Project proposal

For unit 3, we have been given the ability to choose our own topic. After considering a variety of different options, I thought that basing my work on a famous photographer would be interesting yet challenging due to the fact that I would not replicate their work, but instead incorporate it into my work. After studying a different number of photographers, I finally decided on the famous Mark Jenkins who is known for his street installations and creativity within real world surroundings. 

Mark is an American street photographer. His work includes locations like Rome, Rio de Janeiro, London, Dublin and Moscow. His practice of street art is to use the ‘street as a stage’ in which his sculptures interact with the surrounding environment and the passing people unknowingly become a part of the art itself. I think that this is an interesting way to approach street photography as he uses the people who pass by as part of his project without their consent. I would like to incorporate this into my work by capturing not just my art but the reactions of people towards the art that is positioned in places that it is not particularly common for the naked eye to witness.

I decided to do Mark Jenkins as I briefly experimented with the topic as part of one of my shoots in unit 2. This shoot was interesting for me and I thought that it would be exciting to continue that line of work. I think that doing this would really help my development as a young photographer. This is due to the fact that he is a professional and his work has become influential to many starter photographers. By studying his work in further detail, I think that he would influence me into becoming more creative and being able to express myself through the likes of street photography.

I enjoy the challenges that are present when doing street photography because I like to challenge my abilities to successfully capture street style photographs. I think that street photography has quite a broad approach to it and therefore I have the choice to do a variety of different styled shoots based on Mark’s work and Mark himself as a photographer.

Within this photograph, we see a figure of a body that is sitting against the wall of a street. This figure is wearing normal everyday clothes but there is something particularly different about this figure. He appears to have no face. The hoodie in which he is wearing covers his head and the area where the head should be is in pitch black. This isn't common and therefore attracts the attention of the little girl seen in the right of the shot. This photograph therefore includes Mark’s work as well as the reaction from a passer-by.

  

Within this photograph, we see a civilian who is doing his job. This includes picking up rubbish from the streets that he lives in. There is something that stands out within this photograph. The thing that stands out is the pair of legs which can be seen sticking out of a pile of rubbish. It shows that someone is standing up but you cannot see their body/head as it is covered in the rubbish. This is a good idea as it connects with the job of the local man and therefore fits perfectly in place within the shot and the surroundings.

I think that I could approach this project by identifying the possible places and ideas prior to beginning the project. By identifying the places and ideas for the shoots, it would allow me to approach the project with a lot more thought and direction than if I were to just dive straight into the project. By arranging the shoots prior to the time of the shoots, it would allow me to use my time more efficiently and therefore will allow me to remain focused on what I would like to shoot on that particular day/set. I could also set objectives that will have to be met in order for the overall project to be successful. These could include objectives such as getting shoots completed when planned and also getting them completed with as much determination as possible. This would therefore make the project a lot better and would hopefully provide a more professional outcome.

I think that I am going to start this project by first researching the different types of shoots/surroundings that Mark Jenkins has completed. By doing this, it will allow me to get inside the mind of Mark and therefore help me to analyse the factors that appear within his work. By analysing his work, it will allow me to incorporate his ideas into my work a lot easier. I will then begin to decide how many shoots I am going to do in order to demonstrate the incorporation of Mark Jenkins. I am then going to separate the shoots into locations. I think that this is a good idea because it allows for me to do a few different shoots in the same location i.e. London, in the streets or in town. I am then going to decide on the sculptures that I am going to use – whether it’s models or objects. By doing this it will help me to organise my shoots and help me to start the project in a positive way.

Overall, I think that this topic is particularly intriguing for me and therefore makes me want to do it as my project. This is good as it means that I will not get bored and will continually be inspired to complete different styles of shoots in the fashion of Mark Jenkins. I am looking forward to starting this project as I think that it is going to stretch my imagination and creativity massively as a college photographer.