The opportunistic approach previously fed into many of the observational streams I used to convey transferable meaning. As my work has developed, I have found this method less prominent within my practice as I found that the meaning needed to be significantly enhanced (fixed) to establish a readable understanding.
I found Street Photography could register single moments that met my initial thoughts, although a a collection and a body of work, I constantly meandered from my original intention and became guilty of making the meaning fit the photograph rather than the other way. When the context of the photography involves the exploration (Le flanour), the element of discovery becomes part of the visual representation, giving value to the encounter of chance. Wim Wenders likened this to a way of making chance happen, by taking the quiet left fork, rather than the obvious right turn towards the busy street.
Chances still occur and remain a tool that should not be discarded. Whilst photographing the symbolism of Financial Times shaped leaves, a rat ran across the frame. Within another context this would have been a chance encounter that fitted the meaning.
Gerard Hilderly Level 3 OCA 