Finals + Concluding Concept

My final photographic proposition was concerned with placing the viewer in one space and allowing them to capture a glimpse of what was beyond, without ever giving many clues about either space away.

Through the course of my explorations I experimented with putting people in the space, out of the space, having much detail in the foreground, effects of light and dark areas, among other techniques, to achieve this sense of capturing a snapshot of space but clearly highlighting there is life beyond the immediate which the viewer is not able to fully witness.

Instead, they are left to observe the closed, immediate scene before them and fill in the rest with their imaginations.

Artist Precedents: Assorted.

 This photo is great to look at in pushing forward with my concept in these final stages. The focus here is what is beyond the space the viewer is in, making this area the area of mystery and what is beyond is more detailed. Having said that however, the viewer is distanced from this action and are only giving a tiny snapshot of it.

This photo I like as it allows for snapshots of both spaces, yet  not full details of either. 

Another Shoot.

Photos that capture my concept...

I Spy...

The next step in my photographic explorations to take my concept a step further was to take a look at the idea of 'spying' on someone. In looking from one space to another I found it felt the viewer was snooping about the space, sneaking a peek at what was beyond; this is an aspect I wanted to take a closer look at, using odd angles and spying through small cracks.

I didn't find this particularly successful, however still found it an interesting thing to touch on in the exploration of my concept.

People in space

From my secondary exploration of ideas I became intrigued as to what would happen if I put actual people within a space. I allowed for a longer exposure so the people weren't the focal point of the space, more passing through it - this pushed my concept further of there being something 'beyond' the picture, that there was more going on beyond the immediate space than first met the eye.
However I found this gave quite a uneasy finish, almost as though the viewer was intruding.

Artist Precedent: Henri Cartier Bresson

Artist Precedent: Robert Frank.

 This photo is the ultimate in offering tantilizing hints at a 'something' beyond what we can see, showing life continues beyond what we can see, however the just can not witness it ourselves. 

I like the slightly odd angle of this shot. It is not perfectly squared up or frames, yet works so well. I also like the looking in the windows and making out most of the people beyond, however they are still in shadow/covered, and not fully revealed. 

Obscure angle, and interest in both the interior of the car and where it has been/context. 

Artist Precedent: William Eggleston.

Eggleston has a great skill at capturing a snapshot of a moment in time, just as it is, without fancy angles or frills. These two photographs I think are great to consider in my investigations. 

Object extending into foreground, door open in the background and the room extends back towards the right also. 

I like the fact that the back windows behind this man are blocked, and can't really be seen through. 

Exploration of 'Absence of Human Presence'

One topic that emerged from my initial photo shoot was that of the absence of human life. I was interested in capturing a snapshot in time, when a person has clearly been there however we have just missed them. I wanted to explore the effect this has on the space, and what feel this gave to the space in the photo - did the viewer feel they had just missed something? Did the space feel rejected, or still inhabited?

Artist Precedent: Edward Hopper.

Edward Hopper has some very interesting compositional aspects which I would be interested in exploring within my photography. 

The pillar on the left hand side frames the scene, suggesting the viewer is standing in a different space and observing in on a different one. There is a scene of 'watching and observing' without really being part of the action. 

Again, the concept of being present in  one area and capturing a glimpse of something beyond, inspiring curiosity. This scene allows for a peek at two spaces beyond. 

Looking in on something unfolding within in space however there is a definite sense of being absent from it; should we really be witnessing this? 

Again, objects framing in the foreground highlighting the space the observer is 'standing' in is not all being displayed, and tantilizing hints and what's beyond in the background through the windows. 

Initial Photo Shoot 8/3/11

My proposition for ‘Space’ is preoccupied with the concept of being present in one space, yet capturing a hint of another space beyond it. In exploring this idea I hope to capture the impression that there is more to the scene than one first notices, that there is a greater story the area can tell the viewer than one room or corner. 

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