This is the first edit of my ‘Carnival’ series, drawn from 3 shoots. Shoot 1 / Shoot 2 / Shoot 3
Reflections on webinar feedback
People have really responded well to the portraits that I have been shooting. I too, think that these are the strongest of the series and feel that I want to expand on this for future shoots. Considering ‘Interdisciplinary Practice’ from week 2, I want to start collecting more stories and quotes from the subjects to really get a sense of who they are beyond the person in a costume. A couple of times now, I have discussed through critique and tutorial, the importance of getting past the outward ‘performance.’ It is important to continue photographing subjects either before, or after the event.
Paul suggested in the forum that I look at the work of Margaret Mitchell which I have not seen before. After reading the synopsis of the project ‘In This Place’† I am keen to also show “family and home, connections and place.” What I like about Margaret’s work is there is a real sense of the environments, even when the image is predominantly of a person (Fig. 1). Initially, my intention was to create portraits and edit the work together with the environments and detail shots forming diptychs of the work. However, a more focused approach of environmental elements showing in the portraits is something I am keen to expand.
Next Shoot
I am planning another shoot at the Salisbury Carnival on 25/10. I won’t be able to get to the location until after dark, so was originally planning to capture more of the abstract images captured during shoot 2 (Fig. 2). However, after considering the forum comments and the work of Margaret Mitchell, I will aim to shoot some night portraits (Fig. 3) that blend the abstract images into the background, or more of an ambient approach to combining the two approaches (Fig. 4). This is with the aim of including a sense of the carnival and the spectacle of the light show, together with portraiture. These examples are purely technical explorations at this stage with the hope that it will start to support and develop the contextual, narrative elements of this project in the future. Although, I could see the images taking on a similar aesthetic to Laura El Tantawy’s ‘In the Shadow of the Pyramids’‡ series (Fig. 5).
- *Mitchell, M. (2019). In This Place — Margaret Mitchell. [online] Margaret Mitchell. Available at: https://margaretmitchell.co.uk/in-this-place [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
- †Mitchell, M. (2019). In This Place — Margaret Mitchell. [online] Margaret Mitchell. Available at: https://margaretmitchell.co.uk/in-this-place [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
- ‡El Tantawy, L. (2019). In the Shadow of the Pyramids. [online] Lauraeltantawy.com. Available at: http://www.lauraeltantawy.com/in-the-shadow-of-the-pyramids/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
- §Djudjic, D. (2019). Here’s how to take awesome night portraits with off camera flash. [online] DIY Photography. Available at: https://www.diyphotography.net/heres-take-awesome-night-portraits-off-camera-flash/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
- ¶El Tantawy, L. (2019). In the Shadow of the Pyramids. [online] Lauraeltantawy.com. Available at: http://www.lauraeltantawy.com/in-the-shadow-of-the-pyramids/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
- #Deimeke, G. (2019). Blog – gaby deimeke photography – Daniel in Times Square. [online] gaby deimeke photography. Available at: https://www.gabydeimekephoto.com/blog/daniel-in-times-square [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].