mariabblackyr2

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Liminality

Emma Critchley, Nape, photographic prints 2017

Liminality is the in-between moments, the space between the inciting incident in a story and the protagonist’s resolution. It is often a period of discomfort, of waiting and of transformation.

Emma Critchley, 'Metamorphosis,' 2012, HD Projection, 2 Minutes Continuous Loop, No Sound.

Emma Critchley, 'Waters Meet,' 2012, HD Projection, 2 Minutes 53 Seconds Continuous Loop With Sound

Liminal phase of a rite of passage: Albert Anker's Die Ziviltrauung ("The Civil Marriage"), 1887

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Click the Link Above to Access my Condensed Document

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Critical Evaluation

At the beginning of my project, I created a manifesto, titled ‘You Are Not Alone’, that was meant to reach out and connect to those who had lost someone at a young age. Communicating my message through a series of portraits. However, due to social distancing, I was not able to go ahead with this plan so I altered my manifesto slightly to be an exploration of the loss we have experienced in isolation and during the pandemic. My main focus, the limitations of physical and social contact, the loss of face to face communication. 

To reflect my manifesto in my work my narrative explored how we now mostly communicate with each other via the internet, the closest thing to a physical conversation being a video call. I portrayed this in my images by using FaceTime to capture portraits then later reporting these portraits on an IPad with my phone. When exploring the limitations of connection it became clear that touch was essential to have an intimate connection with someone so I captured the body holding itself and reaching out for something. As well as the exploration of our digital connection I developed my work further by involving our connection to nature in the visuals. Portraying our connection to nature felt important because people had now become reliant on being outside as an escape.

Throughout the work, I aimed to create work that portrayed the loss of physical and social interaction through imagery. Hoping that it would reach someone and make them feel less alone. I also wanted to use this project to reach out to at least one person in isolation.

Over the course of my project, my manifesto altered and so did the way my work looked. I started off by making portraits that were quite cluttered and busy, becoming quite obsessed with the concept of FaceTime photography and not really developing my work. Until I took my focus to explore how the body could communicate emotions and tell my narrative in a better way.

I created a short book as a final way to present my work because I thought an exhibition or installation wouldn’t be as personal and intimate which would take away from the meaning of the images. I laid the book out in a way that would make the viewer think whilst looking at the images by having a question at the beginning then a short poem like description at the end almost for the viewer to escape for the real world.  The book reflects on my manifesto by being a way to reach out to others, it explores loss in a different way and hopefully will make someone feel less alone.

Overall, I think my project has worked well and the visual work I have created represents my manifesto in a creative way. If I had more time I would have created more images and possibly photographed more people.

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As an addition to the digital book I wanted to screen-record the pages going through then add some sound over to make an immersive experience. I recorded the sound on my phone when I was taking the photographs outside and it was one of the things that inspired the poem/writing at the end of the book. I feel like the sound adds more to the book and makes it stronger.

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Click the link above to access my final book.

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Exhibition Brochure

Link to Brochure: https://indd.adobe.com/view/468615e3-5116-4de2-b20c-74e6198a40a0

I chose to create/present my brochure as a traditional leaflet with three panels on either side of an a4 piece of card or paper. Digitally it is presented as two a4 sides but physically it would be folded into thirds.

When creating the brochure I wanted it to have a similar aesthetic to the book I had created. I chose two of my favourite images and had them almost fold around to the other side of the paper just like my book cover. I then put the title in the same font to create a cohesive visual identity for my project presentation. On the other side, I used the same piece of writing that I did at the end of my book. I made the brochure simple focusing on less information than more to hopefully pull in an audience. 

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Book Making Process

When I started to piece images together on pages in InDesign I was using both colour and black&white images which I found didn’t work as well as I wanted it too. Throughout the project I had edited images in both colour and black&white, not really thinking about if I would present with both or just one. After I had put a few pages together I found that the having both didn’t allow the book to run cohesively so I chose to work with one. I chose to use the images where the body was in black&white as I had more of them and they were stronger overall than the coloured images. I think if I had more time I would have produced more images of both to see if they could run alongside each other.

Below are some screenshots from the first draft:

After I chose to only work with the black&white images of the body I started to work on a layout, keeping it minimal and simplistic as a way to showcase the images. Once I had settled on where I wanted the images and that they ran cohesively I worked on the text and front cover. For the text I downloaded a font that was like a typewriter but a digital feel to it. I found that it worked aesthetically with the digital connection part of my narrative.

The chosen font is below:

For the front cover design I looked through a few zines on Pinterest to get ideas and decided I wanted to keep it simple yet modern in a way. Although the book will be viewed digitally I decided to have my image on the front cover run over onto the back cover because I found the design interesting. I chose to keep the background colour of the book white to keep it simple and clean - almost like a gallery.

For the first page of my book I wanted to have some text to explain what the images were. At first I started writing a long paragraph explaining in a lot detail but then settled on something short and to the point to keep the book simple. I asked a question so that when the viewer went into looking at the photographs they had the pandemic in mind.

For the last page of my book I wanted to have text again after the viewer had experienced my images and taken away what they thought. The short piece of writing at the end of the book is there to guide the viewer slightly to my narrative but to also try conjure their own feelings about isolation and the restrictions has created.

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Reflecting on Shoot 9 and Finalising My Final Outcome

Although I didn’t quite achieve the images that I wanted throughout this shoot it did allow me to see if coloured images and other background would work with my idea. After reflecting on the images produced in this shoot I think that although I have some final edited images I am happy with that my previous shoot, shoot 8, worked better visually and narratively. 

 I think that now I have produced what I planned to create for my manifesto project and want to start coming to a visual conclusion. Over the past weeks, when creating these images I have been thinking about what images I’d want you to present and how I’d present them. I was conflicted on creating an exhibition as I thought it would be impersonal and I would have to select a finite number of images so I have come to the conclusion that i would like to make a digital book that contains a variety of images of the images I have created to ultimately communicate my manifesto message, ‘You Are Not Alone’. I feel like a book will allow me to create an intimate final outcome.

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Shoot 9 Edited Chosen Images

Experimenting with Using Colour Images Instead of Black&White

When editing my images the main aim was to increase the brightness in some cases and in others improve the contrast. As the changes were minor I kept the process simple and barely altered the images - following similar steps for all of them. I started off by slightly increasing the brightness which lightened up the images on the screen, I then increased the contrast which made the images on the screen more defined. After this in some of the images I brought down the curve to bright out some of the darker tones to create a most contrasted image.

I think editing these images has worked well to improve their quality but I prefer the images where the screen is black and white as it stands out more against the natural setting.

I did attempt to edit the  images at the beginning of the contact sheet where the screen was hard to see however nothing I did could brighten up the screen enough for the image to be clear and bright enough to be seen.

Screenshots from Editing Process:

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Shoot 9 Contact Sheet

Experimenting with Using Colour Images Instead of Black&White

For this contact sheet the same as shoot 8 I took the IPad out into a natural setting to explore the limitations of physical connection that has been replaced with communicating with each other digitally. As said previously in this shoot I wanted to explore different settings/backdrops so focused on capturing areas that were sandy and rocky. 

This shoot didn’t work as well as my previous one for a number of reasons. Firstly, in the first couple of images the sky was either too overcast or bright for the image on the IPad to be seen clearly. Although this is something I am going to try and improve in post production I don't know if I will be able to. Secondly, looking back over my images I have found that the terrain I chose was quite dead and dull which definitely connoted different meanings to my prior shoot. In some aspects this works well as it explores the times we are in right now however I prefer the bright greens as a sign of hope and life over duller grass. Finally, I found that the coloured images did not stand out as well on the IPad in daylight. Again this is something I will try to improve on in Photoshop.

A few of the images in this shoot did however work well. I found that taking the images on the steps allowed me to play around with shadows and compositions of the images e.g. the stone juxtaposed with the grass. Having the light cast onto the images was inspired from the work of Jackie Russo and is meant to act as a sign of hope which I think works well. Although I preferred the bright green grass I do think that the rock almost portrays confinement which is interesting when put against the narrative of limitation of connection. 

Overall, I think that the shoot could have gone better but it served its purpose as an experiment in using the coloured images on the Ipad.

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Shoot 8 Reflection

I think that shoot 8 allowed me to explore physical and digital connection in depth and to create final work that would present my manifesto message of ‘ You Are Not Alone’. Using the IPad placed out in nature explores the limitations of contact and communication that we are facing daily. I think that the images I have produced are strong and explore the vulnerability we have due to the pandemic but also literally and figuratively reaches out a hand to those who feel alone in isolation and distancing alike. Although I am extremely happy with how this shoot has turned out I want to see If i can capture similar images on different terrain before creating any final way showing my work. In my next shoot I am planning on focusing on rocks and sand.

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Shoot 8 Chosen Edited Images

Exploring our digital connection contrasted against our limited freedom outside

When editing the images I just wanted to enhance what was already there. For each image I followed a similar pattern of increasing the brightness and contrast to make the images more vibrant then alerting the curve to bring back some of the deeper tones and shadows to add more depth.  I have found that editing the images in this way has made them more bold and strong.

Screenshots of Editing Process:

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Shoot 8 Contact Sheet

Exploring our digital connection contrasted against our limited freedom outside

For this shoot I downloaded some of my favourite edited images of the human form onto an IPad to then take out into nature and rephotograph the human form images in an outside setting. My aim for this shoot was to create images that explored the vulnerability/weakness of having no physical connection in a pandemic contrasted against the freedom we have/had to go outside and connect with nature. Inspired by ‘Visual Exercises’ I wanted to capture how important our connection to nature was and the role it has played in isolation throughout the pandemic.

To explore the digital connection we are relying on to replace physical connection I used the IPad as a portrayal of technology's role in the pandemic. The IPad I used happened to be cracked which I think would take away from it aesthetically but due to my narrative I think it suggests something is broken. I also used my phone to take the photographs because I felt that it was important for me to use the same devices we are using to talk to one another to capture my images.

Overall, I am extremely happy with how the images have turned out and think that they have worked really well in exploring physical and digital connection. Using the black and white edits worked well as they stood out against the grass and trees as well as creating a contrast between the body and nature. I also think that having the colour green so bright makes the image itself more vibrant and gives less of a melancholy feel to the work. Inspired by ‘One With Nature’ I placed the IPad below a plant, having the leaves cascade on top of it which created the appearance that the body was protected by natural elements.  I found that with the grass setting the hand images worked well as it appeared that they were reaching out to grab it. Another thing I found worked well was that the light casting through the trees created a reflection of the tree itself on the screen making interesting shapes adding more depth to the image. 

In this shoot I enjoyed experimenting with the composition of my images and think most of the images have been set up quite well. My favourite images are when the IPad is central nature is building up around it. When placing the IPad I did try to explore the comparisons of the body to nature but found my images didn’t carry as much detail that would have been needed to do this.

As I took the images in the shade the lighting was clear and bright enough that the image could be seen clearly on the IPad.  However, when I tried to take photographs in other locations the sky was either too bright or overcast for the IPad to be seen. This is something I want to explore and experiment with further in my next shoot.

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Shoot 8 Plan

Exploring our digital connection contrasted against our limited freedom outside 

Moving forward from photographing the human form on a laptop I wanted to see how photographing a laptop or tablet in an outside setting would work aesthetically and narratively. After my research into ‘Visual Exercises’ I felt more confidently that the human forms similarities to nature could work to help portray my narrative. Brodowicz explored our connection to nature. In my work I want to take an Ipad with one of my images (from shoot 4,5 or 6)  on and photograph it in nature. The Ipad representing the digital connection we are relying on in isolation, nature representing our freedom within the restrictions of social distancing and the images representing our vulnerability when we are alone.

To achieve this shoot I plan on taking out an Ipad out to a park then place it in various locations then photograph them using my phone. I have chosen to use my phone to further reinforce our reliance on technology during the pandemic to create connections with one another.

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Maryanne Gobble - One With Nature

Bound To The Ocean Shore

Grave Flowers

Anonymous Body Washed Up On A Beach

Woman Laying In River

Flowers Scattered On Partially Buried Body

Maryanne Gobble is a photographer who creates a mixture of stock and fine art photography that has nature at its core. Gobble focuses on wildlife, the ocean and meditative nature. Similar to Alicja Brodowicz, Gobble’s work explores humankind's connection to nature and the earth by combining nature photography with portraiture creating a rich narrative and captivating images.  ‘One With Nature Is a collection of images that almost explores the earth protecting or consuming human kind with the body either covered in mud and seaweed or partly submerged in the sea.  Gobbles work ,to me, explores how we are connected to the earth and mother nature is there to protect us. In some of the images the subject is in a fetal like position - closing their body off from the camera and into the natural elements or mother nature. The links to a child and mother explores almost a material bond that has been created by weaving nature through our skin. I find that although in some images, for example, the burial there is dark undertones. However although the colours in the photographs are vibrant and striking there is still a softness and a sense of calm to the images.

I chose to look at ‘One With Nature’ because it explores how we are connected to nature through the combination of portraiture and landscape photography. I find Gobble’s work relates well to my ideas visually and narratively. Although I will be using an IPad as the portrait element I will be placing images that show the human body and in some explore vulnerability that may be comforted by our connection to nature.

Links:

https://www.stocksy.com/maryannegobble/gallery/one-with-nature

https://mgobble.com/projects

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Alicja Brodowicz - Visual Exercises. A Series of Diptychs (2018)

“By re-tracing the unity of formal elements, compositions, lines and shapes in the form of diptychs, the inter-relation of the human body and nature becomes apparent.“

 Brodowicz explores the comparisons of the human body and nature, capturing how they both hold imperfections yet are utterly perfect at the same time. Ultimately exploring humans' connection to nature. This connection is represented in ‘Visual Exercises’ by juxtaposing our visual comparisons such as our veins looking like twigs or veins in a leaf. When presenting the images side by side Brodowicz explores the similarities in the shape, texture and the layout of the body and objects found in nature.

“ I look for unity between the human body and the nature.”

Exploring our human connection with nature is central to these images with the project being created out of Brodowicz’s desire to be closer to nature and her growing concern for environmental problems. Ultimately Brodowicz wanted to portray how we can not exist without nature. She created this narrative not only by comparing the body's similarities to nature but by focusing on what we’d view as imperfections on the body.

“I photograph the human body – the microcosm. Its’ fragments: hair, scars, texture of skin, wrinkles. I am interested in individual particularities; I look for distinguishing features and irregularities. Imperfections are my favourites.”

I chose to look at ‘Visual Exercises’ because it explored the idea that having a connection with nature and the world around us is essential for human life. By seeking out the imperfect and overlooked, the two images standing together explore the ordinariness of the human form but also how we are interconnected with nature. As well as the narrative behind the work I am interested in how it is presented aesthetically. I think that using black and white brings out the ‘imperfections’ in nature and the body a like by making the image very contrasted. I like how the images are soft and gentle yet extremely bold in their appearance.

Moving forward with my project I want to explore how humans rely on outside spaces to be connected to themselves and others. As well as how that nature may have been taken advantage of before the pandemic. Looking at the works Brodowicz has created I’ve been inspired to explore how we connect our nature and the similarities that the body has with it.

 links: http://alicjabrodowicz.com/

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Shoot 7 Reflection&Moving Forward

I chose to photograph my images on the laptop screen to explore a different way of presenting my images. Although the edited image has come out okay I still don’t like the outcome as a final piece for this project. Before I started creating my images on the human form I planned to do this idea and also explore placing the images on an Ipad or laptop outside in nature. To move forward from this shoot I am planning on developing my plan of using nature alongside technology. To do this I am planning on researching photographers who might have captured a similar image or explored the comparison of body to nature and nature to technology.