Photography seeps into every part of our lives from social media and advertising to galleries and cinematic productions. This week led me to consider additional mediums that could be utilized to support my own photographic practice.
I am passionate about environmental photography, which has led me to consider the use of immersive techniques that could help to re-establish our connection with nature which has undoubtedly been lost over time. Binaural audio recordings could be utilized alongside my photographic work to further capture the moment and engage the viewer.
Tactile mediums such as botanical castings could be displayed alongside photographs, encouraging the viewer to physically touch the exhibit. I feel that creating a more sensory experience - beyond the visual, could prove to be a valuable tool in facilitating a deeper connection with my images of the natural world.
The first five weeks of my MA have seen me absorbed in copious amounts of theoretical reading on photography and practitioners which has been a valuable use of time, opening my eyes to a completely new way of consuming photography. However, the practice of actually taking photographs seems to have taken a back seat.
My initial images – taken in the winter months - have forced me to look closer as ‘on the surface’ nature lays dormant, however, the use of macro photography to discover worlds beneath worlds served to highlight the complexities of our natural world, how we are interlinked and dependent on nature for survival. I feel this unexpectant tangent from my usual documentary style photography could provide an important layer to my project going forward and the use of macro photography is something I’d like to return to during the changing seasons.
Our guest lecturer this week was Savannah Dodd, founder of the photography ethics centre which encourages photographers to commit to writing and publishing a statement of ethics.
She discussed how culture and environment can all contribute to how we view ethical practice. The photography ethics centre aims to encourage transparency and accountability within photographic practice, which I understand to be a useful tool within my own practice. I plan to add my own ‘Statement of Ethics' to my business website in due course.
Comments