Stillness in Time, Portraits of Childhood

There has been a few blogs going around lately about the way in which we use the internet as photographers & how we view photography. I won't paraphrase here but you can read about it on Lauren Henkin's blog, Jennifer Schwartz's 'The Ten' & Andy Adam's 'Flak'. I have to say reading these really got me thinking about how I view, display & share my work.

For me, I enjoy certain aspects of the internet and social networking sites. After I left university I had nowhere that I could go and discuss my work, share it and get feedback, with the internet I do get this. I also have met some wonderful people, both online and in real life that have led to great opportunities, no of which would have happened if I hadn't been active on the web.

Reading people's thoughts however did make me question whether I was 'over-exposing' my work, that because it was so accessible no-one would take it seriously. Would it lose the 'wow' factor because it had been seen? I can't answer for everyone but I hope not but maybe I do need to be careful.

However, part of my creative process is to write about what I am doing, why I am doing it .. I enjoy showing my work in progress, for me it is like sitting in the refectory at university talking to my fellow students. But, the final image, the object is the most important aspect. It's like standing in front of the lecturer for crit. I take pride in my work. I am continuously working to improve, to inspire and be inspired. I love the photograph as object. I work with film and wet plates so my work is first in my hand before it goes on the screen. I tested paper after paper to get my "September" series right when reproducing it. I even went on a course. I have shown people my wet plates and I don't believe them to be disappointed in them if they have viewed them online first. In fact, walk into my studio or house and my work is everywhere, laying around nonchalantly or framed for all to see.

So saying all this, my next project is finally underway in earnest. "Stillness in Time. Wet Plate Portraits of Childhood". I am embarking on taking a series of portraits of children using the wet plate process. Why children? Because I love their honesty, their lack of inhibition and their wonder at the process itself. I love to engage with them, talk to them. But more than anything I love how they drift off into their own world for a few seconds and forget I am there. So, today I am off to someone's garden to take some portraits .. there will be 9 children there .. not sure if I will get time to do all 9 and the weather is looking against me but it's a beginning and it's a challenge. Here are a few portraits I did yesterday (the one of Fleur last week). Each child was a pleasure to work with ... and I hope to do more of them. I have no idea how this project will turn out and maybe I am taking a chance showing you now, only time will tell.