Faces of Town

                                                      Faces of Town

  In September of 2013 I was assigned by my Photography lecturer to create a photography book on any chosen project. I wanted to capture a topic that was simple and elegant to execute due to my novice level of photography. I decided to create my photography book based on homelessness in Dublin city center.  Preferably to narrow down the people chosen to six or seven, I would ask their permission for a photo and explain what I was doing. I would like to use my project to raise awareness of homelessness around Dublin City center, and highlights its growing problem.

 The people chosen would be photographed at eye level, I want to capture their facial details and expressions. I believe by photographing them on an even level would help create a sense of neutrality for the viewer. As well as an eye level shot, I wish to take an extra shot of each homeless person and their immediate surround environment. Whether that is a busy street, bus shelter, bridge or a buildings exterior.

 My topic is based in Dublin city center; this ranges from Grafton Street, Trinity College, the Central bank, and Temple Bar to O’Connell’s Bride. These locations are all within close proximity allowing for a central target area. Although the locations are broad, they help establish that homelessness is everywhere, and not confined to one particular street or building. These locations are also landmarks of Dublin City, meaning the photographs should have a natural established background.

 The project is to be achieved in a short manner of time, between five to seven days. The photos will be taken between mid mornings to late afternoon for optimal levels of natural light; this will help keep the theme of naturalness connected.

 This idea sprung to mind while I was commuting to Dublin Business School; on my way from Pearce Station to Balfe Street I began to notice a pattern with homeless people. Several people sat in the same location each morning, it became so well established that I knew where certain people would be before I had left Pearce Street. I decided to photograph them at eye level because the majority of the time people look down at them. This can create a biased atmosphere in a photo, wanting to avoid this negative stigma, I have decided on eye level. This method can also help with connecting on emotional levels in the photograph by making eye contact with the photographed homeless people.

  I plan on engaging with the homeless people by introduction and explanation of what I wish to do with the photographs. I wish to create a friendly approach to portraying homeless people, and show them in a natural way. The photos will be somewhat similar in terms of shooting style; a close up of a persons face to capture their facial details. I also wish to take an establishing shot of each homeless person’s location. I will also include basic information on them, name, age and how long they have been living on the streets. I hope to use this information in order to increase the connection between the viewer and the subject.

Photo Sprint

Street Style

Street Art

Love is in the air

Dirty Old Town

Halloween

Vilnius Photographs of old town

For the first time in Ireland, Lithuanian photographer Kestutis Stoskus displays his gallery of Old Town. On display the gallery of photography, Temple bar, Dublin from the 3rd - 15th of October. Taken between 1995 and 2004, Stoskus's collection is a quiet and reflective look of the streets and churches that should appear to be vibrant.

Augustinian church of our lady of Consolation

 

I found this photo to be quite compelling; the use of shadows plays well through out Stoskus's gallery, but i found it to be particularly powerful in Augustinian church of our lady of Consolation. Stoskus places himself among the shadows to give a holy quality towards the church. The entire photo is taken that the viewers attention is solely on the church tower. The base and street is shrouded in shadow, reinforcing the positive aspect of the church and cross.

I enjoyed this particular gallery on the basis of the lighting and use of shadows. The contrast that Stoskus uses is breathtaking, giving each photo an unique visual presentation and angle, all the while collecting around one central theme and athmosphere. This theme is matipulating light and shadow to focus on one particular object often a church or public building. The lack of people in in Old Town  is quite fitting are focus is entirely on the structure of the town. Although some appear in one or two photos, they're never at the forefront of focus, often blurred.

I enjoyed this collection of Old Town and would be inclined to see more of Suskus's work.

Fixing the shadows

Fixing the shadows is the first episode in the BBC's series Genius of Photography. Beginning with development of early photography such as Daguerreotype and Calotype. Fixing the shadows  gives valuable information on the history of photography, the process of Daguerreotype is introduced. This method developed the first photograph of a person. Taken overlooking boulevard du temple, Paris in 1838, a man is visible on the street having his boot shined. The long exposure meant that any moving objects weren't developed, the shoeshiner and said man stood still long enough for them to be exposed.

Boulevard du temple

Among other topics discussed in fixing the shdows was the creation of Eastman Kodak company. Eastman designed the first roll of film, which helped his small company grow, and develop hand held cameras known as a brownie. The company's slogan being "you press the button, we do the rest", helped stimulate a more modern athmosphere towards photographs. Kodak's brownie encouraged a fun style and so people began to smile and say "cheese" when having their photo taken.

I found  fixing the shadows to be an insightful short documentary on photographys origin and evolution.

Kodak Brownie

Marc Issacs - Lift

   lift gives an insight to the everyday lives of residents living in a tower block in London. Heartwarming and full of personal reflection, this short documentary reveals the hardship and thoughts that occupy the everyday mind. Directed over the course of ten weeks, director Marc Issacs forms bonds and friendships with several of the residents. As they're relationship develops Issacs asks questions which give chilling and often thought provoking answers. Such as what is your favouirte childhood memory? What did you dream of last night? And are you a religious person? Filmed at the most part in a point of view method,  lift is filled with emotional attachment that many other shorts strive to capture. Silence plays a key factor in lift yet gives a familiar tone that is often felt in any elevator.