The Oral presentation is done and marked the research proposal submitted along with the work in progress images. (http://roydonwoodford.co.uk)

The title reflects where we are. The module PHO701 has closed with the introduction to Informing Contexts, the next module. So it’s time to reflect on Positions and Practice and start to prepare. There is no let up and although the next module starts in late January we have a small snow capped mountain to ascend before then.

The take away from this module, that any practice that is not a producing redundant image needs context. This context may be the method of display or location of display or reason to exist as an informative image. With greater knowledge of the subject, and research in terms of planning, outcomes, possible collaboration partners, supporters projects can be undertaken with more success.

Creating a project proposal covering the next three modules has mapped out a path to follow and has become a guide to stay on track. I feel that it has also allowed foresight of possible hurdles that will need to be addressed.

 To use Shakespeare, “I say, there is no darkness but ignorance”¹ applies to photographic practice. Ignorance of the works of others leads to a darkness which negates the ability to see. This position demonstrates that this is about building a basic vocabulary of images and an solid base of theoretical knowledge to raise the darkness and provide the light. So read, read, read, take notes and read some more.

Contributing to forums and the topics explored each week have lead to a much greater understanding of photographic practice. When you have a group of peers reviewing an image or discussing a particular subject the plethora of ideas that come forward that expand the possibilities. Taking the “blinkers off”. Showing many more aspects means that you need to stop and see the image or topic, without assumption. Research ideas one has before leaping to conclusions. This is brought home during week 5, Power and Responsibility while discussing Jeff Mitchells migrant picture.

My conclusion, “We have already seen that once an image has been released the photographer has little control over its use especially when the release is to a corporation who has the sole intention of selling the picture. I feel that Jeff can not wash his hands as he has the choice of where they are placed.” is deleted when it comes to light that Jeff Mitchell was employed by the agency and had been tasked to take the images. Had I reviewed Jeff’s background this may well have been apparent.

There have been many comments regarding the CRJ, people not wanting to do it and although I do not find it the easiest part of the process, often finding that I am merely documenting events. I have to admit that it is becoming easier and has a lot of value to me. There are better ones but this one is mine.

Biblography

SHAKESPEARE, William. 2000. Twelfth Night. South Bend: Infomotions, Inc.

The post Week Twelve: Looking Both Ways appeared first on MA Photographic Journey.

PHO701 Oral Presentation as part of module Positions and Practice.

Bibliography

In Praise of Shadow 980726, 1998 Hiroshi Sugimoto https://www.sugimotohiroshi.com/new-page-44
Houses of Parliament Claude Monet Claude Monet, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet,_Houses_of_Parliament,_London,_1900-1903,_1933.1164,_Art_Institute_of_Chicago.jpg
Bathers 9 Paul Cezane https://www.paul-cezanne.org/Bathers-9.html
Reclining Nude Gerhard Ricter 1967
https://www.gerhard-richter.com/en/art/paintings/photo-paintings/nudes-16/reclining-nude-15560/?&referer=search&title=reclining+nude&keyword=reclining+nude

Fate of the animals, Franz Marc, 1939, https://www.franzmarc.org/Fate-of-the-Animals.jsp
Shell-shocked Marine 1968 Don McCullin https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/mccullin-shell-shocked-us-marine-the-battle-of-hue-ar01201
Erhai Lake, Study 7, Yunnan, China. 2013, Micheal Keena, https://www.michaelkenna.com/gallery2.php?id=11
diego_torres https://pixabay.com/p-2004440/?no_redirect=

Uncredited images – Roydon Woodford

PHO701 Oral Presentation as part of an accredited masters course with Falmouth University. https://www.maphotographicjourney.co.uk/uncategorized/oral-presentation-copy/

The post Positions and Practice PHO701 Block S1 Oral Presentation appeared first on MA Photographic Journey.

To see the main post regarding the week visit this collaboration page

This image depicts the boat park, there are decades between the images and although they look similar at first they sow a great deal of variation. The fisherman’s sheds have been replaced, but on a similar foot print. It is the same for the lifeboat station.

Although the water fountain has been removed this location shows very little change. The main difference is the building at the bottom of the road, lost during the war.

Roofs and windows upgraded and a chimney stack removed.

A large Victorian hotel showing the splendid garden in front that leads to the sea. This building has when removed from operation as a hotel became private apartments and the conservatory or covered area added to the front. There is also a bar and night club hosed here as well. Sadly the grounds have become a car park for the block of flats that have been built.

One of the image pairs that show the most amount of change. The cottage inset at the end of the road was replaced after the post-war bombing. Still not new!

Bibliography

Swanage Past, David Lewer and Dennis Smale, Phillimore & Co Ltd, Chichester.

The post Week Four: Collaboration Images appeared first on MA Photographic Journey.

What would be learnt this week? Well if nothing else it would have to be how to work with others would be my position however, that would be way to simplistic an out come.

How do we collaborate? Where do we start? were defiantly first thoughts but fortunately, the weeks’ structure gave a simple lead into starting the collaboration, and now with reflection of the weeks’ materials, discussions and activity I realise these have been answered along with a whole lot more creating a solid grounding for future collaboration.

With a forum filling up with prospective mini projects to choose from it felt that we were under starters orders and the mad race to find a dance partner had begun. I felt that there were clear winners for me to choose and some none starters as well. Each prospective partner had presented an image to reflect what they like or had interest in. When do you select the right one? The pace of the new offerings seamed to be a crawl, waiting to see what the next hour brought while risking a group being formed around a project you were interested in.

Too long.

The first person I approached had a group, he had joined in on another’s idea. Another image, another possible group. Forming a group on Canvas, headway was being made.

The who, what, when, where and how was soon put in place with good communication through the forum. I feel the collaboration task would have been a lot harder without the forum, which enabled the group to distribute information outside of timezones and schedules and any late joiners get up to speed as and when they could.

Our project started with the premise of showing the change in the local area. I felt that documenting the change from a local book on my home town would produce the required images. I was disappointed after my first shoot. That I had failed in the task of showing. The local town has changed so little my pictures matched the old ones.

With further collaboration allowing us to realise that we had not developed our idea fully. In fact, what is “Change”? the idea behind our work. Change can not be found where there is apparently none. Look further there is a change in the image, just not on the scale of other locations. This highlights that its the variation of change we are looking at by using different geographic locations.

Another trip out to capture more images for my section and the project being understood better we had a successful conference session. We now had all the images and materials to finish the PDF for presentation in our separate tutor groups at the end of the week.

I feel the smooth transition from start to finish was accomplished with strong communication between us with ideas growing through discourse.

The projects reception during the presentation I felt was very positive and well received which reaffirmed my belief that we had produce a successful project.

One aspect of our small project included the use of Google street view to document change over a period of time. Is this a valid to use a resource like this in a project, when its not our own work? Clearly we felt that it was acceptable because its included. It’s not the core of the work its’s part of the work to support the context of the project with additional views of the progression of change.

With the feedback and the presentation done its time to ask what could be done differently or better? I do not feel that in the time we had we could have done much better because image production through whatever method does require time. The highlighting of clarity in the direction may have been more defined with a conference call very early on, but I don’t think we knew that we did not know so starting early was better for us.

It shows from a small adventure into collaboration that its a very useful to that a photographer can choose to use just in the same way they may choose what lens to use. I feel that other groups had a similar route through the week and the projects produced were to a good standard. With the group “Band” producing a very cohesive set of 5 images. The Black and White images were about the members of a band from the instruments played. I do not feel that this corpus of work could be produced without clear communication during the collaboration.

Finished PDF

Bibliography

Swanage Past, David Lewer and Dennis Smale, Phillimore & Co Ltd, Chichester.

The post Week Four: Collaboration appeared first on MA Photographic Journey.