PHO702: Informing Contexts

Week 9: Video Presentation

Here is my video presentation for week 9.

In retrospect I had some interesting feedback from my peers for this assignment. Here are some of their observations:

  • Informative with a real sense of intent and understanding.

  • Would benefit from further referencing to thinkers of photography like Sontag and Barthes.

  • Expand theoretical side.

  • Crisp and beautifully coloured images.

  • More detail required on how to present work to an audience.

  • Images filled with nostalgia and emotion.

  • Make sure Harvard referencing is correct.

Overall I am pleased with the comments, and it certainly helps me to focus on where there needs to be more attention. Over the Easter break I have managed to make more progress on my CROP and WIPP whilst expanding on my reading.

The videos and discussions we were prescribed between weeks 9&10 were really interesting and I particularly enjoyed the Jeff Wall interview. Like myself he finds great inspiration in literature and music, as well as everyday activity to inform his work. I also enjoyed the variety of his portfolio.

However, the work of Daniel Gustav Cramer did not really resonate with me, and I think this is more about the aesthetic of his Trilogy work than his motivation. I found the work rather dull in composition but did like the lack of human/animal life on display which kind of displayed a world before they existed. If i had to choose any of the images as my favourites it would be those with light penetrating the scene.

I think my favourite photographer under discussion though was Fontcuberta whose playful imagination really was unique. His mythical creatures and faux archeological images offered a new dimension to documentary photography. This stranger than fiction approach was refreshing to see and a good example of where the technique and style of photography compliments the subject matter.