Semester 3 Final: New Topographics

Researching journals has started to put a finer direction into a specific thematic direction that I can produce both projects work from.

Interestingly this journey seems to be linked to the search terms of Abstract – Ordinary – Banal – New Topography.

All roads seem to lead to the New Topographics show of 1975, a “landscape” exhibition held at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York in which 10 photographers showed their work, interestingly this seems unique for many different reasons, It’s also the first photographic show that I’ve heard of that has named a movement of work going forward. The work is of, a certain almost banal style of straightforward composition, subject matter and approach to audiencing.

The research has thrown in ideas on Petro-aesthetics via Catherine Zuromskis, the way landscape photography is constructed via Deborah Bright and ideas of audiencing from the original show, coupled with ideas by Gillian Rose. The research has feed well into this extended research project, with everything i read I almost always seem to find a point to communicate, explore or comment on, also had the added bonus that I’ve identified a number of quotes that are influencing the actual imagery that I hope to produce, which is one step to producing more regarded work.

As the full title of the show New Topographics pictures of a man-altered landscape suggests, the main subject arena is of mans affect on the landscape. The images received mixed reactions along the lines of what is this?

Are we seeing similarities to my work yet?

Although I’d never considered myself as a landscape photographer but I have always been drawn to photograph what could be considered strange spaces, this has come to light during the reflexivity that the MA journey has had on me.

My practice started to change a number of years ago, I realised that I wanted to change, move into teaching full time plus change my practice as a photographer. Starting the MA process was an integral part of this, reflexivity is a huge part of this process too, I’m revisiting and rethinking what my practice is and what I am as a photographer.

Using this I think I’ve always seen spaces in a slightly different way, first through riding street bmx, then through photography twin that with a changing environment as my Dad was a pub landlord, this facilitated a lot of changes in the spaces we lived in.  

With the nature / nurture debate here I wonder if this shaped the way i look at places or vice versa, I have always felt that I have a different ways of looking at spaces. Does reflexivity shape your work or does your work shape the way you look at things?

Either way I see this as feeding into my overarching theme on the power of photography and working towards my theory of the urgent temporality of photography. Further exploration of this will I feel, shape my research and practice terms in the coming years.

Dated beginning of June