A Day Out On Dartmoor

Having been out on Dartmoor before, I had an idea of what I could be up against in regards to the terrain and weather that can change very quickly. The imagery that I have created previously has influenced my ideas for what I have photographed on White Horse Hill. For my contribution to the exhibition that will be held in the museum I have taken photographs of the area around the Cist and the Cist itself, as I want to show the scale of the land against the size of the Cist.

The images I have shot will be shown in colour to emphasize the different textures and ways that the landscape is broke up with different patterns and colours that draw the viewer in. They will highlight how large the landscape is with the sky contrasting against it to give the images more depth. I want to show the natural landscape which can be seen through how I have used the rule of thirds and depth of field. With the images of the Cist I wanted to show the textures of the stones that had made it up, with contrasts against the peat that it was embedded in to give my images more depth.

Going up to White Horse Hill was quite a trek as I hadn't walked that far before. I enjoyed being in a new environment and spending a large amount of time on Dartmoor as I want to continue taking pictures there. The way that the land changes and the affects of the weather can be seen as they can be really drastic in regards to how the landscape looks. I will continue to edit the images that I have taken and will be uploading them to show what I am working on, as I want people who are interested in the Moors to see my images so that I can get more interest and possible work.

Creating an Ideas Tap profile

After hearing about Ideas Tap I finally decided to my a profile of my own. The website shows possible jobs that I can apply for and briefs that people have set resulting in paid work. I have uploaded some of my work to my profile to show a wide range of what I can do. The images are mostly landscapes with a few film shots that I've scanned in to show that I can work in film as well as digital. I think that these images show my skills well as some of the images are current and there are different subjects with a similar theme. I also had to add my CV to my profile which linked to my blog and Linkdin page as that has current information on and backs up what I have stated in my CV. I will be looking into funding in the future and possible jobs as I want to explore different countries and ideas that can be pursued if I have the right backers.

Below is a link to my Ideas Tap Page:
Link to my Ideas Tap page

Becoming an official National Trust Volunteer

After the shoot of Wembury point I had to wait a while to see if I would be taken on as a volunteer. After waiting for the feedback I went to another interview to discuss the paperwork that I had to go through such as claiming back travel expenses and how to keep track of my hours that I have worked. The next assignment that I have been given which is to shoot Wembury woods and the walk that goes through it, experimenting with different viewpoints in the woods and silhouettes that can create interesting photographs.

I am looking forward to this assignment as I haven't been to Wembury woods before and will enjoy seeing a new place. I enjoy photographing nature and the land in a way that show how it is without mans intervention. The main interests I have for this assignment are using silhouettes of the trees to make interesting shapes, the way that the path flows through the woods and how the landscape looks without mans intervention.

Laura Knight Portaits - Plymouth City Museum and Gallery

In this exhibition that is currently showing at the Plymouth City Museum and Gallery there is a wide range of portraiture that depicts a large amount of people in different scenarios. The images have been painted with the smallest a lot of time and skill going into each piece. Due to the amount of detail within these images, a few look like photographs with the focus drawn to the many elements that make up each image. 

Ethel Bartlet, 1914, Laura Knight

By researching into different practitioners I was intrigued by Laura Knight's work as the focus is on the subjects in their own environment showing how they work and what their craft could be in such paintings of the dancers and women working in the factory. She has captured aspects of people that the viewer might not see if the subjects were painted in a different way for example having them in a studio environment without any objects that could hint at what they are interested in.

 Ruby Lotus Screwing a Breech-ring, 1943, Laura Knight

Laura Knight first started painting in Cornwall in 1907 when she moved there, where in 1908 she had an exhibition in the Newlyn Gallery. In 1913 Knight her first nude painting was shown which was a self portrait that at the time was scrutinized by the public but has since been seen as a key piece in the story of female self portraiture and symbolic of the wider female view. She later went on to paint WW1 and Circus folk in the 1920's, her most dominate work is that of WW2 focusing on the people and where they worked in such images as women working in factories and pilots in aircraft. One of her most prominent pieces from the war is the image The Nuremberg Trial.

Nuremberg Trial, 1946, Laura Knight

"In that ruined city death and destruction are ever present. They had to come into the picture, without them, it would not be the Nuremberg as it now is during the trial, when the death of millions and utter devastation are the sole topics of conversation wherever one goes - whatever one is doing" - Laura Knight

In Laura Knight's later life she painted dancers, dignitaries and well known people such as Jean Rhodes the 'Mighty Mannequin' that lead to further portrait commissions. Knight died on the 7th of July 1970 aged 92 3 days after a large exhibition of her work was to been shown in Nottingham Castle Art Gallery and Museum. 

The Uncanny

Researching into the uncanny and how it is represented within photography has helped to influence my most resent ideas, as I have been able to give my images a bit more meaning and make them more interesting. First reading Freud's theory of the Uncanny to get an understanding of what it means, to then look into how it's shown in different mediums focusing on how it is seen in photography to influence my work.

 

Sigmund Freud

I will also be looking at other key texts that discuss the uncanny, as there are different opinions on the subject and it is interpreted in different ways depending on the subject matter and the way that the image may have been made. For my work I am looking at places which have a myth/legend behind it which can influence how I will shoot the chosen area. By throwing a light object that can take many shapes such as a pillow case or a scarf I will be creating uncanny images this way, by having the pillow case/scarf as the main focus and the building as the backdrop.

Lydford castle

On arrival to Lydford castle I didn't think much of it, in comparison to the stereotypical ideal of castles it is very small and hidden. I decided to shoot the outside of the castle first as I was very nervous once inside and felt that once I had started taking pictures outside, I would be more confident in exploring the interior to get stronger images.

Floating Pillow, Lydford Castle, Lydford

Reflecting on Freud's theory of the uncanny, I wanted to create interesting images in which it was clear that I had intervened. I want to show the main structure of the castle as a background feature, whilst still being a large part in the image. There is a strong contrast between the object and it's surroundings which draw the viewer in and break the image up which makes it more interesting.

  Hidden Pillow, Lydford castle, Lydford

Michael Andrew's 5th Annual International Photo Contest

For this contest I have also entered the image of High Tor, this image is for the landscape category as I want my landscape images to be seen by people so that I can improve my network and be known as a landscape photographer.

The image stands out as it isn't one that you can easily get, through editing and exploring different areas I was able to create this image alongside others that link together.