Reflection of shape

I photographed this image of a child with a ball, and am thinking of a similar reflection of shape with pregnant women. I like the idea of croping my models legs and part of their heads. But also the idea of circular shapes... balloons, balls ...................

 

Sonogram (Sarah armstrongs)

In refernce to the sonogram post I am curious about shooting pregnancy in the same electronic haze.An interesting anecdote that made me question modern technology and male roles and responsibility in the act of pregnancy, came from a restaurant owner. It was mentioned via the path of the staff that male perticipation is distant but on seeing the sonogram, it become more real, and easier to participate in. He's having a boy.

Sonogram:

A sonogram may refer to the following:A diagnostic medical image created using ultrasound echo equipment, see sonography.A spectrogram.

Inspiration and direction

Thinking of a combination of mathew dols work and Julia Fullertion's work, there is commonalities in their style, they crop or disguise the identities, and the environment engulfs the characters that inhabit their them.

But do I want to be so non-descript. I want a bit more of a connection, more journalism.

Quotes

The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people's reality, and eventually in one's own. Susan Sontag

The hard truth is that what may be acceptable in elite culture may not be acceptable in mass culture, that tastes which pose only innocent ethical issues as the property of a minority become corrupting when they become more established. Taste is context, and the context has changed. Susan Sontag

What is the most beautiful in virile men is something feminine; what is most beautiful in feminine women is something masculine. Susan Sontag

Inspiration

On an emotional ebb, I have discovered a new enthusiasim, a new inspiration. Julia Fullerton, has some stuning commerical images. Her environments dictate the narration of her characters. They are spacious enivoronments, typically commerically, non discript. Asthetically and visually stunning with rich color. And yet souless as the most commercial work can be. Bland and dull. I like them. Their is a pregnant woman image in which the woman doesn't fit with the scene. It's too sparse a scene and their isn't enough personal or character information for it to be real. Hyper real. Check it out. http://www.juliafullerton-batten.com

Body Image

Aperture this month printed an interesting article on the works of Jen Davis, an article with the heart and personality, I would like to achieve with pregnancy as a subject. In her work she explores her subjects life and deal with her subject an overweight woman on two levels. She reveals the "brave decision to expose so completely her physical appearance and personal anxiety related to that appearance. Aside from any theorizing about stereotypes and judgement of the whole by means of parts. Davis' s second act of couriage is more complicated, but no less impressive. The very issues of stereotyoing she is interested in addressing were to a great extent established and pomulgated by Photography in the first place. We are all familiar with the verious versions of woman created by the fashion industry." So too pregnancy!!!Brief as it may be this reminds me of some of the ideas with pregnancy, looking at the romantic idea of it there has to be another essential perspective.

In pregnancy there are two women; those that are beautiful and pregnant and those that are beautifully pregnant ?!?!

Julie

On firday 10th I shot another pregnant woman, Julie. It was an interesting shoot. I felt pressured by time and was therefore quicker than usual. I shot it in an hour and tried to limit my shooting by giving myself rules. I could only shoot with the holga and lense baby. I also could only use 1600 speed film and 100 speed film.

It was also a telling period in regards to the relationships you walk into, and briefly participate in. This shoot reminded me of a discovery channel episode. When the husband arrived home there was that sense of territorially being in some one elses space. There also, as there has been interesting observations on the relationships and the diversity of relationships that i have walked into. Some husbands are participatory, some uninterested, some curious and maybe but not yet experienced protective. Being a male and doing this project has been a learning period, I have to approach with a different attitude.

Random thoughts in Snow

Reineke Dijkstra, has come back to as an example/ style I would like to copy, her work is straight on portraiture with a knack for that relaxed moment. I particularly like her matador series Isaw in the New tate in 2002. http://mariangoodman.com/Dijkstra/

Part of a whole.

Images are a point of reference for the human form. In photographys definition of pregnancy it is traditionally a romantic and ideal view. It traditionally defines the relationship of family as nudity and longing glances, without domesticity, with out context and sometimes with out partners…. Disregarding any argument for what defines reality, I pose what is the essential aspect of pregnancy? What is the context? And what are the comparisons?

We attribute images, as apart, to a greater whole. So what do these images say?

Context- process- material

Three preoccupations of this semester, or even this project in general are- Context, material and process.

Context- The journalism and divination of information/ stories that can extracted from an image.

Material - the use of different materials and process's to add to the meaning and context of image, while also making it asthetically compelling.