"There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You can certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after"- J.R.R. Tolkien
Hi,
My name is Jamie Tilley and I will be using this blog as a note pad or sketch book to present ideas I have relating to my first modules research and practice.
I am focusing on social documentary photography in my hometown of Cambridge.
Previously I have been very interested in taking portraits of people with-in their own homes and have a few examples here;
Tessa - 2012
Tessa 2 - 2012
Josephine - 2012
Self portrait - 2010
I would like to develop the idea of photographing people with-in their homes further and aim to convince a number of strangers to allow me into their homes to take portraits and more casual documentary style photos, with the onus being on the relationship these people have with their own space.
To narrow my focus I will specifically look at the new build housing market in Cambridge and therefore the relationship people have with their new houses and how they present themselves and their homes.
To do this I am looking to move away from a formal portrait style, and more towards a social documentation, incorporating much more about the spaces my subjects occupy.
You can see my full project proposal here. (or see proposal in file)
I have started this blog mainly to collate images and ideas quickly whilst undertaking the research itself.
To expand on my project proposal I initially want to look at other artists that interest me.
I guess the first person I should use as a reference point, and someone who has inspired me since I first picked up a camera, is Martin Parr; At this point I should note I am aware he has become synonymous with a certain style of documentary photography and his importance to me lies in the fact that he influenced me a lot as a young photographer.
I first saw these images a long time ago, in the context of a massive body of his work.
I immediately feel a sense of awakardness and satire around the photographs and certainly a very staged and purposeful message.
I would like to leave a lot more the decision making in staging my photographs to the subjects themselves, and at this point would have no intention to present them in a satirical manner - However this may purely lie in the eye of the person viewing these images, specifically 20 years down the line, which is something out of my (or Martin Parr's) control.
I do want my images to be staged in the sense that they will know a photo is being taken of them, in the same way the subjects in these photos do and I would like them to present themselves and their space as something they are proud of. (hence the choice of new build housing - more pride/ a blank canvas on which they have created their own environment).
A very different style of photography, but to me equally as aesthetically pleasing is Todd Selby.
Todd Selby is normally invited into peoples homes with the direct intention of showing off themselves and the wonderful spaces that they occupy.
He has many famous clients including artists and actors, and the images certainly conjure up the sense of pride and spatial relationship I am looking to achieve.
My project will certainly differ in the sense I will have asked to enter the homes of my subjects, and they therefore will not necessarily be as comfortable with the situation.
Julius Shulman:
I have just come across the photographer Julius Shulman whose work I have immediately fallen in love with; the grand architecture (I have done a lot of architectural photography in the past) and specifically the lighting.
I will need to think very hard about how I will be lighting my images and what different lighting techniques will work with-in the spaces I am photographing.
In these photographs the people themselves are becoming less and less focal, and the spaces they occupy, more and more important.
Again I imagine these to be very staged by the photographer, so as to shoot in the perfect lighting conditions and where as to place the subjects.
Although I love these photos, I would still like my first test shoot to be directed more by the subjects than by me.
Jeff Wall:
Fig 1. (for commentary reference)
Again this is a new photographer I have discovered on this journey and again I love his work.
The lighting and composition is flawless and they all show a lot of the spaces in which these people occupy - specifically the last two photographs, which have taken a more social documentary approach as they show the inhabitants going about their daily routines.
This is something I need to think about and play with in my various test shoots.
The first image looks extremely staged, however the second two do not exactly - It is hard to tell, however they do look very 'perfect'
I am going to have to look at how I interact with my subjects in the sense of finding a composition and lighting that works aesthetically, yet leave some control to them.
I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL AND STAGE EVERYTHING! (Although I notice a lot of the images I like follow this sort of set up.. hmmm)
Well....after some research into the second two images I discovered this
So not only are the images constructed, but extensively so.
I really may need to re-think my approach to achieve the sort images that I aim to take aesthetically.
Also to note here is that all the previous photographers are shooting in either 35mm or medium format - I will tackle this later on. I will initially shoot in digital.
1st practice shoot (self portrait)
I do not believe I have much to take away from these images except in purely technical terms, due to the fact there is no relationship between photographer and subject.
However, in a sense I was only the subject, as I choose the location as if I was being asked to by a photographer.
Technically I am unsure about the use of flash here, inside such a small room as the photographs look a little flat. I will try and re-shoot use natural light only.
I would also like to shoot a little wider and incorporate more of the space.
2nd Test - Parents in their home:
I again dislike the images with too much use of flash in a small space as I feel they look flat and almost like a snap shot.
Problems I am facing so far:
1. Not enough thought going into the use of lighting (natural/flash)
2. Would like to shoot in less of a formal portrait style.
3. Will consider taking more control as the photographer in terms of location of each shot.
4. Will take a lot longer in composing and deciding on the best placement for each subject so as to represent the spaces the subjects are in more thoroughly.
DESPITE ORIGINALLY THINKING I COULD TAKE A BACK SEAT, I BELIEVE THE PHOTOGRAPHS I AM LOOKING FOR WILL NEED TO BE MORE DESIGNED/CONSTRUCTED THAN I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.
I will now focus my research on artists whose use of natural light is key to their shots and will begin with:
At this point, having a set of photographs from one household as I had imagined in my proposal I decided to think about how I would display them.
I had said I wanted to use text which would include quotes and information about my subjects and their homes and perhaps take the form of a photo book.
I decided to make a mock lay out shown below.
This sort of approach would work if I am able to get to enough households and also get enough photographs from each household. I assume that fill up a whole photo book I would be looking at least 50+ images.
If I was to choose a lot less photographs, the peice could work if I teamed up with a journalist to create a photo essay or a 4-8 page spread in a newspaper supplement on the new build housing market.
I will have to decide how I wish to present my photographs later on in the process.
Now back to lighting!!
Johannes Vermeer
A lot of the examples of Vemeer's paintings I have found seem to show the same room, with the same window being the main light source. I will think about shots at different times of the day in the same room with the same window as the light source.
The aim being to begin to understand the importance of choosing the correct lighting to shoot in.
I think this will further the notion that I my photographs my have to be more constructed than I originally intended to achieve the aesthetic effect I would like. I will come back to this.
Test shoot 3:
The focus for this shoot was to try new techniques and to implement a method in my working that I will translate to my final shoots.
My aim was to shoot using entirely natural/ambient light (as opposed to flash) and to focus on the environment as much, if not more, than the subject. (although the subject and their placement is key to the photographs I wanted to move away from the portrait style of my previous shoots and more into the realm of a social documentation.
I feel I achieved certain successes with this short series. I find the photographs a lot more interesting in the sense my subject is now apart of the scenery and I get a better understanding of 'Liam' with-in his own environment. The pictures seem to be becoming closer to that which I have imagined them looking like.
I stuck to a plan upon entering the house, which was to photograph every room without my subject first. This gave me an idea of where I would then like to place my subject for each shot thereafter.
This worked well and allowed me to be clear in my direction to my subject.
This worked well and allowed me to be clear in my direction to my subject.
There is still plenty to take away from the shoot and more problems to overcome;
Due to the fact the house was quite dark I had to shoot at a very high ISO setting, hence the images being grainy. I did not use a tripod and was therefore forced to shoot no slower than 1/60 of a second.
I will use a tripod for my next shoot.
I was also photographing a friend and had much more time than I will do when entering the houses of more unknown people and he was also more comfortable taking direction.
I was also photographing a friend and had much more time than I will do when entering the houses of more unknown people and he was also more comfortable taking direction.
My next shoot will be of a friend of a friend and in terms of my interaction and direction will be more difficult and awkward? - I will need to be very clear and friendly so as to make my subject comfortable.
My friends house had large rooms which made things easier. I may come across much smaller houses in my next shoots which could make things more difficult. I will be shooting with a 17-55mm lens.
Test Shoot 4 - Self portrait
Fig 2. (For commentary reference)
I really like these two photographs and it was again great practice however I had all the time I wanted and could therefore very carefully compose each shot.
This has made me realise the importance of taking full control of the scene, albeit using the space I am given.
I will need to strike a fine balance between setting up the shot and still holding on to the essence of the house/room I am photographing.
This will be the key to my images being successful.
Some key points realised from test shots before my first final shoot:
1. Shoot more open. Must be about the space AND subject (Wider angle)
1. Shoot more open. Must be about the space AND subject (Wider angle)
2. Use natural and ambient lighting. NO FLASH.
3. Construct the composition and decided where to place the subject after.
4. Use tripod to avoid high use of ISO setting if low light.
5. Try to stick to plan upon entering the house to avoid wasting time.
Final Shoot 1: (1st new build)
I aimed to shoot this set fairly quickly and was also photographing someone who I did not know particularly well.
These were taken in a very small (two room) new build flat.
I have concluded I need to take more time and care when setting up the image, and although I do not want to move around too many things...there are certain key elements I need to remember.
For example looking back I should have moved the chair that is obscuring the subjects legs in the first image. I also should have moved to chair in the second image as the lines created by the table would have resulted in a more striking/bold aesthetic and also moved the bin which is slightly obscuring her leg.
These are very small and easy things to do, which should not be too intrusive and will also still the leave the room as their own.
I was again able to shoot using only natural/ambient light which I think really lends itself to capturing the rooms as they really are.
Windows are key!
I have shot a number of frames for each composition and I like the shot of her looking away from the camera. I will try to shoot as both a more formal pose and also some frames where the subject may not realise or at least be more relaxed.
With-in my short time frame with each subject I will ask a few questions to give a background on the house/flat etc.
Although I earlier showed that I was tending away from using too much text with my final photographs.
I have included their exact address's, but instead the street name and postcode.
Overview of subject:
My first subject is Yvette Chivers.
She moved into her new build flat one and a half years ago.
She is renting so is unable to decorate the place her self, although she has filed it with "lots of crap everywhere"
The flat is in a new build estate just outside of Cambridge in a town called Cambroune.
De Havilland Close
Cambourne, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB23
See contact sheets for full set of images.
Klaus Pichler - Secret life of Cosplayers
I have again been searching for photographers who shoot people in their homes.
I found this series on the Guardian website and I really like the creative use of natural and ambient light.
The idea of the shoot was to focus on both the subjects (cosplayers) but also focus on them with-in their normal setting (home).
I feel the photographs really represent the subjects and space and their relationship.
This is a style I wish to achieve.
Final Shoot 2:
This was my first shoot with a complete stranger and this led to a few problems.
I had said I would spend 30 minutes with my subject and I was very keen to keep to my word.
This meant after following my decided method of shooting the space before using the subject, I had very little time left.
After photographing this set up I moved into another space, however did not have enough time to create any worthwhile photographs. (see contact sheets for full set of images)
Saying this I am very happy with the two photographs shown:
I feel the composition is balanced and I have also balanced the lighting sources (natural/ambient).
I think I prefer the first photograph as the framing of the door way, coupled with the natural light in the smaller room brings more attention to the subject, without taking away from the space.
I did not ask the subject to look away, however I shot slightly before I told her I was ready.
This has lead to a more natural looking pose, in the confines of a very composed set up.
It would appear I have moved on from my original idea of allowing the subject to dictate the set up, however I have captured a more natural moment and I am finding a balance between the created/staged and the natural.
My second subject is Sarah Middleton
She owns and has been living with her husband and two kids in her new build house on the edge of Cambridge in a place called Longstanton.
They have been living there for nearly a year and were the first family to move in on the street
"The place felt like a ghost town when we first arrived, but slowly more and more people moved in"
Their address is Duddle Drive, Longstanton, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB24 3US.
Final Shoot 3:
This coach house was extremely new (finished in the last year) and had only very recently been moved in to.
The space was fairly unfurnished and there is a lot of white/magnolia in all the photographs.
This meant I as soon as I walked in I was looking for natural light sources , of which in the corridor were very limited.
I like the 2nd and 3rd images the most, although in all of them my subject is perhaps looking too formal and posed.
My subject was a friend of a friend and I had never met him. Initially I felt a little more tense as the photographer and I feel this may show in the images.
This is certainly something that I need to bear in mind and I need to make sure I approach every shoot with the same 'at ease' approach and really work hard to create a calm and natural atmosphere.
Saying this I am happy with the 2nd and 3rd photographs where the subject is slightly less prominent and is more balanced with-in the frame and the space.
My third subject is Len Peocock and he has been living in his new build coach house for 6 months. The area is still very much in development but his small street is now fully occupied.
He rents the property from his father who bought it. He shares it with his brother.
"We are still looking to buy more furniture and I am still really unsure about the location of this table" - He then asks me to help him move the table to a new position in the kitchen/living area, for his own reasons (nothing to do with shooting anymore pictures).
His address is Spring Drive, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 9AB.
See contact sheets for full shoot
Final Shoot 4:
This shoot felt the smoothest and most comfortable so far. Prior to the shoot I asked if we could take 45 minutes instead of half an hour, giving myself some breathing room as I was also aware she would be with her very young child.
I followed the same procedure I had been which was to scope out locations, shoot them without subject and then ask her and her child to enter the frame.
Although I shot a number of her whilst unaware of being photographed. My faviroute images were those where she and her child were looking at the camera.
There is a good mixture of light sources in all photographs and I particularly like the contrast in the 3rd.
I find the 1st photograph very striking, however for me it is too cluttered on a personal level.
I understand it represents the space well, but so far as my series comes together I am aware of the sparsity in a lot of my photographs.
My fourth subject is Lizzie Grove and she has lived in her new build for nearly 2 years and is already planning on upgrading in a few more years.
She owns the house with her husband and has one child.
Central Avenue
Orchard Park
Cambridge
CB4 2XR
Final Shoot 5:
My last shoot was conducted after the New Year and therefore very close to the deadline, however as I had now experienced the process four times before, I felt confident I would get a few good photographs in the 30-45 mins allocated.
I did shoot the outside of this house also, as it is really quite impressive (seen in contact sheet folder) as I thought should I carry on this project and eventually turn it into a book, it was a great example of a new build house and is very modern at that. I also thought that although all my photographs would be of inside peoples homes, it would make a nice cover (outside of the book) to have the outside of one house. ANYWAYS I DIGRESS.
There was a lot (A LOT) of windows/sky lights/mirrors/glass doors (natural light sources) in this house. Also the occupants were so new that they had not put any lamp shades over naked light bulbs yet. This meant getting a balance of natural and ambient light was more difficult. I wanted the group to work together so this was important to get right, and I think I have...JUST.
The two photographs I like the most from this shoot involve the subjects looking away from the camera. Should I carry the project on I need to work this idea more and perhaps end up with a series where all the subjects are behaving more naturally with-in my compositionally constructed scenes.
My fifth subject was Beth and she has lived in her (very) new build with her 3 sons and husband for only a few months.
They are part of a government scheme for rental of new property that eventually leads to purchase.
"We just managed to get rid of the majority of boxes before Christmas. The move was hard work as we both work full-time, then coming home to unpacking mountains of boxes. We will be happy when it's done"
Beth lives at
10 Chaplen Street
Trumpington
Cambridge
CB2 9AT
Final Print Decision:
At the start of the process and in my proposal I had assumed I would have a lot more photographs to present as final images.
I envisaged having a set from each household that would almost hold up on their own as a household set, as well as working in the larger framework of the entire project.
However I have discovered that to achieve the quality and personality of image i.e. the relationship of a person represented in their own home, I would have had to have spent a lot more time and do a lot more shoots in each household. Instead I think it became clear that I wanted a small number of strong, bold photographs and certainly not a lot of poorly constructed snap shots.
I decided fairly early on, through my test shoots and certainly after the first final shoot that I would focus on getting one or two great images from each household and then present them as set.
For the purposes of balance I have chosen one photograph from each household and will therefore be handing in 5 final prints.
The five final prints are displayed below with the reasons for my choice.
I chose this over the one of my subject sitting down as I feel she looked more comfortable and at ease in this one. Also she is bathed in natural light. The table and room represent the space in the house that can be occupied and the fact one chair is out place adds to the story (she has just gotten up and moved into the other room.
I chose this photograph over the one on the stairway as I felt it fitted better with-in the group. I love the composition here and the natural moment caught between subjects is seen all the better from both sides.
Although for me it stands out from the others due to the fact the ambient light in the room (the light bulb hanging from the ceiling) is almost unnoticeable due to the amount of natural light in the room.
This results in the photograph appearing a little different in style to the others which is a shame. However I believe it is a strong image in and of itself and although may not work as well with the others in terms of lighting. Certainly works with them compositioanlly and obviously due to the subject matter.
I chose this photograph as I loved the contrast between the two spaces shown. There is also enough of the space on display, through ornaments and trinkets and wall pictures etc.
I love the fact the mother and child are almost sitting identically.
The clock and the floral curtain frame the image and the magnolia walls represent the empty space.
If it wasnt for the ambient vs natural light. It would be very hard to tell where one room started and another began.
I liked the balance of this photograph, although as I mentioned earlier my subject looks quite formal and uneasy (more reminiscent of Martin Parr's photographs). There is almost a dialogue between the subject and his ornamental giraffe, with both hogging window space. There was no natural light face on to the subject so his face is lit by the ambient light source. The magnolia walls are again present and almost lay down as a backdrop or canvas in which the scene is set.
I had two photographs from this shoot to choose from and I liked my subject best in this one.
She looks like she is in her home - confident and calm. The window bathes her in natural light and this is contrasted with the ambient lighting framing the photo one the left, right and top.
I now have five final photographs with my subjects basic information, address and a quote.
I believe that despite initally believing I could perhaps create a photobook in the time allocated for this project, this set as it is, would lend itself towards a journalism piece for a local or national newspapers weekend supplement.
If the article was to be 5 pages long (an images on each page with the basic information about the subjects written for the reader).
To achieve this I would need to team up with a writer.
The article could be about the rise in new build housing in the Cambridge area and could be asking who are the people buying them, is there enough of them? too many? etc.
I will present my photographs in a portfolio with the basic information I collected from my subjects printed onto small plaques to be seen with each photograph. (this is the text that would be accompanying them should they be published in the media.
