INTRODUCTION
For this week we were asked to create a rule or a set of rules for ourselves to follow for six days, one piece per day. My rule this week, since I often photograph the same person in different settings (varying situation/location rather than subject), was to limit myself to documenting exclusively the same person in the same space. In this case I photographed my roommate, Ellie, as she is the most recognizable subject in my photos.
PROCESS
After ending my collage with Sally Mann I wanted to further explore subject and setting in photography. Mann photographs the same people in similar locations, but always seems to find new ways to capture them. I wanted to play with this idea in a different way. I wanted to step away from myself as a photographer; I always attempt to manipulate light, situations, and subjects so they appear in a way I like, so for this challenge I set myself a rule where I was limited to location (the light in that location), subject, and portrait style by photographing the same person every day. I wanted to delve more in to a documentary style of photography, allowing life to change around the camera rather than for the camera. I was also inspired by the series of images shown in class of the same car from different angles. I wanted to capture how the same thing (Ellie in my case) can be observed at different times, and how they can seem the same from a far but so different upon closer inspection. I also wanted to use the darkroom for printing, since I had just completed my orientation.
And so, every day I photographed Ellie in the same place in the same way, allowing her to change herself rather than me changing her. I also noted down small things she told me about her day, a way to contextualize each image.
After repeating this process every day I when to the darkroom to develop my images. Since most images where similar in exposure I got a consistent appearance throughout, which further aided in the creation of a series. I made around 2-4 prints of each image while trying to get the tonal range even. I also did not allow myself to manipulate my images as much as I usually due in the darkroom (with filters and such) as a way to keep that documentary idea present. I decided on a size a little smaller than 8.5×11 inches because I knew I would be adding handwritten text, and therefore didn’t want the image to contrast and overpower the text. The smaller size also invites you in to come closer and investigate further, which is what will change that similar from a far in to difference up close. Bellow is one image I managed to sneak in the darkroom:
I found that after I added the text to the printed and cut images the way in which Ellie appeared that day made much more sense. Being able to understand a little about what was happening and how she was feeling made the documenting of her face more understandable and therefore more intimate. I’m happy with the piece.
(Also on the last day bonus picture 7 is of Ellie as a clown. She was doing a piece for her studio, I thought it would be funny to document and share.)
CRITIQUE
The critique was quite successful, with both constructive and positive comments. It was agreed that the portraits are stylistic and well presented, and Ellie’s expression is vibrant even thought they are black and white. People also said that the images felt vulnerable and sentimental, which made me happy that intimate feeling came across. They also said them being in the same frame makes people focus more on the tiny differences between each day, which is again something I hoped would come across. However, some people thought the engagement of the text with the images was not effective and a little disconnected, and it was suggested I might try to write not he image next time. Overall, I’m happy with the response and concept development. I’m satisfied with he final piece, however I have to admit I’m a little bored by it…I want to challenge myself further in the future.
