Tamas Dezso began photographing rural areas of Hungary and Romania in 2009, the project continued for years afterwards. He would explore different locations and shoot them in a landscape style, he would also include portraits and still life images to create a deeper meaning behind his concept.

He focused on the people, wildlife and the landscape of the environment he was photographing, this ensured that the viewer could understand the extreme struggle of this time. One of his main objectives for this project was to highlight the reality of the struggle to live and survive in rural Romania. Dealing with the lack of homes, jobs and farming, it took a huge toll on food and basic living necessities for the local workers and families. Theses images were taken shortly after the survival of the region’s hardest dictatorship.

This work has been exhibited globally and has received much praise. Many people enjoyed this work due to it being so compelling and ‘raw’. It spoke to the audience incredibly by enforcing the idea that people do live in such harsh conditions.

Karen McQuaid is the Senior Curator at The Photographers Gallery, London. She grew up in the suburbs of Dublin, her school did not have a strong art department and her family influenced her to play sports based on their own interests. She then discovered magazines, reviews, etc. involving photography so at age 16, she decided she wanted to explore this and create a career of it. She interned for a magazine named ‘Surface’, which was published every October. One of her favourite magazines from a young age was ‘Tank’ magazine, it included lots of fashion, photography and social culture which intrigued McQuaid largely and encouraged her to pursue this career pathway. She began making large fashion images and had a realisation that she wanted more and to push herself further to become a fashion editor. Photography was the thing that she wanted to hold onto the most out of everything that she was doing at the time, she decided this was what she wanted to do and found her way to the Photographers Gallery. She began by organising talks and events, this was something she enjoyed as she was interested in it herself. This was all happening whilst doing her MA at university. Working at the Photographers Gallery meant that she was given various projects and exhibitions to run and showcase. She admitted that there were many struggles when she first started due to her experience and how she felt things should have been done from her own creative perspective. Over time, she perfected her craft and is now extremely respected in her chosen industry and field.

 

This incredible book by Bruce Davidson focuses on the people and uses of Central Park in the mid to late 1900s. He explores a “picturesque romanticism” throughout his work and represents love and relationships between different people and groups. The photographs in the book are all black and white and each image is paired with other images that suggest different or the same meaning; this furthers the idea of representation in his work and how it can be showed in different ways through different photographs.

The book represents the idea of romance and relationships. Some of the images are of couples doing different things; some are on dates, some just married and others are just having a day out in Central Park. I believe this shows how every relationship between two people is different and love for everyone can be experience differently. It highlights how people like to be treated by their significant other and how other people might not want to be treated like that. It encourages balance within relationships and what works well for each couple.

Bruce Davidson also explores social views and how separate groups of people can all enjoy the same place. He defines Central Park as “a civilising force, a healthful and spiritually refreshing counterpoint to the burgeoning Industrial Age metropolis that would surround it”. He suggest that Central Park is a calm space to escape the busy streets of New York and can be used by anyone and everyone from all different races, interests, ages and backgrounds.

Davidson also continually showcases relationships between wildlife and people throughout his book, including wildlife and the city. Central Park is home to many animals and plants that could be damaged or endangered by the people visiting the park everyday. Over time organisations have been set up to protect this, but many people go there to care for the animals and ensure they are okay. This is exhibited largely in this book.

I enjoyed this book largely as it showcases a deeper meaning into Central Park and allows the reader to engage into a more in-depth understanding of New York.

https://pro.magnumphotos.com/Package/2K7O3RNC0S6

The Celine Marchbank talk gave us an insight into her life and the meaning behind her work. Her main project which she showcased to us was named ‘Tulip’. In September 2009, her mother was diagnosed with cancer; the project documented her life from this point until her death. The images consisted of her mother, the environment her mother was in and her belongings. In 2016, she published this project into a photobook. It has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and has also won multiple awards.

I enjoyed this talk as it opened my eyes to exploring the meaning behind images and how to show different emotions through my own work and the subject within my work. The colouring of the images in Marchbank’s work link to various feelings and emotions, they can spark memories of own experiences as they can be relatable to a particular audience.

After the release of this work, she started a new project called ‘A Stranger in my Mother’s Kitchen’. This was about her mother’s home after she died and how the mood and atmosphere has changed there. It focused on the grieving time period after someone close to you has passed away and how to deal with it. Marchbank dealt with he mother’s death by going through her old things and belongings, she now uses some of them herself as it reminds her that her mother will always be with her.

http://www.celinemarchbank.com/tulip

The Fox Talbot Museum is located in Lacock Abbey, Chippenham, surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife. The area holds much history and has become an extreme tourist spot. It also attracts many Harry Potter fans due to the location being used largely to film the franchise.

The museum itself explores the life and death of Fox Talbot, alongside his discovery of photography. William Henry Fox Talbot was an inventor, scientist and photography pioneer. He was known for producing the ‘calotype’. This was an early photographic process with the use of silver iodide coated paper and light, this kick started some of his findings. Talbot used trial and error to create the first ever photograph through the use of light in the mid 1800s. This sparked the creation of cameras and allowed photography to grow globally and be appreciated by many. Due to his hard work and creativity, we use photography on a daily basis through the likes of cameras and mobile phones, because of Talbot we are where we are today with technology.

The day out to Lacock Abbey was very interesting as it opened my mind to different types and styles of photography, especially ones which were used in earlier times. Learning about the history and creation of photography allowed me to appreciate the art more and want to pursue it and take photos. It also made me want to explore other options to taking photographs and how they have different effects on an image, including its colouring and contrast.