OCA Forum Discussion: Post modernisation

I've been trying to follow ac OCA coffee shop forum thread on what followed after post-modernisation, what did it involve and what was it called?  The latest name that students and tutors came up with was post post modernisation.

The thread went on so long that I had to copy it and paste it into a word processing document which, even when I removed the pictures and other extraneous material, went on for about 15 pages.  I'm still ploughing through it.  If you want to follow the actual thread you can follow the link here if you are an OCA student.


http://oca-student.com/node/69596

this whole subject is one that I feel I have missed out on and am trying to 'as it were' trying to catch up.  I was looking through the information booklet for the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter which my best friend Jane had picked up for me when she visited the museum soon after it reopened earlier this month.

In the lunchtime lectures there is one in February on the 'emergence of modernism'.  This, I think, would be a good start in my quest for enlightenment on this subject.  I've also noticed that there is a lunchtime lecture on Photography and the Royal Family and one on Victoria and Albert - A passion for photography in March.  As I now only live 30 miles from Exeter, in Lyme Regis, this is my best chance to see national and international exhibitions.

Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum reopened

On 15 December Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum reopened to the public after a multi-million pound refurbishment with the galleries, facilities and services that are expected of a modern museum.

With displays, loans and exhibitions from national partners, visitors can experience the splendour of the original Victorian spaces, see newly-revealed architectural features and enjoy panoramic views of the city from the Roman Wall.

The displays take visitors on a voyage of discovery from pre-history to the present day and from Exeter all around the world. They aim to do more than re-present the collections, they intend to stimulate thoughts and ideas, seek opinions and contributions, start conversations and encourage debate, making the Royal Albert Memorial Museum home to a million thoughts.

This truly exciting refurbishment has opened with exhibitions on French and British paininting from Impressionism to the early 1920s and a photographic collection by Fenton & Cameron of early British photographs from the Royal Collection.  What is interesting is the series of lunchtime lectures on these photographic collections given by Professor John Plunkett from the University of Exeter who will explore Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's interest in photography as collectors and Sophie Gordon, Senior Curator of Photographs at the Royal Collection who will explore how the royal family formed a bond with pioneering British Photographers commissioning and collecting work that survives today in Windsor Castle.  Entrance to the museum itself is free but these ticketed lectures are only £4 full price and student discount drops the price to £3.50.  Full details can be found on the RAMM website www.rammuseum.org.uk/

Lyme Regis ArtsFest 2011

What a treat there was in Lyme and its surrounding area over the past 10 days, a surfeit of arts, crafts, exhibitions and workshops. There are over 60 ArtsFest artists who showcase their work in collaboration with local businesses. These include an exhibition of children's art, painting, poetry, drumming and dance workshops, interactive drawing at the museum, busking by young musicians and a Big Draw event at the Aquarium on the Cobb.

The whole festival included two major group exhibitions at the Town Mill Galleries and the Baptist Church Hall, open studios where you could meet artists in their environments and view their work and an art trail around the town where artists' work was on show in shops, cafes, pubs and other businesses.

A tremendous amount of work went into the organisation of the whole event which has been an important date in the town diary for the last eight years. What was so great about it was that even if you didn't want to take part in the workshops or found visiting an artist's studio on your own a bit daunting, you could just walk up and down the main shopping streets and take in a wide variety of artistic and photographic work. The Art Trail enabled artists to place their featured work in local shop windows which gave them access to an audience which might not normally go to an exhibition. It was truly amazing, and it all happens again next year, wow!

http://lymeregisartsfest.com/

Bending Space - photography of Georges Rousse

I came upon this website by chance and was totally blown away. Firstly I thought it was my eye sight giving me trouble and that I might need new glasses but, when I looked and read about Georges and his projects, I realised how amazing his work was.  His vision is something I know that I lack but to see it in others is pure pleasure. I can take an idea and go further but to have the original idea is the thing that I struggle with.

His works are photographs of paintings done on buildings which are made to look like overlays of colour. From the single point perspective of rousse’s camera, his paintings are made to appear 2-dimensional, in reality you would see that the paintings are strategically done in 3 dimensions.

This illusion is what makes rousse’s work so intriguing. his ‘durham’ project was the subject of the documentary ‘Bending Space’, a fitting title to describe Rousse’s work.

http://www.georgesrousse.com/english/reception.html

End of the Summer

Well summer is virtually over, September 1st has arrived and I can't believe that the events I was part of with my local photographic society have been and gone. It hardly seems any time at all that our main summer period with a pub quiz and summer exhibition is over.

My society is always short of funds so, rather than lie down and die, I got together with some of the other members and organised a fund raiser to support the club's summer exhibition. Whilst the £150+ profit might not seem great to some clubs, it was a shot in the arm for my society. This enabled the members to put on an exhibition in the town centre, albeit off the main street, without worrying that it would drive the club into extinction.

All in all, visitor numbers weren't great, but the main object was to get publicity to increase membership and our press officer, Jane, did a magnificent job getting small items in the local press both before and, larger items with pictures, after.

Our new season starts on September 23rd with the AGM and showing of pictures taken on our summer outing and ramble, so it will be interesting to see if we get any new members along.

The link to our society website is:
http://lymebayphotographicclub.org/club-news/ - have a look and see what you think.

Male Domination in Photography

This has been a subject that I have been watching in Flickr recently and it's interesting to read the different points of view from both male and female photographers.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/ocarts/discuss/72157624647324931/

I was a commercial photographer at Heathrow Airport in the late 1980s/90s when there weren't too many photographers around and the work was spread around quite nicely, thank you. I worked for several airlines around the airport doing mainly 'grip and grins' and feature pictures for their publications. There were three airport photographers (not press photographers as you see in TV programmes such as Airport) and the ratio of male to female was one male to two females (me included). Each of us specialised in a different area and if you wanted a particular type of picture you went to one person.


Later on more photographers came on the scene but these were mainly men who specialised in aircraft photographs rather than people which meant that my area of expertise remained fairly available. There was no fighting, no commercial rivalry and when we met up, as we did occasionally, we chatted as friends. If we needed help or couldn't meet an obligation, a quick phone call to one of the others made sure the job was covered.

I really don't think it matters what sex a true photographer is, what matters is their work and their competence. If you have any skills in your area of expertise being male or female shouldn't come into the equation. A woman driving HGV lorries is accepted for what she does, not that she is, I think it is the same in photography, show you can do the job and you are accepted in the industry.

Street Photography Now - Sophie Howarth, Stephen McLaren

This is a beautifully produced book showing some of the world's best street photography. It also explains what motivates and fascinates these 46 men and women contributors.

You close the book and still feel intrigued to understand more about the situations you've seen. Some are very amusing and uplifting, others leave you questioning and thoughtful. The pictures show you that wherever people are in the world they are consistently unaware of themselves and their actions. I thought the interviews were very good and editorially perceptive. So much better than the usual assembly of unrelated submissions. They give a real insight into the photographers and were suitably down to earth as is appropriate for street photography.

This is the most comprehensive book I've read on the subject to-date and it cleverly captures what makes street photographers tick.

Lyme Bay Photo Club Summer Exhibition 2011

Results are in for the favourite images with over 100 prints to vote for.  I was awarded a very pleasing 3rd place (of course, first would have been much better) with a Panograph image of the Lyme Regis Harbour Master who'se main task in life is to watch life going past.

The winner was a print entitled 'Towards Stonebarrow' by club member Jenny Wallis:

And 2nd place was awarded to a print entitled 'Charmouth Rainbow' by club member Ian Bolton.

Self motivation

I am now on my third level 1 module and have found it very difficult in the past to keep motivated, especially when I was working full time.  The worst time was when I was working through the Art of Photography which seemed to go on for ever.  The relief when it was completed was immense and I sent it on its way thankfully.

It seems that I was not alone with keeping myself motivated as I have picked up a thread in the OCS student forum site from someone who is going through the same problem and is asking for help.  There have been 13 support posts in 3 days with other students either expressing the same feelings or offering advice on how to get remotivated.  I wish the forum had been around when I was struggling through TAOP, it would have helped immeasurably.

Here's the web forum address of the thread on self motivation:

http://oca-student.com/node/65658#comment-34755

Lyme Bay Photographic Club summer exhibition

I haven't blogged recently as I have been working with a group of club members to put on our summer exhibition.  I never realised how much time it took to get it all together. The last club secretary did it all himself and complained what little help he got from the members.

We have five members working together with me, as programme secretary, directing and cajoling people along.  One of the hardest things to achieve in Lyme Regis is publicity in the local newspapers of which there are two main ones.  There are always so many things going on that space is limited and you have to do something special to get noticed.  But, the news is getting out, members who have email have sent messages round to their other interest groups and we have posted notices in the town and other local towns to let people know.

The town is holding a Carnival and Regatta Week (which is why we chose this particular time when there are many more visitors around) and we hope to benefit from their publicity as well. 
Everything seems sorted (bound to be some last minute hiccups) but there is time yet to unravel any problems.  Let the showing begin!

ELINCHROM LIGHTING SETS

In the mid-1990s I worked as a freelance photographer and had a set of lights similar to the Elinchrom BXRi To Go set which came with a big black carrycase which, if you were a bit inebriated, looked like a coffin. It was a great set of lights which saw me through a wide variety of situations and I was sorry to sell it when I gave up freelancing to get a proper job. When I was looking to buy a new car I even had to take into account the boot size to make sure the case would fit in it!


I was interested to see the thread in the OCA Students Forum where various lighting set ups were under discussion. Nothing changes, people want the best value for their hard earned money and it's good that others are willing to share their experiences before you make a decision and spend what is quite a considerable amount of money.

Here's the link to the forum thread:

http://oca-student.com/photography_film_digital/node/63694

Local Camera Club Print Exhibition

During the week of the Beaminster Festival, Saturday 25 June to Sunday 3 July inclusive, the Beaminster Camera Club displayed about 80 images representing the work of members at all stages of their photographic journey.  The exhibition, at the Beaminster Museum, was run in conjunction with work from the photographic department of Beaminster School, together with an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by Dorset artists.

It was a very wide ranging, eclectric mix of pictures that were very interesting to see.  All the prints in the main room were numbered and visitors were able to vote for their favourite print.  It will be interesting to see which print was the most popular.

If there was one fault running through both photographic exhibitions it was that the main subject area was not pin sharp.  I have the same problem with my auto focusing if I am not careful in that the main subject area which should be pin sharp is not. I tend to focus in front of the subject (especially when I go for a grab shot) instead of checking which part of the focussing area will be the main subject area.  It looks like I am not alone in this area as several of the prints had the same problem!

On Photography: Susan Sonntag

After reading various books on photography technique I decided to find books which covered the theory behind it all. It is a very good read and a facinating insight if a little dry.

This is best read by flicking through and reading literary snap shots of Sontags work. If you are about to do a photography course this is the book for you and if you have ever wondered about photography this book will inform you.

Lens Culture online magazine

Lens Culture is quote "an online magazine celebrating international contemporary photography, art, media, and world cultures with photography from all continents and various points of view: documentary, fine art, photojournalism, poetic, personal, abstract, human, and street photography." unquote
http://www.lensculture.com/index.html

I dip into this website occasionally and am always fascinated at the wide range of features included at any one time. In a wide ranging sample of life from around the UK in the photographs of 'Drinking England' or 'Under Gods: Stories from Soho Road, Birmingham' or one extremely disturbing portfolio by Prix Pictet finalist Chris Jordan who has been documenting an astonishing and disturbing effect of consumer waste: discarded plastic packaging and toys inside the stomachs of thousands of dead baby albatrosses. Not something to view on an empty stomach.

Fay Weldon Portraits

Fay Weldon

Fay Weldon

I followed a link from the OCA 'We are OCA' February 27th 2011, the Open College of the Arts Blog, to an article of an exhibition called 'Revelations from Back Home' reviewed by Gareth Dent, link here:

http://www.weareoca.com/photography/revelations-from-back-home/  

and onwards to a review of the Fay Weldon exhibition at the National Media Museum in Bradford,  link here:

http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/PlanAVisit/ExploreOurGalleries/GalleryTwoLandRevisited.aspx

I met Fay Weldon once, in the 1990s, when I attended a course in Twickenham on landscape photography.  She showed pictures taken of the British landscapes which depicted how it was being spoiled by the invasion of man into the wild and remote places that still existed at that time. All I can remember is a small, slight blond woman but who was full of energy and passion who wanted to get as many photographers as she could involved with saving the places she loved. I didn't realise at the time that she was also president of the Ramblers Association.

What I also didn't know then was that she had been an eminent portrait photographer and had moved away from that genre in the 1970s.  I followed further links to one on the National Portrait Gallery where there is a section showing 48 of Fay's most notable portraits.

http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person.php?LinkID=mp08162&wPage=0

I was very interested to see how she portrayed the people she photographed as I wasworking on the People & Place module final assignment and, through discussion with my tutor, was taking portraits of local characters where I live in Lyme Regis.  It was interesting to see how, in her published images, she posed her subjects in a very similar way coming in close to feature mainly portraits of the head and shoulders of a person. This went against the advice I have been given by my tutor, who said it was important to produce an image which told a story about the sitter and this story could usually be found in the surroundings that the subject was shown in, ie, their own home. Sometimes a strong full face portrait can show much more character than one where the subject was smaller in the frame. There is a place for both, dependent upon what it is you want to show about the sitter but |I think that a full face or profile picture can be a very strong image.

Salvador Dali Exhibition Catalogue

I work as a volunteer at my local hospice shop and it's surprising what comes in as donations for sale. Last week I found a copy of the Salvador Dali Catalogue from the Tate Gallery exhibition in May/June 1980. I've never taken much notice of Dali's work before but I had seen his Time Clock on the South Bank in London and enjoyed looking at it. It looks very tactile and I wish there was an opportunity to touch it as I think half the pleasure of seeing sculpture and art is to be able to touch it.

I've looked through the Tate catalogue and it made me interested enough to look into Dali's life. He was born in the Pyrenees in 1904 and attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando but didn't graduate as he felt his work far superior to any of the academic staff. He lived in Paris where he spent time in his studio creating some of his most famous works.

With artists like Pablo Picasso approving of his work, Salvador Dali's paintings, such as "The Persistence of Memory," became icons of the Surrealist movement. During this time, he also met his future wife, Gala and they married in 1934 and throughout the next decades, Dali and Gala lived in Paris, New York and Spain. Dali enjoyed great success not only as a painter, but also as a filmmaker, sculptor, architect, photographer and writer.

When his wife died in 1982, Salvador Dali's health deteriorated, and he spent his final years in near-seclusion with a host of health problems. The artist known for his radical artwork, his flamboyant personality and his unusual moustache died from heart failure in January 1989.

When I visit exhibitions or look at books or catalogues of well-known  respected artists I realise that I am a jobbing photographer but I am working hard to improve my work and how I see pictures.  I live my life pleasing others to feel accepted and end up losing my sense of identity.  It's not easy to live with my own inadequacies!

Revisiting the past

I picked up the link for this TV clip from BBC2's Artworks Scotland in a blog I dip into occasionally and found it fascinating to watch and listen to two old pros talking about taking ‘real’ photos in the 1960s-70s.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zj4rs#clips

Harry Benson and Albert Watson discuss multiple imaging

'Two of Scotland's most successful photographers - Harry Benson from Glasgow and Albert Watson from Edinburgh - now live in New York.  They spent a day together revealing the tricks of their trade and revisiting some of their best known images - Benson's photos of The Beatles at the peak of their fame and of Bobby Kennedy's assassination and Watson's portraits of Alfred Hitchcock, Mick Jagger and Mike Tyson.'

I I can remember when there was no Photoshop and you had to produce multiple exposure images with cunning and expertise. Oh, the tricks of the darkroom had to be seen to be believed, but how much more exciting to produce manipulated work than it is today when you just do a few mouse clicks and there you are with a new picture.

I found this though a blog at http://janetsocaphotographyblog.blogspot.com/  The owner is a lecturer called Janet Jamieson who lives in East Kilbride, Scotland. She is just completing Assignment 5 from the People & Place module. I find it really helpful to read other people’s blogs and sometimes see how they have tackled the projects and assignments. It’s like having friends who you can call on when you get completely stuck and need inspiration.