Met up with Photographer Mike Pinches- http://www.mikepinches.com in Leeds today. He gave some useful folio feedback. He mentioned seeing my presentation on Post War UK at the Leeds Redeye event in February, and enjoyed it. He suggested for the portraits including more posses in addition to the straight on ones.  He said that even if the person smiles, this can be a positive thing as some clients, such as social charities prefer this to more deadpan impressions.  He said to focus on a particular style and not be a jack of all trades sort of Photographer. The work is leaning towards location portraits and architectural work. He said that once a client is happy with your work, they will likely return to you for services.

Went to see the Photography of Glen Owin, at Leeds Art Gallery. Although trained as a painter, he decided to use black and white photography to show some effects of salt evaporation on a wetland by the sea shore.  At the time (1970s) his interest helped to encourage the green movement, in order to conserve these places and traditional sea salt collection. The idea was that the drama of recovery in the landscape, as a metaphor for a journey of loss and restoration was important to him.

He was also interested and undertook a project in 1992 of the Halifax Square chapel theater, which was just being restored sensitively from chapel to a theater. The idea that the theater could be left partially unrestored as ‘decayed fabric’, was a legacy of him and the arts group that were involved.

I am looking at a few Churches in Calderdale and how they have moved away from a traditional context, to more community-based projects. For the end of year project, I am interested in meeting people whether volunteers or leaders and asking them their reason to be involved? The aim would be to produce a series of photographic portraits, spaces, and objects, in order to convey what the places represent. The portraits maybe in black and white to give an impression of timelessness. However, to give them a contemporary feel, colour may be the option.

The images below show examples of the photography ideas:

I went to see the George Shaw’s retrospective exhibition recently. The colours with the enamel paints brought out what the could be a mundane landscape subject. I was also interested that this was part of Britain’s post war legacy and that there was a sort of inner light in a housing estate that seemed now neglected.

To start a few planned table top sale/showings, started with a craft fair at Ossett town hall. Got some interest and sold a few greetings cards of scenes of Yorkshire.  I was the only person with photography work to show, otherwise a wide range craft items from cakes to linen handy crafts on display. The colour cards gained the most attention and some people were interested to just to chat about the subject.

On 20/03/19 we had a day’s visit to the Contemporary photography festival, Format. The day was bright and sunny, which helped at some of the venues to lighten the spaces. With the exception of some of the portrait work, I felt there was overall feeling of contemplation and uncertainty with Brexit looming about.  Two themes and work I liked the most were: 1. John Angerson, On this day: I liked how the two images were different with the dated connection in time. ie newspaper article – room photograph. The point that it was a moment in history gave them the meaning and focus. 2. Sixteen: These were portraits of individuals, from head and shoulders to environmental, with some test and the persons life. The work was done by a number of photographers for the festival.

 

Format fest links:

https://formatfestival.com/whats-on/sixteen/

https://formatfestival.com/whats-on/on-the-day/

Went along to a Redeye workshop on business networking and presenting in Manchester.  Was on the same table as photographers Paul Towers http://www.paultowersphoto.com and Mark Hobbs http://www.markhobbsphotography.com . We shared about our common interests and how we hope to gain more knowledge and confidence in our businesses. The speakers were: Andrew Thomas, Natasha Boojihawon and Katya Willems.

https://www.redeye.org.uk/programme/events/its-your-business

Looked at Dreams as an idea for the bases for the second series of photographs. This is for the end of year college project: Church & Community. Looked at at surrealist film by Luis Bunuel, “Un Chien Andalou” that I remembered watching some while previously, athough it made more sense this time round.

Some of the ideas were quite vulgar, eg ants coming out of a person’s hand…but I enjoyed the adventure of the play of dark realism of the lovers depicted.  Made you think that some ideas are not easy for normal living, eg be a single in a party and being rather unsympathetic to the other guests. I would have made some better friends and then perhaps asked the lady out, would be more sensible option.

On reflection to the film, I went on a lovely walk the following day and came home with some photography.

On the 2nd February the Redeye network held an event in Leeds to show project work by local photographers. For Glimpses of Post War Uk, I talked about a series of images I’d made of buildings & design of that era. Also included portraits of people connected to them in some way, within a 2017/18 context.

My interest for this project was to seek out some buildings that would have some aesthetic interest and  also a way to find out if some of these buildings have merit in some way and would be around for another 50 years plus.

Link to the event: www.redeye.org.uk/programme/events/hothouse-leeds

A series of Portrait Photographs will be on display at Yorkshire House, central Leeds. They will include a few words, via captions, on their thoughts on Brexit.

This is part of the Leeds City College Photography Students ongoing work.

Location details are:  Second floor, Yorkshire House, 26 East Parade, Leeds LS1 5BW (entrance on Greek Street)

Dates: January 17th : 6-8pm and then 18th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd: 10-3pm.