- Why are we less trustful of photographs at this point in history?
Due to advanced technology propaganda has been localised throughout the whole world, with extreme fake editing factors such as AI, Photoshop, and also persuaded by the news and mainstream media. As this is new and advanced technology society has not experienced this before, being the first generation to experience the mainstream media technology. the persuasive language of captions supported by fake news leads us to question the truth or not.
Why is this challenging for ( so-called) documentary photographers?
This is challenging for 'documentary photographers' as they base their work on real life and the truth. This can be misleading and could often be misunderstood for fake news/edited photos due to the customary habit that has been adopted into Morden day media. Another factor of this could be false accusations of photographs, it is extremely accessible and facile to alter photographs using primary editing apps just a click away from the App Store, making it easily accessible for anyone or anything to access. As we presented most things such as work online or on social media it is easy to be accessed by anyone and could be easily screenshoted and altered to be something it is not.
Why might the 'Grey Area' between fact and fiction be an interesting space for photographers to explore?
This would be an interesting thing to explore as it would not be the habitual topic of choice for a photographer as there is no 'right and wrong' as the 'Great area' is confirming nor right or wrong, it is simply what you feel is the right fit for the photograph. the grey area allows photographers to explore contemporary aspects of photographs which may not of bee thought of and considered by a traditional photographer. the grey area adopts creativity towards the photo and helps alter it in different ways, this supports the idea of the audience to continue questioning about the photo and help intemperate their own idea on what the photograph may or may not be about.
My version of 'Grey Area'
When taking these photos I prioritised my personal gut on what photographs to take and what way I take them in. I ensured to take some of the photos from aspects people may not see when just walking past. I explored different rooms and places throughout the school and gathered some 'props' to take these photos with. I particularly enjoy the first two photos at the top as yes it is a very still photo, but the small props/main focus of the photon automatically brings personality to the photo. The first photo presents personality and personal life towards the photo, as this is part of my personal friendship group I find it more interesting and personal shoot towards the photos I have captured. I thought it was a good idea to capture the photos and edit some in black and white, I chose to do this as I thought it created more depth for the photo and also brings the primary focus towards the personality of the photo rather than just thinking of it as a plain photograph.
in this photos I have explored the grey area using colour in these photographs. I enjoy these photographs as there is one primary draw in each of the photos and this is the colour. all of these photographs are taken in London/ greenwich and can be insightful onto our surroundings and what we usually might not look at or overlook. as the grey area has 'no rules' I decided to take photos of something that was inspiriting to me but also had attachments of personal connotations. the photos are taken on a day-to-day basis and nothing planned. I enjoy taking these photos more as I know these will be profound to myself. all of the photos above are taken doing things I enjoy. The first two photos shown are from a Chanel exhibition that I went too previously with my grandma. I particularly am fond of the light look to the ceiling and the opaque bottom half, almost as if the photograph is split into two. another one I particularly like is the last photograph of the sky and another photograph taken in greenwich park overlooking canary whalf. we can see in the photograph taken in greenwich park a group of four boys sitting down admiring the view.we can see one specific person of the group stand out more than the others, we can pay attention to the neon green and how eye catching It is.
Jack Latham
Lathams style of photogrpahy is intruiguing like no other, he created two styles of books one called sugar paper theories and parliment of owls. Both books are published and presented physically differently, Latham wanted to create orgional pieces which no photogrpaher has exlpored before, he belives that the implied viewers of his work should have to crate their own sense of imagination in order to understand the full identity of his photogrpahs. for example, in Lathams book Parliment of owls the physicality of the book is like none other, he creates hidden pages and messages for his audience to help accentuate the lexicality of mystery. Parliement of owls is a secret base where no one entierly knows what goes on inside. Latham decided to break this rule and snuck inside the base and documented all he could/take photogrpahs. this is produced wonderfully in his book with hidden pages undercovering secret convocations and even CCTV photographs of what is inside this 'perliment of owls'. Lathams work is like none other with no right or wrong way to view his work.
sugar paper theories.
in this interview with Latham he elaborates on his book 'sugar paper theories' which is a series of photographs based on the infamous Icelandic murders which he started in 2014.what is the primary attraction towards his work is the draw of attention of the mystery that the unsolved murders adopt. 'Sugar paper theories' is Lathams second most famous and successful work leading behind 'parliament of owls.' Sugar paper theories won an academy award 'bar tur photobook award' in 2016. The book has a variety of different cases from the goodman dengue burner case and the project. The book has a variety of different explores such as police archives, case files, conspiracy theory's, and most importantly evidence. His entirety of the books have also been made into personal exhibitions which are open to the public. Latham gets asked during the interview "what's your relationship with the royal photographic society?" Latham has a strong history with photography, being based in Bristol with a window of opportunities latham then went on in 2018 to become a judge at the International photography exhibition. this increased his social status for being a photographer and then became more recognisable in the photography industry.
These are a series of photographs from his book 'sugar paper theories'. At first glance we can see that these are taken in a documentary style way and not in a traditional photographic way. this endures the implied viewer with many questions on what they are viewing as they only have one insight on what the main objective of these photographs are. The style of the book is made in a way that the audience has to look for what they want to see, he achieves this myserious look by adding hidden pages, CCTV footage, transcripts of convocations which took place inside this building. I am extremely fond of this structure and aesthetic of this book/photogrpahs as it is not a regular approach that photographers usually have, the personal style and flare is individual towards the person and
clocks for seeing.
Exhibition visits.
i was extremely happy to attend the exhibition basing off Daido Moriyama and his 60 year span in tokoyo, i particularly enjoy the topic of his influence on tokyo in relation to the americaness he produced. His photographs felt like i was going through his time in tokyo with him and could entierly get a feel of what it would be like to be present while the photogrpahs were being taken.
DAIDO MORIYAMA
"I was not against America, or the war, or against politics. I was against photography." - Daido Moriyama.
what i like about Moriyamas photos are that they are not staged and are taken in real time/life. in his photos we can see the influence Tokyo had with American cultures and influential figures, a specific photo i can see this in is the photograph shown below with Coca-Cola which famously labeled as American, having this is makes it clear to the viewer the influential factors that America had on Tokyo, specifically after the second world war these factors tied in with america became almost entierally influential on Tokyo.
Hiroshi Sugimoto
When looking at Sugimotos photogrpahs it is relatively different opposed to Moriyama, the photographs have a lot of depth and many of them are left unto your own interpretation/imagination which i find more enduring opposed to photos that are enterally elaborative. these photographs have a more 'quite' approach opposed to Moriyama, as his photos can be interpertuated in a more straight forward mannoristic.