Kirk E l l i n g h a m

2010-08-22T14:49:00.001-07:00

Kirks Supporting Text

'Take a walk in my shoes'

Complimenting documentary photography to give the subject and the image maker a voice

the use of text, notebooks, introspective insight and new ways of presenting documentary work to give a voice and meaning to photographers subjects and to communicate to an audience the dilemas and thought processes of the photographer

http://www.foto8.com/new/online/interviews/1148-philip-blenkinsop-east-timor

http://maribastashevski.com/

http://www.aperture.org/aperture-199.html#five

Stephen Dupont Weapons Platoon

http://stephendupont.squarespace.com/

http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?pxid=956

http://www.steidlville.com/books/117-Look-at-Me-I-Look-at-Water.html

http://restrepothemovie.com/

http://therawfile.org/

http://www.americansuburbx.com/2009/03/antoine-dagata-is-empty-shell-walking.html

http://www.paulseawright.info/sectarian2.html

You tube gadget

http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/media/56757

http://www.aperture.org/tpwl/

http://www.rogerballen.com/

http://therightsexposureproject.com/2009/05/18/making-the-past-present-%E2%80%93-the-use-of-photographs-in-amnesty-international%E2%80%99s-campaign-on-justice-for-former-%E2%80%98comfort-women-%E2%80%99/

www.imagesagainstwar.com/541.html

http://www.ciaraleeming.co.uk/photos/young-carers-portraits/

http://www.marcelobrodsky.com/intro.html

http://www.alfredojaar.net/

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=96471

http://www.beforeidieiwantto.org/press.html

You tube gadget

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/dash_snow.htm

http://www.

mbart

.com/artists/_Hunter%20S.%20Thompson/_835/

http://www.gallery.cz/gallery/en/Vystava/2000_10/Ramec_V.html

http://hosted.aware.easynet.co.uk/jospence/jo1.htm

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2008561,00.html

Polaroids

Physical objects

Postcards

Notebooks & Diaries

Interpreting this work into a modern multimedia work

Interactive web based work

Instalations

Historical interactions

The use of documents and maps

The use of Literature & Poetry

The mixing of Art 7 documentary

The use of ambient sounds and voices

Installations

Click here to reply

2010-08-18T04:20:00.001-07:00

Kirk E l l i n g h a m: MAJOR PROJECT 2010

2010-05-16T02:43:00.000-07:00

Kirk E l l i n g h a m: MAJOR PROJECT 2010

Kirks Major Project 2010

I know 90% what im going to do now,

ynopsis

As Paul suggested I will continue with my work on the

Chechen refugees in Warsaw

, I want to put the work into sections including audio and translations, childrens images, landscapes etc.

I dont know how to do that yet,; either I just make sections on my website, or on photoshelter (but you cant include audio & video?) or start a new website that can include video and audio, any advice appreciated.

I know Paul sent me the link by a former student on '

Sarajevo

' so maybe something like that, but where the images are presented more strongly. A

livebook

type website would be great as Ed Kashi did with his black gold work, but unless they do this for free for me thatw ould be impossible.

As well as strengthening the work I already have, I thought but putting the large amount of work I already have into sections this would help me and the tutors put

together

better edit.

If I go back to Warsaw again, I could interview the staff, take video and also find the people I already

interviewed

to make a textual or audio addition to the work. Another idea would be to exhibit the work in the refugee centre?

(My main concerns are: repeating myself photographicly, becoming jaded & tired with the work, I am also

fearful

to return: although I have access again I feel I am abusing these people in some way and the more I visit and can not say why Im there and not really helping them, the more its ethics trouble me.

There

culture

always welcomes guests, so they never turn me away and are very kind, I would

to stay overnight and do something positive with them: give them a voice as well, but as I dont speak the language and am still trying to learn the complexities and history of modern Chechnya, I do feel that I need to go there, if it can be arranged to return with a repatriated family I will do this also.

If I can get the work seen, published or produced as a book I will feel a little like I havent let these people down.

(i did send some work to the editor of the FT magazine, but

received

no reply which was

disheartening

, so advice on approaching editors would be helpful)

As well as completing the above (I may be biting

more than I can chew) is to also produce two more closely

associated

work; one will be a story either linked to

other refugees in Warsaw or to Russians also affected by the conflict in

Chechnya

..(more of a portrait project possibly or

dictypes

of landscape & people with text)

lso including this I will take some sort of

journey to the Caucases

(not sure if north or south) meeting refugees and dissidents in

various

areas affected by the conflicts after the breakup of the soviet Union in 1991 and people

dissafected

by the present Choas on

Russian

enclaves and former republics or even members of Communist parties who

want

a return to the old

Soviet

Union.

(Ive had this project plan for along while and ive always wanted to travel to these regions; I know as Daniel stated that so much work has been done recently in these areas (even more so since the Ossetian war) but this doesnt dissuade me 9so many succesful

photographer

are covering the same areas like Afghanistan but produce differing work)

See the link to Stephen Dupont work: I saw this today in Aperture magazine..its agreat piece of work & ive been mulling since 2009 to do something similar in a moleskin diary type work..not sure if I will sue poloroids seems expensive but is a great way to give something to the people I meet on the way.

If I have money i will do a longer journey..if not just a part and it can then continue to be part of a longer term project when the course ends.

As well as Dupont I am inluenced by: Delahayes Winterrise, Boris Mikhaliovs case History, Jim Goldburg, Robert Fank, Etc

I like the plan to work free: mixing text, poloroids, black & white, Colour, introspective differing formats etc even

auidio

& video on website.

Any links &

advice

on similar work and production

appreciated

(if I get access i will return with a repatriated family instead)

Presentation

My plan is to produce three films including my own dialouge etc, that run together & coincide and in

harmonious

way in a loop, when rolled over text and link to a seperate page of images and presentation will activate.

would like the three films to be more of an artistic

presentation

perhaps for gallaries that

initially

attract people to the work, where if interested they can then delve deeper into each project.

I need

advice

on how to do this or how to find someone to make this

simply

for me.

I will also present all three

coinciding

work in three folders as if they were secret files from a Russian intelligence service, or like a KGB file

that

emulates something that may have exhsisted before 1991, this might be a novel way to present the work that bears some relationship to the anniversary of the breakup of the Soviet Union and its republics after the coup in 1991.

Again advice links, ideas

very

much appreciated.

influences

Robert Frank

Luc Delahaye

Boris Mikhailov

Jim Goldburg

Weapons Platoon: Portraits and Notes from a U.S. Marine Corps

Base in Afghanistan

by Stephen Dupont

A collaboration with Marines stationed in one of Afghanistan's most volatile areas.

http://www.aperture.org/aperture-199.html#five

http://stephendupont.squarespace.com/

Andrei Tarkovsky; Stalker, the Mirror

Orphan

Panuks

: The new Life

Structure

1) Website with three seperate looping slideshows that link to seperate portfolios/displays

Physicial document that will be presented as a KGB/Soviet era secret file; including documents, prints,notebooks, maps etc

Timescale

A) June: Competions, publications for funding: editing the audio prints for notebook, translations and reserach and access permissions

1) July: Return to Warsaw to visit refugees one last time, 1 week eastern Belarus to document

Chernobyl

zone Russian refugees from Chechnya (this section will be submitted as a

work-in-progress) work on supporting text, captions, audio and text

2) August: after Perp work on supporting text

3) Late-September-October: Journey segment : either

the new life, return to Chechnya,Where History screams

(this section will be submitted as a

work-in-progress): if due to lack of funds, may finally decide to concentrate on refugees in Poland (detentioncentre, border guards, journey (repatriation home through

Belarus

& Russia etc)

October-November: work on scaning film & notebooks for book, prints, websites slideshows, fibnsising supporting text and final presentation

Funding

Written text

Feedback

May 28

Damiandrohan@googlewave.com:

Kirk, I would suggest if you are doing the website yourself to use a self-hosted wordpress blog and templates (which cost v little) you can embed audio/video, and embed code for video hosted on vimeo etc v easy.Your project sounds massively ambitious. I look forward to commenting on your methodology when my poor tired brain kicks into gear.

May 29

Me:

Damian,It looks like you have to pay about $100+ to include audio,video & no adds is that right?Also im not sure where to start, is there a 'How to' guide somewhere?thanks

May 29

Damiandrohan@googlewave.com:

www.fatcow.com

May 29

Me:

OK Damian, Thx make more sense, Ive sectioned some work on my webiste, but i'd like to add audio & video as it progresses, rather than make the whole thing at the end of summer.

Jul 1

Daniel:

dont forget, ping me a mail about stuff like this, happy to help where needed

May 28

Me:

OK Damian thanks..yes know how you feel.Yes its ambitious & I may not complete all I wish, but I am aiming to try and if its not all done by Nov I still have a strong work in progress project.

May 28

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

the wordpress idea is good, its a fairly simple way to put things togetheri like the idea of the kgb style report a lot...not sure exactly how to present it but it is intriguingmaps, archive images, archive press reports, videos from chechen fighters etc could all be combined..

May 28

Me:

Jun 5

Yolanda:

http://prezi.com/

Jun 5

Me:

Yes, Thanks

May 28

Me:

russian-kgb-3.jpg

4E1DCD5A-0E14-4938-8E38-2D52564E9958_w400_s.jpg

ethnocaucasus.jpg

Gr_FSB_small.jpg

May 29

Me:

http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/ctc.html

http://www.logtv.com/films/chechnya/

Russian Files

http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews

http://cria-online.org/6_6.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/25/AR2008082502143.html

May 29

Me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku-Rostov_highway_bombing

http://www.rferl.org/content/Such_People_Are_The_First_To_Be_Killed/1778616.html

Jun 2

Me:

Beslandip+text.jpg

Beslandip+text03.jpg

IMG2.jpg

beslan02a.mp3

Jun 1

Me:

I'm struggling with the simple way to put the hand written text onto the photograph as a transparent image with photoshop, i'm sure you do it on save for web & save as a Gif, but I cant get this to work any advice please?, Thx

Jun 1

Me:

http://kellingham.viewbook.com/portfolio/ma_major_project_1_chechen_refugees_in_warsaw

Jun 2

Me:

I think I will continue to use this google wave for my project, I know its smaller but I can upload audio, images & video without paying extra and everyone whos interested on the course can see it.

Jun 5

Me:

I need some advice:1) For my Final project connecting stories & continuing work :I'm not sure if I should work on stories connected to the war in Chechnya, the diaspora it created etc from both sides (which is narrow, but hoemgomuse?) for just stories that are connected and similar to the disintegration of the Soviet empire and the collapse of communism in Russia which will allow for more opportunities, but is possibly too broad?2) Some good grants & competitions are coming up that I can enter on m final year as an MA student after I graduate I will prob be too old to enter most of them. I want to enter my work on the Chechen refugees in Warsaw, but the competitions stipulate 12 images....and as I ahve so many I am still trying to edit them down and make the 12 images work together, I dont think weve had enough lectures or advice on editing.This may be because some of us are working prof already or that the course presumes that we already can edit well.For me I sometimes find it hard, sometimes easy it depends on what you are applying/editing for.the more I look at my work the more I get confused.I thought about entering a set of images, similar to the example above that work as diptypces with text, but i'm not sure if they would count this as one or two images etc or if the image with the text would work?If i make diptypces & text I feel they must compliment a strong image not be there to reinforce a weaker image, also just adding short captions doesnt say enough about the work.Any advice appreciated, I have until July to enter.

Jun 12

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

dont think editing gets any easier, its always hard, showing your work to lots of different people is one of the best ways, or working closely with one other person as a 'critical friend'

Jun 5

Me:

A Hitchhiker's Guide To The North Caucasus

Published 11 November 2009 Tomas Polacek

http://www.rferl.org/photogallery/2474.html

Jun 8

Me:

http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/klomino-polish-soviet-era-ghost-town-for-sale-2m-euros/

http://copydude.wordpress.com/

http://www.kompol.org/

Jun 9

Me:

After Peters Tutorial yesterday, I'm feeling a bit apathetic, although It was good to talk with a tutor once more! but of course I was going over old ground, showing the same work again & again...I need to produce some new images and crack on with the way I will present it. I am missing some structure with my work and life now; I need to get more work seen and find some paid work or funding to progress my final project!I think I will continue with projects here in Oxford & the UK just to keep stimulated and work on the research for the final piece until I can travel, it will be good when it starts to come together and we get more tutorials with visiting lecturers and show more work! as i'm completing each shoot like we did in the first term.The written part scares me and I'm just engrossed in the photographic..theres no way I can see myself getting a first!To be very frank; I am really worried about what will happen at the end of the MA, I feel like I may be in the same situation I was when I considered beginning the course in Jan 2009!So I would really appreciate after summer or after the final hand in; some careers advice; submitting for grants,jobs etc and how to approach Agencies with a view to gaining representation plus an in depth feedback session about our final work and the possibilities after the course; ' a reality check'.The few grants, competitions and oppertunities that Ihave been posted through the network on the MA & that I have applied for I havent been succesful with and it would be good to know why.(I missed a feedback tutorial about my rethink with Paul & I didnt really get a mark for my multimedia, I really know my weaknesses and strengths on the submissions, but I need some advice on how to improve and how to fine-tune my ideas and photographs)

Jun 12

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

hi kirkwe will focus on grants, business etc during the last part of the course, and we should still have the feedbacks session, i'll email you

Jun 12

Me:

Hi Paul,Thanks..I guess I'm just feeling that this year is going fast!be great to have a final feedback/advice 1-1 session at the end of the year, but I know it must be very busy & hectic for you and the other staff dealing with three different years at once.

Jul 1

Me:

http://afterchernobyl.com/

Jul 1

Yolanda:

although I get what the photographer is trying to do with the site it feels really clunky I was imagining something completely different for your work but with the same underlying ethos. I think with Dan C's help you could come up with something much more original & interesting

Jul 2

Me:

yeah I know what you mean Yolanda..the only advantage is a basic pro account is free..its mostly money & know how holding me back.I'll ask Dan C for advice..maybe he knows someone who could make something for me?..otherwise i thought to approach 'Livebooks' about something promotion as they did with Ed Kashi...I just dont have the accolades fame to prove them.I did write to Fuji ,Kodak even moleskin about sponsorship..but never any replies.

You can now add any email address to a wave!

Jul 2

Hi Dan,

Jul 6

Daniel:

Ok think it's easier to talk in person, we can do it at perpignan and I can draw up a roadmap of what you need.

Jul 4

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

like the idea but not the site itself, looks too 'commercial'

Jul 2

Daniel:

I'll have a look this weekend about possible options and reply in here. I hear you about getting noticed, that seems to be the thing we are all striving for. I do reckon you head to perpignan, it doesn't have to be an expensive week at all

Jul 2

Me:

OK thanks

Jul 4

Me:

http://www.powtaiwan.org/

_MG_4003-copy.jpg

Jul 6

Damiandrohan@googlewave.com:

sorry to hear about your grandfather Kirk, it seems like you were v close to him.

Jul 6

Greg:

Very sorry to hear about your loss, Kirk.

Jul 6

Daniel:

Jul 6

Daniel:

Sorry to hear that fella, my condolences.

Jul 6

Me:

thanks, I spent a long time talking to him about his past and photographing him for my project:'Blood & water'when I went away to South Africa & Brazil he was always there when I got back, I feel I should of just enjoyed being with him more now, rather than obsessed with recording/photographing him!He was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2004 and gradually lost his memory, going into a home in 2007So I have all this audio, photos & some video...I feel now I need to do something with it; although I didnt want to do something introspective for my final MA.I know he was sick and 88 a good age and life..but it doesnt make it any harder when people say "well he had a good innings etc" It still leaves a huge space.Thanks for the kind words I hope if youre Grandparents are still alive & you have a good relationship with them that you take the time out to visit them & listen to their stories, for a bit if you can.....: )Im going to go down to South Wales for a few days & take some photos of where he grew up, then back to the work on 'Chechen refugees' (doesnt seem so important now)Talk soon

Jul 7

Daniel:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/photobooth/2010/06/on-and-off-the-walls-mari-bastaskhevskis-file-126-disappearing-in-the-caucasus.html

http://maribastashevski.com/

Jul 7

Me:

Thanks Daniel,I'm looking at Maris work now..looks like she had unique access and initially the photos were just a tool for investigation,Its good that something telling the truth from the area has finally been shown.Many of the refugees I met had left for similar reasons, as well as the corruption and high unemployment, there are daily abductions of young men and women..its a more stable state only for the right people..for the others it's just a puppet 'State of fear' and reprisals.

Jul 21

Me:

http://www.burnmagazine.org/emerging-photographers-fund/

http://www.davidemonteleone.com/

Jul 21

Damiandrohan@googlewave.com:

Kirk, you're prob right, luck I'm sure helps a lot. It never does any good to compare yourself to other photographers, it's a road to dissatisfaction. Of course you have to be aware of what others are doing, what the standard is etc. Portraiture is my thing, but if I were to compare myself to Alastair Thain or Steve Pyke and their success I would give up now. I read somewhere "if there's something you love doing, you either have to find a way to make it pay, or do something else to support it". I'm not trying to be facetious, I'm in the same boat as you, little money, no budget to travel. I can't even afford to buy darkroom chemicals for a few weeks. The only way I've managed my photography so far is by getting the odd thing published (and not in 'big' magazines). At the moment I'm applying for a artistic bursary which would be great. But right now I'm racking my brain, thinking about shooting stock photos and even trying to sell fine-art stuff to be able to afford film and stuff. It's very tough out there, but you've got to stick at it. None of us know where the industry will go

Jul 21

Me:

yes youre right..thanks...prob is I dont know what else i can do instead ive spent too many years purseing photography..I used to be a chef for 10 years after I dropped out of Art School, but God forbid going back to that world...If I could just get some photography related work, that would be great and something published.Visuara was going to show some of my work on their 'spotligt' series but they have changed their criteria now..so you have to pay!I did send some work to Foto8 and the Summer show; I didnt get in to the summer show which is fine..but no feedback and the editor from Foto8 hasnt got back to me for three months all very frustrating.....ok I wasnt lucky but without constructive feedback....its hard to move on.The worst thing for me is being told my work is good and different and perhaps also important?...but its not going anywhere...and I'd like to know for definate what i'm doing wrong exactly?As you say youre in the same boat.......so good luck to you also...How did you get into the teaching and how is that etc?..I did some for an Arts centre but it paid peanuts..unless I get a teaching qualification theres not more higher paid jobs.Its going to be stressfull to be in the same situation again when I graduate....I havent had a proper job or money coming in since I returned to education in 2003.....Thanks for the support..I hope we also get advice on how to approach agencies for representation and how much chance there is?....It looks like most photographers on agencies have won major exhibitions or been on world press masterclasses

Jul 21

Damiandrohan@googlewave.com:

Hey Kirk, I got into teaching here through nightclasses, firstly hobby course 10 weeks at at a time, then through local adult education officers again teaching hobbyist courses and back to education type things, then I got lucky (for a while) and did subbing in a further ed college where I did a Documentary Photography course previously, I got two years subbing there, got a contract then lost the contract due to cutbacks, so I'm back where I was 6 yrs ago. While I was in London I taught at Barnet College, firstly for a ten week stint on an Adult re-introduction to education type course, then they wanted me back that September and were going to pay for my teacher qualification but unfortunately I had to move back to Ireland. Coventry University have advertised an Asst Lecturer posn in the last week, check their site, looked like you or any of us mapjs would be over-qualified. My strategy which had mixed success was1. bombard college principals/heads of dept with CVs, 2-3 times a year.2. Find outabout local adult ed officers.3. Check vacancies online4, Don't be afraid to propose your own courses to colleges that offer nightclasses.From my cursory look some time back it seemed like there were a good few vacancies in photography teaching at diff levels in the uk, depends on how much your new prime minister decides to hit education, we're completely kiboshed here, there's a ban on new recruits across the public service. Good luck, you really have to persist and watch for opps with teaching. I once applied for a job after the closing date and got it.

Jul 21

Me:

Thanks Damian all good advice..I'll take a look at vacancies or see if I can get a basic teaching qualification course funded somewhere.How are you doing on the MA?..I was so used to their not being so many lectures and tutorials that i think I missed a few!Seems like I havent taken any new images for the course since March!...i'm thinking of handing in work on Oxford as a book instead and doing the work on Chechens for the exhibition, dont know if that willl work or be allowed?....I just need to take regular images, its apity thereview and momentum we had at the begining of the course has changed or fizzeled out...I know it covered basics but it seemed great to have that structure...where are these visiting mentors?Havent thought about the writing part yet...Crap! //Are you going to Perp? as I need a drink! : )Really good to hear a voice in the dark again..think I spend too much time in front of this machine!

Jul 27

Me:

I'm considering continueing with something UK based for my MA final ? where i'll still be able to shoot images and use the work on the Chechen refugee for my Exhibition and group website or that doesnt make sense?If I do submit the work on Chechen refugee in Poland for my MA then that just leaves the written supporting document and the presentation tp complete? maybe this is enough to do properly in 4 months...but If I'm not taking new images and using the tutorials and feedback session coming up with visiting lecturers, then it will be just about showing the same work and new presentation...Am I missing the point? I just want to make use of allt he time left.Also like Claudius explained for showing work at Perp I'm making some small postcard books of my project to show?..is this too tacky? I thought I could include some tear away postcards for portfolio reviewers to keep and tear out at the back?

Jul 27

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

Jul 28

Me:

yes...youre right Paul..not taking many photos since March was frustrating me.To be honest I just need to get my ass into gear and get more motivated, I think ive wasted the last month applying for competitions and publications that dont want to show the work or reply.I feel quite isolated here, hopefully networking and seeing people in Perpignan will get me stimulated again.....

Jul 27

Amelia:

Hi Kirk, just read your wave from the start and although I am not going to make long indepth comments I have to say that I think your Chechen work is really strong. I don't think you should abandon it and start over with something based in Oxford. YOU have a lot of material and maybe a good idea to start working with it? Playing around with edits, formats, thnking about what you want to say with the work and how your presentation might help with that? Relating to the funding lecture we just had there can't be a lot of people out there making work about the same people-I remember seeing another gorup of people you documented (Tatra? Can't remember the name) but that also looked fascinating. I say keep going with it. You obviously believe in it and alhtough you might feel fed up as one often feels when working on something for such a long time i think carry on with it, loads of potential from what I have seen...

Jul 28

Me:

Yes thanks Paul & Amelia...its the right thing to do and its good to get confirmation, not taking photos for this project since March had left me feeling that I wasnt doing enough, I find it hard to push myself on the editing & written work; without taking many images now & talking to other photographers and friends I feel a bit isolated.I'm still taking images for the 'Excelsior Days' project in Oxford but not showing new stuff to anyone as of yet.As for grants Ive applied to the Churchill travelling fund for a grant to travel back with repatriated refugees from Poland, but I have no real access granted as yet through the Polish 'International Organization for Migration' so I fear applying only on the strength of my photographs and desire to extend the project may not be enough.I also dont real have enough cash to enjoy Perpignan and to print work to show at the moment so its worrying me....I could always cook in return for drinks? : )

Jul 28

Me:

I'm not sure how to start and title my supporting document but could the use of text & notes and giving

your

subjects a way to

contribute

in Photography as well as talking about my approach and ideas be enough?

Thanks

Jul 28

Me:

001KEllingham

002KEllingham

003KEllingham

004KEllingham

005KEllingham

006KEllingham

007KEllingham

008KEllingham

009KEllingham

010KEllingham

011KEllingham

012KEllingham

013KEllingham

014KEllingham

015KEllingham

Jul 28

Amelia:

Kirk, I love this approach. I think it adds multiple layers to narratives which are otherwise really challenging to communicate. I have been trying to use text and images in my work over the past few years. You'll see how I did this in the archive project about peacehaven I did last term called Passing Through. It was just a case of experimenting with layouts until I got what I wanted or until I felt it worked. Pretty subjective methodology but I do believe in going with gut instincts and then getting feedback. Let me know if you need the link to my rethink. I am not mentioning it because I hold it up as a shining example more just for your reference so you can see how I approached using my own notes etc as part of the narrative...

Jul 28

Me:

that would be great Amelia and also if you have any advice and suggested reading on photographers using this approach for the supporting document, thanks I will look through the other waves as well to see where everyone isHow is your work progressing? and where are you up too?..have you started on the supporting document yet?

Jul 28

Amelia:

http://issuu.com/

ameliaphotos

/docs/passing_through_18apr

http://issuu.com/ameliaphotos/docs/insh_allah-1

http://issuu.com/ameliaphotos/docs/silent_voice_book_layout

http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?

pxid

=956

MAJOR PROJECT 2010

2010-05-16T02:34:00.000-07:00

Major Project Ideas

Breaking down the ideas & their formulation

Well Ive narrowed down some ideas and like Damian I am also worried about procrastinating too long on a plan.

I would like to really push myself into the final project, I am conscious sometimes of taking the easy way out and underachieving, even if the project and photographs come out quite well. It is a chance to define the work I have already started on during the course and complete it, even in some small manner, so a continuation of the work I have done on the chechen refugees in some way would be logical and hopefully I can contact trolley books for guidance to complete a book if there is a possibility and with Paul & Johns help.

As John said we should logically be working on several projects and ideas at a time even if they are just personal ones; so here's an update of the other ideas ive reformulated and could do seperately or as a continuation of previous work on the course that i feel are unfinished:

Still to many I know but its a start to begin to narrow them down.

(Imput gratefully received)

Concepts

1) Where History Screams: Will reexamine the photographic 'journey' try to push its boundaries and anesthetics and pursue a more relavent and insightful project than previously completed on the course: perhaps using Black & white and colour,academic text, Russian and Native literature, text, audio, video and poloraid type snapshots with the subjects own text and dialouge.

I am '''aspiring of course ' to re assign the strength of importance once more to the photographic journey in the contemporary 21st century to examine a countries past, collapse and legacy and contradictions of violence.

I want to try and produce the beginnings of along term project; looking something like the bastard son of Tarkovsky & Frank.

I have two plans and I can examine my thoughts in more detail if this project progress, suffice to say one is based across the Northern Caucasus and the outlying Russian republics, the other across the Russian-Eastern line of influence in the Southern Caucasus countries and the borders of their disputed terrorties; for this Orphan Panuks: The new life is a source of inspiration.

2) Prey for the devil:(Children of Pkharmat) The Mountain regions, people and Customs of the diverse caucasian regions of the southern Georgian Caucasus Mountains

2) Oxford Days: Continuing with my Excelsior days on a unchanged 1960's cafe on the immigrant dominated Cowley rd in Oxford, now adding more stories from the rd & Oxford, pulling together writers,poets and Musicians from the area.

I will add audio and subjects own text, also adding 2-3 more stories from the area that examine: the small but diverse ethnic communities in oxford from Brazilians to Algerians.

http://kellingham.viewbook.com/portfolio/excelsior_days

3) A Polish Story (not from Salt or Earth): continuing with my stories and contridictions from a modern Poland: stories im researching the decendants of Russian religious dissidents, the Polish family,the Kaliningrad border, deserted ex soviet army camps and Georgain and Kurdish refugees. Considering using Poems from Zbigniew Herbert. would like to try and get the work exhibited at the Polish Institute in earls court London.

http://kellingham.viewbook.com/the_polish_immigrant#1

http://kellingham.viewbook.com/portfolio/the_last_village

(I will continue one or both of these as well as one of the other ideas, a developed solid book would be amazing.

4) Along the Line: basicly visiting old soviet era hotels and state run building along the border with Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova...(maybe better in winter?)

5) The Accursed Mountains: The rise of blood vendetta and abuse of the code of Kanun in the Northern Albanian mountains and their re-arise after the fall of communism in Albania, been done in colour in Foto8 before, looking for a more trad reportage approach.

8) Return to (Chechnya): returning with a dispaced refugee family through Belarus and Russia back home to Chechnya*

(* possibly the strongest and most relevent plan, but possibly also the hardest to plan, access and do, need more research and the realistic dangers and entry requirements (could be a part of no 1)Breaking down the ideas & their formulationWell Ive narrowed down some ideas and like Damian I am also worried about procrastinating too long on a plan.I would like to really push myself into the final project, I am conscious sometimes of taking the easy way out and underachieving, even if the project and photographs come out quite well. It is a chance to define the work I have already started on during the course and complete it, even in some small manner, so a continuation of the work I have done on the chechen refugees in some way would be logical and hopefully I can contact trolley books for guidance to complete a book if there is a possibility and with Paul & Johns help.As John said we should logically be working on several projects and ideas at a time even if they are just personal ones; so here's an update of the other ideas ive reformulated and could do seperately or as a continuation of previous work on the course that i feel are unfinished:Still to many I know but its a start to begin to narrow them down.(Imput gratefully received)Concepts1) Where History Screams: Will reexamine the photographic 'journey' try to push its boundaries and anesthetics and pursue a more relavent and insightful project than previously completed on the course: perhaps using Black & white and colour,academic text, Russian and Native literature, text, audio, video and poloraid type snapshots with the subjects own text and dialouge.I am '''aspiring of course ' to re assign the strength of importance once more to the photographic journey in the contemporary 21st century to examine a countries past, collapse and legacy and contradictions of violence.I want to try and produce the beginnings of along term project; looking something like the bastard son of Tarkovsky & Frank.I have two plans and I can examine my thoughts in more detail if this project progress, suffice to say one is based across the Northern Caucasus and the outlying Russian republics, the other across the Russian-Eastern line of influence in the Southern Caucasus countries and the borders of their disputed terrorties; for this Orphan Panuks: The new life is a source of inspiration.2) Prey for the devil:(Children of Pkharmat) The Mountain regions, people and Customs of the diverse caucasian regions of the southern Georgian Caucasus Mountains 2) Oxford Days: Continuing with my Excelsior days on a unchanged 1960's cafe on the immigrant dominated Cowley rd in Oxford, now adding more stories from the rd & Oxford, pulling together writers,poets and Musicians from the area.I will add audio and subjects own text, also adding 2-3 more stories from the area that examine: the small but diverse ethnic communities in oxford from Brazilians to Algerians.http://kellingham.viewbook.com/portfolio/excelsior_days3) A Polish Story (not from Salt or Earth): continuing with my stories and contridictions from a modern Poland: stories im researching the decendants of Russian religious dissidents, the Polish family,the Kaliningrad border, deserted ex soviet army camps and Georgain and Kurdish refugees. Considering using Poems from Zbigniew Herbert. would like to try and get the work exhibited at the Polish Institute in earls court London.http://kellingham.viewbook.com/the_polish_immigrant#1http://kellingham.viewbook.com/portfolio/the_last_village(I will continue one or both of these as well as one of the other ideas, a developed solid book would be amazing.4) Along the Line: basicly visiting old soviet era hotels and state run building along the border with Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova...(maybe better in winter?)5) The Accursed Mountains: The rise of blood vendetta and abuse of the code of Kanun in the Northern Albanian mountains and their re-arise after the fall of communism in Albania, been done in colour in Foto8 before, looking for a more trad reportage approach.8) Return to (Chechnya): returning with a dispaced refugee family through Belarus and Russia back home to Chechnya* (* possibly the strongest and most relevent plan, but possibly also the hardest to plan, access and do, need more research and the realistic dangers and entry requirements (could be a part of no 1)">

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

these are all strong ideas, with a common thread running thru them all of the aftermath of the collapse of soviet influence, so perhaps that is the BIG project for the next 5 years,a nd you break it up into a series of smaller projects, much as you have done already, so now we have to decide which is the best one to do next..

which one do you care the most about, and which one is the most realistic to achieve??

May 15

Me:

thanks Paul, youre right im struggling at the moment with which one to do.

I think i'll continue with my Oxford based project at the moment just to keep busy and motivated, while i research the other ideas and their viability, just worried that the work I show from this wont have any relevance for my final work as I cannot hand in two completley seperate pieces? and I will also stretch myselftoo thin photographicly.

Another plan is to continue to segment and order the work ive already done on the Chechen refugees, so it becomes stronger as a piece of work and will also make more sense when I display it. (did you see the work i did recently?...heres the link incase you havent havent had time to take a look yet:

Chechen Refugees Edited:http://kellingham .viewbook.com/portfolio/permalink/83428/d36a6a93d33f9b

Biger edit of best images: http://kellingham .viewbook.com/permalink/103524/d36a6a93d33f9b#1

(I thought that I could seperate them into segments: People,children,audio etc but I dont want to pay for another website.

Also reading 'To catch a Tartar' by Chris Bird very insightful,

January

2010-01-23T05:12:00.000-08:00

New Days

2009-11-25T09:55:00.000-08:00

I haven't written much on my blog for a while, I feel that most people on the course are also quiet.

This time from Sep to December seems to quiet and a bit like 'limbo'.

With the fact that we are supposed to be working on the Citizen Journalism project and 'thinking' about our group project?...

I am feeling frequently more distant from the other students on the course and I may have ostracise myself anyway...but the lack of dialoug and discussion about ideas and projects intended for the 'group project' is worrying and at the same time disheartaning.

I seem to have too many ideas and directions when I really want to just find some purity and simplicity in my work now. I am also worried about the lack of exposure of new 'good' photographers etc...

I am working on my Immigrants project and today I had a real shock!...a flatmate of mine from Brazil who i'd being photographing was taken away by Immigration today, up to 15 people came into my house, banged around and opened bedroom doors!....they asked me for my passport, then interrogatted me!.....I never saw hinm go..they just said: well you wont see him again, I said who? they said youre friend .....then tried to get more information out of me....they were polite I guess and didnt destroy anything..its just a shock! and a bite of reality., I didn't get to say goodbye and I was made to feel like he was just like a drug dealer or something !.....

2009-10-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

Ideas for Citizen Journalism projects

1) Citizen Journalism In Russia

2) Representing the Dead (Citizen Journalism as a witness)

3) Russian Nationalism

2009-10-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.gauravonomics.com/blog/citizen-propaganda-in-contemporary-conflicts-the-case-of-israel-gaza-russia-georgia-and-china-tibet/

2009-10-13T10:05:00.001-07:00

After a fact-finding trip to Georgia, Ivan Sigal talks about the phenomenon of information vertigo –

In an environment where primary sources of information are opaque and of uncertain reliability (and perception is key here), we encounter the phenomenon of information vertigo.
Information vertigo is the sickening feeling you get when you recognize that nothing reported can truly be verified. Mass media, ostensible eyewitness reports, images, video, documents: all blends into a mush of hearsay when root sources of information have been corrupted.
In the absence of a sense of what to trust, we develop a frantic, aggressive assertion toward what we think we know. It is not just citizen propaganda, but an attempt to establish clear positions in a world void of facts.
Citizen media relies on professional journalism and access to official data, as well as online mechanisms such as comments for verification. In the absence of legitimate information sources, it’s difficult to presume that citizen media could or should have filled the gaps.

Chechnya

2009-10-13T05:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.kavkazcenter.com/

This link was given to me by Chechen refugees at Bielany when I was there doing my photo story for Unit 1:1.

Often I was shown by random youths images of violence and Chechen troop action y mobile phone, although most of the young men who were trying to talk to me never took part in the action, they may have seen or experienced the violence and action first hand.

So even though the refugees were escaping the trouble in their homeland they were quite proud to show for example: the rocketing of a civillian car in the mountains of chechnya, telling me profundly that it contained Russian perssonell only. For me I couldnt see that, It could have been Russian civillian refugees or journalists escaping for all I knew; there was a ceartain glee in the faces of the refugees as they showed me these images, leaving a contridiction and a bad taste in my mouth.

Does violence breed violence and hatred breed hatred? or is it always there showing itself in blind. Nationalism on both sides,.

Of course I saw Chechen NGO magazines showing the bodies of tortured young men and women from the 2nd Chechen War to the present Mafia state, and of course we see the TV footage of the anniversary of Beslan and the Theatre sieze on the Russian Channels.

Which is truth, which is propaganda or do they both blur?...in the end maybe its the images we see most of that pertain our truth, and then it must be the Russian and Western media because I can only imagine that unless one visits the refugee camps In Poland etc or is working with Chechen and Russian NGO's in the Caucusses' we don't often see their view of the situation,their impressions and anger, their images of the violence.

The old cliche of war: 'the winners always write history'seems to still be justified at least in the Russian-Caucasus conflicts.

CITIZEN JOURNALISM OR CITIZEN PROPOGANDA?

2009-10-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

Ethan Zuckerman, the co-founder of the citizens’ media project Global Voices, notes an interesting angle to the Russo-Georgian Conflict:

Part of the reason this war is such a riddle is that we’ve entered a new phase in contemporary conflict: the world of citizen propaganda… What may be less expected is that citizen media accounts - blogs of eyewitnesses, jouralists [sic] writing in a personal capacity, the writings of people who know and are passionate about the region - are actively engaged in rhetorical warfare as well. Georgian, Russian and Ossetian bloggers - whether off-duty journalists or ordinary citizens - all want the suffering of their group acknowledged on a global stage and are all presenting the conflict from their personal perspectives. These perspectives sometimes include troubling eyewitness accounts, and sometimes include amplification of rumors, usually ones that support that author’s interperative [sic] frame.

CITIZEN JOURNALISM 2009

2009-10-10T13:20:00.001-07:00

Citizen war-reporter? The Caucasus test

Evgeny Morozov, 18 - 08 - 2008

The Georgia-Russia war has exposed some of the flaws in the idea of citizen journalism, says Evgeny Morozov.

18 - 08 - 2008

o watch Russian leaders and media make the public case for war with Georgia when the conflict was still in its infancy was also to wonder why at that point there was still so little factual evidence - particularly photos and videos - from observers on the ground in South Ossetia's capital, Tshkinvali. The Kremlin's spokespersons wanted the world to believe that the city had just suffered a Stalingrad-like devastation - though there was as yet no visible proof of the thousands of victims claimed.

It seemed a golden opportunity. After all, Time magazine had famously proclaimed "you" - that is, all of us - its "person of the year" in 2006. Surely news of the award, and the technology to act on it, had reached South Ossetia - so that at least one person would produce a conclusive account of how much damage had been inflicted on the city and its inhabitants. Where, in short, were the citizen journalists?

The screen of war

As the Caucasus war unfolded, those traditional media organisations that still had bureaus anywhere near that exotic part of the world struggled to fly in professional reporters. The Kremlin already had a head-start in winning its domestic public-relations battle: in the absence of much evidence to the contrary, its claims of more than 1,500 victims of "Georgian aggression" found a ready, and outraged, audience. Only later did humanitarian organisations such as Human Rights Watch release reports suggesting that the true number of casualties was much lower and that level of destruction had been greatly overstated; few in Russia seemed to be paying attention by that point.

http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/citizen-war-reporter

' Letter to myself '

2009-10-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

hi all

we would like you all to write a 'letter to myself' on your blog to sum up where you think you are at present an where you want to go in the future. This should be an an honest assessment of what you have learned so far on the course, and what areas you are stronger in, and what areas you need to work on developing more - like a strengths and weaknesses assessment exercise
this will help us and you to concentrate on developing your practice more effectively
if you can do this in advance of your first tutorials it would be a great help

thanks paul

Paul Lowe

(could you all please post

a link to your 'letter' to the tutorial slot you are having with john so he can easily find it)

t

I have been asked to write a 'Letter to myself'
I need to manage my time on the course more productively and leave as much time and effort for producing the work as for writing and presenting the finished work.
I am disappointed in my essay for unit 1:1 I know where I went wrong and yet still handed in the work.
Although I did pass and also believe I came up with some original thought and analysis I realise that without backing this up with academic support and sufficient referencing It has no merit.
I did not really do very well in my BA dissertation either, although I think I express my views,influences and arguments well in person and especially In my mind I have a problem really putting this down on paper in a professional academic way. I need to spend as much time on text as I do with my photographs & research.
Grammar and poor referencing let me down. In small defence I did reference In my text and numerous times within my Bibliography, also my word count was correct, but I did not include the Quotes and title etc.
I was pleased with the mark for my Photostory 'Five floors in Bielany' I worked very hard on this document. The mark was justified I think, just my final presentation etc pulled the mark down, this was In part because I thought that we had to present the work on 'Photoshelter'.
I also edited & scanned the work In the last two weeks left to finish both assignments; I should have left more time to edit and develop the work, but as this work, to me is the most marketable and related In part to my essay I decided to use my work on Chechen refugees In Poland for my Unit 1:2.

In need advice In writing critical texts and referencing etc, but I can spend more time researching and practising this, It is important for applying for funding,Grants,competitions or teaching.
In regard to the Photography and story telling,I do believe I have something to say In a original style, which still leans towards the foundation of documentary photography. This is backed up by the great feedback from my peers and teacher.
Not including the difficulties of getting new work from emerging photographers published, I feel at my age I need to be told the truth about my professional prospects and I need help with brutal editing. So far In my photography career since leaving Newport in 2006 I have had good feedback about my work and no reason to feel disheartened, but everything seems to come only to middle distance.
If its possible I need to know how to improve my presentation and images to become more successful, I think a brace editor or agency might see something worthwhile In my work, but how do I convince them so?

Don't get me wrong I have confidence and belief that I am a good photographer with a different and strong idea of the world and its modern,complex issues. I also feel their is a pressure to conform and commercialise my images in some way to gain more recognition and work in today's industry; compromise.
Also I know I only changed career Five years ago, graduating three years ago, so although I'm over 30 I am still beginning.
But I have to face the facts that If something doesn't move for me In this career; be It a commission, agency acceptance, competition etc (I could consider teaching, but I feel I need more success and experience first) then I will have to consider changing career again and continuing my practise possibly in an amateur way only, I cant afford to struggle anymore. Its been Five years now where I have sacrificed nearly everything for photography.
I don't want this to sound like self pity etc; but It is amazing if people like my work,see something different and believe 'I have something' but without getting any work shown or published its hard to take my opportunities seriously.

I shouldn't jump the gun we are just at the start of the course, I enjoy 99% of all aspects of the course and try to participate In as much as I can. I have more chances than most because I am not working most of the time, making great contacts,listening and being helped by great recognised editors and photographers is what makes Paul's course at LCC so worthwhile. I am really looking forward,(despite the bickering) to the group project.

It is still strange 'online' still feels abstract, and even when I see Paul or John at LCC I feel that I couldn't talk to them now, with all their time taken up by us and the full-time course.
I wish that we could at least all meet in person or at least 1-1 with our tutors if we had the chance, at least 2 or 3 times in the two years. Their is still a detachment I feel, but If it wasn't for the online course I wouldn't have been able to attend at all, so in reality I shouldn't complain, I just hope that we have the same opportunities available to us at the end of the course as the F/T students.

Ive wrote and waffled too much already, so to sum up as Paul suggests my aspirations and purpose for the rest of the course and its conclusion:
I have learned to listen more and strengthen my ideas and purpose from my peers and tutors comments.
I'm more tolerant of other photographers their views and practise even If I don't believe In their images, purpose and ideals. I hope I'm less arrogant and more empathetic.
I need to develop better editing & writing skills and experiment with platforms and the web to bring my purpose and images to a wider audience.
I need to back up original thought with facts and accepted academic ideas.
I am a natural photographer and I can gain trust and connection with my subjects, I need to work on this and gain more confidence.
I need the real help of my course tutors to realise this.
Everyone has different experiences and different perspectives on life using photography but with Paul & Johns help if they can help me find out 'where I am' ,'I can find out where to go'.

Towards the end of course I would like to have produced a saleable book on my 'Chechen' work,an exhibition worthy to be examined by the industry experts,at least one published story and gained one commission and a portfolio good enough to apply for Agence Vu.

Thanks

Four Floors In Bielany (Viewbook Video)

2009-09-05T16:10:00.001-07:00

A Chechen Diary (Day 1)

2009-07-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

Bielany Hotel is a Refugee centre in Warsaw housing mostly refugees from Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.
There are 368 Rooms and Four floors,
There are about 100 family groups sharing up to three rooms per family.
The other rooms are occupied by single men, living together in up to groups of ten people. There are is also one Armenian family and one man in an isolated room because he is H.I.V positive. I have been told there are also a few Russian families pretending to be Chechen.
Some families have been living in these rooms for up to five years awaiting refugee status with the oppertunity to work in Poland or leave for another country which may accept them.
I visted first in January 2009 with a Photojournalist friend from the Sputnik group and a Warsaw based Journalist,and used a 35mm film camera and a 120 6x6 Yashica Med format camera.
This time i used a translator who spoke Russian, Polish and English and visited in July 2009, this time i used a digitial camera (which i ahted) and my 35mm film camera again.
I cropped everything down to 6x6 or letterbox to keep with my ideals and style for the work. I took notes from the families and individuals i inteviwed,often had tea and lunch with them and spent about one-two hours with each of them. Often i spent 4-5 hrs at the centre arriving from 10 am because the residents hardly ever woke up early.I talked to the director when i arrived (who came across surprisingly as an instituionalised racist?)...so in all i visted the Hotel seven days. Its a hard place and the children and residents drain you, harrowing stories,brave people,frustration and apathy.
I take and promise, i give them copies of my work at the end but they all need something 'solid!' what do i give them back?..will i return can i?...i need to find someone to publish the work to at least do these tortured people some justice by my work, what a waste if the work is never seen or continued, (if i can get funding) the project feeds me, but it has still left a bitter and ethicial taint in my mouth.

A Chechen Diary

2009-07-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

After reading the amazing book 'Open Wound' by Stanley Greene i have decided (and i hope not to pretensiously) in homage to Greene;i will post some slivers of my Contact sheets and notes from the days and notes i took while visiting the 'Bielany Refugee Camp' in Poland this month for my Unit 1:1 Project for the online course in Doc Photography and Photojournalism at LCC.
I am hoping that after feedback from Course leaders for the work i will be able to develop the work further and with advice approach Magazines and UK newspapers with the idea of publishing the work.
This project i hope will form part of my final project for the course.
Any feedback and advice with useful critic welcome:

Poems & Inspiration

2009-06-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

Lost 2009

Who am I?

who eats birds,

who washes his face in

the Cholera of Days

Ghost, 1983

I felt soft fingers at my throat
It seemed someone was strangling me

The lips were hard as they were sweet
It seemed someone was kissing me

My vital bones about to crack
I gaped into another's eyes

I saw it was a face I knew
A face as sweet as it was grim

It did not smile it did not break
Its eyes were wide and white its skin

I did not breathe I did not weep
I raised my hand and touched its cheek

Update: The Excelsior :http://pa.photoshelter.com/gallery/Excelsior-Days/G0000BwkfQqYj9vk

2009-06-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

Lightstalkers

2009-06-04T05:23:00.000-07:00

I have updated my lightstalkers page with extra gallaries.
I hardly ever recieve any feedback on lightstalkers or replies to my posts etc, i feel it is very U.S.A dominated.
This will serve as a temp website until have the time and money to produce a better on than my old clickpic site.

http://www.lightstalkers.org/kirkellingham

News

2009-05-31T13:27:00.000-07:00

Be more positive!!!

1) I have a group exhibition at the Queens Park Arts Centre in Aylesbury Bucks from the 29th of June until the 6th of July.
It will be an display of my two students on the basic photojournalism and documentary photography course i ran in March 2009.

2) I will have my work "all about her" published in a book with criticial essays on the them the : Pursuit of Happiness.
There will also be an exhibition in London this Autumn, location to be confirmed

3) Ive applied for a group funded project for a Belarus Youth Magazine, i will hear the results by the end of June.

4) I have applied for the Royal Photographic Societies MA Bursary and forwarded the Teacher accreditation from John or Paul to be returned

I will post more news on these subjects when i have them.

End of May

2009-05-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

Well its the end of May and i am still floating around in a state of flux. I havnt taken many photographs for my projects in the last few weeks apart from a trip to St Ives with my girlfriend.
I am starting to lose a conecction with the other people on my course, my ideas, style and perspective on photojournalism etc seems different to many of the people on the course.
This is mostly my fault as i havnt attended many base camps, but although there are 30 people on the course i still havnt seen many peoples work or blogs and only a few projects have inspired me, (i hope that doesnt sound arrogant)....
The best components for me on the course have been a few lectures and the tutorials with John, although i belive that i should show my work to Homer as well to get 2nd opinions and a different perspective on my ideas and styles.
Its a pity there arent more Teachers to show work to and bounce ideas off, as the other students on the course dont have that much time to comment on work/ feedback etc, myself included.
I am still confused with the hand in dates for the essay?..will it be July the 24th the same as the extended story deadline.

I will travel again to Warsaw to work on my Chechen Refugee/Migrant project from the 1st of July-14th..so this work will probobly be too late for my extended story hand in. So i haver to make a choice between the Excelsior Days project or Polish Away...both OK work but for me a hand in for July is too soon to produce a strong enough work from these images, for a July deadline, but does this matter?.....as for presentation im still not sure, i would like to show the work in a new imaginative way, but im not that techinicial...but even so i dont wont to get hung up on all the techinicial issues..final cut, multimedia concepts, flash like some people on the course... Blah..balah blah....if the images are strong maybe they will stand up on their own?.......
when i look on media storm i see great projects..but it looks like you have to add a lot of dross images to a slideshow to make it work.....to fill in the gaps, for time etc with a lot of repetition to make the story work as a per a moving image presentation/film....dumbing down from good photographers..because 15 amazing images isnt enough to make a slideshow..there are expections such a sthe story on Rwandian wome and their children; the legacy of rape. Id much rather see text, sound, music maps etc and dialouge interview fill the spaces rather than generaic transistion images.

Wiki Essay/Blog feedback/ Magnum Award

2009-05-15T03:26:00.000-07:00

1) Wiki, essays
Whats the point in the wiki?...will anyone read it apart from the teachers and a few studentslike these blogs maybe the teachers should add comments as i hope we do get marked for these as i noticed that not many people have added posts...(maybe not my opinion,but a statement)
The subjects are good if not broad....and im glad its only 2,500 words...as i have a nerve injury that cause me to make many typing mistakes and take me ages to write much..so when i write i really try, but excuse the spelling mistakes.

2) Blog feedback
Not much really, i would like to add more but i seem to have aproblem adding comments to other peoples blogs; also now people havnt replied to my feedback (even though they have been small) and advice etc..but i belive many people are working on stories and working...shame though as i think peer feedback and positive critic should be more prevalent...People are too nice! of course our peers and teachers dont wont to dishearten us but we/i need criticism ..however hard..harder the better!..to move on grow and get better...no?....

3)Magnum Expression Award
I was dissopointed with the amount of dialouge concerning the idea to have a critic of work to a view of producing a group submission for the Magnum expression award..only Grey Layachek replied..maybe our two works wouldnt be compatable?..but i thought it could be a relavent idea and a way of making some more connections that may last until further projects and collabarations, group agency projects?....
It could be wrong or it could be right; but the first impression i could draw from this, is that people dont really like my photos or belive that my work is compatable in a project like this side by side with their own images?....in a way i would prefer to read this criticism, than presume it!

Magnum Expression Award, intended submission.."Remember Us" Chechen Migration
Copyright Kirk Ellingham

Extended Project ( Collabrative project ideas)

2009-05-04T05:27:00.002-07:00

COLLABRATIVE IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE
JUMPING THE GUN (Online magazine for the MAPJD09 GROUP)

1) URBAN & RURAL ISSUES
2) THE MOVEMENTS OF PEOPLE
3) MODERN JOURNEYS (The Photographic Journey/ its history and relavance as a document in todays instant spot-news saturated world?)
4) One Week in my World (multimedia online document on one week in the life of a subject in a country such as another photojournalist or reporter in a foreign country such as a doppledonger of ourselves?, area, job or establishemnt that has lacked media attention over the years)....
It should be set as a commission based idea as if set by an agency or paper and proposed and guided by on eof out tutors, such as John, Paul, Ed,Homer or Adam Broomberg etc
5) Natural Resources & Envoirement (cliched but relavant)

Extended Project:Part One

1)I have some ideas for my extended project:
I am going to return to Warsaw in July to continue work on the Chechen Refugees, also travelling to the border with Belarus to document the border and the train from Belarus to Warsaw.

2) Also hopefully i will travel into Belarus to find the Chechen Refugees that are travelling to Poland.
With the hope of selling the work, i will visit some friends of friends in Minsk to document the Kupalla Pagan Festival and also document some daily life/travel in Belarus with aview to returning in the Winter.
Possibly i can supply some images of Summer in Belarus through Demotix etc..any advice and outlets that may publish the work and any links to photographers who have made work in Belarus appreciated.

3) Continue with Excelsior Days and Polish Away for my own personal use and maybe i will be able to use it for projects on next years terms.

Extended Project Part Two/Presentation Ideas:

If anyone is interested and Paul says its possible?.....
i am thinking of a collabrative presentation for the extended project hand in...maybe im jumping the gun?......
But if 2-3 people have inter-related projects as mine....can we or could we produce a group hand in, in the form of a web page or a book through on of the book producing websites and share the costs?...
Possible i can bring this up on the Next Base Camp session....

Last Point:

I will raise this as a discussion on Ning, but all these extra web based applications such as Diigo and Twitter etc.....what exactly is the purpose and implementation of these applications for our MA course etc?....
Honestly i still havnt got around understanding the use and relevance of these applications in relation to our studies yet!...call me a fool or just a ageing luddite, but could someone explain it to me please!......
If any of them will for go the need to write a horrendously boring and tediouse dissertation for this course, im happy?......

New Term: April onwards

2009-05-04T05:27:00.001-07:00

OTHER FIVE PICTURE STORIES & ONGOING PROJECTS

What to drop and what to continue with?

Chechen Refugess in Warsaw

The Polish Away:

Polish migrants living in the UK : Will be better as a Portrait project i feel

FAR EAST UK (Lowestoft,Suffolk)

Lowestoft, the most easterly town in the United Kingdom, was established as a fishing village in the early 14th century but the decline in the fishing area has seen a substantial decrease in the number of vessels fishing from our town.
Lowestoft has had a tough time in recent years. Growing population and the growing shortage of jobs has put a strain on the local economy. Numerous regeneration projects have seemingly had little affect on a town with growing apathy from it's residents.

Five Picture Stories: Excelsior Days

2009-05-04T05:26:00.001-07:00

I had a very rewarding tutorial with John on Tuesday; the work that i started on my first ' Person at Work' project has developed into a project that i would like to continue in the UK.
As John said there are some good pictures,but i need to start approaching the customers for portraits, dialog etc to gain a more intimate insight and produce a stronger project.
Even though the owners gave me permission intialy, they have been hestitaint about photographing their customers, one of the long term waiters 'Kosta' is very interested in my project.
John said i should approach them with some pictures of my work and put the idea of making a project on them (the owners) and the cafe. I need more access and less secret type images.
I wanted to ask the other teachers and students about the ethics involving paying for subjects in these projects?
Any advice feedback appreciated.............
I know many photographers do; Pieter Hugo,Ed Kashi (even though he expressed a dislike for this approach)
the problem is, how to approach the subjects in a paid manner, an advert in the window or through the owners?
as many of the customers are people with drug and alcohol addiction problems as well as sufferers of mental and addiction related illnesses.....where will the money go?...what image, idea willl that project to them about photographers,students etc?......plus many of these people have been tolerated,if not liked by the owners over the years and it is one of the few places on the Cowley Rd that will even let them in....so the advantage of being paid by me, may lead to trouble with the owners?.....but i know many of these customers struggle to buy a coffee, so maybe i can buy them a meal or a coffee...but without patronising them?......a dilema.
I have taken portraits of homeless in the past, but only a few particpated, but they didnt want money,they belived i was genuine and trusted me...even though this often left me feeling guilty when i walked home to my comfortable flat in Cardiff,while they smoked crack and slept under the railway bridge!
This project alowys me to be much more removed than that.....
AGAIN AND ADVICE AND FEEDBACK ON THE WORK AND ADVICE ON HOW TO PURSUE THE WORK AND INFORMATION AND ADVICE ON THE ETHICS OF PAYMENT FOR SUBJECTS PLEASE

The Excelsior Cafe

Andeas and Georges Koumy
emigrated from Cyprus to the UK in 1954.
They opened the 'Excelsior' in 1961.
It hasnt changed much since the 60's but now its dark confines seem to attract clientale who live on the fringes of modern society.
I wanted to record the ambience of the cafe, its age and the characters that sought a brief shelter within its melancholy confines.

2009-04-02T04:37:00.000-07:00

Well i havnt blogged!.... for a while so probobly this will go against my mark?

Havnt taken many pictures for a while..im finding it hard to get inspiration...

i still have my Images from the Chechen project in Warsaw, but i need to scan them and also go back to Warsaw to finish but i dont have te cash at the moment.

I suppose im at this stage now of half apathy half frustration...im consciouse that is shouldnt moan so much.....

Im teaching p/t and thats interesting..finding out how much i know...but this finsihes soon.

Im looking at the other people on the course and most of them are working photographers....or have succesful jobs..me im in Limbo.

My photography isnt progressing on the online course isnt elping me as i feel too distant from the course and its Tutors...without group and peer crites and the thought that we will have an Online exhibition is depressing..i joined the course really to find out where im going wrong commecialy and how to improve my work,its output and its exposure and also make more useful contacts?

the old networking to suceed story!

But it seems now that if i dont get a certain tutorial with certain other students or i dont go to Perpignion or i dont have the money to work on a saleble, commercial conformist project i will be left behind..again!.......well im not going o be negative anymore if i can help it...but my fustation get the better of me sometimes....

The portrait project and the fact that we will not get marked on thses early projects has created some apathy within me and i feel a little dispirited at the moment....

Im stil trying to get my 5 picture story together and itsnot easy....acess to a intresting story has not been easy....i tried a loca circus but they wanted a £100 deposit to take images!...

so have three options left and not much time:

1) The Tea dances :but there are only two left before the hand in date

2) The seik temple..but that dosnt leave many days as its only every Sunday

3) The Polish and Brazilian Migrants i know..but they dont have many days free and it seems much too disparte for a 5 pic story?

there is a 4th bu that will be too late for hand in..ive been asked to take image of a theatre festival in Poland..but its from the 22nd-29th of April!........

Well as i dont have any new images to show an im still waiting for my ned digitial camera from ebay!!!...ahhhhh where is it?....here is an image from my portraits to cheer me and others up

Street Tutorial with John Easterby

2009-02-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

This tutorial was good as there were only threeof us; Stephen Javis,Raul Stef and myself.
For once there was enough time to talk about our work, chat a little and for job to make more informed comments and critique at least two projects and one of my edited images.
It was hard to detract myself from the way i shoot on the street to match the brief and as John said; make my images more dramatic.
They are mostly dreamy type,sureall adventures into different places, but this happened and looked this way becasue i shot on film. proceesed myself and scanned myself (why tjhey were two dark)
also for some of the images i used an old zeiss Ikon..which has no focus just distance marks, but the lens is sharp and the shutter so quiet. Unfortunatly their often ,focus and exposure mistakes.
In all John said he liked the work,would like to see more and others in colour,more dram-dynamics,maybe get closer..try to get the wasted aspects like; processing,camera,scanning probelems out of the way.
In all a good tutorial..not sure how it helps asi already know my problems (technical and editing myown work) just need help getting over this...but it good for morale/confidence to have positive view of youre work by repected teachers and real anayalis of the weaker points to know and possibly improve...i hope we get John again for other crits.
I have to give a workshop on 'Introduction to Documentary Photography' at the Arts Center where i had an exhibition recently..will be my fist and i doubt i know enough and am not succesful enough to teach..but will be a good experince!..at least its not at a college...
any advice appreciated.

Tutorials

2009-02-13T06:08:00.000-08:00

Had my 2nd round of tutorials with Homer..it helped i think but i wish i'd done an edit of the best work like other people had..that way i think i would of kept Homer more interested and he miht of talked more about ceartain images?
But in the ned its not praise we need for our good images but constructive critascism of our weak points which i got.
Only dissapointing bit was that i was prepared for some sound critic about my previosue work and portfolio..which i dint get!...instead Homer concentrated on the good portfolios.(which are already published and 'Jesus of Siberia' is amazing..if not a subject done to death now, but the images are great and positive (if thats the truth? as i didnt see much negative images about their lifestyle).....but the students who arnt comerccialy succesful should maybe take some advice form her as well as the Course Tutors?
sorry i dont want to be pecieved as a moaner!..im enjoying the course..i just hope as the course progressses we get longer tutorials and the same exposure and oppertunities as the the full time srtudents.

Street Photography

2009-02-04T07:16:00.000-08:00

my tips from my experince:
1) for me it looks better to use an old camera and look seriouse not like a loud tourist?...if youre confident people seem less worried and an old camera sometimes creates this aura of a professional at work, an Nikon F1 is perfect because its 35mm and you can remove the top and use it like a rolleiflex for candid images

2) Yes looking at the buildings etc is good...i always look beyond the person im photographing..if they notice me and never directly at them after ive taken the picture..this has allowed me to get quite close sometimes..because most people dont belive youre photographing them or why you would?Also it depnds on the country youre in as well, i think..i found Prague easy because people are not really confrontational and it has a history of street photgraphy and great poetic photographers..Japan i guess should be easier becasue of all the cameras?....UK i think is a bit harder becasue people ask you what are you photographing and why? their aware of image and its use subversive use now more in our society

3) Choose a busy part of the day..early morning when people start work or early evening when people return from work...their often too busy to worry or too preoccupied to notice you..also the same for Bus and train stations and plenty of human interaction there

4) Dont look smart,dont look timid and dont look approchable......it helps that i already look like a tramp with a broken nose!....

its hard anyway to expect magicial moments when you have quick assignment, 2 rolls f film min etc mostly yo u could roam the streets for three months, get to know the place and still only have three good images..but sometimes thats enough or you get lucky in one day!Its a different approach...you have to float around the street and when youre in the zone it feels good....take basic quiet camera with 28mm / 35mm lens and enjoy for this the best tools are youre eye and soul and of course luck

(sorry if it all sounds cliche or pompouse..my street work isnt amazing but ive had some lucky moments..i'll post some old stuff on my blog and on my page)

Snow and unsatisfied

2009-02-02T11:37:00.000-08:00

My girlfriend went back to Poland for ten days today..so i was in the perfect meloncholy mood to take street photographs.
I waited in the snow in Oxfords ancient back alleys, for studenst workers and assorted tourists an toffs to slide into my viewfinder. I used an old Zeiss Ikon..so no fcus just distance gueswork!..but its lens is sharop and some beautiful mistakes, wells see.
I got aphonecall later from my girlfriend to say the flight was cancelled so my mood changed and i went home.
Next i'll try the poorer end of town and then i have the Poland trip to develop yet.

Unsatisfied

Im a little unsatisfied on this course with the lack of interest im feeling from others students to leave feedback about out tutorials and work.I know everybodies busy and i should make first contact i guess if want to create a group. They skill level is varied and ive yet to prove my worth really, but some of the others seem to still view photgraphy as a hobby..but it consumes me every hour..its my life although this sounds pompous..ive put myself in a posistion where i must achive something more in photography because i cant find work doing anything else now (though ive tried and i need money to help me on this course)...asparartions to join VU or Magnum one day must rest with reality now.

The othet thing is going over most of the same things from Newport which can be good, and may give me another chance with the similar assignments? but likestreet photography?..i feel like ive produced some good work over the post in this field but its never helped my career? from thew work in Czech republic and the Balkans to Bolivia?....all te comments ive ever got from people like 'Kathy Ryan and Womble from the Hereford festival i: yes nice images..but it looks like a college project?..or weve seen similar? or their are already great and few photographers doing and being succesful wirth journeys and st photos now..you should concentarte on my intimate subjects and deper projects etc..(sometimes i agree)

so to shoot this assignment with 2 rollls of film?..maybe a day? could be only advantagouse to outr tutors in seeing what interests our eyes and minds and if we can see the beautiful in the mundance...the strange in the dark places?

But to make a tutorial and proper mark assesment from this assignment would be pointless? (maybe were not getting marked on this?...not sure hat Paul said; but i belived it was just the person at work 1 we wernt getting assesed on..?)

[

People at Work / Round Two

2009-02-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

Day 1) Piano renovators:

It went well no probems,i was alittle cramped space and not as photogenic as i thought it ould be, spent a few hours there and nice people..thought id got a few good shots.
I have two probelms at the moment, both of my own design really:
one is i think my eyes are getting worse as it seems hard to focus with MF sometimes with artificial lighting and with my nerve damge i cant get those long exposure without shaking...(it used to be easy for me to take 1sec shots b4)
Also i prefer using film, but the cost of develop and scan is high...well i cant afford a digitial again, since i sold my D40 in Brazil) so i think until i can get scans done at LCC i'll just get the filmn developed at tescos and scan them at home....
Only bad thing the whole company is quite religiouse and they tried to invite me to a church meal that night and convert me!....i polietly refused.

Day 6) The Household Cavalry ,Knightsbridge

It went well i think..i did turn up to the Whitehall barrcks first by mistake.
Really friendly troopers apart from being chaporoned by a young soilder all day and finding out that im acutely allerguic to Horses and hay!!
I took 6 rolls! instead of the asked for 2..not developed yet so well see if my enthuasim is premature.

2009-01-30T10:08:00.000-08:00

Priest: missed images i think are good?..lack of time

2009-01-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

2009-01-30T07:53:00.000-08:00

I thought the people at work assignent would be easy for me , as i had already been through the same assignments at Newport, i was wrong.

I think becasue of the way i approach my subjects and fall softly into the photgraphy zone rather than jump into places and situations i still found a two hour assignment with two rolls of film hard...the good pictures for me seem to come towards the end.

Homers tutorial was very good but brief, hes hard and honest but i felt he missed out on some of my better images and when the photos from photoshelter were opened up, they look blurred?...i dont know if that was just shelters software or i compressed them too much to fit?

the frustrating thing is i kniow i can take better images, but i normally have many mistakes, experiments on a contact sheet before i find my place.

Lets hope round two brings comes out better for Homers composition.

2009-01-30T07:52:00.000-08:00

2009-01-30T07:51:00.000-08:00

1st Assignment 'People at Work'

2009-01-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

PEOPLE AT WORK assignment One

Week One:
Started to take photos of a Brazilian friend who work as a building supervisor at one of the University Student Libiaries in Oxford. He came here five years ago and first worked as a cleaner.
I used my old Pratika, still havent developed film yet, not sure how the images will turn out as 1: the camera is old and unrealiable and the envoirement quite boring.

Week Two:
Gained permission to photograph the Royal Horse Guards, just waiting for date and time comformation.
Trying to gain permission to Photograph the Polish Priest in Aylesbury, my girlfriend whos Polish is trying to arrange it for me, so hopefully i can meet him Sat and photograph him this Sunday.
Talked again to Costa the Greek Cypriot who works at the strange cafe on Cowley Rd Oxford, the place is frequented by all types from Drug addicts to Transvestite cowboys.
He said i could photograph one day in the week so hopefully next Tuesday Morning...hes quite strange looking but its still going to be hard to concentrate only on him and not the rest of the wierd clientale.

Migrant Workers. People who work with Animials.

Im very interested in the topic of migration and imigration as well as the concept of:
Exiles and the issues surrounding the idea of being an exile and i'd like to try to fit that in around my Major or colloborative project.
I'd like to extend the work if it becomes succesful after this edit and work in a documentary portrait way..but somehow different maybe using text and landscapes, sound but depends how this edit turns out.
Also it fits into my first meeting with the 'Chechen Refugees' in Poland and my open ideas at the moment taking in : Refugess, Migrants, Politicial Exiles from Russia or wanted by Russia, exiled communities, social pariahs and issolation..ethnic an dsocial within the Cauccauses.
Hopefully Paul will be able to help and guide me with contact etc.
Will decide later to make it broad or more intimate perssonel.

People who work with animals, especially Horses interests me also but at this moment only for these first assignments, but maybe i can fit that into a portrait project later.

Ongoing
Still working on edit for the exhibiton ' The Death Of Memory' at Aylesbury Arts Center concerning the continuing decline of my Grandfather and his loss of memory due to Vascular Dimentia. (five year Project).