Research

Much of the preliminary research revolves around the subject of present day inequality and the effects this has on society. Photographing the levels of poverty and hardship currently being experienced across the UK requires further understanding and exposure to the human reality as well as previous work by social documentary photographers who display a connection with their subjects along with an ability to provide both empathy and meaning.

In previous courses I have viewed the work of Jacob Riis and Bill Brandt with varying degrees of appreciation. Understanding the situations they set up is quite difficult given the social divide of the era. I assume it would have been difficult to gain levels of realistic expression. The air of wariness always appears to be written on the faces of the individuals which could be seen as potential mistrust. The work of John Ranard in the 1970’s provides significant levels of presence and intimacy that draw the viewer in which I find less imposing. Gaining a connection or presence and meaning provided a basis of my research. John Berger’s Another way of telling provided some definite changes in my thought processes as I considered the viewers direction of understanding and translation upon viewing a photograph.