I had found assignment 8 particularly difficult because I felt no particular attachment to the images offered. It was by chance that I decided on the Carrie Mai Weems image as it seemed at least to hold a human story I could work with.
The many nuanced interpretations I found in my research reminded me again that people viewing photographs have life experiences and knowledge that enables them to make sense of and appreciate the photographs, maybe beyond the photographer’s initial aims.
Exploring the work and related images of the kitchen series I found that there was a lot to think about and reflect on. Many of the interpretations that I stumbled across in my reading were novel to me, my thoughts were more domestic and part of my personal experience.
I think that because of this my tutor asked me again if I had looked at Lost and found in America, a book that he had suggested in my assignment 4 feedback.. I had already obtained a copy of the book and my review can be found here.
Another photographer I was guided towards looking at was Todd Hido. I liked his projects which focused on the ubiquitous sights we take for granted but he has isolated for our gaze. For example his ‘homes at night’, the lights in windows that we will all see as we walk round our community, but his photographs have well placed shadows creating shapes, geometrical features and objects in various lighting situations. By isolating a subject or view he makes the point that photography, like all art, challenges us to really ‘see’ the world around us. His photographs of interiors is interesting and so unlike the formal fine art portraits and landscapes of conventional photography. His ‘Found’ images are much like those in ‘Lost and Found in America’, they almost demand that you attempt to make sense of them by creating a scenario with a reason for having been created.
This one made me realise how ephemeral our notes to ourselves are. I photograph my Mum’s shopping list to ensure that I don’t loose the bits of notepaper they are written on. Will someone in 70 years time look through my archive and find her list with her particular requirements for Cushell toilet roll -NO OTHER!
I’m finding that many photobooks are just too expensive now to consider purchasing – my local library doesn’t have them. At £161 for a second hand copy of ‘Intimate Distances’, thank goodness for Photo Book Guy on YouTube! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07YRKx6Y-lM)
I was also reminded to consult some of the theoretical works on the reading list which I of course immediately did! See my notes on Salkeld’s Chapter 2 ‘Reading the Signs’ in his book ‘Reading Photographs’. here.
