Jimmy Nelson was born in the United Kingdom in 1967, and because his father was a geologist, he travelled extensively during his early years. Nelson’s interest in photography was ignited by this exposure to many cultures and environments, which ultimately prompted him to seek a career in photojournalism. He trekked across Tibet with a large-format camera on his first photographic excursion in 1987, when he documented the breath taking scenery and distinctive culture of the Tibetan people. When Nelson began working for magazines and advertising clients in the early 1990s, his professional photography career took off. He travelled all over the world for his projects, recording various cultures and surroundings from Africa to Asia and the Americas. But it was his love of discovering and conserving.
Jimmy Nelson is a British photographer known for taking portraits of indigenous people and documentation of different cultures and traditions. His visually stunning images have fascinated audiences worldwide, highlighting the different cultures that are often overlooked. Nelson’s work has been exhibited globally and has featured in loads of publication, showing his ability to capture he essence f human connection ad cultural pride. The most well-known work by Jimmy Nelson is his extensive, intricate portraits of Native Americans. Vibrant colours, complex compositions, and a feeling of closeness to his subjects are characteristics of his photographic approach. To fully immerse himself in the customs and way of life of the people he pictures, he frequently stays with them for weeks or even months. His ability to connect deeply with his subjects using this method is demonstrated by the depth of emotion in his photographs.
Jimmy Nelson is known for using large-format cameras to capture the intricate details and vivid colours of his subjects. Some of the gear he has used throughout his career includes:
Linhof Technorama 617S III: A panoramic large-format camera that allows for high-resolution, wide-angle images.
Hasselblad H6D-100c: A medium-format digital camera known for its exceptional image quality and colour rendition.
Leica S (Typ 007): Another medium-format digital camera, renowned for its sharpness and dynamic range.
The book “Jimmy Nelson Homage to Humanity” immerses readers in the cultures and customs of indigenous peoples worldwide. This book offers a close-up and respectful look at their environs, traditions, and practices, demonstrating Nelson’s talent for establishing a rapport with his subjects and producing visually arresting photographs. This book serves as a resource for working photographers, encouraging them to discover and capture the world’s diversity and beauty while also providing insights into the value of developing trust and comprehending cultural quirks.
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.
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.
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
Essay Question:
In what way are family photographs extensions of our memories as well as our identities?
Family photographs are special to many people because they help us remember important moments and even show who we are. They can capture every little special moment that might not feel like it is special but when looking back you realize it is, special moments like birthday parties, holidays, playing in the park, sitting together for dinner, everyday moments. People don’t realize how special a Family photographs can be its not just a random photo from the past but also a reminder of how good the moments were. In this essay. I’m going to explore in what way families photographs extensions of our memories as well as our identities with Sally Mann and Nan Goldin as my references. When looking at family images, we often have a feeling of warmth and sentimentality and remind us of happy moments with the people we love. Every little moment counts, for example, a photo of a family trip to the beach might make us remember the fun we had building sandcastles and chasing the waves. Taking photos from these little moments fills you up with great joy when looking back at them with your parents. Family images help us remember the small details we might have forgotten.
Sally Mann, a American photographer, known for taking lovely emotional photos of her own family. She made a book called “immediate family” showing images of her children growing up both in their playful, bright times and even serious, thoughtful times. When looking back at childhood pictures from your family is like reconnecting with the feelings and memories of those times. Just like Sally Mann photos reminds her of who she was and what herself and her family have experiences. Family images also represent our identities. They show where we come from and who we are connected with but also who were influences by such as our parents, siblings ad grandparents which tells us a story of our family’s history. Looking at photographs of family reunions with generations of family members can make you feel proud of our family’s traditions ad how everything has been passed down, which also might make you understand where you fit in the bigger picture of all generations. Looking back at baby pictures makes you realize how much you have grown and changed over time but still have that special family connection.
Family photographs don’t only capture certain moments but also emotions, when you look at old photos you often remember how you felt at that time. Even though as you get older you don’t feel as exited to take images as when you were younger you always look back at them not regretting anything at all and just thinking about the fun you had while take them which then might make you start to appreciate the importance of these moments. Another American photographer, Nan Goldin, who took images of her own relationships in a personal way, showing strong emotions with her friends and family, capturing happy and difficult moments. She once said “I want to show people who they are, and I want to show them how they relate to other people, how they relate to their families, how they relate to their friends, how they relate to themselves.” (Reference using Harvard system of referencing) Our family pictures carry important lessons and emotion that help shape who we are and how we remember life.
Sally Mann and Nan Goldin both explore themes of identity, and the human condition, often drawing from their personal lives and relationship. While Mann’s work often centres on her children and family life, capturing memory’s, decay and Goldin’s focus is on adult relationships, sexuality and trauma. Regardless the differences, Both photographers explore sexuality and relationships. In conclusion, photographs are an important aspect of family and our identity that capture special meaningful moments, just like Sally Mann and Nan Goldin photography.
Pg 1: Historical/ theoretical
Historical: Origin, history and development of family albums developed alongside new technology such as the Kodak Box Brownie Theoretical: Photography’s relationship with memory
Pg 2: Sally Mann – explore how she made an album/ book about her family. Find an interview her where she talks about the book/ work also find criticism of her images of her children (naked)
Pg 3: Nan Goldin
Bibliography: Key texts to add to your bibliography about family, memory and childhood. Read them and references them using direct quotes that yo can comment on ie. agree/ disagree and formulate a critical argument
For these photos I took pictures of different parties that I went to previously and selected some that I could use in my final photobook. All of these images are snapshots and were taken quickly with me not thinking about taking the photo and what the final result would be. I have edited these images in a way where the colour is bright and vibrant with lots of contrast.
This photo I am planning to use as the front page of my photobook. This is because it is a subtle picture without any strong character or thing catching your eye, everything in the image is blue so there is nothing standing out and catching your eye so it is a subtle way to start off the book.
These images I have paired together because they were taken at the same party and the lighting is originally very similar as they both have a yellowish tint and red and green disco lights in the background. I edited these so that there was a darker tint and increased contrast with the people and the background
These images were also taken in the same night. I have chosen to put these two together because the lighting is dark with strong colours in both images. I have increased both the vibrance, saturation and clarity of both these images so that they are really stand out a lot and show a lot of exposure within the image.
These images are taken of my friends at a party. The main focus in these images is my friend in the pink dress. She is in all three photos and they all show the different people she has been talking and dancing with, showing the very social aspect of a party. I haven’t edited these images much apart from the blurring with the strong blur effect on Lightroom and I made the images look darker but with more contrast and a warmer tone with the tint and also a filter on the first photo. For one of these images I used AI on Lightroom to remove a water bottle and replaced it with a metal cup which looks much better than the water bottle which I feel ruined the photo.
These images are at two different parties but I think they go well together because of the similarities of both images, like the fact they are both laughing and the type of photo is just very similar in general. Originally the image on the right was green but I edited it to pink as the green was not a nice tone and I prefer the pink, because it’s as if the photos were taken at the same time and place. They also look better as a pair this way.
These images of me and my friends were taken on two different types of cameras. The top two photos were at a Halloween party where we were all dressed up, these were taken on a small digital camera. I like the way these came out because I like the exposure on them and the neutral colours. The other 4 images were taken on a photobooth camera at another party I went to with my friends. These images are colourful in themselves so I didn’t add any fake lighting colours to them. I turned the exposure up for all of them to make it brighter and look clearer so all the colours stood out without adding any unnatural ones.
For the first photoshoot I am planning to get a group of friends to drive to a location where we can take photographs in a outdoor setting with good lighting. I will use the school camera to insure I get good quality images rather than using my phone. I am planning to go at a time where the sun is setting but the lighting is still good for images. I also will try and get images in the dark as well after the sun has set.
Teenage Stereotypes
This photoshoot was based in Gorey at around 4-6pm where I took images in a carpark, park and on grass fields. I got a few images which included a group of individual but most images tended to focus on one person as the model. My images also aimed to be inspired by a few of Justine Kurland’s photographs by making the photo based in trees, grass areas and open spaces. The lighting in the images work really well to create a warm and happy feeling to the images. the use of the sunset creates a soft tone and makes the lighting of the images a lot better.
This image above is also one of my favourite images as it brings a sense of happiness to the image and I also really like how the lighting turned out. I think this link really well too teenage stereotypes as it explores the theme of friendships and you are able to see the enjoyment being shown by the face expressions.
1. Research a photo-book and describe the story it is communicating with reference to subject-matter, genre and approach to image-making.
‘The Americans’ – Robert Frank, Published 1958.
“The Americans” is Robert Frank’s vivid firsthand reportage from the contradictory and out-in-the-open society of America in the 1950s: alienation, social rifts, and chasms between the American dream and reality. Here indeed is the documentation of life, through unpolished, often unorthodox images, with grainy, blurred compositions and odd views where even the emotional intensity is powerfully felt in the visual representation. A documentary style mixes personal vision and brutal facts: an aesthetic deprivation in full strength with a critical, nuanced view of America.
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.)
Robert Frank, 1924 – 2019.
Robert Frank created The Americans for a personal, critical view of American society, a reaction to the gulf between glamorized imagery and lived social realities. He was intent on assaulting the conformity of 1950s America, with a special focus on the racial and economic disparities that he believed the country bred. The book was targeted at just about anyone, but especially the people who were in doubt about what postwar America stood for. Reaction was mixed at first: some hailed its innovation, while others spurned it as a false view of America. Over the years, it became one of the most talked about works in the picture world, transformed the documentary photograph, and made Frank’s name as a pioneering visual artist.
3. Deconstruct the narrative, concept and design of the book and apply theory above when considering:
Book in hand: how does it feel? Smell, sniff the paper. -A book smells like a delicate blend of fresh paper, ink, and time—an earthy, nostalgic scent that mingles the crispness of the new with the mustiness of the old.
Paper and ink: use of different paper/ textures/ colour or B&W or both. -In The Americans, Robert Frank uses black-and-white photographs printed on textured paper, enhancing the raw, gritty realism of his documentary style.
Format, size and orientation: portraiture/ landscape/ square/ A5, A4, A3 / number of pages. –The Americans is a large, landscape-format book with 83 photographs spread across 128 pages, allowing Frank’s images to have a wide, immersive impact.
Binding, soft/hard cover. image wrap/dust jacket. saddle stitch/swiss binding/ Japanese stab-binding/ leperello – The Americans has a hardcover binding with a dust jacket and uses Swiss binding, allowing the book to open flat and display its photographs with durability.
Cover: linen/ card. graphic/ printed image. embossed/ debossed. letterpress/ silkscreen/hot-stamping. -The cover of The Americans is made of cardboard with a printed image and embossed title, reflecting the raw, simple aesthetic of Frank’s work.
Title: literal or poetic / relevant or intriguing. – The title The Americans is literal, referring to the subjects of the book, yet intriguing as it suggests a deeper exploration of the complexities and contradictions within American society.
Narrative: what is the story/ subject-matter. How is it told? -In The Americans, Robert Frank tells a story of postwar America through raw, black-and-white photographs that capture moments of alienation, social tension, and vulnerability, offering a critical and fragmented view of the nation’s complexities and contradictions.
Structure and architecture: how design/ repeating motifs/ or specific features develops a concept or construct a narrative. –In The Americans, Robert Frank uses a deliberate structure of seemingly unconnected, yet thematically linked, images to create a visual rhythm that reflects the fragmentation and diversity of American society, with repeating motifs such as shadows, reflections, and isolated figures reinforcing the themes of alienation and social disconnection.
Design and layout: image size on pages/ single page, double-spread/ images/ grid, fold- outs/ inserts. – In The Americans, the design and layout feature a mix of single-page and double-spread images, with varying image sizes that create a dynamic flow, while the use of sparse grid-like arrangements and occasional full-bleed photographs enhances the emotional impact, allowing the viewer to experience the narrative in a way that emphasizes both intimacy and expansiveness.
Editing and sequencing: selection of images/ juxtaposition of photographs/ editing process. -In The Americans, Robert Frank’s editing and sequencing of images carefully juxtapose moments of stark contrast, such as joy and despair, to highlight the tension and complexity of American life, with each photograph chosen for its ability to convey a deeper narrative, while the overall sequencing creates a rhythm that intensifies the emotional resonance of the book.
Images and text: are they linked? Introduction/ essay/ statement by artists or others. Use of captions (if any.) -In “The Americans”, Robert Frank links images through sequencing rather than captions, allowing the photographs to speak universally, while Jack Kerouac’s poetic introduction provides a thematic frame, inviting viewers to interpret the fragmented reality of post-war America on their own terms.
UNDERSTANDING PHOTOBOOKS: NARRATIVE, EDITING, SEQUENCING, DESIGN, FORM, FUNCTION
I have decided to create a magazine page to experiment what my images would look like in my book if I were to create a magazine style book.
I have researched on many previous students’ work that have revolved around women’s’ equality, beauty and fashion magazines and Cindy Sherman’s entitled film skills. By researching these different themes of femininity in photobooks I am able to choose the specific layout and style of book that will compliment my work of the juxtaposition between fashion magazine modelling and how it undermines, humiliates and sexualises women, BUT also how feminist movements and support is helping to shift these stereotypes.
EXAMPLES:
Here are some layout examples of modern day fashion, celebrity and gossip magazines. However has my images vary in themes styles and eras, I am struggling to figure out a way that can differ my photoshoots and their different meanings.
TEMPLATE:
MY MAGAZINE:
EXAMPLE OF AN AIM:
This is an example of a magazine that could be a usual, mainstream fashion magazine which has women empowerment, but is also slightly stereotypical by including celebrity gossip and ‘style tips’ as opposed to women’s stories and empowerment about a ‘new wave of beauty’ and how being natural and yourself is not ‘not beautiful’.
PAST STUDENT WORK INSPIRATION.
By researching this style of photobook I have gained ideas on layout content and photographs. This past student’s work is very similar to what I would like to create apart from few minor details. I would like my photobook to include at least 3 different magazines inside. This past students work of ‘Leah and Lilly Sutherland’s’ work has helped me to direct the type of work I would like to create in progress with my personal study project. They have incorporated fashion into their photography and used well known brands such as Mac and Dior to impersonate promoting these brands through modelling. This is particularly inspiring for me and has shown me ideas on how to layout my images for my middle section of my photobook which will include a magazine for promoting products through the objectification of women and stereotyping them into believing they must look good, smell good and please the male gender in order to be attractive and successful.
LAYOUT IDEAS:
I would like my photobook to include 3 different viewpoints and interpretations of magazines. This would show the viewer the types of negative and positive messages that are shared in mainstream media and highlight the key difference between them. The front cover would differ from the magazine. I would like my first magazine to have its own front cover style first page and include photographs from the photoshoot which relates to that era and style of photographs. I would like my second section to also then have a magazine style front cover and include images hat are edited in photoshop to example articles and spreads in media products that pressures and create negative imagery for young people to want to spend their money on in order to fit the demographic of the young beautiful idealistic woman. The last magazine will also have a magazine style front cover and then include images that are simply displaying fashion and do not dehumanise or objectify women and instead show them as having possession of power and authority.
Front Cover Idea.
The front cover would be a basic cover not related to either of the three magazines but more an overview of the general message. Most likely I would like to include images that I have taken in a previous photoshoot of my 3 models. These images show women showing their natural personalities. These images show my 3 models that are used within the book in their normal clothes displaying whatever behaviour they feel at the time of being photograph. I believe that this shows a more authentic natural display of these women and how they stay positive and strong regardless of the hardships and difficulties they face.
First Magazine Interpretation Idea.
One would be portraying a negative, dehumanising style of magazine that is forcing negative stereotypes on women and how they should be this, beautiful and attractive at all times in order to please the male gender. This style would be from my Cindy Sherman inspired photoshoot and display a more ‘old fashioned’ way of portraying women. This is to show how time began with media’s portrayal of women and how women directed magazines raised women to think and act.
Here are some examples of women’s magazines which influence women to have negative views of themselves and also influence men to have patriarchal unequal views on their wives, girlfriends and women as a whole.
Examples of traditional newspapers from within this time period:
Here are some quotes I could include in my front cover in this magazine and also throughout my images of the first section.
How to look beautiful now.
How you can be more beautiful in 1958
Examples of the type of images to be included in section 1.
Second Magazine Interpretation Idea.
The next magazine style would be a more modern day ‘gossip magazine style which portrays women in a typically less human way but also still focuses on gossip, drama and invading peoples personal lives, whilst also promoting fashion and style products. I would like this magazine to focus on a slightly younger girls and how gender expectations and stereotypes are used to convince girl to purchase goods and products such as makeup, perfume and clothing.
Examples of traditional newspapers from within this time period:
In Touch Weekly
Us Weekly
Closer
Women’s Health
OK!
PEOPLE Magazine
Here are some quotes I could include in my front cover in this magazine and also throughout my images of the second section.
Get slim detox diet
Makeup to cover all those insecurities
Smell better, attract better
Longer, leaner, legs- dress to look taller
Dress to impress the boys this summer
Win a full makeover to WOW your boyfriend
Examples of the type of images to be included in section 2.
Third Magazine Interpretation Idea.
The next magazine style would be a more modern day women’s empowerment style magazine which displays women as strong and powerful. This section will target a niche market and display women in the way they should be which is inspirational. This is to highlight the future of advertising and how it should be in order to motivate and encourage women to celebrate themselves.
Examples of traditional newspapers from within this time period:
Vogue
Professional Women’s Magazine
Rebellion
Women
Power
Here are some quotes I could include in my front cover in this magazine and also throughout my images of the third section.
Break your silence
The fresh faces of feminism
Share your voice. Stand up
Examples of the type of images to be included in section 3.
Here is an example of a more empowering magazine. This magazine would be about empowering all forms of femininity, beauty, and individuality. By encourage women to be confident, smart, and independent. This differs from mainstream media products and targets more of a niche market of women who are seeking inspirational and empowering content.
For my first photoshoot I took about 200 images in total where they are all set up. My first photoshoot I went out with my friends and took some images at different places and in different outfits. For the first photoshoot I had my friend dress up in a nice outfit and look drunk in the shower. My second photoshoot was her with a vape, using it looking hungover out the window, I will use these images at the end of the photobook. Lastly we took images of us hanging out of the window of a car. This is because I want my final project to have a break from the party images and have a moment where its just teen girls having fun in a car, which I will use as a filler image. I edited these images all in a similar way with high exposure and strong white and dark colours so they have lots of contrast and look vibrant and powerful instead of boring and soft
Tom Wood is an Irish photographer, who lived and worked in different places in the UK, mainly in Liverpool. The book consists of images of the town’s people in clubs, streets, beaches, everywhere of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, friends, lovers etc. His book is a way of showing others, a small story of strangers lives.
The title of this photobook is ‘Photie Man’, inspired by the nickname he was known as by the locals who he would take photographs of, and who would see him out always with his camera.
The cover of the book is a light brown/ beige colour with thick black writing, making his name more prominent. However, the title ‘Photie Man’ is in red bringing the attention to it. There is also a doodle-like illustration depicting a man, adding more to the cover. The cover is printed onto the paper, the designing wrapping around to the back cover.
This photobook is made up of a type of paper which isn’t quite glossy but has the same feel and is more satin. It’s slightly bigger than an A4 piece of paper and has over 200 pages with around 500 photographs. The images inside are presented in both portrait and landscape, images are displayed across a whole page, some have the paper boarder the image, presented across the double page spread or some pages even have a couple images on one.
Tom Wood’s photobook seems to intend to portray a narrative of life in Liverpool. The images in the book aren’t presented in a particular order, there may be a few images that group together so are presented with each other, for example photos from in a nightclub can be found following one another. However, the photographs are shown in such a way that reflects life itself, unpredictable.
To evaluate, the images above are the final images I will be including in my photobook from photoshoot 2. This is because they visually portray the core themes femininity and youth, while showing a realistic side of growing up as a girl and the stereotypes that follow. Each image was carefully selected to evoke different emotions and interpretations of girlhood, in attempt to show my personal experiences through the camera. My images serve as a metaphor for the different struggles and also the highlights of femininity and youth, while also reflecting the broader elements that come with it, such as the basic stereotypes.
I believe this photoshoot was successful, there are factors I think were executed well yet there are things I wish I did differently and will aim to improve these for my next shoot.
What I think went well:
Clear plan of what I wanted to achieve / how I wanted my images to turn out e.g. the overall mood, the setting and the purpose behind them.
Locations – the use of different environments helped reflect different elements of girlhood. The images taken outside help contribute to the ‘teenage runaway’ narrative.
Clothing – models were dressed appropriately to align with the themes. The colour red and the use of minimal clothing reinforce stereotypes of youth and the idea of being a typical teenage girl.
What I could improve on:
Subject expression – the expression on my models was sometimes slightly off. The viewer could pick up the wrong idea of what I was aiming to achieve.
Camera settings – in some images the lighting and exposure were poor. In some images they were too light and in some they were too dark which made my editing process more difficult to produce high quality images.
Timing of my shoot – I think some images would look more effective if there was natural daylight included, rather than artificial lighting. I think this makes it look more staged.
Overall, I think my photoshoot and experimentation was successful, as I captured several scenes with a range of locations and lighting to create unique outcomes. I took mixed inspiration from my two artists that I have focused on and replicated similar factors in the way my models are presented as well as the use of similar props and clothing to the artists. From here, I will continue to develop my project by taking two more photoshoots, where I will focus on more influences on youth and femininity. I plan to research more about Ramona Wang and Roberta Tocco, as they aren’t my main artist focus, then develop a photoshoot inspired by them alone. In my upcoming shoots, I aim to capture contrasting relationships between females to convey a similar idea to Wang and Tocco, while also challenging typical assumptions and stereotypes about teenage girls.
