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 Reading List & Links Phillip Blekinsop East Timor http://www.foto8.com/new/online/interviews/1148-philip-blenkinsop-east-timor Mari Bastashevski http://maribastashevski.com/ http://www.aperture.org/aperture-199.html#five Stephen Dupont Weapons Platoon http://stephendupont.squarespace.com/ Jim Goldberg's work on migrants called Open See http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?pxid=956 Boris Mikhailov: Look at me ,I look at water: http://www.steidlville.com/books/117-Look-at-Me-I-Look-at-Water.html Tim Hetherington: Restrepo http://restrepothemovie.com/ Brenda Ann Kennaly http://therawfile.org/ Antoine D'Agata: http://www.americansuburbx.com/2009/03/antoine-dagata-is-empty-shell-walking.html Paul Seawright: sectarian Murder: http://www.paulseawright.info/sectarian2.html Araki: Tokyo/A sentimental Journey:
You tube gadget
Boniface Mwangi: (banned from facebook) http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/media/56757 The places we live by Jonas Bendikson/multimedia & lifesize installation: http://www.aperture.org/tpwl/ Roger Ballen/ the natural and the performed: http://www.rogerballen.com/ The use of postcards for campaigning: 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/ Yasmine Eid-Sabbaghhttp: www.imagesagainstwar.com/541.html Ciara Leeming: http://www.ciaraleeming.co.uk/photos/young-carers-portraits/ Marcelo brodsky (photographs documents & police files) http://www.marcelobrodsky.com/intro.html Alfredo Jaar..(interactive photojournalism & multimedia) http://www.alfredojaar.net/ Polaroid: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=96471 http://www.beforeidieiwantto.org/press.html
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Dash snow Polaroids of his own drug fueled life: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/dash_snow.htm Hunter S Thompson: http://www.mbart.com/artists/_Hunter%20S.%20Thompson/_835/ Bohdan Holomicek: http://www.gallery.cz/gallery/en/Vystava/2000_10/Ramec_V.html Jo Spence (Theraputic photography) http://hosted.aware.easynet.co.uk/jospence/jo1.htm Yuri Kozyrev: 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 Possibly I will cut this down to just working with text and notes and presenting them in new ways through exhibitions, multimedia and through the internet

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

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, Synopsis A) 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 like 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) B) As well as completing the above (I may be biting of 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) Also 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. I 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) 4) October-November: work on scaning film & notebooks for book, prints, websites slideshows, fibnsising supporting text and final presentation Funding Written text Feedback

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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.

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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

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May 29

Damiandrohan@googlewave.com:

you can self-host wordpress which gives you much more flexibility, you register with someone like www.fatcow.com which is about £30 a year, download wordpress (free) and install at your online space. I have a video tutorial I can send you showing you how to do it. Then you change the look of the site with different templates and with a small bit of coding (I'm not a coder but can manage ok).

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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.

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Jul 1

Daniel:

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

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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.

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May 28

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

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

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May 28

Me:

Thanks..well I thought about the files in a physical way, but Im not sure how they should look, but I could get my translator who speaks russian to write some text for me. As for video etc maybe I could produce something interactive..a student from last year used an application, do you know what that was?
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Jun 5

Yolanda:
do you mean Silva's project? I think she used http://prezi.com/
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Jun 5

Me:
Yes, Thanks
I want to make it simple, but original and at the least stimulating, it may be a lot to do but all three concepts fulfil my desires for the final part of the course. As for the written text this is my weakest point, but if I choose a subject im interested in, it may not be so bad; just need to improve the grammar. Could I include the written dissertation part of the major project as part of my photographic work? if it was in the files as documents or as the preface part of a photographic book?

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May 28

Me:

russian-kgb-3.jpg
4E1DCD5A-0E14-4938-8E38-2D52564E9958_w400_s.jpg
ethnocaucasus.jpg
Gr_FSB_small.jpg

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May 29

Me:

http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/ctc.html http://www.logtv.com/films/chechnya/ Old film on Russain Grozny residents living in the cheynobol zone, Belarus. (I would like to contact the filmmaker in the hope that he may help me get in contact with the families, whereby I can see if they are still living in Belarus and what has changed, andphotography them as aa series of portraits for a part of my Russian Files project) Old news from the North Caucases: http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=35781 Sufism in the North Caucases http://cria-online.org/6_6.html Russians Living in Georgia http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/25/AR2008082502143.html

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May 29

Me:

The Rostov on Don-Baku highway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku-Rostov_highway_bombing http://www.rferl.org/content/Such_People_Are_The_First_To_Be_Killed/1778616.html)

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Jun 2

Me:

Layout with text ideas, audio & image
Beslandip+text.jpg
Beslandip+text03.jpg
IMG2.jpg
beslan02a.mp3

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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

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Jun 1

Me:

Work in Progress 1) A Russian File: Chechen refugees in Warsaw: http://kellingham.viewbook.com/portfolio/ma_major_project_1_chechen_refugees_in_warsaw

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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.

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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.

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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'

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Jun 5

Me:

A Hitchhiker's Guide To The North Caucasus
Published 11 November 2009 Tomas Polacek http://www.rferl.org/photogallery/2474.html

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Jun 8

Me:

In Poland relating to recent Russian occuptaion in Poland instead: Klomino: ex Soviet barracks ghost town being sold:http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/klomino-polish-soviet-era-ghost-town-for-sale-2m-euros/ Kalingrad border traffic lanes: http://copydude.wordpress.com/ Modern Polish communist party: http://www.kompol.org/

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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)

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Jun 12

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

hi kirk we 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

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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.

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Jul 1

Me:

http://afterchernobyl.com/
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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
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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.
I dont like his narration really..but an interactive website giving the people a voice hi paul this is the different interactive template I was considering as part of my Major, I would really still like to start the two other related projects at the end of summer...is it still better not to include them in the final work even as notebooks? If not would I be able to show them to other tutors/ As you said I will try to edit down the Chechen work for the editing help with you..it makes sense for me to stick with you for this project if you have the time. i'm trying to edit the work for the 'Ian Parry' award for the deadline of the 8th..if you have any time before that?..if not dont worry (I'm toying about including the notebook text and pictures as Diptypces...not sure if this distract?.) thanks

You can now add any email address to a wave!

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Jul 2

Hi Dan,
Know you must be busy...i knwo youre also fed up with the MA in part, me I just feel I need to get through it and get some of my work seen......if I get a first or anybody in the industries attention with it, i'm doubtful. Mostly we teach ourselves to improve!....my problem is i'm throwing too much emotion & time into it, i'm thinking to train for something else after the course and keep the photojournalism/Doc photography for myself as I'm sceptical it will lead to publications, money representation.....maybe a forest ranger with a darkroom in the forest! ; ). read the post by Yolanda above and if you can offer any advice or contacts that could make something more slick for me..(on a budget!) Something between a livebook site with audio and interactive parts such as the 'after Chernobyl' site above? (I could use this narrative type website to build a template for a designer to have an idea of what I require?) Hope youre work is going well? & hope to see you in Perp....I'm worried its going to be a depressing and costly week?... so toying with the idea of cancelling and going to Russia instead if not buggering off to lourdes in the week!, guess its gonna be good to meet the others and 'network'..shit I'm despiseing this word now! Any advice gratefully accepted

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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.

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Jul 4

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

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

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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

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Jul 2

Me:

OK thanks

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Jul 4

Me:

My Grandfather died on Saturday he was 88 and a Far East Prisoner of War Veteran. So i'm a bit behind and I feel I need to complete in part the project I started on him & his loss of memory due to vascular dementia. I will still do the 'Chechen' work for my final but just for the next few weeks I need to edit and take some more images connected to him. I will post a link to old and new work when its up, Thanks P.O.W Taiwan society http://www.powtaiwan.org/ MAC
_MG_4003-copy.jpg

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Jul 6

Damiandrohan@googlewave.com:

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

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Jul 6

Greg:

Very sorry to hear about your loss, Kirk.

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Jul 6

Daniel:

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Jul 6

Daniel:

Sorry to hear that fella, my condolences.

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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 2007 So 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

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Jul 7

Daniel:

Just had these pop-up in my google reader: 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/

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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.

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Jul 21

Me:

This is a photographer whose work I admire working for a time now in the North Caucasus and being successful, winning a world press award and Burn magazines emerging photographers award? (I dont think hes an emerging photographer though!) His style and way of working are I believe not disimilar to mine; using conecptual ways to interpret strange and often violent places as well as concentrating on current events. Of course he has a huge body of work for a young photographer and is doeing well. If only I could have started ten years earlier etc..I guess he speaks Russian etc. Raises two questions, if these successful and represented photographers are applying for a winning major awards aimed at emerging photographers; how can someone like myslef compete who has no representation or the resources and money to complete a body of work in an area like this to apply for grants like this; which are supposed to facilitate the opportunity to continue the work oringanly? The other it seems like luck has a lot more to do with success than talent.....prob of course but doesnt that just dispell the need to study anyway-? just plough on, travel, go to exotic war torn places (if you have the insurance & money) then maybe youll getluck, be in the right place at the right time and have something to enter for the World press award and at last get some representation and continued funds and access to finance your projects/ (That is if you still have a partner,home,family youre health or life?)........ mmmmm worth it?........i'm sure there must be many quotes about ambition ruining youre life? its not that I want to (or can give up) but I have doubts and these doubts continue...I guess we all crave recognition, thats what keep us going in one respect. http://www.burnmagazine.org/emerging-photographers-fund/ http://www.davidemonteleone.com/

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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

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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

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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 was 1. bombard college principals/heads of dept with CVs, 2-3 times a year. 2. Find outabout local adult ed officers. 3. Check vacancies online 4, 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.

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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!

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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?

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Jul 27

Cpaullowe@googlewave.com:

you could easily spend all of the rest of the course working on the presentation of the chechen project, eg book, website, multimedia etc, you have a lot of material and a lot of editing to do as well..... starting a new project at this stage may be too much...
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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.....

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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...

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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? : )

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Jul 28

Me:

some other ways of working with the images, the idea Paul had of combining the images of the ongoing conflict portrayed on Computer screens and mobile phones was great but I dont have enough images like this unless 1) I return to photographthese items, which may be problematic if individuals have moved away. 2) Could use images and video from the internet?..dont know what the copyright deatils would be about this Here are some of the images using my notes and thoughts, I though about getting a website made that be read as if a notebook with added pages of details, audio and video, viewers comments and links to agencies, charities working with the refugees but that also one that doesnt distract from my aesthetic and subtle approach. I remeber Yolanda commenting during a tutorial about how its now common for photographers to use their notebooks etc as part of their work, but I havent seen so many...but if its been done before i dont care I think bringing together my notes with their doubts and worries & ethicaldilemmas may be too soul-baring but an honest approach, as long as the images stand up on their own and the text compliments, not distracts? Any links to other photographers using notes, text and introspective analysis welcome, be they art or documentary photographers. 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

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Jul 28

Me:

001KEllingham
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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...

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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 is How is your work progressing? and where are you up too?..have you started on the supporting document yet?

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Jul 28

Amelia:

My rethink: http://issuu.com/ameliaphotos/docs/passing_through_18apr other works using text: http://issuu.com/ameliaphotos/docs/insh_allah-1 http://issuu.com/ameliaphotos/docs/silent_voice_book_layout I have some info on where I am in my Wave and will be updating it again today and tomorrow with more up to date info and edited photo links etc as the waves I feel tend to end up getting a bit spread out all over the place so it's hard to know what people are reading and what others know about my project so i will aim to do a succinct update and the proposal too. Not started planning the reasearch paper yet but I have thrown so general ideas out there about the notion and ideology of 'Home', what it means to people, the outward projection of one's home through one's house/interior and then the ideology ofutopian suburbia. I would also like to bring in theories and writings about archives as I will be adding rethink 'Passing through' project as part 1 of my major project with parts 2 and 3 being the stuff I am shooting now. Off top of my head-Jim Goldberg's work on migrants called Open See-more info here:http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?pxid=956 There are loads of doc. photographers using text so just general photobooks would be a good start but I will dig up some stuff from my computer at home as at work right now so don't have all info to hand...