Location in Moseley Village

location recce's

Saturday, May 10, 14

Location Recce’s

I had already decided that I would look for locations for my shoot in Mosley Village, because this is close to home and has some vey good shops. Being independent shops, I would be able to ask the managers/owners permission. I also took along my camera to take recce shots of the possible area’s that I could use in my images.

I need two locations for two images

A café, for the cupcake shoot

1.     Cafephilia: I spoke to the staff inside about using the café. They gave me an email address of the owner. I sent the email in the evening. I was unable to take any recce shots inside as it was to busy.

2.     Masion Mayci: The café was very busy when I went inside, I was unable to talk to anyone apart from staff, I left my card with her to give to the owner of the café. No recce shots either because it was to busy.

3.     Java Lounge: Spoke to a manger inside who said it would be a problem for me to take photographs inside the café as long it was before 10 in the morning on Thursday.

4.     Lewis of Moseley: I spoke with the owner sister, who said it wouldn’t be a problem as long as it is before 12pm as the café gets very busy after that. I took some recce images on my phone. she said she would like me to put them on twitter or facebook.

Out of the 4 possible locations, I like the Lewis of Moseley café, it has a  table at the front facing a large window giving lots of natural daylight. Cafephilia would also be good because of the side large window seating area, but I will have to wait for a response from them.

A shop, for the purse shoot.

1.     Nima Delicatessen:  I met the owners son and explained  my project. He was very helpful and said that it would be fine on Thursday morning to be able to take the photographs. I took recce shots from behind the counters and on the side. I had my 50mm lens on my camera, this didn’t give me any flexibility with the position, as the distance was really short it images are too cropped in. I think it would be better to use a wide angle lens to get more of the background in. the shop in a bespoke, interesting deli. Suitable for the shoot.

2.     Oxfam: Another possible location, again to be around the back of the counter. The space is small behind the counter to the 50mm lens would not be suitable. I possible side shot. I left my card here as the manager was out.

The Veil

I would like to introduce my new FMP. The veil was part of my four  ideas when planning the final major project.
Today i joined a meeting at a sister circle in small heath. I asked all the women that were wearing the veil if they would let me photograph them. They all refused , I have a few leads that i will follow up in the next few days.

I have three ideas to create my series with:

1. Having women from different cultural backgrounds and take photographs in different locations, within each photograph i would like to place the British flag in the image. This could be a badge, balloon, book etc

2.Photo essay.
I will be shadowing a friend who wears the veil. she has already agreed to this. I would like to show her in different places throughout the day, the project will show that she is not restricted in anyway because of what she wears.

3. Street portraits
This will be using apart of my last research. i will be using the Islamic graffiti walls as a backdrop to the women portraits. The portraits will be head and shoulders only.

FMP changes

You may not be aware but my final chosen project has been changes. I was able to make contacts and spent time developing how i could take my final images. My main reason for putting the project on hold was because of the time frame. I would not be able to meet the deadline for the exhibition. This project needs a lot time and i plan to continue this project in July.

My final chosen idea

After a discussion with the class and tutor, I have decided to continue with Idea number 2. I have looked at the possibility to be able to achieve the other proposed idea. Because of the length of time and complication for arranging the projects and the cost they are not possible. For this exhibition it will be best to carry out the second idea. I feel more personally connected to this project that I hope will reflect in the final outcome.

Aims and objectives:

My aim for this project is to show a connection between the UK and abroad. I would like to show that the events and deaths that happen abroad reflect and affect the people that surround us. We cant show people feelings and sometimes are so unaware of how others maybe feeling or going through. Some have lost members of their families in the most horrific ways. They have been killed because of their faith.

The main objective will be to show that the people are here in the England, and they have lost there loved ones abroad. Being in England they have security whereas other family members in the world have the risk of being targeted by other Muslim groups.

I would want people from different background the following:

·      Pakistani

·      Hazera

·      Bahraini

·      Iranian

·      Iraqi

Creative intentions:

I have thought about how the image should be taken, I think that i may follow the idea of the a person holding a framed photograph of their family member that has passed away. This could not be taken in a studio, as a studio can’t represent where they are. I have thought of a few ways so far:

·      Using a shopping centre, this will show there location in the west

·      Using street graffiti, this has developed from my idea of a wall in a warehouse. There are many walls with graffiti Islamic art around the Birmingham area. Looking into the walls further they have street sigh=ns which will link them to an area.

I want the images depict feelings of loss and separation. I would like a written account with each image. Maybe turning one story into a photo essay .

Costs:

The cost for this project are a little unknown at this stage of the project I am looking further into it. Some of the following will be factors:

If I have enough people in Birmingham to make my body of work I will not have to travel, this will save on  fuel, parking and time.

Birmingham:

·      Pick up or pay for travel cost to a location.

·      Have images enlarged and framed

·      Exhibition costs

·      Printing (which will be done and paid for by college)

·      Framing images, this is undecided and further into the project I will know what style I would like

·      Final display, maybe having Arabic script on the walls in the exhibition space. This was inspired by exhibition visits.

Out of town:

·      To recce the location I may have to spend more time in the locations

This could incur hotel costs/ fuel/parking food

·      Print and framing for families

·      Final prints/framing

·      Exhibition space

As I am still at the research stage and have ideas that are quite mixed. I am unsure until I have enough people to photograph. These are cost that I am keeping in mind that maybe a possibility.

Legislation and ethics:

This could effect me whilst taking photographs in the street. If I want to do a slow shutter speed I may need to use a tripod, others in the class have had issue’s in the city centre before.

Using the graffiti walls for the backdrop for my photographs. I may need permission from the artist. I will have to contact him or send an email to ask for permission.

Model release forms, these will have to be filled out by all the people willing to have their photograph taken. I will have a written statement for my intention and where the work will be exhibited. This will cover me for future use of the work  also.

This is a sensitive issue and may bring a lot of memoires for the people involved in the project.

Fitness for purpose:

For this project I will be using digital DSLR camera. I feel that my work doesn’t need to a particular medium and my image will speak with the contexts. The quality achieved by film will be something that I may not be able to be achieve. I will be using a full frame high end camera. I think already I will be pushed for time. If I  was using film I would like to print the final images. This would take time.

Personal Targets:

This project is a personal project that I have wanted to do for the past year since the killing of my uncle in Pakistan. 

·      To produce work that can be used to help the ‘Shaheed foundation”

·      To raise awareness of ‘Shia target killings” in the UK

·      To produce work that achieves emotion and connection

·      To give the families support through recognition

project proposal

Project Proposal

I started this course to learn about photographer and how to use my equipment. My intention was to leave after the access course. During the course In the first year I enjoyed learning about the different photographers this inspired me further into researching and attending exhibitions. I have always been drawn to documentary and social photography. Learning in class, critical studies and exhibitions developed my interests further.

My own portfolio represents my interest in the genre that I would like to purse in the future. My main body of work in my portfolio has my social documentary work and I have been told that this work is my strongest.

The following images are from my first year during the Access year. 2010/11

My  technical skills with the camera were very weak and most of the workshop I found very challenging. This reflects in my work during the first year

 This year my technical skills improved and I became more confident. I had more direction in my work and was inspired by other photographers. During this year I did a range of different work. This was studio work with models and advertising products. I also did a lot of street photography. I found talking to people on the street easy and I was comfortable taking street Images. My work had better composition and I undertook a few paid jobs.

FMP IDEAS

FMP Ideas

I have been thinking for a while about my FMP ideas, I would like to create a photo essay or a social documentary of my FMP. This would be following in the style of photography that I find most rewarding. I will want to work closely with the people that I photograph and to be able to reflect them in the Images.

The ideas:

1. Female Gentile mutilation. FGM
This is a very sensitive issue and is very under cover. since 2009 the NHS had dealt with 4000 cases of FGM yet not even one prosecution has taken place. this is not a religious requirement and is seen by the UN as torture. Young girls are often taken abroad to pro form this procedure. I will have talk to people from the community were this is practised. For the final  I would have photographs that would conceal identity. I would like to interview women who have suffered through this, maybe my project could lead to more awareness.

2. The Shaheed (The Martyrs)
This project is very close to my heart, In islam, a Shaheed means Martyr. It is someone that dies for the reason of religion. There has been a lot in the news about Shia genocide during the last past few years, I myself have been to protests. The Shia muslims are targeted by other sects of muslims because of their diffrent  beliefs, they are targeted and killed. this is happening in pakistan, iraq, Bahrain. The effects ripple across to the UK, I myself have lost my uncle through  target killing. I would like to photograph the relative's here in the UK. I want to portraits of relatives holding photographs of their loved ones who have been killed.

3. The children of syria
This is also a matter that I feel passionate about. I have visited many times and have friends in Syria. I have seen the people in syria and feel very close to them. I would like to go to the Jordan / lebanon camps and find children that were living in the area that i photographed in 2011. I would need to travel with a charity. This work because of the time may take longer, but i maybe able to do plan this project for next year.

 4. The veil

I would like to photograph women with the veil, this is the face covering that only shows their eyes. I would like to photograph women from different backgrounds. I may l have to stage the images by asking women to wear it. I want the outcome to be two images in two frames showing half veiled and the other unveiled this would be staged or maybe some women may agree to it. Or i would like do do portraits shots of just the eyes focusing on different race background of different muslim. I will be breaking the stereotype that all muslims are either asian or arab.