Introduction / theme
Theme
The theme for my 'curatorship' task was an exploration of how different people respond to modern society and how much control they have had over their own destiny. I now want to respond to this through my own work, finding people who have rejected conformity or have been exclued from society. My aim is to create a raw visual representation of their lifestyle, how each one differs as well as the themes that bind them together.
How people respond to society - 'RejecT'
The theme of this area is a continuation from my curatorship task where my exhibition presented three different ways in which people respond to society. The first one I have responded to here relates to people who reject society willingly. To achieve this I wanted to visit an allotment to capture the lifestyles of the people growing their own food and living from the land. In addition, as a direct response to Ben Murphy, I will concentrate on the architecture and objects defining the people and their lifestyle.
Allotments
Here I am responding to the idea of people rejecting aspects of a consumer society and living their life away from the norm, seeking ways to live closer to nature. I choose to explore the community of people growing their own food on allotments in London.
Andrew Buurman
There's something about the word 'allotment' that conjures up an image of traditional values, of balmy summer days spent working the land, escaping through honest toil. A rural idyll far removed from our everyday experience. And even though allotments can be found throughout the world, in our minds they still seem to encapsulate a certain Britishness. This series of photos perfectly captures the routines and authenticity of allotments in Britain by documenting these peoples lives and presents a way in which people can still connect with nature in the midst of urbanisation.
This image perfectly captures what can come from an allotment where families come together and can grow their own food. I feel this beautiful yet simple process has ancient echoes, evoked by growing their own native food on their land.
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This is one of my favourite images as it captures the shed as a backdrop, tarnished with character and illustrating a lifestyle where the pressures of society and judgment of style have become irrelevant. In addition, I love the way the subjects look directly into the lens allowing the viewer to connect with the people and their way of life.
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Finally with this image we see a man who is obviously hard at work with freshly sawn logs in a wheelbarrow. I believe that the weather in this shot adds to the overall image by portraying a classic English overcast day, however work on the allotment carries on regardless.
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My Response
I went to the Creighton Avenue allotments in Muswell Hill, a lovely community in the suburbs of one of the busiest cities in the world. This will hopefully be the first trip of many as I feel I can improve on these photos especially by placing subjects into the images. As soon as I walked into the allotments, I felt like I had let the city behind, signs of London where hidden by nature. The idea of people growing their own food and bonding in a community which is so different to their surrounding has always seemed appealing and now feels essential in terms of sustainability. It also presents a very visually interesting environment especially with the presence of random objects, like bathtubs and tiles.
Contact Sheet
With this trip I concentrated on capturing the environment and especially the structures in the allotment. I was especially fascinated by the various huts and how they represent the culture and personalities of the people in the community. In addition, I tried to capture the weather and dramatic sky as much as possible in order to represent and convey the true nature of the place.
Final Images
As soon as I walked into the allotment I was greeted with a meandering green path which lured me in and enticed me to see more of the alternative structures and lifestyles. The first person you see in this image was called Mandy and was extremely welcoming, allowing me to leave my bike in her shed. I feel that the image of the greenhouse works well, the dark dramatic skyline can be seen through the glass interrupted only by the beauty of nature. I edited this image so that the green house stands out against the darker background. This was achieved by lightening the greenhouse glass panels and increasing the contrast slightly so it appears radiant yet remains natural, outlining how the beautiful structure blends into nature.
This hut is not as worn as the previous however I love how the roof is worn to an orange colour and how the whole hut is crooked. I have tried to exaggerate this by capturing the image on an angle. The main feature of this hut which I love is the number written on the side in rustic white paint. By framing the hut in the centre of the image and surrounding the hut with a natural border, the physical structure of the panels and simple shape are also emphasised.
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I framed this swing in the centre of the image in order to create a satisfying visual affect. This swing was one of the odd objects which are found randomly placed in allotments. I thought this created a great image and invoked the hidden stories of allotments well, how they use anything they can find to aid their work and time in the allotments. The image of the hut on the left is my personal favourite as I feel the weathered down green paint and rotting wood provides great character to the hut and works well with the dramatic dark defined sky.
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This blue hut with the broken contrasts beautifully with the green backdrop. The windows and door are old and loosely fitted which adds to the run down yet characterful feel. The final image of the bath sunken in the ground was taken by holding my camera above and away from my head to obtain the 'birdseye view' and framing.
The aesthetic of this hut drew my attention immediately with the rusted orange metal frames enclosing windows stained by rusty water drops. I love how the chairs in the front perfectly frame the hut and offer a weird symmetry. With all of these images I edited the object, skyline and surroundings separately so that the sky was defined and the hut stood out from the greenery thus offering a good backdrop.
From doing the Allotments I learnt that I need to get more involved with the people and not shy away and just take images of the infrastructure and objects, even when I tried to capture the people I did it nervously and without them knowing which didn't feel right I need to try and integrate and connect better. however I did feel the value of setting the scene and capturing their environment was key and I will value that in shoots to come.
How people respond to society - rejected
The theme of my second section in my curatorship focused on people who are rejected by society. Living in a city allowed me to capture images of people who struggle on the streets, focusing on their environment and characteristics for my response, whilst also trying to discover the interesting stories they have.
Homeless
When considering the theme of people who are rejected by society the growing level of homelessness in London immediately comes to mind. 8000 people slept rough between 2016 and 2017. I therefore started in my local area by not just capturing homeless people but also 'Big Issue' sellers who also struggle on the streets, I will definitely explore this concept more by visiting more central areas in London and focusing on homeless people in particular.
Michael Heffernan
Twenty years ago, Heffernan spent a year going around the streets of London photographing and interviewing homeless people on a white background. The result was a published book called 'Streets' and an exhibition backed by the homeless charity, Shelter. I feel theses images really capture the definition and expression in each persons face where their hardship and life experiences are etched on.
My Response
I went around my local area and captured different people who where struggling on the street. This included homeless people and 'Big Issue' sellers. I purchased what they where selling or gave money if they where homeless which usually stimulated a conversation where I could find something out about their background. For example, David is an accordion player who told me he had immigrated over to England in the early 1980s with his father. However, they were met by high levels of unemployment ultimately leading to a life on the streets. The people I spoke to were very comfortable around the camera and embraced having their pictures taken and discussing their stories.
I started in Muswell Hill where I met Rose selling the 'Big Issue'. Rose was very friendly and loved by people around her including the security guard at Sainsbury's. I then followed this by going to Crouch End, where I found many people who where struggling on the streets.
I found that when taking the photos some of their backdrops were essential to placing the person in context. However, some of the backdrops were unnecessary and made it hard to focus on the subject's face, which otherwise showed so much character.
I started in Muswell Hill where I met Rose selling the 'Big Issue'. Rose was very friendly and loved by people around her including the security guard at Sainsbury's. I then followed this by going to Crouch End, where I found many people who where struggling on the streets.
I found that when taking the photos some of their backdrops were essential to placing the person in context. However, some of the backdrops were unnecessary and made it hard to focus on the subject's face, which otherwise showed so much character.
This image is one which I feel could have been better by zooming in more on the subject in order to focus the viewer. The cars in the background distract from the composition.
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This image conveys the spirit of the musician and so many other homesless people in need of help. By showing his talents David won people over with his warm music and smile, bringing happiness to many people walking past on a grey Tuesday afternoon.
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This image I feel works well with the black and white backdrop because of the bright red clothing which highlights and makes Rose stand out from the background. The idea for the black and white backdrop was a direct response to the white backdrop sheet used by Heffernan, a way of singling out the subject without taking the setting out completely.
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This image is the one which works best with the backdrop due to the box shape framing his setting. In addition the colours of his clothing provides a subtle highlight to the figure.
I was happy how I got to talk more to the subjects and capture them in their environment which told more of a story. However I still feel I am missing that connection and I feel I need to take more interactive natural photos of the normal things people do in these environments which I will take into the next stage and hope to incorporate.
How pEople respond to society - Conforming
The theme of my final section from my curatorship relates to people who conform to the norm in current society. My repsonse will seek to capture a standard office job where the environment is very predictible, representing the stereotype of sitting in front of a computer all day.
In the Office
This shoot was based around a group of 'conformists' who follow the general trends of society. The first group of people I thought of for this theme were office workers, confined to sitting in front of a computer all day. I therefore went to a school office to capture the small community working there. As soon as I walked in to the office I felt a sense of community where the people all knew each other really well and enjoyed each others company. When taking these images I tried to include their environment to put the lifestyle in perspective as well as concentrating on their faces to communicate their personalities.
After this shoot I was left with a bigger question and desire to find out what these people did in their spare time away from the routine office environment. This was a theme that I had found myself asking after all of the shoots in my initial responses, meeting a variety of different people and trying to understand their responses to society. This therefore provided me with the development path I wanted to pursue; capturing peoples lifestyles away from their everyday routine and visible lifestyles.
With all of these images I applied a iris blur by using the elliptical section and the gausone blur, this was used to make sure the viewer remaines focused on the subject with the backdrop far less concentrated. I also made the image black and white to make the image look saturated and uniform so the office reflected an unexciting atmosphere.
I believe the editing of these images worked well and reflected a perception of the working environment. In addition, the images themselves where reflective of a conforming environment. However, an area of improvement could have been to adjust the angle of the shot to be more focused on the face. However, I found myself having to edit the images a lot to force a portrayal of the aesthetic I had set out to capture, reflecting conformity. As a result I am determined to develop the idea of exploring behind the visible lifestyle.
Conforming in a city
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I also decided to shoot a video which illustrates those who are depressed in cities and seem to be alone in such a busy place. I also decided to add narrative to the video to present the true blue feelings. This video shows a person who has conformed to the norm and gone through every step you "should do," this has lead to loneliness and depression. Come from leading the wrong path maybe not suited to him.
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With the office photos I took into account I needed to get closer to the subjects and take more natural photos of the actions which I did achieve with the top two photos. However I only spent around 20 minutes with them which was no where near enough time to make a connection and achieve true natural photos as the subjects weren't comfortable with me there and I didn't feel comfortable there which was affecting the outcome of my images.
Independent shop owners in the work environment
When I took the series of images in the school office environment above, I felt I was having to process the images in order to give a negative impression of those who 'conform' to society. I therefore set out to take another series of images to portry people in their workplace without that bias built into the brief. I decided to take images of independent shop-owners in their environment as I always feel welcome in these shops and the owners really know their stuff, showing a passion for what they sell not wholly driven by profit but the satisfaction of seeing the appreciation of customers.
JOHN lundei
This series by John Lundei is exactly the sort of atmosphere i wanted to create in my photos where the shop is full of character and the owners truly reflect this character and 'blend' into the shop. Lundei had a story for each of the shops which are now either under new ownership or been closed. He was trying to capture the sad reality of the independent stores being frequently closed down and chain stores replacing them.
My Response: Study of local Independent shopkeepers
All of the people in the images where happy to have their picture taken. They loved talking to me about their shop and I got a glimpse of how knowledgable they are about their products and how that makes a real difference.
The shops that I went to included 'W.Martyns' a coffee and confectionary store which has a old fashioned coffee grinder. This provided a lovely smell whilst a had a great conversation with the staff about their organic products. I also went to a wine and liquor store which stocked many local craft beers. The staff had a huge knowledge of the wines from every region around the globe. Next, I stopped into a local family owned bakery who where delighted with being photographed. The baker's smile did not stop with the one in the image, but continued when serving customers. I then visited a audio vinyl shop called 'Audio Gold' where all the staff seem to have a great bond with each other and the customers. Finally, I went to a fishmonger who was truly lovely, informing me of his stock and even giving me a free oyster with squeezed lemon. I loved doing this project and meeting new people and creating a bond. With all these images I applied a iris blur, focused on the subject to centre the attendtion on the shopkeeper. The composition of the images is intended to also frame the shop around the featured person, with a common thread of horizontal lines provided by the shelves and counters. |
With this last independent shop owners development I was happy with the outcomes and experience I tried hard to have a conversation with the subjects without being too invasive which was a great idea as it meant I and the subjects where more comfortable creating natural and telling images of the lifestyle they live and you feel connected to the subject as I did.
After doing three different responses on three different groups of people; those who reject society, those rejected by society and those who conform to it, I have been able to define the theme I would like to further develop. I have seen that in all different groups of society there are certain hobbies that people have which bring people together and allow people to relax and de-stress. This theme really interests me because I expect to be able to find out more about people, a side of life hidden from day to day contact. I will therefore start asking people what interesting/unusual hobbies they have, or their friends have, which they do to escape from everyday life and for enjoyment.
After doing three different responses on three different groups of people; those who reject society, those rejected by society and those who conform to it, I have been able to define the theme I would like to further develop. I have seen that in all different groups of society there are certain hobbies that people have which bring people together and allow people to relax and de-stress. This theme really interests me because I expect to be able to find out more about people, a side of life hidden from day to day contact. I will therefore start asking people what interesting/unusual hobbies they have, or their friends have, which they do to escape from everyday life and for enjoyment.
INTERESTING Hobbies - 1
Korab is a computer programmer who loves using programming languages to create games and other software. It was fascinating watching Korab work in his environment where he discussed his programming with a passion and was very proud of the game he was currently creating.
Korab - Computer Programming
When editing these photos of Korab I decided to add a iris blur which allowed for the unimportant surroundings to be slightly blurred out yet still be visible in order to add context. I felt the pictures which I took without him knowing were more natural, something I will take into consideration for future studies in the project.
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I decided to include some video to give a general idea to myself and viewers of programming. I found the interview and conversation very informative. This is hopefully the first of many unusual hobby experiences as i thoroughly enjoyed meeting Korab and personally learned a lot. From watching other documentary styles, such as Louis Theroux, I am keen to improve the videos and, if I continue to capture video, I record the idea of adding a comedic effect. When editing this video I added music and decided to fade together the visual and audio to not to lose the interest of the viewer. I was happy overall, however, on consideration, I feel with the hobbies to come I will not use video and possibly experiment with film photography.
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This experiment of using a video and having pictures alongside I feel is a good idea to develop it further however with the next developments I want to explore music they choice and videos with much more different angles and the images themselves in more interesting backgrounds.
More Hobbies
Artist Inspiration - Michael Casker (The gates)
THE GATES from Michael Casker on Vimeo. |
I was inspired by Michael Caskers video called the Gates. The video captures the lifestyle of the youth in Pittsburgh, a place ridden with urban decay in a post industrial context. I took inspiration from the shots in the bedroom which offered an insight to the persons life, in addition to the shots of what they do during the day and how this heavily linked with the aesthetic of the bedroom.
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In this series, I have captured three different hobbies; drumming with Sam, cruising with Dan and guitar with Daniel. I really enjoyed capturing these hobbies as I got to see the environments in which they pursue their hobbies and consider how best to reflect their interests through the camera.
I wanted to build from a solid starting point in filming hobbies and so enlisted the help of three friends who have interesting hobbies and focused on each of their own environments. Building on my experience of photgraphing the shopkeepers, I saw this as crucial to the overall image. Everyone was very welcome to the idea and allowed me into their home to photograph them.
In the editing process of these photos I tried to create a 35mm film aesthetic on the images so that they conveyed a documentory feel to the portrayal of these hobbies and the persons lifestyle. I feel this effect worked really well and I am going to use it in the future possibly just using a raw film camera instead of digital editing.
My Movie 6 from Connor on Vimeo. My Movie 5 from Connor on Vimeo. |
structure dev 1 from Connor on Vimeo. I decided to create videos to go alongside the photographs of the hobbies, highlighting their environment, a factor I see as key. I also really wanted to experiment with including music. The music came from the idea of asking each person to select a soundtrack to their hobby and therefore further enhance the visual experience.
I felt like the videos had good aspects however they were very rough around the edges and I needed to edit them more. My major influence in creating these videos is "The Gates" by Michael Casker. However I then realised that the music had the risk of taking over the visual work in terms of importance and therefore decided to not pursue it in the project. |
After these experiments, I have decided the features which I like are the portraits of the people in context as it provides insight to the person with the backdrop of the setting where the hobby is performed. However, I have decided not to pursue the film technique and alternatively focus on film documentation photography inspired by many of the photographers in my curatorship like Chris Killip and Dan Martin. As I feel it is a better portrayal of their lifestyle and allows the viewer to let their imaginations run free.
Interesting Hobbies - 2
group tennis - my response
From my developments I concluded that not all hobbies need to be unusual to be included, instead they can be interesting because of the setting and the people involved. I therefore decided to capture a group of friends who play tennis every week to relieve the stress of school and work. I feel this is an interesting concept and decided to document it using the idea of taking portraits to set the scene and also using a 35mm fill camera for a grainy high contrast saturated look. .
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I first took portraits of all of the players which i feel worked well as a way to set the scene for the hobby because it introduces the characters and allows the viewers to make a judgement of them based on a close up on them where facial expressions are key and standout clearly against the plain background. Here I feel there is a real difference in facial expression, although they all look very happy and amused in the company of their mates while exercising a competitive spirit.
With all of these images I stuck to film which captures action in a documentary style in a unique and wonderful way. The colours are really brought out and the image is given a rough non perfect look which works well. these images have worked well because of the difference in angles and the action in the shots, however if I was going to improve these images I would get more close up on their faces during the match and possibly their equipment, in addition I would take images in the clubhouse as this sets the scene and provides great character as the clubhouses of independent tennis clubs are usually quirky and full of character.
With these tennis images I liked the experience of getting to know the people who preform the hobbies and seeing the chemistry between a group in person which you can see in the images. In addition the portraits of the individuals are very affective of illustrating the characters however I want to develop the idea more by just capturing different hobbies and I was offered the perfect opportunity by one of the tennis players called Harvey who also does wood working in his basement.
Interesting hobbies - 3
wood working
I have always wanted to take photos of the wood working process as I feel it is therapeutic to see wood chips curling off the wood as a sharp chisel slides down the grain of the wood. I therefore decided to capture Harvey in action working with wood, a hobby which I personally admire so much as a craft and a way to learn skills which are so useful for life.
This is a video of a Japanese craftsmen who creates wooden furniture using ancient techniques and no nails and screws. This unique way of woodworking is beautiful and offers some great shots. I can see from watching the video and from having experience of it myself that woodworking is a very therapeutic way of getting away from the stress of life
I therefore contacted a friend called Harvey, who does woodwork with me in our basement workshop, so I could capture him performing some of his woodworking skills in a unique environment. Filming someone doing what they love, for the love of doing it, is a consistent theme I have observed throughout this project.
I therefore contacted a friend called Harvey, who does woodwork with me in our basement workshop, so I could capture him performing some of his woodworking skills in a unique environment. Filming someone doing what they love, for the love of doing it, is a consistent theme I have observed throughout this project.
I took all of these images on film as I feel the colours and aesthetic of the media is much better suited to the ethos of the hobby. This is because the film will bring out the colours in a saturated way which will help bring out all the many different features in the basement.
When capturing I wanted to ensure all the different elements of the workbench were clear, as there was so much going on and all the elements are key to understanding the hobby. Woodworking is a process where you can control the outcome and can create anything you want to create an end product. When editing these images I lowered the brightness upped the contrast and put a blur effect to concentrate the viewer onto the subject as there are so many distractions in the setting of the image which can take away from the hobby itself. |
I was not completely happy with the outcome of these images as I feel they should be closer to the subject, thus allowing the viewer to connect more. Therefore I am going to develop this and get closer to the objects at the centre of the hobby, or get shots of his hands doing the work as you can tell a lot from someones hands.
I was happy to meet up with Harvey again doing his wood working and seeing a supercool environment where he took pleasure in talking me through his setup turning on his radio to radio 6 music and you could tell he was very comfortable and happy here. However I did struggle to capture the environment well with the particular lighting and many colours. I therefore wondered if they would look better in black and white which I will consider in my next development.
INTERESTING Hobbies - 4
crate digging
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This is a video of one of my favourite artists called DJ Shadow from the documentary 'Scratch'. This is a film about the different music originating from scratching and sampling records. In the case of DJ Shadow, he is a 'crate digger' who made his major breakthrough by introducing an album made entirely from sampling records at the store seen in this video.
The reason I have included this is because I love the scenery of the shop. A room full of jumbled, forgotten records is brought back to life by DJ Shadow in his own way. This is his hobby and really tells the story of why people become so attached to vinyl. Not because it has a better sound or looks cool which are still contributing factors, but because each vinyl holds it own story which is different for everyone. |
My response
I took a series of images of my dad with his vinyl collection, which is one of his hobbies which allows him to relax and revel in nostalgia while listening to some of his favourite sounds. I really tried to capture how the room has a cosy feel and is a major element of the whole hobby. The sentimental photos on the wall oddly assembled, bare wooden floor and sofa all contribute to the record playing station.
With the images themselves I really struggled with the lighting, trying to focus on the subject and record player while including the backdrop. In editing I increased brightness and reduced contrast I also placed an "s" curve to sharpen and warm the image to reflect the mood. While taking the images I was intrigued by the knowledge of music my subject had and how there was a different story for each vinyl. This seemed to sum up record collecting, where all the records bought and collected hold stories and are valued in different ways. |
After taking all of these images, I saw that the hobby of record collecting is very interesting and different for each person. I therefore wish to develop this and potentially get some closer shots of the process of playing the vinyls, taking it out of the sleeve, cleaning it placing on the needle and messing with the sound.
As I mentioned in the previous review of the woodworking development I wanted to experiment with black and white photography which I did with one of the images from this record collecting development which I thought worked best with the images. However I did also do colour images as i am still experimenting and finding my true purpose of this theme. Next i want to take photos of another hobby however spent a lot more time with them and get more images in total.
interesting hobbies - 5
Theme - After capturing the first hobby of the computer programming I was keen to get outside and was offered the perfect opportunity with a group of tree climbers in Hampstead Heath. I wanted to continue the theme and develop a series of different hobbies, experimenting more with film photography and getting to know each individual.
Tree Climbers
I decided to carry on the theme of unusual hobbies by following one member of a group who enjoy the liberating exercise of tree climbing, free of any protection. This is a dangerous activity which requires a lot of strength and bravery. Talking to Luke about the hobby was fascinating. The way he knew practically all of the trees on Hampstead Heath and all the different routes you can take to reach the top. In addition he even had names for particular groups of trees like "The Seven" which is a group of seven trees acting as a warm up climb and holds sentimental value as the first trees climbed by the group. |
I have put the final images in a presentation format as it tells the story of the day better when all of the images are in sequence. I decided to bring both my DSLR camera and my film SLR camera to get a wide range of shots with different styles. The images on the film camera were better in my opinion as the colours were richer and the images were more aesthetically pleasing. When editing the images I decided I wanted to first adjust the brightness and contrast to achieve a richer colour to really express the vibrant colours. In addition in editing I put an iris blur on some of the images to concentrate on the subject but not completely drown out the backdrop. When capturing I also tried to get varied angles where Luke was far out and the setting was more concentrated. I also took shots where the activity was the focus making sure the danger and physicality of the task was clear.
Overall from doing this shoot I could see that Luke and his friends are very passionate about this ancient woodland and the significance it holds in their life. A place where they can escape from the demands of life and concentrate on nothing but being physically active and the beauty of the nature in the Heath. To improve and develop this I certainly want to revisit this group of people and capture them all next time and maybe even develop into a film which explores all the activities they do on the Heath not just tree climbing.
Overall from doing this shoot I could see that Luke and his friends are very passionate about this ancient woodland and the significance it holds in their life. A place where they can escape from the demands of life and concentrate on nothing but being physically active and the beauty of the nature in the Heath. To improve and develop this I certainly want to revisit this group of people and capture them all next time and maybe even develop into a film which explores all the activities they do on the Heath not just tree climbing.
After doing five of these responses to interesting hobbies I could see another pattern emerging whereby everyone I took photos of had interesting things to say on their personal hobbies and way they do them. I was inspired and interested by these people who seem to be well rounded and wise in different ways. I feel the way I can develop this is by asking questions during the shoot and try to create a story alongside the series of images. This will be used to try and present a overview of the different hobbies and provide an insight into all the different ages, gender and hobbies people perform to get away from the stress.
Interesting hobbies - 6
Glass blowing
I really enjoyed taking photos of Phil doing his glass blowing. Firstly because the hobby is very interesting and also he was a very interesting person to talk to, very welcoming and passionate about his work. His wooden shed at the back of his garden was an extremely characterful environment where we listened to music and talked as I took photos of his process. The environment was clearly very relaxing and a great way to take your mind away from everything. I experienced this first hand as he gave me a lesson and a chance to try his hobby. The enticing flame and constant concentration required was a special experience where your mind is completely zoned out, thinking about nothing, soothed by the sounds of Cuban music in the background. Phil's hospitality was second to none offering incredible insight to his hobby and a sit down with exceptional donuts and coffee in his lovely artful house.
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Phil begins by getting the correct level of oxygen and nitrogen to achieve a perfect flame for melting the glass rods. I wanted to have an 'establishing' shot of the subject and activity to present the viewer with a full visual interpretation of Phil's clothing and appearance and how it is consistent with the hobby. His set up includes a gas tap torch, glass rods, graphite plate and twisting rod, all surrounded by beautiful figures. Some of these have small imperfections, highlighting the difficulty of the process and delicacy required. He spoke to me of how he started his hobby with a large, less accurate torch on his picnic bench outside as he was so eager to get started on a craft which interested him highly. He started by just creating blobs and quickly mastered the process and now produces detailed figures which reflect his animation background.
I decided to take some photos of the process close up presenting the different steps he was going through. I thought these were so beautiful as the delicate process took place so close to such a dangerous flame. The flame was an essential part of the colours of these photos, prior to my decision to move to black and white, as the amber colour of the flame gave a great light. This was especially effective in the left image where the worn hands are lit only by the flame concentrating on some features around the fame and putting others in the shade.
I was extremely fascinated by the clutter in the shed which gave the place so much character and each thing looked used and reused which I thought gave the whole place a strange beauty. I therefore decided to take a few shots of how the different objects worked together to create a jumbled beauty. I was also fascinated by the sketch book which contains some drawings of figures of which have now come to life.
This series was one of the first really brilliant experience where I was welcomed into a strangers house with great hospitality who told me loads of cool stuff about glass blowing. with the images I tried to get really close to the process and subject which I thought worked really well with the flame and shed full of stuff with the next hobby I will try again to spent a long time with them get comfortable and take a varied different type of images.
Interesting hobbies - 7
Heath Swimmers - (East German Ladies)
We started by going to the top of Parliament Hill for the meeting point where the sense of community was clear as conversation flowed and hugs where transferred. Here, I got to know the group thanks to my connection to Nick. The group then split to those running down to the pond and those who walk down and continue the chatting. I followed the walking group and got to know them even more. They then got changed in the cow shed and came out loud and huddled like a football team raring to go. A quick check in with the life guard told the group the temperature was 5 degrees in the water! The chaos then began as bodies flopped into the water and water splashed all around, The bravado was clear as people came out of the cold only to jump back in off the diving board. This experience was enlightening and full of joy even as a spectator, in addition it is another example of a hobby which brings people together and allows for relief from the stress of everyday life.
When editing these images I really wanted to make them look as if they had been taken on film as from my past shoot this is where I get the best results and it feels like a real story. I therefore started by adjusting the brightness down then adjusting the contrast up high to an appropriate point. Then I moved onto hue and saturation, first with the hue I moved it up which really worked on the water images bringing out the colours and making them richer. Then I adjusted the saturation down which created a nice rustic look.
The experience with the swimmers was very special and one of my highlights so far and really encapsulates the type of images and experience I was trying to achieve I really got to know the group and I felt very comfortable when taking photos, really giving me flexibility with the type of photos I take. I really feel I set the scene well and the hobby itself, if there was one improvement I would make it would be get closer shots of the individuals themselves.
Interesting Hobbies - 8
DRum and bass producer
Ned is a drum and bass producer who goes under the name Nemesis on Soundcloud. He loves producing and hopes to pursue his hobby into a career. When I first entered his bedroom it was clear the aesthetic was characterful and a reflection of who he is. The walls were full of stickers, posters, drawings and skateboards. Then, at one end of the room sat a table mounted with Numark decks and speakers either side. Then the solitude of the room was broken as he fired up the speakers and the room was filled with thumping tunes. I was mesmerised by his concentration and perfect timing in making the drops. Something about the music is so intense yet delicate, an art form Ned clearly has a passion for. As I watched and enjoyed the music Ned asked if I wanted a go, which of course I did. I walked up to the decks and was intimidated by all of the different knobs and buttons, however after a short lesson I was able to do enough to see how stressful the process was. However I could see how you can become addicted to the satisfaction when you make it all come together.
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When taking these images I really wanted to capture the intensity and speed which he moves. I therefore tried to create slight blurs on some of the images, which worked well as it was only part of the image blurred keeping the rest in focus. I also made sure I captured some of his room and studio which are key to setting the scene. When editing these images I colourised them putting a slight orange tinge on the images, in addition I saturated the image almost to a black and white point, this gave the images a used, imperfect look, almost like an album cover style.
I have tried with Ned to get really close to his face which I thought worked very well especially with the first two images something which I wanted to do after the swimming shoot. I will continue with what I am doing as I feel I have developed a great method to getting to know the subjects and getting good photos at the same time.
Interesting hobbies - 9
Pottery
At the back of the garden in a beautiful wooden structure lies the studio where Fran creates her pottery. The studio is teeming with character, splurges of clay, recycled credit cards for tools, books and bits of cracked pottery lit by the flow of sunlight through the huge window.
Watching and getting to know Fran's craft was wonderful and really insightful. The delicate work was soothing to watch as a mud like substance was transformed into such beauty. What I loved about entering this space was the fact it was not perfect. Fran's work was full of colour and texture as you can see in the images. I tried to bring these colours out more in the editing process by making the images seem they have been taken on film. It was also fascinating to see the different tools that she uses, some of which were just broken credit cards and bits of rusted old metal. Objects that are meaningless to most people but she has given them another use, creating beauty. |
Meeting Fran was great. I learnt so much about pottery, a process which seems so simple at first glance yet is a complex and highly creative process. The images themselves I thought worked well inside the studio where the lighting and jumbled setting was perfect for capturing the process. However, if I was going to do it better I would get even closer to her craft.
Interesting hobbies - 10
Long distance running - Colin
Here I have taken images of Colin, a runner for California state, a serious athlete with a true talent I struggled to keep up with. The location was in Rock Hill, South Carolina were the skies were clear and the sun shone onto the lake. The ripples and colours of the surroundings were beautiful and contributed towards the overall image. In these images I tried to illustrate the intensity and movement as well as presenting the relaxation from the act of running in such beautiful locations like this.
I edited the images to heighten the contrast and brightness and play with the saturation and hue with the levels for each image. I believe with the blue colours contrasting with the dusty red ones this was an appropriate editing technique, creating a great colour contrast and giving the appearance the shoot was taken on film. One image I would have liked to get was facing the subject whilst he is running so you can truly see the determination in his face.
Interesting Hobbies - 11
hiking - BRIDGET
These are images of Bridgit who is a frequent hiker and loves being outdoors while exercising, using the natural environment as a gym. Here she was hiking at Crowders Mountain in South Carolina a series of mountains overlooking the plains spreading for miles over the horizon. The climb was a 2 hour uphill hike on a very cold, late December day. However, the reward was waiting at the top, an amazing view. The wilderness is Bridgit's way of escaping from the stress of everyday life and I can see why, the air is so noticeably different to London, clean and a treat to breath in. The structure of the trees formed natural sculptural shapes centred by a winding path leading to constant discoveries around every corner.
The images at the top of the mountain seemed to pose a completely different visual including much more sky. In my opinion, this created a better image with the blue back drop and unlimited natural light. However, I did love the image from around the trees where then Bridgit was in the centre of the path it framed her perfectly, however the lack of light sometimes prevented the image I wanted.
Interesting Hobbie - 12
Pool - sam and ryan
Here I have photographed Sam and Ryan who are pool players seeing the sport as a great way of socialising while competing. I could see that it was not just about playing the game but also exchanging stories and banter, they seem to have a great bond over this game. I felt that the lighting in the room was very hard to work with on camera, however the amber tinge gives an old feel and really focuses on the table, illustrating a great film effect. Talking to the guys about their experiences in pool bars and pubs was very interesting, tales about an ex convict who mastered pool and can beat anyone one handed to an old Irish regular commanding the table who they could not budge losing ten pounds in bets.
With these particular images I thought the lighting worked best when the amber pool lights where interrupted before the table, for example the last image. It also worked when I got really close to the game which created a great visual effect.
After capturing all of these different hobbies I have considered what I feel is the best way to present the work as a final piece. I have concluded that a book is the best way to document the project and include most of my encounters and experiences. The book will also have short amounts of text to make the book feel like a story. I will also have a series of prints from the book to go alongside of it which I will select carefully. I will need to re edit all of the images to create a consistent visual affect across the book. I feel the best way of doing this is to have all the images in black and white.
INTERESTING HOBBIES - 13
beer brewery - Muswellhillbillies
This is a small Beer brewery, called the Muswell Hillbilly Brewery. I was able to contact with one of the guys called Pete and organise a day to come up and see their process and place. It was a great experience right from when I stepped in the door and received a warm welcome along with a strong beer aroma throughout the building. Some of the processes included brewing the beer with hop bags and boiling liquid, They also carbonated the beer, bottled and capped the beers on site.
Watching the two friends brewing the beer was a great experience for me, getting to know a lot about the process and getting to know two great guys along the way. I feel the best visual experiences were created by the wafting evaporation and the close up shots of the complicated process in such a cramped little space.
Final Piece
Book
I conducted this process over all of the necessary images to achieve the right black and white aesthetic. First I applied the black and white feature, then I experimented with the colours to suit each image. Then i adjusted the contrast always down, however the amount differed for each image and then tweaked brightness down slightly. I then put the offset up very slightly to create a misty faint look which I thought worked well overall.
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Book production
I used Photobox to create my book. Once I had all my black and white photos ready I used the portrait book layout to be more like a story book and then placed all the images in the correct places carefully selected by me. I then added all the text carefully picking out all the best parts of my experiences with all the amazing people I met. I tried to keep the writing to a minimum to ensure the focus remains on the images. Overall I am very happy with the book as the images look good altogether as a series.
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Final Prints
With all of these images I was trying to tell a story of the person I was documenting with a wide variety of shots from different angles and perspectives and while doing this I wanted to get to know them and learn something myself. It was hard getting as many people as possible who had a hobby outside of their everyday life phoning them up and exchanging emails to eventually get a day to capture their hobby and environment. However it was completely worth it and I would like to thank everyone in the images for giving up their time I loved all of you and you all taught me something new.