Looking towards Assignment Three.

LOOKING TOWARDS ASSIGNMENT THREE

Following on from my tutor’s advice, I have been out to undertake some test shots for two of the main ideas for possible new projects.

The two main main ideas are:

• People being identified as numbers
• Society's dependancy on modern technology

DEPENDANCY ON MODERN TECHNOLOGY

In today's digital age, technology is everywhere. Gadgets have been invented to make jobs easier, computers and games consoles can now be palm sized and mobile phones are used by billions of people all over the world. I have been out and about a lot over the past six weeks, with my kids off school for their summer holidays, and it's shown me just how dependant we are on these little gadgets. For my test shots, I decided to people-watch  while I am out and about and to take photos of everyday society using their phones/gadgets/technology. 

I started with my own family, who's use of smartphones and iPads is also exceptionally high, to start off my test shots and also took a few on a couple of outings with my kids. 

The selection is shown below.

 I really like the idea behind this and hope my tutor will be able to advise me to make this work. In a twist of irony, I decided to take these images on my own smartphone. I thought it would bring another meaning to the theme of the project. And then maybe there could be a way to show them as if they were being shown on a phone? Possible idea. I would really need to discuss it with my tutor. 

I found taking the photos on my phone worked well while taking the photos as I think that people can get agitated when they think people are watching them, even more so if a stranger was taking their photo or at least pointing a big camera at them. Also, their behaviour changes. By taking photos this way, it just looks like I am another person scrolling through their phone and I can capture people using their devices discreetly. 

I decided to use black and white photography because I felt a lot of the images were quite busy. As the photos are not staged in any way and are taken as best as I can, sometimes at a distance, it's difficult to be able to get a good clear direct view. The photos in the cafe were particularly busy and I felt that by removing the colour, some of the distraction of the background has been taken away. It then allows the viewer to concentrate on the subjects as opposed to whats happening around them. 

With so many people openly using devices today, the subject area would allow me to produce a lot of work within this project. After receiving these images my tutor has agreed that the project has mileage and looks practical but that I need to do some serious research, possibly with a view to a different angle. 

PEOPLE IDENTIFIED AS NUMBERS

My idea on this area was to try to show how, nowadays, everyone is commonly identified by numerous numbers. As an individual, we can be known by several numbers at a time. And it all starts the moment we are born, and given a hospital number. And then an NHS number. And then a student number...NI number....account number and so on. The idea was to highlight these numbers, and show how so many places, businesses, institutions refer to you as a number before a person. 

Again, I used my family for the test shots. But I split the shots into three separate groups:

1. A single person being used throughout the entire project, emphasising all the numbers a person can be identified as.

    2. Different people being used for each of the numbers that one can be identified by, showing all different age groups and possible multiple people, highlighting that everyone is identified by multiple numbers.

3. Using different people for each of the numbers, but also taking a photo of their faces highlighting their names.

I found taking these images really interesting. I found I had to do a lot of planning on how I wanted the images to look and to make sure the messages that I wanted to show actually came across. 

All the images give the same message. That people nowadays are constantly seen as at least one number. If you ring the bank, or the hospital, or the benefits office, the first thing they ask is "what's your reference/account/hospital number please?". When I started to list numbers, I was taken aback by how many numbers that I have. Let alone, others who could have a lot more. And I wanted to make a point of showing this. 

I also wanted to add depth to the photographs and to do this I thought it would be a good idea to take the photos outside the places that refer to you as each number. This meant I had to do some location scouting. To keep authenticity, I researched some number formats for the each of the numbers, even though each of the numbers I used are all fictional. 

Looking at my test shots, I prefer the set where different people are used for each number. It does give some diversity to the photographs and can allow me to use different genders, ages, and even multiple people. It could also allow me to present the final images in a lifetime timeline or something. For example, all newborns are first given a hospital number so I could use a baby and its mother for that image. 16 year olds get their NI number, so use a 16 year old for that shot. Pension numbers can allow me to use an older person(s) and so on. 

It is important that the number in the images is to cover the persons face, as the number is a form of identity that we are known by. But I do like the third set of images where, by taking the second photo of the individual with their face uncovered and the name card, it gives the person their identity back - but at this point I am unsure as to whether that is taking away from the point of the project. Again, this is something that I would like to discuss with my tutor. Unfortunately, my tutor was unable to open the folders with these test shots when I emailed them, so I have not had any feedback as yet. 

Thoughts.

I am happy with all the test shots and how they have come out. I really like the photos within the modern technology subject and I think that these will have a wider range of possibilities for shooting. I am slightly concerned though that all the images will look the same but not enough for it to deter me from undertaking this project as I am really keen on this idea. With regards to the people as numbers project, I like the fact that I have to plan each shot and really think how to shoot the photographs to get my message across. But my issue here is that there are only so many numbers to shoot and if I need a substantial amount of images, there might not be enough to sustain my work. 

I am speaking with my tutor this week so I will have some more feedback and will be able to make a decision on which project to pursue then.