Final Major Project Evaluation
From initially starting this project at the beginning of last semester, over time my concept, imagery and work style has evolved and progressed. When I started this project, my work mainly focused on the idea of journeys and moving through a landscape, taking a fine art approach creating series of images shown together depicting Hartland. My concept has progressed towards a more environmental based project concerned with the memories associated with place along with the alterations and the marks of man left behind, static within the landscape. I shot the beginning of this project primarily on 35mm of which I have progressed to using medium format in the form on my Bronica, continuing my black and white imagery. The change in camera altered the images drastically; my images are more detailed, clearer and well framed. Also when it comes to imagery I have moved away from creating images in series to focusing on refined, strong individual images that would be better suited to my desired outcome of a finished book. Also in regards to creating my final project I have opted to construct an online work blog for the first time, replacing my messy sketchbooks. I have found this work process to be more cost and time effective, leading towards a clear and well structures blog that is easy to navigate.
My Project has grown and developed through tutorials and peer assessment and criticism. Up until the Interim review I was struggling with time in order to go home back to Hartland to take images and get the project flowing. During the interim presentations I presented the one test shoot I had shot so far, to which focused more on up close images of landscapes homing in on areas and strange aspects of the landscape. Out of the images of the first shoot, the more open images depicting roads were favored and advice was given to re shoot the area taking a step back and capturing the whole space. At this point I was also struggling for research, to which Jim, Nick and my peers supplied me with new artists, books and reading to delve myself into, which furthered the project and help inspire my ideas. Through Further peer assessment and Tutorials with Jim a shoot plan was put into place in order to get my project off the ground, 2 weeks, 10 rolls of film and a lot of places to shoot. Also through tutorials my blog was approved, with positive comments regarding its simple layout and navigation. Unlike previous projects I was constantly addressing my time management throughout the project and believe I have worked better and within good time of the deadline in regards to completing work, the project wasn’t rushed, I took my time, creating better and stronger work, which is evident through my blog to the final pieces. Without peer assessment and tutorials I would have struggled through this project, I highly appreciate all the help and constructive criticism along the way.
In support of my project I have undertaken a vast amount of research and artist research in order to help define my work conceptually and visually. Artists such as Raymond Moore, Robert Smithson, James Ravilious and Robert Adams inspired me from the start with their approach to landscape photography, in particular Moore with his gritty approach to everyday English landscapes, my imagery has been heavily influenced by his style. I have since moved on to study artists such as Paul Gaffney, Walker Evans, Wayne Gunmundson and John Davies who convey a similar approaches and subject material within their landscape images. John Davies in particular, takes a more political approach towards his work with long-term projects documenting Britain and the industrialization of space and change in the landscape over time, something I touch upon within my own work. William Christenberry also captures his familiar sights of home, returning again and again to the same places noticing change and the evolving landscape and nature, which is something I do with my imagery, I like to photograph the same area, months apart and display the images alongside each other to note the visual changes. Christenberry also speaks about the motivation behind his work speaking of him family history and his sense of deep attachment to the places he photographs, a connection we share to our imagery. Also for the first time this semester I have looked into short videos as a tool of understanding and contextualizing my research, artist documentations of such as James Wayne Gunmundson – A considered view and Raymond Moore Photographer. The videos support and break down the artist’s process of creation and subject matter, which has aided me in describing my own work and creative process.
When it came to shooting my project I went home for a full two weeks, packed with film, cameras and lots of location plans and ideas. All locations I have a strong connection to, specific areas of interest. To get my started I created a mind map as a form of plan in order to build upon and check off as I go. Places such as the Vale, East Dyke, Bursdon Moor and Pattard Wood, places I would pass everyday, bursting with local history and stories, places that evoke many emotions for myself, I understand the audience may take away their own feelings from my images. I was able to visit most of the sites that I had planned to, even shooting one or more films at a time. I took my time with the shooting process carefully thinking about composition, sometime even taking digital stills to gage the light and framing of the image before taking one on film. Weather was a problem when it came to shooting, my ideal weather for shooting is over cast/ cloud/mist but while I was home all I had was scorching heat and over powering sun, this effected the shoots majorly and the final images. I like my images to have an overall static grey and silver tone, but due to the sun a lot of shadow and high contrast affected the images, which was disappointing, but couldn’t be helped. My work process this semester has been different I spent a lot of time revisiting and re- shooting in order to perfect my images for final selection, something my imagery definitely benefited from.
Throughout the course of this project my final piece was always going to be in the form of a book. At the start I envisaged the book as something home made and precious a likened to Iris Gardens. As my project evolved and my images became stronger they definitely require the support and structure of a hardback book, something more substantial and solid to support the strong content. Also throughout the start of the project I was deliberating the use of text and stories alongside my images, but through the project research and development the aspect of stories/text became trivial and due to having such solid imagery they did not require the contextual support, I want the audience to make their own decisions regarding my work and subject matter as the concept behind the project, I want to remain personal to me. Through selection with Jim and Nick I chose my final images for the book, some tough choices were made. Through the use of InDesign and Blurb I created my book, a simple lay out lacking text allowing the images to shine through. Upon delivery of my book, which looked great until half way through where two of the pages were covered in yellow ink. I have been in contact with Blurb who will be rectifying the issue and sending a free replacement copy In the near future. This was very disappointing after all the hard work, stress and money I had put into the creation of the book. Along with the book upon discussion with Jim and Nick 3 final images were chosen to be printed out large at A1 in order to be presented together and also to be used for the final Fluxure show for which I have ordered three black wooden framed through Angus. After the deadline I want to focus on creating a portfolio of work from my time at university.
Through envisaging this project from conception through to final pieces, I couldn’t be happier with the final out come and what I have achieved during this final semester of the degree. I have built up a substantial body of work, focusing on my fine art approach to landscape photography and depictions of a place that captures my sense of deep attachment to the land. My time management has been effective this semester which has improved the quality of the work produced. Through my time at university my work has progressed conceptually and visually. I have found where my passion and enthusiasm lies within landscape photography and thanks to all the support and encouragement over the last 3 years, I can confidently continue to build upon my work in the future.