During this project I have decided to choose the theme of "waste" so that I can incorporate my current artwork into this project and the other way around. I'm going to explore photographers and artists that inspire me and give me techniques and different outlooks on the possibilities this theme has to offer.
I'm definitely planning to visit local skips and landfill sites and take photographs aswell as involving technical waste into it aswell to promote the research I have done in my previous art research, and as secondary research I will be investigating photographers that secialise in and around this area.
I've done a lot of research into a place called Agbogbloshie which is home to a famous technical waste dumping ground and is littered with alsorts of filth and waste materials like computers, general waste, wires, household object etc.as a person who doesn't like to waste anything such as materials like newspaper, card, bottles but also even food, makeup etc I can't help but think about how much stuff not only as a society but as humans globally we dump, misuse and waste. I think as a project this would be really effective and I can successfully portray connections between Blackburn's waste and the waste I've witnessed throught the photography. In my research I can include emotive images that show the state of Agbogbloshie and also other areas of the world such as Indonesia, Rio De Janeiro, Southern Mexico and other areas littered with slums and landfill sites to portray how much stuff we waste and maybe even contrast them with images of Blackburn. I believe this will definitely induce an emotional connection with the shocking amounts of waste and the realization that families and young children live in these places in poverty and that we as a society have pushed upon them causing them serious health issues, damage to their environment and polluting the earth in general.
Here are some editorial photographs of Agbogbloshie, Ghana that I found really artistic, inspirational and emotive.
As you can see smoke is the main component in this photograph and engulfs most of the image which I think looks so beautiful and artistic. It almost looks like stormy skies which creates a dark moody atmosphere and brings in the feeling of danger and darkness. The amount of waste in this image is simply upsetting, showing the terrible conditions these people are subjected to by mainstream electrical companies. I like that there isn't anything blurred out and that you can see every detail revealing how cluttered the place is and that he's captured the boy in the middle of a movement makes the whole situation seem more realistic which as an editorial photograph has got it all right.
When I saw this image I immediately knew I had to include it in my research, the raw emotional value in this image is huge and over all a shocking image. The fire adds the element of danger in this photograph and the smoke filling the background with the fire creates a sinister atmosphere. I love that because of the depth of field the background is slightly blurred bringing the boy and the rubble into focus and great detail, but even so the fire in the background brings the whole image together.
I chose this picture because I really like the angle, I think it's really creative, using the computer as a frame filled with colourful wires, as you can see though because of the depth of field the background is more focused that the computer which I like because it's showing you what's really important about the image. Also, because of the smoke the lighting looks really well placed and chosen creating a bright white background to the main subject.
Artist research
I found an photographer named Sophie Gerrard who is an award winning documentary photographer with a fantastic portfolio of photography containing images that reflect her feelings, experiences and morals when it comes to environmental and social issues and I think she's perfect to mention in my research.
LINK TO WEBSITE PORTFOLIO OF E-WASTE-
http://www.sophiegerrard.com/SophieStoriesEwaste1.html
The following images are my favourite of the selection available on her official website.
I absolutely love this photograph and the way it has been tampered with. Usually I don't like the look of negative photographs, but the colours and shapes in this one are artistic and look so unusual. I also like how it is also abstract and has influenced me maybe to try this technique when it comes to my own work.
This image reminds me of something off an 80's movie with it's bright electric blue's and the chaotic shapes against the dark depths of the inner pile of wire, it's very aesthetically pleasing and has artistic value, it doesn't say whether or not she has altered the image in anyway but I'm under the impression she has. I could use that technique with images I take and alter colours and shapes on photoshop or even using filters. Over all I really like this image, it's simple yet really visually effective.
My favourite thing about this image has to be the lighting. I love how the light has reflected off the plates of slate and metal creating a huge contrast as you head towards the bottom of the image which is engulfed with a gloomy darkness and shadows. I also like the angle in which she has chosen to take it, it really highlights she shape of the small plates of metal at the middle and bottom making the image very angular and sharp.
