After access to the library was cut, finding sources offline became very challenging. And with the myriad of mediocracy found in the swamp of images online, finding the time to sift through them wasn’t an option in this condensed time scale following the enormous adaption to the workload required for the Research module. After a very generous offer from one of my creative artist friends based in Cheltenham for approx. 30-40 back Issues of Black and White Photography Magazine, that were initially going to be sliced up for scrapbooking materials, they offered them to me as they felt I might be able to get more topical use out of them. This helped out massively with my need for research and study texts. These high-quality publications contain stunning images from many disciplines and practices from all over the globe, I used them to find other photographers who take images that have the same draw and appeal in their tine, subject matter or style to my own influences and guides of my own practice. The following are my findings from my readings.
Elliot Erwitt - Gateway Center Demolition area, Pittsburgh 1950 © Elliott Erwitt / Magnum Photos.
I was drawn to this shot for a few reasons, the transitional and liminal aspect being the strongest draw. The building being demolished to make way for new development, out with the old and in with the new. The two men also come to embody that phrase. One, dressed for work with suit with tie, a newspaper in hand, the uniform of the new modern careers that were coming to the City of Pittsburgh hence the demolition is taking place, crossing the street paying no mind to the demolition happening behind him, his life is moving too fast to care about that. Whilst the other man, who looks more like an older chap, seems more concerned about the building in question being demolished, peering round the entrance to the site works. This embodiment of change, transition behind the backdrop of 1950’s America and the rapid and dramatic shift from the old world, industrial economics to the new model of hyper-capitalism and commerce.
Luke Willis Thompson – ‘Autoportrait’
This article in the magazine goes in to talk about the exhibition created by Luke Willis Thompson entitled ‘Autoportrait’, it was made in collaboration and in response to the partner of a man fatally shot by police during a routine traffic stop. His partner, Diamond Reynolds then streamed the immediate aftermath to Facebook live. Viewed over 6 million times, the harrowing footage shows her partner bleeding and dying in his car seat whilst the officer does nothing but keep his weapon aimed at both the dying man and Diamond whilst calling for more police presence over his radio, not medical attention. Later, the artist reached out to Diamond and the two began to create an artwork in response to these events, the result, a single black and white portrait shot on 35mm. What has drawn me so heavily to this piece is the presentation and exhibition of the work. A single, large frame, backlight in a dark space create a palpable and powerful atmosphere that allows the image to project its meaning, its pain and hurt to the public that view it. This style of presentation is something that I could very much envisage myself doing when presenting my works about and of brutalist forms and liminal infrastructure.
Neill Johansson – Within Without
What drew me to this photo series, were a couple of aspects. Those being the photographers understanding and blending of outside space and inside space. From my previous research into place studies, the difference between inside and out is one of the most core abilities to differentiate between as a human and from here all the connotations and expectations of what belongs in each are formed. By blending them together in these visually striking and interesting compositions, questions are raised internally as our expectations are played with. I was secondly drawn to their use of form and shape, as many of the details of what makes up the images are ambiguous and require deeper looking and deciphering to pick them apart, the use of shape and form allows the composition to be solid enough to hold together as a single work but loose enough to not look collaged or assembled. The strong contrast also helps to create a strong tone and atmosphere in the images, something I like to do in my own work.
Gier Skeie – Architectural work
What drew me to the work of Finish photographer Geir Skeie, was their ability to capture architectural form in such a powerful way. The forms appear solid, strong and belong effortlessly to the scenes and environments in which they are captured. Use of strong contrast and rich shadows are integral to this strategy. The use of warmer tones either in shooting W/B or using a warm-tone paper is something recommended to me and my prints of buildings, to see how effectively it adds to the presence of the images means this is something that I will be considering as my printing practice continues to develop.
Gina Glover – The Metabolic Landscape/ Poisoned Water Runs Deep
This highly effective series of images from photographer and artist Gina Glover, document and expose the effects of fracking sites or ‘pads’ in areas of natural beauty like national parks in the US. The works feature stark, crushingly heavy contrast (possibly negative in some areas), and an atmosphere coherent with the impact and subject matter found within them. The incredible atmosphere these factors create a body of work that exudes frustration, loss and longing. The knowledge that many of the industrial tanks and equipment she documents are actively poisoning, destroying and polluting not only the immediate area around them but are part of a larger, much greater farce of power, the hydrocarbon and fossil fuel pipe dream. These tools of extraction literally squeezing the very crust of the earth to extract small pockets of oil and gas by smashing and toxifying the rock bed, all for what? A few more years of being able to drive cars and burn gas in power stations, all of which are in vain when there won’t be a planet habitable for human life if the activity continues. It is my intent to try and create some images in this style, with crushingly harsh environments and backgrounds set behind some example of liminal infrastructure.
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