ideas and inspirations

I have included this work to draw upon the similarities to the work of Phillip Lorca Di Corcia, as well as introduce other ideas i have for the city brief.

I have many varied ideas so far, one i have already made a start on (Billingham inspired Blackley) the images have been posted on this blog.

The other as mentioned earlier in response to Paul Graham's work in Ireland - the idea of presenting divides and controls in the city through photographs.

Other ideas which i think i can logically draw upon in relation to works of Beat Streuli, Phillip Lorca Di Corcia, Cindy Sherman, Clair Strand and even Richard Renaldi.

When thinking of the above mentioned photographer as a reference for my inspiration i am speaking of a middle cross over ground (they all photograph people of the city)

I have looked extensively at the work of all of them and feel that each and every one contributes to relevant aspects of my proposed responses to the brief;

Bus portraits - to open questions about class - shopping bags they have will speak of money the posses. where are they going? or coming from? what music are they listening to? and so on. i think the way people arrange themselves on a bus is interesting and i constantly observe these behaviours when i am travelling via bus. why do people chose to sit in that specific seat. I found it interesting when i was working full time and got the same 6am bus every morning, as did other passengers, it was almost like you formed an impersonal relationship with fellow commuters, i saw them every morning yet never spoke to them or knew a thing about them, yet at the same time there is this illusion that you know that person - it's like the familiarity of recognising someone's face.

People at work - i think careers speak alot about social status and personality, uniforms are designed to remove personal identity at work, all employees look the same and represent the company for which they work - as well at this, peoples roles at work say a lot about social status and the hierarchy, whereby it commonly assumed that some jobs are more credible than others.
When reading this months issue of creative review i became aware of a photographic project commissioned by local councils.

“As the uk high street fights for survival, local councils are turning to artists and designers to help bring vital reinvestment, (writes James Pallister)
Creative review- the photography annual issue November 2011 (page 64)

John Londei Photography -

i have included an image of the book cover which details the title of the series. (http://www.johnlondei.co.uk/gallery.php?action=display&index=29&value=Bookcover1.jpg&gallery=Shops)

i think these images are really interesting, the placement of the objects in the shops differs to that of the modern day chain or franchise, often these shops feeling quite clinical and organised.

In addition - another idea i have is to depict night life and leisure in the city. but the nitty gritty side of it. people puking on a night out, urinating in alleyway, fighting and general behaviour that in any other circumstance would be immensely unacceptable.

Finally - inspired by the idea of memories, growth and change - i read in the book Susan Sontag On Photography (which i have only began reading this week)

"To collect photographs is to collect the world. Movies and television programmes light up walls, flicker, and go out; but with still photographs the image is also an object, light-weight, cheap to produce, easy to carry about, accumulate, store."

she then goes on to discuss memories and the idea that photographs are precious visual aids in remembering details of our past.
When reading through the paragraph i thought about the work of Seregy Larenkov, and my mums numerous photo albums doccumenting my life as i grew from a baby.
The Records of the places she took me, birthdays and other events.
Then i thought about the possobilities of presenting the change of manchester in relation to my memories of the place as a child.
I thought about the presentation we were given by Angela Kelly, and her childhood pictures.
I thought about how i could arrange and display the images, the image of now, taken by me - the image of the place as it was, from a book, and the image that links my childhood to that location, from my mums albums.

For example, some years ago now the Dutch Pancake house in Manchester was closed down, as was the cinema situated just next door to it.
Frequently as a child my mum would take me for a pancake and then to see a movie at the cinema, i have pictures which aid this memory, although this is just one example that is vivid in my mind. I think it could be really interesting and nostalgic to work on this idea.


I plan on starting each body of work so that I can present these ideas at out feedback sessions to see which receive the best responses from my peers.