Exercise 5.1: The Distance Between us.
Exercise 5.1: The distance between us
Use your camera as a measuring device. This doesn’t refer to the distance scale on the focus ring. Rather, find a subject that you have an empathy with and take a sequence of shots to ‘explore the distance between you’. Add the sequence to your learning log, indicating which is your ‘select’ – your best shot.
When you review the set to decide upon a ‘select’, don’t evaluate the shots just according to the idea you had when you took the photographs; instead evaluate it by what you discover within the frame (you’ve already done this in Exercise 1.4). In other words, the open to the unexpected. In conversation with the author, the photographer Alexia Clorinda expressed idea in the following way:
Look critically at the work you did by including what you didn’t mean to do. Include the mistake, or your unconscious, or whatever you want to call it, and analyse it not from the point of view of your intention, but because it is there.
Examplars:
Andrea Schwickart: https://eyvlog.wordpress.com/2017/08/21/the-distance-between-us-exercise-5-1/
Morris Gallagher: https://morrisgdotorg.wordpress.com/exercises/exercises-5-viewpoint/exercise-5-1-viewpoint-explore-the-distance-between-us
Darryl Godfrey: https://darrylgodfrey.wordpress.com/category/coursework/part5-viewpoint/
In this course, the emphasis has been on ways of looking and the subject has often been everyday life, and contingent on that. The next course ‘Context and Narrative’, is concerned with constructed photography, Sometimes called conceptual or ‘fully authored’ photography. Which ever approach you prefer, you’ll still need to find a work in process that encourages rather than stifles your creativity. Quentin Bajac, the photography curator at the museum of modern Art in New York has this to say:
‘The most interesting photographers in that field are those who manage to find a proper balance between perception and the idea. I was talking about this with Paul Graham a few weeks ago, he said that you can set out with the best possible idea, open your door, go outside, and the world changes that idea. And you have to accept that the and shift your expectation to accommodate what you observe and evolve with it. What you produce in the end will probably be quite different from the initial idea. This is what photography is about. It is about having an idea at first and accepting that you’re going to be seduced, in the etymological sense of the word, by the world you’re encountering.’
http://www.aperture.org/blog/view-judgement-seat-quentin-bajac-conversation-Philip-getter/
(accessed 16/06/14
For Exercise 5.1 I perceived the title, recognising the event and the occurrence of it. I considered the event and practice of capturing the experience before ones eyes.
In this course, the emphasis has been on ways of looking and the subject has often been every day life, and the contingent on that
Exercise 5.1.
Events happening all around us can be captured by photographers reacting to what plays out before them. What do they find interesting visually? Are they linked to the event, and find a connection?
I photograph what I find to be interesting visually as well as visually pleasing, the subject matter isn’t always appealing though. I have learnt that it does not have to be.
The taking of photographs is something I particularly enjoy. The key when I take candid shots is to take photographs of people or buildings. The experience of photography I believe is an event in itself. One captures an event taking place live. Then studying of the image taken becomes an historical event in itself. The whole shooting of an event is a story and the image has a story.
I can not always foresee when taking candid shots. Pictures never turn out how one may prognosticate. When I studied the suggested images taken by Henry Cartier-Bresson I know my visual attention is drawn to creativity the importance of getting the measure of the character of the subject. The whole appearance and his approach is an inspiration for many photographers. ( I will explore this further in 5.3).
I have thoughtfully considered the exercise. Regarding the camera as a measuring device between me and my chosen subject. Not the distance scale, simply the distance between me and my subject matter (empathy). I will include in my learning log the results and include images that might be considered problematic. Some problematic ones may teach me where I need to improve or they may even look interesting visually, and something that I could attempt to explore in the future.
For the subject distance between us… to demonstrate empathy I looked at the past exercise 1.4 and considered the exercises for a short time. I thought about a recent unease I felt when my child experienced a mild asthma attack. I choose a subject matter I can relate to that concerns me and that I sympathise with. I have experienced panic attacks in the past and I would imagine asthmatics to have comparable experiences with similar characteristics of symptoms. Asthma is a serious condition one that can be life-threatening. I’ve been witness to my children and other children in my day job suffering with attacks, some resulting in hospitalisation. The experience is very scary for my child and for me and parents/carers of their children.
I will consider taking shots of triggers and include these in the shots. There are lots of products that I am considering to be I ncluded in the exercise shots.
I did consider beforehand dog images because I wanted to consider why dogs are so empathetic towards their owners. When my son was having an asthma attack our dogs displayed empathy towards him. This is another exercise I could explore and develop. I am considering including them in the photographs.
I briefly researched Google and I looked at eading materials about dogs displaying empathy towards their owners. I will most likely shot images including my dogs… see learning log.
I looked at the exemplars suggested by OCA for this exercise and I understand that it is to help one to expand in one’s study. I found it important to view the fellow past students work. It is helpful when considering photography ideas. I found the photographers an inspiration. However, whilst it is important to explore different concepts and techniques I found on this occasion it just helped to motivate me to have a concept rather than anything else. I understand and consider ideas that are interesting visually but also, I feel that it is important for me to be aware and be authentic in my own experiences and exercises.
Learning Log for 5.1: The distance between us.
I have been considering the exercise above to be concerned and aware of the brief. Being mindful before, during and whilst devising my concept for the exercise. I have selected a few shots that emerged below. However, I have chosen a single shot to demonstrate the visual narration of ‘the distance between us’ as my final selected image. I believe the whole image is framed to be a visually interesting viewpoint, in my opinion (although somewhat distressing to reenact).
I formed the idea for these images with natural consideration because my son has asthma and has recently suffered from a mild attack (thankfully mild). The subject matter is an important one both personally to me and others, due to the seriousness of the condition. I feel in order to understand the condition which attacks the lungs further I essentially had to consider the essence of giving visual grasp to others. I could develop this idea further.
I assessed my past exercise as suggested (1.4) and considered the whole image. For this exercise I considered the constitution of the image. Having analysed 1.4. I composed this shot considering the subject matter. I wanted the images to capture the everyday environment of the ordinary and focus on the subject for viewers to be visually empathetic with the child. However, I considered the whole image. Therefore, I included my dogs to strongly suggest empathy too. The results shown below suggest that dogs show empathy by display of communication. When dogs are sad they show sadness in their eyes particularly. When we re-enacted an asthma attack the dogs showed empathy towards my sons distress. They comforted him. When we spoke to them gently they responded with wagging tails.
Before taking the shots I organised the products placement and thought about the whole image. The importance of where my son was positioned too.
To capture images for empathy and distance between us I used my canon camera with lens 100mm fixed.
https://healthypets.mercola.com
https://modern dog magazine.com -Canine empathy/modern day magazine
Learning Log 5.1. The Distance Between Us.
I am happy with the selected image below. I chose to select the subject as explained above and I am happy with the visual results of the selected image. I believe the images display an emotional response of empathy for the subject. The image is interesting as a whole frame. I am happy with the results after I evaluated the whole images. I looked back at 1.4 firstly before I composed the shot. I considered the research and subject matter been ‘empathy’.
I considered all the images and before taking the images I thought about where I wanted to take them etc…
I considered my children’s asthma as the subject matter and might I add my son was happy to assist me with this exercise. He knows that education about asthma is important.
I must be honest and say whilst I covered the brief it was hard due to the subject matter for me. My son enjoyed participating though so that was alright. The dogs were obviously not stressed as they sensed it was not a real situation and so we did have to tempt them with numerous treats although, they were intrigued to know what the asthma aid was. I did experience some light spots which can be seen in the images below so the problematic part for me was getting the dogs to play their part.
Contact Sheets 5.1.
Claire Clark 