My other ideas also included observing people in schools, outside the tube station and even observing people on bus. I simply recorded the events by photographing series of images after every few minutes or when every time something changes, once again keeping the idea of me observing and so the camera angle was set at eye level. For this individual idea I photographs the series by using the sense or the idea of my journey from college to home, and looking at how things changes through out the journey. The idea was later developed to next idea of journey ‘the journey of life’
In reference I found a photographs works that is related or similar to my idea, Duane Michals, American born 1932. Michals has received great recognition both in the world of commercial photography and within the canons of fine art photography. His use of the medium to depict what would seem beyond it means, dream, memory and desire are the ideas his photographs founded on. He is also a philosopher and he uses philosophy of life to reflect his ideas. His photographs are often put together in a set series of six images. He believes that photographer must help the viewer feel what the photographs says by adding text, icon or anything that bring the audience closer to the actual experience.
One of his set series of images that really inspired me is ‘meeting’. It’s a set of six images of two gentlemen walking passed each other and both stopping at one point and turns back to look at the other is unaware of his action. The idea is based on journey made by this two people and how they probably met. The works also associates the ‘past’ of how someone is looking back or even can be looking forward at possible future, but as the title ‘meeting’ suggests he is looking back to the past.
Michals other series of work that I found very interesting which also provoked me with idea of photography based on past. ‘ I remembered the argument’, it’s a series of five images where one person in the picture is remembering an event of argument that he or some other person had in the past and he witness this scene. The person is presented as dark figure or shadow throughout the series, in sense of him remembering this event. I think the idea of him presented in this way really reflects the idea of past and his presence in the scene.
His two other series of work that also found interesting are ‘the boggy man’ and ‘I build the pyramid’. The ‘boggy man’ series is about a male figure appearing from hanging coat, the figure can be justice as male as the title of the work is ‘boggy man’. ‘ I build the pyramid’ as the title suggests this series of images is about someone building the pyramid using rock. The both series reflect the individual life.
Duane uses varied techniques to compliment his idea/work. He uses frame short technique, which I find very fascinating and challenging techniques to apply.
Philosophy and music are other two key elements I found influencing. I was inspired by one of the new coming Bollywood film ‘ KAL HO NA HO’ the film also features a title song ‘ Har gadi badal rahi hai dhoop, chuo, zindigi…’ meaning everything is changing from light (dhoop), shadow (choa), to life (zindigi). I think this is very nice thought or the concept to used my filmmaker that reflects the fact of life and I thought I could use the idea for this project. Additionally I was also influenced by one of Duane Michals philosophical thought of life where he said ‘life is short’ which is another idea I found interesting and challenging and I thought I could base my project on.
My project is based on one particular life, which I choose to focus on. I think idea of having focusing on one particular life creates much stronger impact as I discovered during my research when I was looking at one of the series of Michals work ‘ I remembered the argument’. My idea is to show how life is short and how things changed. Also showing the possible view of future and how things may change in coming years.
In addition I produced a series of photographs showing the past and possible future of the person. I use frame short techniques by applying my technical understanding of photography and the knowledge of using software Photoshop to create an excellent presentation of the work produce.
