BA (Hons) Photographic Arts
MAJOR PROJECT PROPOSAL
This should be a clear, focussed and coherent proposal for the major project that you intend to produce in Semester 2 and should give the reader a clear sense of what the project will involve when read alongside the pilot project.
Please extend boxes as required (500-1000wds)
Name
Rose Patterson
Project Title (or working title)
Abstract Journey
Subject / Concept
As I want to combine my interests of photography and travel my project is about finding new ways to document my journeys. This could be a short distance journey, maybe from my house to work either by foot or on the underground, or it could be a series of images taken when travelling abroad. I don’t want the images to be literal photographs of my journey, I want to create abstract images by looking at textures/surfaces, interesting colours/shapes and thinking about different ways of framing a subject. I will also experiment with taking extreme close-ups and taking photographs from a distance. I will compare and contrast photographs of nature and photographs of manmade objects. All images will be shot on location and in available light.
I have been inspired by Art Wolfe’s abstract images of rocks, glaciers, lakes and water reflections and John Garghan’s abstract photos of burnt out cars. I like how both photographers create images that look as if they could be paintings and it is not always clear what the subject is, forcing the viewer to read the accompanying description which can often be quite surprising.
Aims
I plan on creating a series of 6-10 images. Initially, I will experiment with taking photos during my every day journeys of natural and manmade subjects. I will have to try-out different lenses to create different effects and try taking photos from different angles to distort the image. I will use these images to help me decide whether or not I should choose between nature or manufactured or if I can combine the two in my final series of images. I hope to make this decision by the beginning of January so I can be more focused in the second semester. I will then progress onto photographing longer journeys, including to my home town in Yorkshire and possibly abroad depending on whether I think it is necessary or if it will enhance the final images.
During my own experimentation I will also keep a record of my research into photographers and artists that inspire me and that relate to this project.
Context / Audience
This project is intended to be printed and shown in an art gallery. I think the images will appeal to anyone interested in abstract art/photography, fine art and fine art photography. I would like my audience to have the same interest that I did when I first looked at the work of Wolfe and Garghan; hopefully they will be curious about the subject of each image and how it was created.
Proposed form, medium, presentation
I won’t make a decision on the final presentation until I have progressed with my experimentation but it is likely that the images will all be the same size and will be printed to either 40”x30” or 40”x40” depending on how I want to crop my final photographs. I will make decisions on whether they have a matte or gloss finish once I have finished shooting for this project and they will probably not be framed.
The photographs will be displayed in one room of a gallery so it is easy to see how the images compliment each other. I will also have a description of each image either next to each image or at the entrance of the room.
