Laia Abril

Laia Abril (born 1986) Abril was born in 1986 in Barcelona, Spain, is a Catalan artist whose work relates to bio-politics, grief and women’s rights. She won the PhotoBook festival in Kassel and the PhotoEspaña Best Book Award. Her books include The Epilogue (2014), which documents the indirect victims of eating disorders; and a long-term project as seen down below.

A History of Misogyny

1. Chapter Two: On Rape
   • Project
   • Book
   • Exhibitions (7)
   • Press (16)
2. Chapter One: On Abortion
   • Project
   • Book
   • Exhibitions (14)
   • Press (12)
3. Genesis Chapter: On Mass Hysteria
   • Project
   • Book
   • Exhibition
   • Press (7)
4. Menstruation Myths
   • Project
   • Book
   • Exhibitions (3)
   • Press (5)
5. Feminicides
   • Project
   • Press (2)

On Eating Disorders

1. On Diet Culture
   • Project
   • Press
2. The Epilogue
   • Project
   • Book
   • Press (4)
3. Thinspiration
   • Project
   • Book

On Sexuality

1. Lobismuller
   • Project
   • Book
   • Exhibition
   • Press (7)
2. Femme Love
   • Project
   • Press

&

1. Harm Reduction
   • Project
2. On Healing: Silent Song
   • Project
   • Press (3)
3. Suyay
   • Project
   • Exhibition
   • Press (4)
4. The Haunted Island

Here are some of her images.

Laia Abril’s Misogyny is a powerful exploration that confronts the enduring issue of gender-based violence and the horrific things women go through. Abril goes into the nature of misogyny, shedding light on its harmful impact on women and how it can affect them. However she is trying to challenge this misogynistic attitude and shape individual lives. Abril’s approach is deeply personal, as she captures not only the physical harm and deception of violence but also the psychological scars left by the hate.

Her work engages with silence that some women have to do, such as a domestic abuse relationship that which is not shown in the media but is present in the lives of women. Abril’s photography often uses symbolism and conveys an message, always. For example the silencing of a women’s voices in patriarchal systems. The intimacy of her portraits and the message she tries to convey emphasizes the complexity of misogyny.

By confronting the world with harsh truth that no one wnats tp hear, Abril wnats us to look at gender inequality, abortion and all the probelms we a swomen face etc…

Through Misogyny, Abril uses photography as a tool for artistic expression but also as a means of social activism, using the camera to bring silenced voices and hidden stories to light. Her work therefore tells us so much about women’s life.

My favourite image

This is my favourite image because its an image that you could argue shows a women “suffering in silence”. She looks drained and almost as if she is going though a rough time. This image is in black and white which apposes that she is going through some sort of barging or depression as its a dull colour and that’s what you would relate these colours with. She is clearly a feminist and has a very strong opinion on what and how women suffer. Women Suffer In Silence! which is the sad truth of reality. I love how she is one of the only women who will speak upon it and isn’t shy about the horrors. Abril is a strong independent women who isn’t scared to speak on the harsh truth.

Her books

Laia Abril is a powerful voice in contemporary photography, using her work to explore complex social issues, particularly those affecting women. Through her books she attaches themselves too so many issues such as rape, abortion etc. Abril goes into themes of trauma, gender inequality, and the unseen struggles women face. Her intimate yet unapologetic approach to storytelling has a profound impact, encouraging a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of women today. Abril’s ability to blend personal narratives with broader social commentary makes her work not only a visual experience but a call for empathy and change, empowering women to reclaim their stories and challenge societal norms.

Women today continue to face deep-rooted challenges, such as misogyny. This remains widespread, everyday in discrimination, verbal abuse, and gender violence. Many women still struggle against social expectations and stereotypes (norms) that dictate how they should look, act, and live. Despite progress in gender equality, issues like sexual harassment, assault, and rape continue to haunt women, leaving emotional, physical, and psychological trauma. In many places, women are still denied equal rights in education, work, and politics, and their voices are often silenced, such as Afghanistan – the Taliban. The pressure to meet beauty standards, combined with the constant threat of violence, creates an environment of fear and low self-esteem.

Who is Cindy Sherman and what did she do?

Cindy Sherman was born in 1954 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey; she lives and works in New York. American artists who came to artistic maturity and critical recognition during the early 1980s.

Cynthia Morris Sherman is an American artist whose work consists primarily of photographic self-portraits, depicting herself in many different contexts and as various imagined characters. She is based around and the misogyny women have to go through, even in 2024 – the present day. Women are stereotyped and shamed upon for this stereotypical way that women need to cook and clean whilst the man goes to work. I think that Sherman tries to show this within her images of photography, here are some of Sherman’s images.

She photograph’s very feminine women. She shows elements of sexual desire and domination, the fashioning of self-identity as mass deception. Sherman recognizes those fixed identity concepts surrounding women, suggesting the possibility of women’s self-authorization in reality (self esteem).

This is done by By dressing up, posing, and photographing herself in different scenarios, Sherman effectively critiques the way women are portrayed in popular media. These images challenge the viewer to question their preconceived notions about identity and the roles society imposes upon women.

How does this relate to observe, seek & challenge?

This is particularly for Sherman’s elaborately “disguised” self-portraits that comment on social role-playing and sexual stereotypes. Sherman is trying to make a move and a change into women’s lives within her images. Images have a message, they are not just a picture. Especially when they are for the good.

One of my favourite images that Sherman took. This is because of the stereotypical change Sherman’s trying to make. The type of lighting id black and white, imitating that the image was taken in the early 1900s. The white balance is cool/cold which I really like in an image. There is deep historical and a connection to Sherman’s work which is this huge male misogyny and what women have to go through i.e. cat calling, women have to go through, whereas men get away with it and women “have to suffer in silence”. Even in 2024 some women are scared to leave the house at night but Sherman is trying to raise awareness for that.

Similarly, another one of Sherman’s images is one of her on the kitchen floor, cleaning and doing chores’ – once again you could assume this is for a man with kids. Which doesn’t just have thought but also the essence of the work itself. This image has low exposure for the shutter speed, the ISO is high light sensitivity and the white balance is cold temperature. Sherman is sitting down the floor, almost looking tired from doing so much. Each of her images have value and the deeper you go the deeper meaning each image has. The tone of Sherman’s image is dark (black and white) which you could say shows a sense of depression. The rule of thirds is in her images too you could argue.

Comparing both images

However comparing both images, you can see that they both rely deeper meaning within the image about women’s historical views such as equality and equal pay, women’s rights and women being able to vote. In 2024 you see a lot less of Using intimidating or humiliating behaviour to destroy a woman’s self-confidence and undermine her. Discriminating against women, for example a woman is not offered a job that she is qualified for because she is a woman or it is assumed that a woman can’t do something because she is a woman from what you would see back then which is why I love Sherman’s products as she projects issues from so long ago and is trying to make awareness just with a photograph. They are both in B&W of a “stereotypical” beautfuil housewife.

Portraits

In my opinion I think that my favourite project was when I did portraits, here are some of my images that I took and analysed, edited too.

Portraits can contain an individual or multiple subjects. At a minimum, the subject is captured from their head to their shoulders, but many artists enjoy telling a story with the whole body. Before the advent of photographs, the most accurate way to preserve the visual essence of somebody was in a portrait picture.

The lighting of each of my pictures are so different, some of them appear to be a natural daylight image whereas the others appear saturated and toned down. I love this project because you can show so many different versions of people and you are able to position lights and people in so many different ways whether it looks staged or not. There is a range of aperture but with the darker, my personal favourite ones they are more of a blurred aperture. The shutter speed seems to differ from image top image but for the darker it is underexposed but it does vary even with the editing. (The brighter images are overexposure). Lastly the ISO and white balance is high sensitivity and cool temperature for the darker, edited cooler images which I used for my mock exam.

I enjoy doing portraits because its such a popular form of photography used by everyone day to day and its a beautiful form of art. It show history and I love the way it shows you so much about people, shows their beauty and it tells a story just within a picture. It can show everything from culture to religion.

The visual elements’ of portraits and the one – the tones are light and dark, there is almost a constant pattern of repetition within the poses and the face symmetry. I made one image upside down and edited it on light room, highering the contrast and colours etc.

Cindy Sherman

I am really inspired by her images.

Cindy Sherman began her career in the late 1970s, she posed as various female characters. Her work challenges traditional representations of women in media and art, making her a key figure in contemporary photography and feminism.

Cindy Sherman is famous for her self-portraits that really make us think about what it means to be a woman. In her photos, she transforms into different characters, showing how women are often viewed in a parochial society. It’s an interesting way to reflect on your own identity and how you see yourself. Sherman’s images challenge stereotypes, by using costumes and makeup, she shows that identity isn’t fixed; it can change and evolve. In today’s world of social media, her work makes us think about how we represent ourselves and what’s real. Looking at Sherman’s art can help young people understand themselves better which could help with self esteem and maybe even things people go through… It’s a powerful reminder that everyone’s story is unique and everyone matters no matter who you are.

I could start my personal study based on her with some of my images relating to hers – here is some examples!

Conclusion

I love the idea behind these images and the messages they portray and this is why I want do something like this. The essence of work means so much to females and could be a big move in the 20th century. The ideas in this idea of a project are aesthetic and all com together. This is why its an amazing idea for someone like me to do my personal study base on this.

What are the difference’s between photograph’s that are mirrors or windows?

Mirrors have an element of candid and naturalistic.

Mirrors:

• Subjective (open to interpretation)
• Reflects artist
• Reflections
• View into your own life
• Manipulated
• Synthetic
• Personal

“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” – JOHN SZARKOSKI 1978 “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 SZARKOSKI 1978. This is essentially saying that mirrors reflect the society we are in and can reflect a lot about us and how we do things. “Mirrors” are photographs through which a photographer is trying to tell us how he feels about himself. The study of texts that reflect their own identities, experiences and motivations. They also provide insight into the identities, experiences and motivations of others 

Windows protect us (public). They have elements of reality, subjectivity and there’s this element between objectivity vs subjectivity when it comes to mirrors and windows. “Windows” are those in which he is trying to tell us how he feels about the world. For the former, only sincerity will do.

Windows:

• Objective (not open to interpretation)
• Outside world
• Documents
• Real
• Public

Binary Opposites

Inside / Outside

Subject / Object

Staged / Candid

Fiction / Non-Fiction

Image Analysis

These are all elements within photography and how exactly you could frame a window and mirror shoot. Inside and outside to show life and what people can do in their day to day life. (objectivity and subjectivity) which focuses on one pin point or multiple things which could be anything to outside world or just one person in a room. Staged such as Cindy Sherman pictures, staged female to allude to a stereotypical women with kids cleaning, whereas a mirror image is much more candid and natural such as capturing the beauty of the nature which also follows along the lines of fictional or non fiction which you could factor in for both mirrors and windows, it could be fake or real (stage or candid). Last but not least, imagery analysis is the extraction of meaningful information from images. How and why you go to were you are – could you elaborate on this? That is all about image analysis.

— Floris Neusüss

The idea of photographs functioning like windows makes total sense. Like the camera viewfinder, windows frame our view of the world. We see through them and light enters the window so that we can see beyond. Photographs present us with a view of something. However, it might also be possible to think of photographs as mirrors, reflecting our particular view of the world, one we have shaped with our personalities, our subconscious motivations, so that it represents how our minds work as well as our eyes. The photograph’s glossy surface reflects as much as it frames. Of course, some photographs might be both mirrors and windows.

A window is a resource that offers you a view into someone else’s experience. A sliding door allows the viewer to enter the story and become a part of the world. A mirror is a story that reflects your own culture and helps you build your identity.

Photo-historian, Gerry Badger who was part of the editorial team producing the television series The Genius of Photography wrote in the introduction of the book of the same name that John Szarkowski’s distinction of photographs as ‘mirrors’ or ‘windows’ is useful, but only to a point, ‘because most photographs are both mirrors and windows.’ (Badger 2007:8)

https://www.moma.org/documents/moma_catalogue_2347_300062558.pdf?_ga=2.54789417.324587201.1678794436-79728838.1664367708

Photography has changed how we see the world around us, and learning about its beginnings helps us understand why it’s so powerful. Two of the first types of orgin of photography were the Daguerreotype, made by Louis Daguerre in 1839, and the Calotype, invented by William Henry Fox Talbot soon after. The Daguerreotype produced sharp, detailed images on metal plates. The Calotype used paper negatives, which gave the images a softer, less clear look but allowed photographers to make copies.

John Szarkowski, in The Photographer’s Eye, said that photography could either be a “mirror” of the photographer’s view or a “window” into the real world, showing things as they are. Since the Daguerreotype was so detailed and clear, it could be seen as a “window” into reality. However, the Calotype, with its softer, more artistic appearance, might be more of a “mirror”. Szarkowski also said, “is it a mirror, reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it or a window, through which one might better know the world” ” I agree with this because, when you are looking through a window it gives you an outsight to the world, you can see views and it holds power.

They have elements of reality, subjectivity and there’s this element between objectivity vs subjectivity when it comes to mirrors and windows. They protect us from things such as rain and we can always look out of them to see a view or to see what is going on in the outside world. However a mirror is a reflection of you or what you can see in the reflection. It shows insight on you as a person which is why I agree with this quote. Windows and mirrors are so similar yet so different within the sense of photography.

I have chosen this image to intimate a mirror image. This particular image (Cindy Sherman) shows us how society shapes us and manipulates into how we think. This photograph seems to be a reflection of a women who may be a mother with cleaning supplies doing house chores – stereotypical women who cooks and cleans for a man. You have to consider how these roles whether in media or in reality were usually created by powerful men.

Cindy Sherman’s photos represent patriarchal representations of women in Hollywood B-movies by employing Laura Mulvey’s concepts of the window and mirror. Mulvey argues that traditional cinema often objectifies women for male pleasure, positioning them as passive subjects ‘the male gaze’. Her images act as a window into female identity, challenging stereotypes.

In nearly every photograph, Sherman is shown alone, making her fictional character the subject of these photographs and also the object of the viewer’s gaze. This has been a stereotype for many years and still is to this day. This photo you could argue is showing awareness for this current issue. This image is subjective because its a photo that explores the inner psyche and human condition rather than reflecting the outside world. This ties into John Szarkowski’s idea that “the photograph is a record of our experience and an interpretation of it”. However Jed Perl argues that focusing too much on staging can create a distance between the viewer and the emotions of the image. He believes that photography should capture real life moments.

The second image I have chosen is representing a window image, which is objective. Many philosophers would use the term “objective reality” to refer to anything that exists as it is independent of any conscious awareness of it. Ralaf Milach photograph about windows really captures the idea of photography as a window into reality and shows us how we shape and can change the world around us. It shows a simple scene like an open window with light pouring in. Szarkowski says, “the photograph is a window on the world,” proving how photos can show us things we might miss when we’re busy. Photographs are a quick snapshot but can tell us so much more about a particular thing or place and gives us an insight onto our everyday life.

Jed Perl argues that “photographs are not mere windows but complex interpretations of reality.” This makes us think about how photography isn’t just about showing things as they are they are trying to show us about life and things we may miss whilst doing day to day things. I think that Milach photographs are straightforward and they come from the photographer’s unique point of view. This contrast between Szarkowski’s and Perl’s ideas sparks a “debate” about how we look and interpretive images. Milach image feels like an open invitation to explore our surroundings, but Perl reminds us that each photo tells a story shaped. This balance between showing reality and expressing personal vision is what makes photography so interesting.

Conclsuion

In looking at Szarkowski’s and Perl’s ideas, we get a look into about what photography really means and how we picture it. Szarkowski thinks of photos as “windows on the world,” meaning they give us an objective look at reality. But then there’s Perl, who thinks the opposite. He argues that photos are more than just clear windows; they’re shaped by the photographer’s personal experiences and feelings. This means that even a picture that looks straightforward can tell a deeper story, it can tell us so much about our selves and our lives. It has elements of romanatzium, still life and everything to do with photography. The two images I talked about really highlight these different ideas. Milach photo fits with Szarkowski’s view, presenting a simple scene that feels relatable. But Perl’s take reminds us that there’s more to think about, like what is the image really trying to portray?

In the end, the balance between objectivity and subjectivity in photography helps us understand both the world around us and the personal stories behind the images. It makes us appreciate photography and shows us every picture holds both facts and feelings that connect us in different ways which may be for good or for worse.

Page1 (The front page) – I made it in black and white and put the photo full bleed all over the page with black writing that has an effect on it.

Page2- This is also a double spread but landscape to capture the whole image.

Page3- One of the images is full bleed so you notice that one more and the other one is normal.

Page4- Here is another full page spread of one image, landscape.

Page5- This page has one photograph and the other page has writing about St Helier harbour.

Page6- Has a poem about the harbour on the left and a photograph on the right.

Page7- last page black and white full bleed, just a simple image of the boats with low tide.

About the Zine.

Each of these I did a shoot at St. Helier Harbour because I wanted to show the mix of man-made stuff and nature. I like how the boats and buildings sit next to the water, and I wanted to capture how even busy places can feel quiet sometimes. The lighting was soft and cloudy, which was great because it made everything look calm without harsh shadows. I used a medium aperture (around f/8) so both the boats and the background stayed in focus, giving a good sense of the space. I went for cooler colours like blues and greys to give the photos a chilled, maybe even a bit lonely, mood. I also used lines and symmetry in my shots to show the difference between the solid structures and the more flowing, natural feel of the sea.

There is loads of different tones with being light and dark capturing the sea and the boats all around the harbour- you could say there is a pattern of repetition where by each image is lining and capturing each bit sort of like a sequence.

the ISO to 400 or 800 roughly, but the higher the ISO, the more grainy the image can look as it was a cold and rainy day. However capturing boats in the sunlight or reflections in the water, stick with a low ISO which is what I did.

I used Slow shutter speed to let in more light and can make moving things like water look soft and blurry, giving it a dreamier effect. On cloudy days, things can look bluish. Try switching to the Cloudy setting to warm things up, which is what I did. By adjusting these three settings, you can make sure your photos of St. Helier Harbour capture the mood you want, whether it’s bright and clear, soft and dreamy, or warm and glowing and by doing all of this I captured exactly what I wanted in my images.

Creating a zine about St. Helier Harbour has been a personal and creative project. The harbour, a place I’ve known all my life, provided a mix of old boats, local people, and daily activity that helped me explore my photography in new ways.

I’ve always seen St. Helier Harbour, but photographing it made me appreciate its detail, the old fishing boats, the reflections on the water, and the people working there. Working at the harbour wasn’t always easy especially with unpredictable weather and lighting but it taught me to adapt. I learned patience, waiting for the perfect light or an interesting moment, and focused on capturing the everyday life of the people who work there. Putting together the zine was about more than just taking photos; it was about telling a story. I arranged the photos in a way that takes the viewer on a journey through the harbour. I added handwritten notes to give it a personal touch and make the zine feel like a reflection of my experience.

Conclusion

Overall, this project helped me grow as a photographer by teaching me how to tell a story through images. It also deepened my connection to a place I’ve known for years, allowing me to capture the beauty and life of St. Helier Harbour in a way that feels meaningful to me.

Photography is one of the most influential visual arts of the modern era. The development of photography can be traced back to the early photography was invented by Frenchman Nicéphore Niépce in 1822. Niépce developed a technique called heliography, which he used to create the world’s oldest surviving photograph, View from the Window at Le Gras.

The Camera Obscura

The term “camera obscura,” meaning “dark room” in Latin means to an optical device used to project an image of its surroundings onto a screen. The basic concept involves light passing through a small hole into a darkened room or box, forming an inverted image of the outside scene on the opposite wall which would turn upside down, artists such as Leonardo da Vinci used the camera obscura to study photography but camera obscura couldn’t fix or capture the image.

Frenchman, Louis Daguerre- daguerreotype

In 1839, Frenchman, Louis Daguerre introduced the daguerreotype, the first widely used photographic process.

The daguerreotype process involved exposing a silver-coated copper plate to iodine vapor, which made the plate sensitive to light. After exposure, the plate was developed using mercury vapor and fixed with a solution of salt, creating a detailed and permanent image. One of the major advantages of the daguerreotype was its relatively short exposure time—ranging from a few minutes to half an hour, a significant improvement over Niépce’s heliographs.

The daguerreotype became worldwide, especially in portraiture. For the first time, people could obtain a true likeness of themselves or loved ones He created the first image that could be fixed.

The Calotype

In the same year Daguerre announced his invention, British scientist William Henry Fox Talbot introduced the calotype. the calotype was based on the concept of the negative-positive process, which allowed for multiple prints to be made from a single negative.

Talbot’s method involved exposing paper coated with silver iodide to light, producing a negative image. This negative could then be used to create positive prints by placing it against another sheet of sensitized paper and exposing it to light.

Collodion

The invention of the collodion, This process involved coating a glass plate with a solution of collodion, a sticky substance, and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. This process produced highly detailed images.

In 1888, the introduction of the Kodak camera by George Eastman marked another turning point in the history of photography. He made photography accessible to the general public by making The Kodak camera. although it was small it was portable, and used roll film in the 20th century

Romanticism

Not forgetting, Romanticism. It’s all about emotion, individualism, and a deep connection to nature. Romanticism is often associated with painting, literature, and music, it has significantly influenced photography, looking at the themes of nature, emotion, and the sublime, and how photographers use visual techniques to capture these ideas and make each photo unique and beautiful in its own way.

Conclusion

The origins of photography are centuries of scientific and technological research. Niépce, Daguerre, and Talbot each proved the idea of realization and the ability to capture and preserve moments in time, as technology advanced, photography evolved, it also shapes how we see the world.

Conclusion

Photography started out as a cool science experiment, but it quickly became something way deeper. It can turn the everyday into something extraordinary, like how Andrew Krater captured Paris in 1928—his photos made him fall in love with the city so much that he had to go back for more.

What’s awesome about photography is that it shows how things look while also changing how we see them. The camera might be objective, but the person behind it—like me—adds their own vibe and perspective.

At its core, photography is all about framing an image and figuring out how light, angles, and shapes come together. The camera obscura is a classic example: it’s basically a simple black box that uses darkness to let in light, creating upside-down images. Even though this idea has been around for ages, it wasn’t until the 19th century that people figured out how to actually capture those images and keep them.

In 1839, Louis Daguerre and Henry Fox Talbot get a lot of credit for “starting photography,” but it’s important to remember that the camera obscura existed long before them. Daguerre came up with the daguerreotype in the 1840s, the first method that people could actually use to take pictures, while Talbot’s calotype, introduced in 1841, used paper coated with silver iodide to create softer images.

Both processes reflect the romantic vibe of that time, focusing on personal experiences and how we view the world. As I dive into photography myself, I’m super excited to explore this rich history and find my own unique voice in the art.