could be a staged image or it could be a real moment between these people. Either way, the photograph is capturing a moment in time, which gives the viewer a look into their life.
Mirrors:
This photograph, by Cindy Sherman, is a ‘mirror’ photograph as it is a reflection of herself. She is the model in this image but also, the photo is a message reflecting her thoughts and opinions. This photograph portrays a woman in the kitchen which is where, stereotypically, woman should be.
Read two texts above (John Szarkowski’s introduction and review by Jed Pearl) and select 3 quotes form each that is relevant to your essay.
Select two images, one that represent a mirror and another that represents a window as examples to use in your essay.
Use some of the key words that you listed above to describe what the mirrors and windows suggest.
Essay plan Introduction (250 words): Reflect on the origin of photography and describe in your own words the difference between the two photographic processes, Daguerreotype and Calotype. Consider how they could be viewed as either a mirror or a window of the world according to John Szarkowski’s thesis. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s text and comment if you agree or disagree.
Invented in 1839, Daguerreotype was the name of the process and what the resulting image was called. With this being one of the first commercially available processes was what made it so popular. The process created a very detailed image on a copper plated sheet, which was a positive image that could not be produced . The silver copper plated sheet was polished and treated with fumes making it light sensitive. Within the same year of 1839 Henry fox talbot developed the same process which he named calotype. These stages were called developing, fixing and printing, producing a paper negative which could be printed over and over again. He discovered that actually exposing light for a long time onto photographic paper revealed an image. However after experimenting with this, it revealed an image that was produced after a very short exposure time, but this image was not fixed.- only becoming fixed when removing the light sensitive solution through using a chemical solution meaning the image could be reviewed in bright lights. The resulting image was called the calotype.
Daguerreotype and Calotype could be described as mirror photos, as both processes involved a reflection of the image. The images created are done by a staged process meaning the image doesn’t just reflect on the page straight away, chemicals and fumes are involved to make it light sensitive. Although the exterior world is portrayed throughout this process
John Szarkowski’s theory suggested in 1978 that ‘a photograph could be measured in terms of what people’s conceptions were of what the photograph is; a mirror – that is reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it,’ this could be described through a window, through which one might better know the world?’ Both personal visions
Bring in John Szarkowski’s theory around mirrors and windows and provide an overview of how a Daguerreotype could be viewed as a mirror image(reflection of a metal plate, subjects photographed often portraits, rather than landscape. Similarly, with Calotype could be seen as a window)
Paragraph 1 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a mirror and analyse how it is a subjective expression and staged approach to image-making. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review which either supports or opposes Szarkowski’s original point of view. Make sure you comment to advance argumentation in providing a critical perspective.
Untitled – Hannah Starkey, October 1998
Hannah Starkey ‘reconstructs scenes’ from everyday life staged photographs of women within city environments, her work is primarily created in London. She The photograph portrays a subjective expression as she depicts how women engage with regular routines, like sitting in cafes.
‘a romantic expression of the photographers sensibility as it projects itself on the things and sights of the world.’
Paragraph 2 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a window and analyse how it is an objective expression rooted in the notion of realism. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review and follow similar procedure as above ie. two opposing points of view and commentary to provide a critical perspective.
Henri Cartier Bresson: Children in Seville, Spain 1933
Children in Seville, by Henri Cartier Bresson, displays a window view. This is evidently shown through the way in which Bresson has captured the photo, in the ‘Decisive moment.’ The children are unaware they are being captured which expresses the notion of realism throughout. “A window, through which one might better know the world?” John Szarkowski 1978, portrays this unknown story that is displayed, but only you can see it when you look through a window. In relation to Cartier Bresson’s style of the decisive moment , capturing people as they are unaware shows, In relation to a contemporary style
“a window, through which one might better know the world?” John Szarkowski 1978
Conclusion (250 words): Refer back to the essay question and write a conclusion where you summarise Szarkowski’s theory and Pearl’s review of his thesis. Describe differences and similarities between the two images above and their opposing concepts of objectivity and subjectivity, realism and romanticism, factual and fiction, public and private.
In the early development of the Jersey harbour, it was protected from winds and rough seas which made it easy for small boots to sail. It was also a great place to trade with France and the British Isles. Therefore, this enabled Jersey to start their trading with other countries which helped them bring in money for the island. By the 14th century, the Jersey harbour became a fishing and trading port and as the capital of Jersey, St Helier grew, it helped to make the harbour more important and become more popular. By the 1700s, St Helier became the primary port of the island. However, this meant they needed to upgrade the harbour as more, bigger ships were made. New docks and jetties were made for ships to load and unload the goods that were being traded.
In 1840, Victoria Pier was built to accommodate much bigger ships, it also improved access for vessels carrying cargo which had difficulty docking. In 1845, Albert Pier was built which further enhanced docking capabilities and allowed ferries to arrive with passengers which allowed Jersey to connect with the mainland.
During both of the World Wars, the harbour was significantly important. During World War 2, the Germans occupied the harbour and made changes to support them during the war. After the war, the harbour was modernized. Facilities for the ships and the harbour improved and container shipping was introduced which improved the trading operations.
Today, Jerseys harbours are still significantly important. It allows the handling of goods like agricultural products, fish and building materials.
What are the differences between photographs that are Windows and Mirrors ?
Personal visions take one of two forms. In metaphorical terms, the photograph is seen either as a mirror – a romantic expression of the photographers sensibility as it projects itself on the things and sights of this world; or as a window – through which the exterior world is explored in all its presence and reality. This was showcased in the Museum of Modern Art by John Szarkowski whose work largely reflected the subjectivity of the artist.
The distance between them is to be measured not in terms of the relative force or originally of their work, but in terms of their conceptions of what a photograph is; is it a mirror, reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it, or a window, through which one might better know the world.
– John Szarkowski
This suggests that every image is either a Mirror or a Window and looks into different areas of peoples life’s, or looks into the outside world.
Windows – objective, documentary, realism, candid, public, external, truthful.
Binary Opposites
Mirrors Windows
Studio Street
Inside outside
Subject object
Chosen Image
This is my chosen image, it is a field where a person has worn in a path from the amount of times they have walked it. I have chosen this image because it has elements of both Mirrors and Windows, it looks at the outside world in reality but also peers into someone’s life and why this particular path might of been important or why they continue to walk the same path. This has elements of being a Window because its a realistic image and its external it looks outside the life of a person and their home. This image could also be seen as a Mirror because it does reflect on the persons life in a way. It suggests what was important about this image and why they chose to take this photo.
Texts > Write a short introduction or statement about your picture story, image captions
Typography > creative uses of words, letters, font-types, sizes
Add a selection of your final 10-16 images as a moodboard/ gallery to the blog post too, including any archive material too.
3 words
then and now
A sentence
I have a variety of images showing the now and then of the harbour.
paragraph
For my zine I have used a range of images that I took of the Harbour whilst having a talk and a tour from Captain Brian Nibbs and I have also searched through the photo archive of old images from the Harbour and tried finding images in which were similar to my images and I created a layout that showed the images in a “then and now” sense. Each of my images hold a unique story behind them where some of the images where Captain Nibbs is featured it shows memories of his life and when he used to be a Sea Captain back in the way when some of the Harbour comparison images show how much life has or hasn’t changed throughout the years.
Plan
Where am I taking photos?
For this photoshoot I am going to St Helier Harbour and going to take a selection of images that really show off and represent the Harbour. We are going to be having a tour by Captain Nibbs so I will also try to capture some good images of him in the moment as he’s explaining key information about the harbour and his connections to and around the harbour life.
My zine
For my first zine I have decided I would like to try and use my images along with images from the archive and make a 12-page zine using comparisons as a then and now structure to show how much the harbour has changed in these last few years. I am also going to use the images that I take of Captain Nibbs
