Elizabeth Chandler
Directions Within Photographic Communication
Book Proposal 3
My first proposed idea for this assignment comes from a previous project which I think has potential to be extended.
For the professional frameworks - The City module I created a body of work which was aimed at highlighting the effects of binge drinking. It was an attempt at exposing the lifestyles of today’s younger generations. A side of youth culture often over looked by most. My aim was to create a series of images, which visually explored spouts of violence, criminal damage and public presentation and the ways in which this is often unacceptable when the subjects are highly intoxicated. There is a stark contrast between the comical images of the urban playground, and the gritty displays of vulnerability. The combination of unseen secret moments captured clandestinely and the more apparent common events produce a true reflection of scenes that occur almost every weekend, in almost every city.
I adhered to the snapshot aesthetic, in order to ensure a feeling of spontaneity. I feel had the images have been too formally constructed; the sense of impulse could potentially have been diminished, and the photographs could have began to look like a less truthful depiction of the scene in front of the camera.
Book content -
If i was to go with this idea for my book, there are many ways i could look at developing it from last time.
I could perhaps attempt to approach subjects at the beginning of the night and maybe collect some information, age, name ect then photograph them later on in the night clandestinely. This could be more difficult to control as i would have to rely on finding the same subjects later on.
Alternatively I could make the project more personal as i initially intended and concentrate on my friends.
When i first started the project i told all my friends that over the coming weeks when we were out i would be photographing their drunken behavior but in enough time for them to forget about it, I took my camera out with me and only started taking photographs once they were drunk and generally unaware of it’s presence.
Upon development of the project my attention often shifted to the actions of strangers.
Book aesthetics -
I would like the book for these images to be quite small and intimate. As to encourage the viewer to spend more time with the pictures and really study what it going on. However as the images generally work better in a time line like layout the size would have to be appropriate to reflecting the shift in time. maybe a book which is quite long and rectangular would work well as the pictures could flow across the centre of the page, almost like a negative strip.
Possible titles -
Initially upon submission for the professional frameworks module i titled the body of work ‘Fuck Fashion, Fuck Vogue, Fuck what’s pretty’
This was a quote from Susan Sontag’s book, ‘On Photography’
Sontag says this in relation to the work of Diane Arbus and the way’s in which her images are reactive against what’s acceptable. I thought this was a very appropriate title as my images were documenting socially unacceptable behavior.
However, I later submitted a selection of the images into a competition under the category ‘visual narrative’. For this i retitled the work to make it more suitable for a variety of audiences. For this submission I titled the selection of images, which was made into a collage ‘No Officer, there’s no blood in my alcohol system.’
Text content -
In terms of text within the book, I don’t think I would have much, The images would be accompanied with the times at which they were taken, and i would possibly include some quotes related to the subject of the images, or possibly things I heard being said on the night by the subjects of the photographs.
Intended Audience -
This book would appeal to a variety of age groups and not only those interested in photography.
It would also be of interest to people interested in public presentation, youth culture and social issues such as binge drinking and drug abuse ect
Practical considerations -
I would use my Nikon Dslr to shoot as i did previously. again using a high ISO and incorrect white balance settings to achieve the gritty aesthetic of snapshot.
Approach -
The work of photographers such as Richard Billingham, Nan Goldin and Corrine Day would all contribute to my understanding of the snapshot aesthetic, whereas photographers like Maciej Dakowivz who photographed the night life in Cardiff.
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