Joe Photo Photography: Blog

What has been my role in the Degree Show

Fri, 03 May 2019 00:21:49 GMT

I have been a part of both the Design and Organisation Team for the degree show, as I felt that I would want to have a say in the designs put forward by other students and also maybe offer my own. I feel organisation is a strength I do have and I have not only shown this through the work that has come out this semester, but in previous years too. I also feel that I like to be organised myself and know when events are happening so I can plan around them.

The Organisation team will meet soon to put a rota together for who will be overseeing the exhibition on certain days, and to make it as fair as possible for us all. Organisation is such a key role in any group activity because without anything or anyone being organised, then nothing would happen.

Potential Life as a Sole Trader

Wed, 01 May 2019 23:10:53 GMT

This is something else which has come across in my decisions about what to do after University is potentially looking to set up my own business and run as a sole trader.

There are a few things that I need to remember if I decide to go down this route:

- I am responsible for any losses the business makes

- I am responsible for any of my business' bills

- I am responsible for keeping an accurate record of the sales and spending that the business makes

Like with every business currently trading, I would need to send a yearly Tax Return to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise (HMRC)

Advantages:

+ A good point about being a sole trader is that there is less admin work, it is easier to set up than a Limited Company (Ltd.)

+ I also have to keep a record of all expenses paid for, and by doing this I would be organised and almost submitting a Self Assessment (VAT Return)

+ I would have fewer costs, but I feel I would want to hire an accountant quite early on just to 'help me' (HELP ME WRITE THAT BIT)

+ As a sole trader I would have complete and absolute control of the business, it would be me who would make all the business decisions, there are no shareholders to consider before any final decisions are made

Disadvantage:

- The main disadvantage is that there is unlimited liability, which essentially means if the company ever made losses or went 'into the red', then personal possessions are up for grabs by creditors

Ultimately, it is up to me at the end of the day which way I decide to setup my business as a sole trader or a limited company. I feel that life as a sole trader would be better for someone who is setting up their first business, whereas a limited company is more for someone who has experience running their own business.

Looking to the Future

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 21:24:05 GMT

Life after University will certainly be something of an uncertainty for me. Having such a sense of normality and a routine and to see that change will be different to me. It obviously means that it will open new doors and possibilities, but I would want to look into the Real Estate market and look for potential jobs, maybe starting off with an assistant for a photographer so then I can see for myself what would be expected of me.

I will look into Instagram as well to see if there are any real estate photographers who I currently follow and message them for advice. This would help because I would be getting the first-hand experience of what the role is like, how demanding it is etc.

Real Estate would be my first choice in terms of a job opportunity, however, if nothing surfaces form that then I would likely look to move to a different branch of Sainsbury's and just shoot whenever I can. For a time, photography may have to be placed on the 'back burner' just to allow me to develop funds.

Book Research

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 23:15:00 GMT

To accompany my print for the Degree Show, I wanted a book to help showcase the other buildings as part of this project. This has not been an easy task for me, as it has been a difficult process and at times challenging in order to ensure I achieved the correct look (orientation) and how the images will be laid out within the book, the use of text, how much text for each image, font etc. I have also researched various bookmaking suppliers to see the range of options out there. Places such as Blurb Books (https://www.blurb.co.uk/) and Mixam (https://mixam.co.uk/) have been such valuable resources at showing me what is out there in terms of book processing, types of books available and even what types of paper are available.

In the end, I have decided to trial a book design with another company. PhotoBox (https://www.photobox.co.uk/) is a service I have used in the past so I know of the high standards they set. I have sent off an order for a much smaller version of the final version of the book I want to be displayed on a plinth under my image. The trial book is a square softcover book which measures 18cm x 18cm. This will give me an idea about how the final book may come out. There will be changes to the finished book. For the exhibition, I do believe I'll print just the one book, but I would like to print more in the future with the aim of offering them for sale.

I have chosen the square format for the images as I feel that this will display 'the best of both worlds' with my images. I have some images in portrait orientation only and some in landscape orientation only, so by making all the images square format, there is a sense of unity and harmony in the book about how the images sit on the page and the order they are in.

Another difficult decision for me was the order of the images. My first and the probably most obvious idea was to do them chronologically in order of when I took the images, however, because the whole project is based around the buildings themselves, I thought a more fitting order would be in order of when the buildings were finished being built, as this is a reminder of just how long these majestic buildings have stood the test of time.

Job Research: Property Photographer

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 13:51:00 GMT

In a more general look into the role of a Real Estate Photographer, there are a few skills that one is either expected to possess from past experience or is willing to learn in this new role. The main one is the ability to create accurate floorplans, which as I say is something you can either come with or wanting to learn. Apart from that, having a quick look down job search websites such as www.indeed.co.uk. The majority of the adverts do seem similar in terms of skills required, some ask if I own a vehicle, but on the whole, they generally seem to be similar.

In terms of me, drawing up accurate floor plans would be a new skill that I would be very excited to learn about. The meticulous element is what I like. I feel I am a meticulous person in the way I carry out my photography not only for clients but also for personal or University based projects.

The world of real estate is rapidly expanding and companies are now becoming the forerunners in creating a multi-disciplined business that covers your every need in the property industry.

Job Searching

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:05:00 GMT

As part of our course, we have to delve into the real world and go job hunting. We would, in essence, have to find a job application, whether it is live or not and essentially look like we would be applying for that job. This is definitely of huge benefit as it helps us in the real world when we want to go and apply for places. Some people chose jobs that were photography related and others didn't. I decided to try and make the full opportunity of this and apply for a career I'm looking into regularly. That is a Real Estate Photographer as I do have a passion for architectural photography and I have had a few jobs showcasing this for clients and have produced work for them to a high standard.

The place in question is a company called Floorplanz, who is part of a larger group known as FourWalls. (https://www.fourwalls-group.com/) The job more specifically is a Real Estate Photographer, but perfect for a graduate who has just finished University. I felt that this would be perfect for me as it would be as close to the real thing as possible for me, so all this experience will be helping me.

The company began just designing floorplans (hence the name) with a tape measure, a pencil, ruler and a sketch pad, and as the business has steadily grown it has become much more than just floorplans. They deal with every aspect imaginable in the property industry, from photography to CGIs and from floorplans to brochures, they have it covered and it's also why I believe it is the perfect job for me as it opens many new doors in terms of skills.

Review: The Photography Show 2019

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 21:36:18 GMT

As well as Format Festival, I attended the Photography Show held at the NEC. It was a fantastic event, focusing on the technical side and equipment. A huge selection of stands were there selling their latest gadgets, books, cameras, inventions and much more. The dominant focus of the Photography Show normally switches year to year, with last year seeing a huge section cordened off for drones, but after what has happened in the past 12 months regarding drones, most notably the incident at Gatwick Airport, the shift this year focused heavily on photobooks and albums. I managed to pick myself up a copy of renowned photographer Alec Soth's new book I Know How Furiously Your Heart Is Beating (2019). The array of photobooks on display allowed me to see not only what was out there already but what I could use if I were to set up my own photography business.

Another interesting part for me was the Student Awards branch of the AOP (Association of Photographers) which showcases the best in terms of graduate photographers. I have entered into the awards tonight. There are 3 seperate categories one can enter into: People, Places or Things. I have submitted into the 'Places' category and have selected my Ripon Cathedral image from my graduate body of work 'The Best Seat in the House'.

The Photography Show (2019) The Photography Show (2019) The Photography Show (2019) The Photography Show (2019)

Review: Format Festival

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 01:01:00 GMT

Format Festival for me was a fantastic opportunity for me to see what I am going up against essentially as it is a graduate based show. The works on show were such a variety. One that definitely stuck with me was Craig Easton's Sixteen project, documenting the crucial age of sixteen for so many of us. The age of sixteen is a time not only when we are developing but also starting to progress into the adult life and then further into the ever-changing world and forming their own lives and making their own decisions. The photos are all accompanied by speeches that the sixteen-year-olds in question have said and are then written down to help cement this worry and doubt in their minds. The body of work spans the length and breadth of England to get people from all walks of life, so Easton shows a diverse range of individuals in his work. Craig sums it up nicely by saying:

"The idea to ask each of the sitters to write their own testimony is born out of a desire to work collaboratively with the young people and give them a voice to talk directly to the audience without the filter of a journalist's question" (Craig Easton, 2017)

Each of the subjects were asked the same questions such as 'What does Sixteen mean to you?', 'Do you have any worries about your future?', 'What is important to you?' etc. The questions were difficult to answer, but also hard-hitting in a way that would provoke an answer, a truthful answer from the subject.

Updating Layout

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 20:45:00 GMT

Following careful consideration and feedback, I have decided to update my layout and composition for my project. It was originally going to be in the shape of a cross to represent the fact I was taking images of religious buildings, however since that isn't the main focus of the body of work, I had to change the idea up a bit. So, after having an impromptu tutorial with one of my tutors I had an idea to rotate the cross landscape and to focus the argument that it will look more like a blueprint as the architecture is what I am focusing on. I also thought about the positioning of text and also individual titles for the works, however that is still a work in progress for me.

In a more general idea of the title, my most confident title to date was simply 'Nave' and I thought of it like a 'does what it says on the tin' type of title as that is what I am producing works of. However following conversations with tutors, who believed that it was 'too literal', I have had a think and my new title (hopefully to be received a little better than the last one) is 'The best seat in the house'. I feel this works for a variety of reasons, it references the human element that I am also wanting to get across in the images and religious buildings like these are often referred to as 'God's house' so still retaining the more common religious connotations these structures are so famous for.

Fundraising: Cake Sales

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 23:55:00 GMT

We are in full swing with the process of fundraising for our Degree Show. So far, the Kickstarter alone has raised £361! which is fantastic considering we set ourselves a £500 goal. The Kickstarter was a way to inject early money into the Degree Show, and as part of the fundraising, we have also done other events such as cake sales and quiz nights both of which have been successful. So far we have done two cake sales and one quiz night, however, we hope to do more of both events. The fundraising team has actually arranged to do another one next week. In more a general sense, fundraising is such an important part of an event like a Degree Show, or to raise money for something, one of the more notable examples in the field of the arts was of course the photographer Brian Griffin who raised over £30,000 on Kickstarter to launch the book 'POP' looking at the album covers he photographed over the course of his career.

Format Festival: Derby

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 23:20:00 GMT

I headed down to Format Festival in Derby with a sense of excitement about seeing what everyone else was doing in the world of the arts and specifically photography. There were a huge amount of exhibitions to go and see with such a variety of projects ranging from hundreds of polaroid shots of skies to finding images around a marketplace to a project based entirely around the age of sixteen. The projects themselves were interesting but also gave me a chance to look and see how these images have been placed on the wall (if they have) whether that be through foamboard or nailed to the wall. It also allowed me to think about potential ways of how I am going to present my work and what I will present alongside the images and how simple things such as artist statements have been placed in relation to the work. There was also a bookfair which included many contemporary photobooks and one Simon Roberts, who very kindly chatted to a few of us. I also attended the opening night of Format Festival, which was an insight into the otherworldly practice of 'mingling', something I myself need to get my head around.

Update: Installing the work and composition

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 22:56:00 GMT

Over the past few weeks, I have had a few different ideas about how my work should be presented at the Degree Show. As you know, my first idea was to stick the images onto 'Dibond' and then attach these to a wooden cross, because of the significant religious symbolisation. But, because my project is moving away from the religious element and more focusing on the human presence within the walls of these buildings, I have been advised on a few different approaches. My favourite one has been the idea of laying out the images in a way that resembles a 'plan drawing' or a 'blueprint' of the building to echo my personal interest in the architectural aesthetics of the buildings.

I feel this would resonate more as it no longer becomes a piece surrounding the ever important and present topic of religion and shifts towards a piece discussing people within the spaces and how they are indeed used. Considering this and after feedback from peers, I was advised to change my stance with the images, and try shooting a more traditional perspective i.e very upright, straight, dominating lines leading the viewer to the centre point of the image. As seen below, the first image was taken with quite a distorted perspective and also with a person in the frame to highlight the sense of scale these places ooze. But, following the advice and suggestions from peers and starting to photograph in the more traditional view, I have found it very enjoyable and more than that I feel the images are better because it almost elevates that sense of scale without having to distort the perspective.

York Minster, 2019. Ripon Cathedral, 2019

I have also decided for the most point to change the orientation too, which allows for more scale to be shown off in these fantastic places. It also works for the new way which I am showcasing the work, in the form of the 'blueprint'. I am thinking that the final 'blueprint' will be of Carlisle Cathedral, as it's my final project at the Uni, it feels right to do it around that.

We have a Logo!

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 19:15:00 GMT

We have come up with a logo for our Degree show! It took a little while for us in the Design Team to bounce ideas between each other and come up with a design we liked and then this logo would go to the whole class to get their approval too, and luckily for us, they agreed! And so below you can see our logo design for the Open Format Degree Show.

In terms of the design, it is a very minimal looking logo with a faded pastel blue to give a nice contrast. We have gone with a range of pastel style colours for the Degree Show, we also have a pastel shade in green and pink.

Spreading the word of the Degree Show

Sat, 16 Feb 2019 21:37:00 GMT

In terms of getting the Degree Show out there, we have set up numerous social media links and we have also created a website which will be a platform to see a mini 'profile' about all the individuals who will be exhibiting at the Degree Show.

The Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/openformatdegreeshow/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openformatuoc/

Website: https://www.openformatuoc.net/

We are also running numerous events to raise money for the show. So far we have had a cake sale and raised £50 from that. We also plan to host many more events to help, including either a Kickstarter or JustGiving page. We are also hosting a quiz night at the Calva Bar in Carlisle where the winner will win a hamper of goodies and all money, including the £2 entry fee, will go towards the Degree Show.

Who has inspired me?

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 21:05:00 GMT

A lot of my inspiration for this project has come down to the fantastic work of late Magnum photographer Peter Marlow. Marlow's series The English Cathedral is of huge inspiration because in the body of work Marlow depicts these buildings as magnificent and powerhouses. Not just the meaning behind the images, but the rigour and methodology is not only thorough and seen throughout the work, but also and as a nice touch shown in the book of the same name.

Candida Höfer's work is also informing how I produce images, as her approach is very methodical and adapted from the school of thought at Düsseldorf under the tutelage of Bernd and Hilla Becher. Höfer's work incorporates very little if any human presence within the frame. The Libraries body of work Höfer carried out is reminiscent of Marlow's work; Very methodical, higher view, lines perfectly straight. The resulting images portray a sense of wonderment and splendour. A sense of empty, although 'void of all human interaction', each image has it's own 'monumentality'.

As I feel my work will become quite topographical in its appearance, there have been several influences that I have looked into. Any of the members of the Düsseldorf Kunstakadamie whether that be Höfer, the Bechers, Thomas Struth or Andreas Gursky. Other influences I have considered is Hiroshi Sugimoto, especially focusing on his Theaters project. In a way, the theatre screen acts in the same way as the nave in a cathedral. This point draws the eye's attention away from the edges of the image to the centre.

Höfer, C. (2011) Teatro La Fenice di Venezia. Höfer, C. (2011) Dominikanerkirche Sankt Andreas Düsseldorf II.

Höfer, C. (2007)Mason Temple, Philidelphia.

Research: Installation Methods

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 12:20:00 GMT

We had an interesting lecture on 8th February discussing the various, intricate ways one can display their work on the wall. With the wall 'in play' as it were, it gives a whole new meaning to if the photo was on a computer screen or on a website. It is physical, we can go up close to it and examine it corner to corner. For my personal project, I don't really want to experiment with hanging techniques as my photos are all taken within classical buildings, I feel it is right to continue this through my work and create stunning prints that are of a huge scale (A1 or bigger). The wall is just half the battle, because how one prints their work is also very important. I will more than likely print my images on Lustre paper as it has been my go-to paper since the beginning of my time at University and it has never let me down. The halfway between matte and gloss is very nice, however all things considered I may look to move into Museum standard paper, as these buildings reflect a similar atmosphere.

In terms of the prints themselves, I will look to do them full bleed without a border. I feel that a border stops the viewer from going any further and for this work, I want the viewer to see everything, therefore having no border on my prints. I wouldn't look to do a vinyl as it is a one-shot deal. I would much prefer my images to be displayed more than once.

The debate of framing is still there. At this moment in time, I am not sure if I want my work framed or not. Looking at research from professionals such as John Jones, the idea of DiBond and then potentially fixing a baton to the back of the image and then one to the wall and then having them float is interesting to me. I feel this may be the route I end up going down, obviously the main concern for this cost.

Second Meeting: Open Format

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 21:34:00 GMT

The second meeting for the Degree Show saw many loose ends getting tied up, including probably the most important one: the name of the show. We came up with two names and then cast a vote. The first one being 'Open Format' and the second one 'Light Leaks'. The decision was to go with Open Format. It was largely based on the fact that Open Format sounded a more professional name than Light Leaks.

Displaying my work

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 15:31:00 GMT

While I and my peers have been encouraged to experiment with how we display our work for the upcoming Degree Show, I felt it would be fitting for my photos to be presented in a more classical way. This would fit in with the theme and also I feel it is the best way to show off the aspect of 'scale' to the viewer.

I am looking to print my photos A1, this may change down the line to an even bigger size, potentially A0. It will depend on the quality of the shots I get and in particular the corners of the image. Lustre has been the go-to option for paper choice as I like the subtle balance it brings between Matte and Gloss.

Research into Project

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 22:17:00 GMT

Research is something I find enjoyable but at times challenging. This is because I sometimes feel that I try to replicate accurately and this is not always the best plan. The research for my FMP centers around the human element or a figure within an interior or, on a rare occasion, exterior setting. This research will allow me to develop my resulting photographs which I am to produce at various religious settings, such as abbeys, churches and minsters. The images below are a few I have found to help indicate the sense of scale I wish to portray in my images, also hopefully capturing an action that is a little unique, quirky or just interesting to the eye.

First photos for FMP

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 14:50:00 GMT

I didn't know decisively what to do for my FMP, so I knew I had two ideas in my head that I could potentially explore. The first idea was around the idea of isolation and isolated figures. I felt this would be quite interesting because of how people interact with the space. The other idea was around people within architectural spaces and how they interact with the space around them.

Below are the very first images that I have shot for these two 'strands'. Ultimately, I will be picking one of these ideas and taking this forward as my Final Major Project. I am definitely leaning towards the idea of how us humans interact with an architectural space. I want to focus my attention on religious spaces such as churches and cathedrals, as to me this will allow for the most, without wanting to sound cliche, impactful shots.

In terms of reflecting on these images, I was happy with them as first images. It needs a lot of refinement and that will show over the coming weeks and months ahead.

First Meeting for Degree Show

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 15:47:00 GMT

25th January 2019

After the lecture, we arranged an informal gathering which would allow us to start dissecting the Degree Show and the many parts to it. We came to a decision that there would be four groups that would make up the Degree Show: Design, Marketing, Organisation and Fundraising. Each of these areas has subcategories within them. Everyone would decide which team they want to be a part of by next week.

A Facebook group chat has been set up to share ideas between the whole group. In the coming weeks, it is the plan that four smaller group chats, one for each of the separate areas, will be also created in order to keep the groups closer and working harmoniously.

I have put myself forward to be a part of the Design team and also the Organisation team. I feel this plays to my strengths, especially the organisation. So far though, all seems to be going well. Everyone seems really on board with the ideas we have and hopefully these will all progress in the coming weeks.