My Proposal - Final Integrated Assignment

As part of the briefing process all students have been asked to provided a written proposal for their F.I.A.


This is mine:

Neil Derrett Final Integrated Assignment Proposal

3^rd Year BA Hons Photographic Media

Assignment No 4

Introduction

For this assignment I wish to continue the experimentation of alternative processes more specifically Gum Bichromate. I wish to leave at the end of the 3^rd year with a core selection of alternative process that I can competently produce imagery in. Aligned with this is the continual development of the artistic nature of my personal practice examining the meaning behind the image?

 Why Gum? One of my discoveries from writing the dissertation was the work of the Pictorialists and the difference to the Group F64. This group of photographer’s sought to differentiate themselves from other photographers of the time, seeking a more artistic look to their work. There main focus was on the aesthetics of the image the emotion it created and were less interested in the actual subject or scene. The main art movement of the time was Impressionism, which had a huge impact on the style and influence of the Pictorialists. They employed certain techniques such as soft focus and printing in Gum Bichromate to achieve this impressionism look. The most notable photographers of this movement were Alfred Stieglitz, Henry Peach Robinson and Edward Steichen, although there are many more. I intend to research further the work of these photographers.

Main Theme

The starting point for this assignment is to research the Gum Bichromate process. Christopher James book ‘The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes' will be the initial place to obtain a general overview of the skills required and the equipment needed to be successful in this process. Also with any alternative process there will be research into where to find the slightly dangerous chemicals and any health and safety issues that requires consideration. With Gum the only way to obtain a print is via contact printing. As this assignment is for both the London Exhibition and End of Year Exhibition the prints need be of a certain size to provide impact. Further research into the process has identified that an acceptable method of contact printing can be obtained by producing a digital negative via Photoshop and an ink jet printer. Further research into this area will be sought.

As there is a requirement in the brief to follow the themes already produced in the Professional Practice and Studies assignments, I have a choice here, follow the still life subject matter that I have predominantly taken so far this year or expand my portfolio. Either way, one the things I have been asked to work on is the importance of meaning behind the concept. I have several ideas: some have stronger concept meanings than others. These concepts require further discussions with lecturing staff before commencement of project. Ideas briefly outlined on the next page.

a.    Exploring the strangeness of superstitions. This project will look at and visualise the strange items that humans keep or fear because of folklore or old wives tales.

b.    The beauty in art. Ever since attending art school I have always been fascinated by the life drawing class. I was never really any good at it and could always appreciate the difficulties recording the geometry of the human body. The very reason it’s difficult is the reason why it is taught at so many art establishments and why so many of the famous artist of yester year have drawings and painting on this subject. This subject matter is not only difficult for the artist but the photographer as well; hence why you find so many nude images in the collections of famous photographers. As the Gum process provides a very impressionist style I will seek out the work of the leading artists of this movement, which will provide an indication of what can be achieved.

The other consideration is the capture method. To help with the aesthetic feel of this project I intend to experiment with Harman Direct Positive Paper. This paper provides dreamy style negatives that will help with the Gum process.

Bibliography

Mike Ware/2010/ Making Digital Negatives with an ink-jet printer/Siderotype/uknown

Christopher James/2008/The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes/Delmar/Albany NY

Sarah Van Keuren/2010/A Non-Silver Manual/Unkown/Unkown

Irving Penn/2001/Still Life/Little, Brown Company/London

Irving Penn/2002/Earthly Bodies. Irving Penn's Nudes, 1949-50/Metropolitan Museum of Art/New York