Sparking Inspiration

Week Two

As I’ve been struggling with initial ideas and wondering how to start this project. So, I decided to begin by just picking up my camera and shooting.

I thought about perspective a lot when shooting. This was something I discovered was an important feature of Eggleston and Shore’s work. I tried to shoot everything from the perspective it would usually be looked at so that the viewer would feel a sense of familiarity and the everyday. Nothing is too distorted or framed in an unusual way so as to preserve the reality of the subject, whilst also utilising the lighting and colours to add to its beauty.

I also focused a lot on light and colour – trying to draw inspiration from photographers like Nigel Shafran. This was very useful and quite exciting to reconnect with my usual practice and style of working. Like Nigel Shafran, I prefer not to plan too much before a shoot – instead, I find I draw more inspiration from photographing things within the moment. This is definitely how I want to continue working, although I might try some different styles or equipment to bring different elements and meaning to my work.

I’ve presented my three favourite images from the shoot in a larger format, below. I love the lighting and textures in the photo of the sheer curtain. The tea towel photo for me (which is always placed in this exact way by one of my housemates) brings in that element I was looking at in Shafran’s work – how our placement of objects is very telling of who we are. Whilst the Happy Birthday banner draped across the radiator is very much a representation of the everyday and the mundane. I could have photographed it hung up, looking exciting and celebratory, but instead I chose to photograph it in the aftermath of the celebration; discarded and ordinary. I think this makes it more interesting and raises more questions for the viewer to ponder on when looking at the photograph.