SNAPSHOT – 20.3.2018
Background: As a photography student in the first decade of the 21st century, I was taught to revere both the qualities of the printed photograph and the ephemeral nature of digital files.
Context: Until recently, the goal of photography has been to fix shadows upon a surface for future viewing. Today, photographs often remain in a state of flux, and we are overwhelmed by their abundance, without really understanding their nature. Whilst institutions employ experts to take responsibility for collecting and preserving collective photographic history, individuals are frequently adopting new photographic practices, even before considering the implications for future generations. If photographs are to be available in the future, then individuals must take responsibility for maintaining their own photographic archives.
Question: How could we alleviate barriers to keeping photographs for posterity?
Objectives: To identify barriers we currently face in keeping photographs for posterity, to propose approaches for alleviating these barriers, and to produce a collection of photo-media based artworks, suitable for exhibition, that creatively respond to the research question.
Methodology: There is no longer a clear distinction between analogue and digital photography, as technology allows photographers to adopt fluid and hybrid practices. Focusing on the photographic vessel, distinct from the photographic image, my research will take a holistic approach to photographic practice, considering both tangible and intangible vessels for photography. I will employ secondary research methods, drawing together a wide variety of connected fields that touch on various aspects of this topic, from photography, visual communication to memory studies and personal and ubiquitous computing. I will perform artefact analysis on a range of photo-objects, evaluating their perpetual use as containers for keeping photographs and identifying risks they may face. Through research-lead practice, the concepts articulated in my research will guide and inform my creative output. Although I do not set out with strong preconceived notions of what my creative works will be, as a photographer and graphic designer, I have developed an artistic practice at the intersection of my professions, creating an oeuvre of conceptual art and photobooks. I will continue this practice to produce creative work for this degree, however, I will not limit the series to only publications should other approaches better convey a particular concept. I have also considered conducting a photo study, gathering results that feed into both the formal and creative aspects of this project, creating a snapshot of how individuals currently keep photographs.
