Martin Parr ( British Food 1995)

I like this work by Martin Parr as it concentrates mainly on certain objects. He also seems to involve people but on a very small level for example taking pictures of just hands or arms. This is something which i would like to use within my own work. I would like to capture a photograph which the meaning is clear without having to capture the whole of the objects or people used, for example my grandmother holding a cup of tea, or a dinner plate. Something which not only shows the differences between the households but also brings into view a sense of personality due to the objects in shot. 

 I would also love to take photographs of the food in both houses as i feel this would be really interesting  to see the differences between old and young tastes.

I need to do this in natural light, i don't get the desired effect with artificial, it removes shadow and shape to the photos. 

Would like to work with certain areas for example, hands, feet, shoes. Something which gives the sense of a person without actually showing them

Christophe Agou

     

I came across Christhophe Agou while reaching into photographers who work closely with different types of portraiture photography. His work is very different to that of original portrait photographers as he seems to produce unusual pieces. His work lacks in clear public communication relying on the 'perfect moment' or un planned scenario. The photos above titled 'face au silence' (In the face of silence)'  is a series of photographs taken of an old couple living on a farm in the France countryside.  The main purpose of the photographs are to so the couples life, how they live and daily occurrences. I like the style of the photographs i feel that they are quite similar to that of Germains 60 seconds piece  I also like the way in which the photographs are separated into different types for example, close up shots mixed with snapshots and landscape which when placed altogether really work as a combination giving you the viewer an easier understanding of what the photographer wanted to capture.

I like the use of people in this piece, i feel that Agou has not just taken simple portraiture but has used the people as props in relation to the situation or area used within each shot, exploiting them in moments of weakness and unknowing. Which i feel has created a purer and more realistic piece of work. Something which i would like to do this within my own work.

A main problem which i found when taking these photographs was lighting. I found that depending upon the weather, area and time of day in which i was photographing in it had a profound effect on the final image. I especially found this difficult in well lit areas as shadow was something which i wanted to capture as i felt that it gave more shape to the objects and areas which i was working on. I also found that the positioning of the camera was a difficulty as a lot of the decor for example beds were close to walls making it almost impossible for me to get the desired overhead view i wanted. This means that i will have to change my approach to my photographs for example angles and distances, which will then have to be replicated in my grandmothers house.

 Ive also been exploring with portrait and lanscape shots depending in what is included within the photograph. See here for example i wanted to include the door and less of the floor and table, i wanted the viewer to understand where they are within the house, yet i do feel that the landscape image also reflects this as by replacing the door by the doormat the viewer can still get an image of where the photo was taken without being so direct.  Im not sure which of these photos i like best as i like them both equally but in different ways. 

 

I like the middle shot within these photographs i wanted the viewer to get a good context of where the shots were taken as well as including close up shots of the decor and objects within the room. For example id like my work to have a certain themes to the layout of frames seen here, close up shot, followed by full room shot the ending with a close up shot again. It creates a virtual insight for the viewer along with creating balance between the shots and allowing the viewer to become aware with what they are looking at. I would continue this theme when shooting in the other house i will be using, as i think it creates a better way of viewing what i want to show. I would like to include people within the shots also either full room shots or singular as  i think it will add to the photos meaning. The inclusion of people i feel may bring some personality into the photographs such as seen within Germains 'Generations' piece improving upon the meaning behind the photographs allowing the viewer to almost gain a full insight into the homes and the people within them. Hopefully resulting in my goal of showing the similarities and differences which can be ween between generations and their households.      ( Almost as though the presence of the household is seen within the photos, the dents in the chairs, the misshapen cushions,and unaccompanied clothing creates a sense of a 'just left'  atmosphere, still warm from the presence of the household within its walls. )