We are living in strange times and opportunities for completing photography projects are somewhat limited. I’m going to submit here a Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is what I would like to complete if the current situation changes and that becomes possible. Plan B is a realistic alternative that can be completed should life continue to be constricted.
Project brief
- Explore the concept of liminality
- Plan A: Holkham beach, Norfolk
- Plan B: Local area
- I’m interested in the idea of transitional states. These are important and unsettling but ultimately ‘takes us somewhere’ and represent growth.
- Exploring visual aesthetics.
- Plan A: the transitional state of perimenopause (which I am in). “No longer and not yet”. The beach is representative of a liminal space, an in-between space where the rules are changed. The aim is draw upon the imagery associated with the sea: the feminine, fertility , out to sea, abandoned/marooned. The feminine sublime.
- Plan B: the otherworldly, unsettling and potentially transitional state of lockdown. Using the local area specifically a more architectural approach such as empty car parks, staircases, corridors, windows, tunnels. The decision will be to either treat this from a typological viewpoint or a variety of locations that represent liminality.
Influences and research
- Victor Turner – the concept of liminality, research gate
- Set texts – Perspectives on place by Jesse Alexander, The photography reader by Liz Wells
- Liminality in architectural space (research gate)
- Sylvia Plath
- BJP: Kovi Konowiecki, Clement Chapillon
- The Feminine Sublime, Barbara Claire Freeman
- Chloe West: To name a thing, painting liminal space
Visual approach and potential outcome
- Plan A:
- a visual approach which is strategic in that it anticipates photographing during the summer months, i.e, full, bright sunshine. To use a thick filter, potentially a ‘big-stopper’ and an open aperture in order to create a visual aesthetic of softness encompassing the pastel feminine tones associated with the beach. This will require the use of a tripod.
- The outcome to be the production of large scale prints, likely using a fine art paper.
- Plan B:
- a more ‘street style’ approach using google maps and knowledge of local area to find areas to explore. Unable to use tripod due to restrictions. The approach to this will be more ‘evolving’ in nature. Whilst large scale prints may be an option, it is likely at this stage to be more conducive to a book.
Budget and resources
- Plan A: location requires a two hour drive and car parking fee of around £10. Filter can be sourced at SRB photographic, cost is approximately £30 for a glass big-stopper.
- Plan B: Unlikely to need additional equipment.
Estimated schedule
The schedule for either of these projects will have to incorporate some levels of flexibility. The aim is to be close to completion by the end of September. Plan B is already underway in an ‘experimentation’ phase.
Landscape, Place and Environment 