I’m now well into the fourth
course assignment (major project parts 3 and 4) and I’m finally waking up to
how difficult a task I’ve set myself for the major project. Essentially, the
problem is how to produce a series of linked, high quality, aesthetically
pleasing images that address the question: “why do we feed wild birds in the UK?” I should also be using the
project to develop a consistent, personal style.
For some time I had planned to
incorporate my images into a picture story (perfectly acceptable, according to
the brief), which dealt with environmental issues such as habitat destruction
and change of land use, as well as giving a short overview of the reasons why
we have fed birds in the past, before concentrating on images of birds and
people that are designed to answer my highlighted question. However, I was
simply unable to find a smooth link between the different sections of the story
and, in addition, was finding it difficult to produce images that were
self-explanatory: in other words, that did not need captions to explain their
significance. Finally, the images that I had produced or was planning to
produce were straying into the genres of landscape photography and photo-journalism,
when I had been advised by my tutor to concentrate on wildlife and documentary
photography. As a consequence, I have decided to concentrate on the
interactions between people and birds, and their consequences, for the major
project and to incorporate some of my other work into a bigger, personal
project that could, eventually, be turned into an exhibition with the general
theme of “Feeding the Birds” (see later).
I have been given extra time by my tutor to develop my plans, with a
revised submission date for Assignment 4 of late January 2015.
Modification of the Story Board
My new plan for the story board
is that it will consist of a series of images that deal with what I believe to
be the main reasons why we feed wild birds, namely: (a) examples of feeding
birds to produce food for ourselves, (b) altruism, (c) commercial benefits, (d)
conservation of species, (e) introducing young people to nature, (f) taming and
“controlling” nature, (g) bird and wildlife photography and (h) companionship
with birds.
A major subset of images will
show people of varying ages (from the very young to the very old) feeding and
interacting with birds (from very small to very large) in various ways, whilst
other images (particularly those relating to item (g) above) will just show the
behaviour of the “fed” birds themselves.
Whilst this change should allow
me to produce a more consistent set of images it still introduces problems.
How, for example, to represent item (a) above in one or more single images? A
photograph of a game bird feeding doesn’t tell the story: should I (a) produce
a “split screen” double image of a game bird feeding on grain provided for it
and a bird hanging up in a butcher’s shop window or perhaps (b) produce a
“triptych” of these images, together with a photograph of people shooting? I could
use two or more of these images separately, but this would not fit in
comfortably with the general theme that I am trying to develop. Alternatively,
I could just ignore item (a) and concentrate on the other reasons for why we
feed wild birds. I am currently wrestling with this and several similar
problems. Sooner or later I’ll have to come up with solutions!
Production of a Story Book and Supplementary Work
Irrespective of what is included
in the final set of images that comprise my major project submission I will produce
a photo book that contains images which deal with environmental issues, in
addition to looking at current practices of feeding birds. I will also
incorporate text here that explains the significance of the images. The photo book
will be submitted for assessment and may include 30 or more images, some of
which could be derived from the “spin-off” projects described below. I still
intend to include one or more video presentations, most likely featuring the
activities of birds feeding from the hand or at feeding stations, in the final
submission.
“Spin-off” Projects
Whilst trying to produce images
of suitable quality for my major project work I am developing a couple of
“spin-off” photographic projects relating to feeding wild birds. Whereas these
may produce images for submission as part of the major project work they are
also developing my personal interest, both in the process of feeding wild birds
and in bird behaviour. These could be incorporated into an exhibition on the
general theme of “Feeding Wild Birds in the UK”.
1.
Birds
at my Feeding Station, Royston
I have set up a feeding station
in my back garden in Royston. Using a black background (I intend to repeat the
process with a white background) I have photographed interactions between birds
(mainly goldfinches) using the feeders, in addition to logging visits from
squirrels, etc. The results can be presented as a single image (e.g. Image 1) or as a composite of two or
more images (e.g. Image 2, which is actually
a composite of two images). In this way I can highlight bird behaviour, choose
images that demonstrate the potential of feeding stations to produce aesthetically
pleasing and possibly commercial photographs of birds [Item (g) above],
demonstrate the “pecking order” that occurs at bird feeders or link several
images together to produce a “fun” panorama of life at the bird feeder.
Image 1
Image 2
1.
Birds
Feeding from the Hand
The birds in London’s parks are
particularly keen to take food from the hand: indeed, some have become almost completely
dependent on us for food. Recently I fed and photographed eight different species from my hand, ranging in
size from a great tit (Image 3) to a
mute swan (Image 4), in a day. I could
incorporate an image of this type into the major project portfolio (although I
would prefer to feature birds being fed from the hand by others, which is
currently a work in progress: see below), but I have also set myself the task
of photographing myself feeding as many different species of bird as possible from the
hand. I will then present the work as a collage or a themed series of images.
Whilst this work may fulfill some of the criteria for a major project portfolio
it does little to answer the question: “why feed the birds”, so I’m just regarding
it as a “fun” project at present. This work may also be suitable for a video.
Image 3
Image 4
Recent Work and Images
Images 5-7 provide a few examples (from many) of my investigation into
the interactions between people and birds, which attempt to highlight some of
the reasons why we feed wild birds. Images
5 and 6 show the very young as
well as mature individuals feeding (or, in the case of Image 5, helping to
feed) wild birds. Image 7 is a poor
photograph but important as an image concept: an elderly lady watches from a
hide as birds are fed outside.
Image 5
Image 6
Image 7
Future Work
In the immediate future I will
continue to investigate the interactions between people and birds, both in
London’s parks and at reserves, such as WWT Welney, where wild birds are
regularly fed for commercial and/or conservation reasons. I will attempt to
photograph from angles and positions that result in aesthetically pleasing
results, although the acts of feeding are usually spontaneous and unpredictable,
so it is often impossible to shoot in a controlled manner without eliciting
help from my subjects. For this reason I may have to elicit support from
friends and family……or is that cheating? The resultant images will be aimed at illuminating
reasons (b) to (h) for why we feed wild birds (see above), although I will not
abandon the hope that I can find one or more images to illustrate reason (a).
I will be anti-social in hoping
for a hard winter with snow (no evidence so far!) in order to encourage more
birds to feeding stations, including my own, where I can photograph their
behaviour more easily. I am also considering trying some time exposure experiments to produce abstract,
blurred images of birds flying around (my) feeders: I’ve no idea what the result
will be, but it will be interesting to find out!
Finally, the environmental impact
of man in reducing available food for some bird species (mainly by habitat
destruction) whilst providing extra food for other, more adaptable species, has
not been forgotten. I will continue to try to find images that, individually or
collectively, tell this story. However, it is very possible that they will no
longer form part of my major project print portfolio.
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