Alexandra Hughes; amazing photographer, studio holder at Baltic 39 and PhD student; an artist referenced already by my students, spent time giving me an excellent tutorial in photographing the Stairwell space as part of my Fellowship.
She agreed to involve some of my students from school; Hannah and Ottilie and our wonderful Art Technician and Sound Artist Adam Goodwin. We brought equipment from school but Alex added her own equipment; a remote shutter(!) a light meter and a reflective pop up ( which was very popular!)
She inspired us to think about the technicalities of taking a picture but to also to think beyond lighting and the familiars of photography..and the technicalities of taking a ‘good’ photograph and she passionately urged my students and I to experiment with what the photograph actually says; to view the camera as another way to tell a story. She put us in charge of the medium and we were very empowered and clearly could transfer the tutorial to our own work when we got to school.
Alexandra emphasised that we should be looking at and reading about photography, photographers and crucially that we should be studying the context of not just taking a photograph…rather making a ‘Portrait of the situation.’ This shift in thinking is a vital part of the Fellowship; I am constantly moved and indeed urged by my collaborators to think differently, to examine my thinking and to pivot my ideas in order to re visit them with new perspectives.
I have included in this blog, shots chosen from the many many photographs taken during my experiences this year and feel that over the months ahead I will return to my images frequently to ‘reorder’ them ..in order to tell different narratives. I am compelled to select certain images for the blog and will show different ones at a later date. I am made aware of the power of the image and how we understand what we see and then say.
Recording the project is important visually, we understand what we see instantly; I want to think about how we present what is said, reflecting on what we see, know and how we revisit what we do creatively through the lens of ‘Screen Memories’ ( Freud )
In the photograph here and at the top of the page we see a digital camera, the screen showing only its light analysis; we really want to move the narrative on..what is the camera seeing?
Why would these light readings be made and what do they say about the space, about our own important spaces, what does this screen say about the photographer?
It is interesting that Alexandra uses a light meter too, she does not trust the camera to gauge the light, she would rather invade the space of the photographed in order to see the light as it is registered on the meter…it is about using ritual, spending time, studying, applying knowledge and above all, for me, a way to look at the ritual of how using methods of recording can enable the artist to see things differently. Time to test the lighting, to get proximity in a space allows a subject to trust the camera and the person behind it.
There is an idea that recording, whether through photography or audio holds the moment.
Every moment is different for each person. I am interested in creating a structure that enables me to keep the best of recording my work whilst ensuring that the participants feel involved in the project rather than being inhibited by the recording process.
artistteachercef 