BOW ASSIGNMENT 5: LEARNING LOG 1 -NEW SERIES OF WORK

This is the process I went through to achieve a new series of images for my BOW portfolio, before I completed the A5 MAJOR PROJECT.

Concept

Reflections on my work for Contextual studies A5

My learning and development for CS A5 fed into my brainstorming for BOW 5. Originally my dissertation considered affect and effect in the landscape photography work of Minor White and John Blakemore. I have written before about the influence of Minor White on my work, and this has continued. I have taken into my practice his belief that a feeling or emotional response can be shared in a photograph. White’s subjects were often used in a metaphorical manner; subjects and objects used rather than as realism for what they are, but as metaphors for something other than what they were – as representations. He used various devices to communicate his feelings through metaphor in photographs, such as symbols, and signs, as well as sequencing. My original intention in my dissertation was also to focus on the work of Landscape photographer John Blakemore. I have subsequently decided not to include Blakemore, however I have read widely on his work, and it has influenced my BOW photography. I have also continued to be influenced by contemporary landscape photographers such as those of the Inside The Outside Collective, especially, Rob Hudson and Guy Dickenson

Mindmap:

Shooting

I approached the photography this time with a “bottom up” attitude. I had my theme of rebirth and healing in my consciousness but had not determined how I would find this in the woodland community. My photographs developed as I spent time in the woodlands. I took fewer photographs than is usual for me, though I did return twice more to try different lighting conditions and develop shots from those I had captured previously. I tried a mixture of a telephoto, to bring the elements together, and my favoured prim lens.

These sessions on the woodlands I saw an enormous amount of grass growth, on everything, and ferns not far behind the grass in abundance. This became my focus this time in contrast to the soothing blanket of moss last time. The greenness of the forest was intense, more of a green green, than a green tinged by yellow,

Editing

I am finding I have become more intuitive and decisive when editing . I keep at the forefront of my mind my intention, this time the concepts of rebirth and healing

For my editing process see padlet: https://oca.padlet.org/nicola514516/bow-a5-rebirth-shoot-edits-and-sequencing-3e8m5sk6d5hd72ad

These are my new images for a short sequence called rebirth and healing.

Healing is where I am internally in my community currently, with an acceptance that I can only be responsible for my journey. The ancient woodlands form a strong mirror for my feelings.