Key Post #1 Research

Throughout the course of my unit x project, based around the principle of time through portraiture, there were a variety of research methods which enabled my work to grow, progress and adapt rapidly. Although the internet is a very broad and immediate source of information when researching the work of a particular artist or photographer, personally from my perspective using the library as my main source of information proved more inspirational when analysing the work of these selected artists.

Admiring a diverse selection of work, varying from Picasso’s ‘Blue period’ to Richard Avedon’s stark yet powerful black and white portraits, I believe that it is extremely important to explore a large variety of work rather than merely focusing on one style of photography in particular. One artist in particular which had an immense impact on my approach to portraiture was surprisingly Picasso’s ‘Blue period’. Although I am anything but a novice when it comes drawing or painting, one can still admire and learn from the masters of art. Picasso's 'Blue Period' works are impeccable from both a technical and metaphorical/symbolical point of view. The almost monochromatic darkish shades of blue within their own sense act as a form of pathetic fallacy. Reflecting both Picasso's negative outlook towards what was expected from painters at that moment in time, and the depressive nature of his subjects. After all, they were all either homeless, prostitutes or characters from a negatively associated background.
What I admire most about this period of work, when acknowledging it from the perspective of 'time', is how Picasso uses the dark shades of blue to reinforce a sense of context. The dark tones, alongside the almost robotic expressions of his subjects emphasise and exemplify Picasso's emotions throughout that particular time. It is TIME which has had an influence on the production of these paintings.
After all, if his perception of art at that time was positive, would he have painted characters that represent positivity and virtue? Would the colours be far brighter, positive and over emphasised?

Further research within the library has enabled me to see and approach the concept of time through portraiture completely differently. It is now evident to me that the initial presence of time has an immense impact on how a subject is portrayed within the photograph. For example, if the subject at that moment of time is frustrated or upset, that will be reflected through the photograph. Time alongside context is a very discrete yet powerful principle. Personally I would love to explore this further.

In a similar sense, it is clear that the work of Andre Kertesz, David Bailey and Nadar etc... are very intimate. They show the body language and character of their subjects rather than their impression of them. This alongside the stark, powerful and certainly memorable high contrast black and white style portrays the subject as having a powerful status. 

I will continue to explore black and white lighting techniques in order to personify my selected subjects in  a similar way.

In general, by excessive research and through analysing a diverse selection of work I have enabled myself to see the context of time through both a literal, technical and symbolical perspective. However, despite this, there are still ways I could improve my research methods. Although the internet and library allow one to explore the work of various artists and photographers, it has come to my attention that galleries and exhibitions are also necessary to attend in order to develop my research techniques. I am saying this purely due to the fact that there is nothing more satisfying than seeing the work of your favourite photographer blown up to a large scale, and hung on a wall in a gallery filled with such atmosphere and passion. This within itself can be regarded as a strong aspect of research.