Visual Experimentation

I have been experimenting this week with different methods of image making, some of which are more unconventional than others. But at this stage, I am trying to be open to non-traditional methods of documenting visually. I’ve found that in comparison to my past methodologies (particularly with my commercial work), I feel a lot freer and experimental  at this current time. I think this has, in part, to do with the vast amount of research that I am doing for this project, in addition to the limitations posed by the COVID-19 isolation restrictions, which force problem solving.

I shot my first self portrait (above), using my Mamiya 645 DF and Leaf Aptus II digital back. I’ve never actually used it for self portraiture before. This used to be my main studio camera, as it struggles in low light and worked best in conjunction with studio flash, but I don’t mind the slight grain that is visible when viewing the files up close. I shot about 10 different frames in this set-up, and kept my environment exactly as it was. However what I find strange (amusing?) is that despite working in a photojournalistic style, this is obviously a fabricated scene. Being a self portrait, I am setting up a frame and a narrative, and controlling how I appear in it. Does this make it in-authentic? 

I have also continued to photograph my coffee cup every morning, and the collection is coming along nicely. I like the way that the repetition of an object that is ‘the same but not’ forces the eye to draw similarities, notice differences, and look for patterns. It also makes me think that maybe I drink too much coffee.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am asking Shinya to take a photo in Osaka from the same spot every day, and so far he has delivered the goods. It appears that he is taking care to frame the image as carefully as he can, although he says that he is just “taking one second to shoot it” on his way to work. I think this will look great as a double page spread in the photobook I plan to produce. The sakura tree is starting to turn green and loose its blossoms. I also really like the inclusion of other figures in the scene (I am not sure if this is intentional or not) particularly the bike. Looking at these images reminds me of the photos that one of the main characters in Smoke (1995) took every day in front of his store. (I wrote some notes on the movie here.)

I also thought it might be interesting to do the same thing with a scene in my neighbourhood, but unfortunately I don’t have any deciduous trees nearby that will signal a change in season (gum trees look the same year round!) However I started documenting the front of my parents’ ugly suburban house. I’m not sure yet if they will be useful for my main body of work, but whilst I have a chance to ‘collect’ images, I will build up as large a database as possible.

I also went on Google Earth for the first time ever, after seeing some of my classmates use it to produce interesting works. I found my house in Osaka, and my house in Melbourne, and they are interesting to compare in terms of space and line (I even noticed that the white balance looks different- the colour of the light is perhaps different due to the atmosphere.) Again, I am not sure if this type of digital collateral will fit into my final work or not, but for now I have it saved.

Finally, I started experimenting with alternate forms of image making by using the ‘document scan’ feature of the Notes app in my iPhone. I was thinking about the passing of time again, and thought it might be interesting to document my meals. (Actually, I always take photos of food I made and send it to Shinya. He always responds with comments of jealousy and longing because he is un creative in the kitchen.) But I thought that it might be more interesting to document the empty plate after I had finished a meal. I feel as though this nods to the sense of emptiness or dissatisfaction of eating alone, rather than with Shinya. Like I am showing the audience the ‘meal,’ but they do not get the satisfaction of seeing the food. All that they can see is the description of the meal, written in my handwriting below the plate or bowl.

As I mentioned, I used the document scanner to create these images. Even though this app is supposed to be used to scan 2D documents, I have used it to capture 3D objects. You have to ‘scan’ the item from an angle that is almost directly above, so that it doesn’t warp. I actually really like the ‘raw’ aesthetic of it!