I've finally figured out my portrait project! Not so exciting to you I know but a relief for me. I was originally doing this portrait project because I was very impressed with the work of this photographer “Richard Avedon” who did these extreme focus portraits…but now I am more after my own agenda, documentary. Last week one of the students here came in with all these boxes that she found up in an attic in town. The boxes contained old glass negatives that dated from the early 20's up to the late 30's. The images were all portraits of the people from my town, Ballyvaughan. Getting to see these images was extremely interesting in a historical sense but I had to ask myself what it really was that made me so fascinated. I suppose it was the fact that what I was seeing was a specific time and because of the work of a photographer it has been perfectly recorded, frozen and preserved to be seen far after these people will have passed. I doubt that the person taking the photographs meant for them to be found so long after they were taken, but it is my intent that my photographs will be. It is now my plan to create a book that documents all the people of this town at this point in time, specifically. I think it would be both fascinating and important to create a history for these people not only for them but for their children, grandchildren, myself and for everyone that I can share it with.
On a separate note, school is going well. I am starting to develop all my negatives this week and finally start printing. My teacher, Martina, has been helping me not so much with the technical aspect of my work but rather with the reason behind my work. Up until this point I haven't really been thinking to deeply about why I do my photography. I haven't yet put together a cohesive group of images that I can justify as a "Series". I’ll keep up the work and show you all soon.
All that said I will have to say that things are changing in me, for the better...I know that being here now is the right thing for me.
It should be no surprise that your photos are the most dynamic out of all of ours. Keep it up. And when are we going to see video from Roger?
Your fellow JYA Castmember
Hi Rog
Awesome site
Wow huh,Livin' the dream
I know it's got it's ups and downs
but hang in there
sharri sends her love.
I'll be checkin in often
see ya soon
