Introduction to Digital Imaging - Research

An Introduction to Digital Imaging - Research

An image from a book:

'Salford' (2000) Shirley Baker

This image is from a book called Streets & Spaces, Urban Photography by Shirley Baker.
Part of a series of photographs taken on the streets and spaces of Manchester and Salford, that were commissioned by The Lowry to revisit the areas Baker already knew and had photographed during the 1960s and 70s. It is a fascinating photo book that documents the social and environmental changes that have taken place between that era and the year of the millennium.

Taken in Salford in what looks like a neglected council estate, this image tells us so many things:

• It portrays the children of that year and what they are wearing. They have recogniseable brand labels on, despite the poor surroundings
• The boys glasses look like NHS standard issue - a sign of the social financial state along with the neglected environment
• The same boy has a metal rod of some description, surely this should still be a toy at this age
• The other boys appear to be enjoying causing discomfort to this boy, I wonder if they are his friends or enemies
• So much litter and boarded up windows, no pride in the neighbourhood
• A boy to the left in the image is smiling and waving coyly, he is set aside from the others, this gives him the appearance of a gentler nature
• Some of the boys stand behind one another in a line, perhaps not wanting to be photographed
• Not a place I would want to walk through on my own

An image from The Tate Gallery:

'Providence, Rhode Island', (1976) Francesca Woodman

One of the many self-portraits American photographer Woodman took during her all too short life, it is one of the few that features her face fully. Her images are shot on mainly on medium format film, giving them detail but retaining a slightly soft accessible quality. Woodman sadly took her own life at the age of 22, which, leaves the viewer to wonder if they are seeing into her troubled mind.

Taken on Rhode Island in 1976, it is a haunting image that is part of a very tragic and sad story:

• Why does she want us to see her naked? Perhaps an exploration of her sexuality and femininity
• She looks vulnerable and defensive by the positioning of her arms and feet
• A small image in a large room, does she feel small?
• The dark negative of a body on the floor looks like a shadow or ghost, it is actually an impression of herself
• I wonder if the shoes are significant, are they to simply protect her feet or is it a message that she is not fully exposing herself
• The surrounding environment is bleak and uninhabited, a stark contrast to her naked form
• This leaves me with a feeling of isolation and sadness, this may be just how she felt, projected outwards in her photography

An image from a website:

'Qubar', (2007) Yuri Kozyrev

Found on 'Lensculture' website, this image has been taken by Yuri Kozyrev, a Russian photojournalist who is a contract photographer for Time. For the last 25 years, he has captured nearly every major conflict since the fall of the Soviet Union. This image is also part of a series that tells a very troubled tale of war.

Taken in Qubar in 2007, it features a US soldier numbering the necks of men and hands of women in that particular area:

• An unhappy situation in a war torn country
• Every family face I see, looks anxious and worried
• Even the children are affected and one looks as if to see what is being written
• I wonder if the family fully understand what is taking place, their worry is concerning
• They look huddled together for protection
• The soldier looks expressionless, just carrying out orders
• A lot of ammunition can be seen behind, geared up for conflict
• There is no resistance from the family suggesting compliance most likely due to the military presence

Bibliography

Baker, S (2000). Streets and Spaces - Urban Photography. Manchester: Lowry Press. p.10.

Kamber, M. (2014). Photojournalists on War . Available: https://www.lensculture.com/articles/michael-kamber-photojournalists-on-war?utm_source=General+List&utm_campaign=f89ebef0a1-Newsletter+Vol+19.14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f1724e682d-f89ebef0a1-88770. Last accessed 14th May 2014.

Noor. (2014). Photographers - Yuri Kozyrev. Available: http://noorimages.com/photographer/kozyrev/. Last accessed 14th May 2014.

O'Hagan, S. (2010). Francesca Woodman – Review. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/nov/21/francesca-woodman-photographs-miro-review. Last accessed 14th May 2014.

Pictures of the Year International. (2011). Photographer of the Year - Freelance/Agency. Available: http://www.poyi.org/69/41/index.php. Last accessed 14th May 2014.

Tate. (2014). Artist Rooms artist essay. Available: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/francesca-woodman-10512. Last accessed 14th May 2014.