Last Saturday was another great day for me and the Streetlighters. I pulled myself out of bed after a late night at the pub, dressed in some nice clothing to be presentable to the general public. The Caravan Gallery travels the country taking pictures of people and cities as they are.
The Streetlighter's work was the first to be exhibited in the caravan not belonging to Jan or her partner. The set up was simple, with our names and a quotation penciled in beside the pictures. My quotation was 'I've never seen that before, but I see it in a completely new way'. A classic Lyndaism.
I was on a real high all day, giving ukulele performances to the delight of Isaac (and not so much delight to one of the course leaders). Total strangers and friends of the Streetlighters all visited and made comments on the work, sometimes leaving comments in the comments book. I had a really encouraging comment from a professional artist that I should keep exploring some of the themes my work touched upon, that the perspectives of the photographs completely transformed the space you are looking at. The light reflecting off street signs was another theme she thought I could follow. She hoped I would keep going, investing my dole money in disposables.
I never thought I would get a reaction like that, I was very flattered. The most commented on of my pictures was the reflection of trees in the puddle on Frensham Road. I toyed with the idea of doing a project just devoted to reflections on water. An idea for the future, perhaps.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Last Streetlight
The excitement leading up to the exhibit at the Food Festival has distracted me from the duty that is keeping up the streetlight blog. The last few sessions have really been focusing down on what we want people to see. I'll admit today's Streetlight was tough. We took our pictures down to Southsea Common to make our final selection for this Friday's exhibit. Daniel put me through my paces teaching me the differences between detail shots and abstractions. I had to dismantle my great 'shape' construction, because there was no meaning to it, and did not interest him visually (he can be a hard task master).
I gave over to advise, and trusted that the course leaders knew what they were talking about in the hope I will pick up a bit of that 'skill' of knowing what to look for in photographs. I odn't know if I ended up with something I was proud of, but I did learn something.
Finally we returned to Friendship House and chatted about the end of the course and what we might do next. It is sad to come to the end of the eight weeks, and I feel I've come a long way in not only my understanding of photography (of which I knew nothing) but of myself (which I migiht have known something about). I feel a lot better about myself for having created something and having that creation displayed, even if it is not outstanding at the moment. My first tentitive steps into a new chapter of my life.
I gave over to advise, and trusted that the course leaders knew what they were talking about in the hope I will pick up a bit of that 'skill' of knowing what to look for in photographs. I odn't know if I ended up with something I was proud of, but I did learn something.
Finally we returned to Friendship House and chatted about the end of the course and what we might do next. It is sad to come to the end of the eight weeks, and I feel I've come a long way in not only my understanding of photography (of which I knew nothing) but of myself (which I migiht have known something about). I feel a lot better about myself for having created something and having that creation displayed, even if it is not outstanding at the moment. My first tentitive steps into a new chapter of my life.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
The Philosphy of a Camera
Tonight's Streetlight turned out to be very reflective and inspirational. We've been taking these pictures for a few weeks now, and I admit to not being sold on my own outcomes, to envying the work of others.
Steve and Jan, our light in this darkness, encouraged us to take our pictures from last week, and start to put together a theme. To explain why we were taking the pictures we were taking. I will admit to finding an explanation hard, with the undeniable urge to retake all my pictures and make them about something.
The cruelest thing Steve and Jan asked us to do, was to take away all of the pictures apart from three. These pictures had to represent 'our work', work that we would be proud of and have confidence in. Again I found this tough, wanting to curse Steve and Jan, but by the end of the evening I appreciated the point of the exercise.
After picking three photographs we had to write about our theme, why we had taken these pictures. The introduction of the written word the mass of random photos on the indisctint theme of journey's strange thoughts on the philosophy of what I'd been doing, perhaps even insight into the psychological/subconscious influences on my choice of theme.
Steve and Jan, our light in this darkness, encouraged us to take our pictures from last week, and start to put together a theme. To explain why we were taking the pictures we were taking. I will admit to finding an explanation hard, with the undeniable urge to retake all my pictures and make them about something.
The cruelest thing Steve and Jan asked us to do, was to take away all of the pictures apart from three. These pictures had to represent 'our work', work that we would be proud of and have confidence in. Again I found this tough, wanting to curse Steve and Jan, but by the end of the evening I appreciated the point of the exercise.
After picking three photographs we had to write about our theme, why we had taken these pictures. The introduction of the written word the mass of random photos on the indisctint theme of journey's strange thoughts on the philosophy of what I'd been doing, perhaps even insight into the psychological/subconscious influences on my choice of theme.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Southsea Castle from the Sea - Joiner
Southsea Castle from the Sea - Joiner
Originally uploaded by DanielONeill
This was my awesome first creation.
Empty
Empty is the gallery,
paintings and strange forms,
photographs speechless in the darkness,
my stomach tied in a knot.
Paintings and strange forms,
I am distracted by a sound,
my stomach tied in a knot,
breathing tense and short.
I am distracted by a sound,
there is a distant laughing,
breathing tense and short,
shadow moves across the window.
There is a distant laughing,
photographs speechless in the darkness,
shadow moves across the window,
empty is the gallery.
paintings and strange forms,
photographs speechless in the darkness,
my stomach tied in a knot.
Paintings and strange forms,
I am distracted by a sound,
my stomach tied in a knot,
breathing tense and short.
I am distracted by a sound,
there is a distant laughing,
breathing tense and short,
shadow moves across the window.
There is a distant laughing,
photographs speechless in the darkness,
shadow moves across the window,
empty is the gallery.
Turning the Camera on Yourself
This week's experience of Streetlight Photography was characterised by the random climbing of monuments and sea front furniture. A strange practice but all in aid of providing us with interesting pictures of ourselves for the future catalogue of our work that will be published with the exhibition. Nerve racking stuff that it is only a few weeks away. Over enthusiastic climbing lead to an incident with bird droppings and black jeans I would care to forget.
Lydia made an interesting point, that photographer's rarely take pictures of themselves, as she shyly tried to back away from my photographic advances (no innuendo there).
Returning to base camp, we shared the pictures from last week, and attempted to place them into a series. This time it was my pictures and which turned out very random and spontaneous. My bike journey was all that we really could pull out of the mixture of pictures of Gunwhalf and the Museum. Other sets included a great photo series on the journey to Streetlight and some one's house party (only one person wasn't drunk) and Lydia produced some excellently well composed photographs which were the envy of the group.
The evening ended a little abruptly with the 'experts' running out of things to talk about towards the end. When asked about what I might pursue next in order to produce the sort after photographic series, I would say I drew a blank. I never realised how little I knew about Portsmouth, or even about photography. There is a lot more to it that just pointing a camera, and I am hoping that I will be up to speed by next week, when we all receive our final cameras.
Fingers crossed!!!
Lydia made an interesting point, that photographer's rarely take pictures of themselves, as she shyly tried to back away from my photographic advances (no innuendo there).
Returning to base camp, we shared the pictures from last week, and attempted to place them into a series. This time it was my pictures and which turned out very random and spontaneous. My bike journey was all that we really could pull out of the mixture of pictures of Gunwhalf and the Museum. Other sets included a great photo series on the journey to Streetlight and some one's house party (only one person wasn't drunk) and Lydia produced some excellently well composed photographs which were the envy of the group.
The evening ended a little abruptly with the 'experts' running out of things to talk about towards the end. When asked about what I might pursue next in order to produce the sort after photographic series, I would say I drew a blank. I never realised how little I knew about Portsmouth, or even about photography. There is a lot more to it that just pointing a camera, and I am hoping that I will be up to speed by next week, when we all receive our final cameras.
Fingers crossed!!!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Addicted to Silence.
I have returned from my night wondering with a bag of chips. A reward for finally completing my homework. I love cycling in the dark by the sea front, almost silent, apart form the french men drinking beer. I took pictures of the moonlight on the sea and the street lamps. Light became the most obvious theme to trace against the black sea and the candy floss lights.
I had a go at taking a picture of my shadow, but then. like a fool I realised the flash would get in the way. I balanced along, trying not to fall off. Photography and cycling are perhaps not ideal bed fellows. I will have to wait and see for the 'development' next week.
I didn't really want to leave the silence and the calm breathing of the sea. I felt whole being creative in the darkness. Tomorrow I will get to see the fruit of my labours from the week before and the first cycling trip. I haven't really brought together a main theme, but I don't think I have been loosening my creative belt enough. I will have to go out and just feel my way until consistency arises or chaos takes all.
I had a go at taking a picture of my shadow, but then. like a fool I realised the flash would get in the way. I balanced along, trying not to fall off. Photography and cycling are perhaps not ideal bed fellows. I will have to wait and see for the 'development' next week.
I didn't really want to leave the silence and the calm breathing of the sea. I felt whole being creative in the darkness. Tomorrow I will get to see the fruit of my labours from the week before and the first cycling trip. I haven't really brought together a main theme, but I don't think I have been loosening my creative belt enough. I will have to go out and just feel my way until consistency arises or chaos takes all.
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