Over the previous study-blocks, my photography has evolved considerably. Before starting this course, my practice struggled between the beautiful picture and surrealism. I was confused where and for what reason I was doing this. One of my motivations for beginning this course was to add a rationale to this life long investment in time and money. I was tired of the same old images repeating themselves in the popular magazines of the time. Youtube is full of photographers telling you were to take the picture, how to take it and what equipment is best for it. I've even noticed how some are using film again as though they discovered it in some elitist manner. The MA was and is such a refreshing change from all this. Studying different practitioners allows me to critique images in an informed way. Critique, in my view, is a powerful tool, enabling the image-maker to review work objectively. Looking back at my last terms work. (Surfaces and Strategies) I understand now how my work could be considered repetitive. The difficulty I have is that I'm using a limited source of archive images and artefacts, so the risk of repeating one's self is high. In my FMP I need to move on from this kind of image-making which at the moment is not easy. Watch this space.........
I had a brief chat with Wendy this morning, and I feel a lot more confident regarding my practice. I look forward to my first 1-2-1 with her next week.
Wendy recommended the book, Ken - To be destroyed, by Sara Davidmann a book I have in my library, and referred to last term. It is the story of Davidmanns Uncle and Aunt through a series of letters and photographs.
Davidmann, Sara, 2016, Ken -To be Destroyed, London, Thames and Hudson