For this project, I want to focus on the prompt as separate categories, as I feel that there’s more to explore with each individual word as opposed to the three of them together.

Observe:

• Watching (people, cars, moving objects)
• Change/growth (plants, developments, construction, landscape)

I could present the idea of “observe” through street photography, or even a time-lapse through a short film like Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi (1982). I’m more interested in using street photography, as it’s something that I’m comfortable with, and I can gather a large number of images, although I also believe that it may feel too generic, whilst a time-lapse would be something new for me to learn. If not a film, I could create a large reel of photographs showing the development and growth of something. Alternatively, I could observe the change of Jersey’s landscape, using some of the photo archives at the Société Jersiaise and recreating some of their images in the modern day. I could also observe life through an anatomic perspective, similarly to the work of Suzie Fitzharris, using photoshop to create X-ray style imagery.

Seek:

• Self-discovery (new/old experiences)
• Familiarity/comfort (places I often visit/stay)
• Community (parish meetings, events, church)

To “seek” is to look for something. To represent this aspect of the project, I want to try seeking self-discovery, familiarity, comfort, and community through different means. Self-discovery is more about experiences and how one responds to them, which could be expressed through uncomfortable imagery of different staged situations, and dramatised recreations. I could seek familiarity and comfort through visiting places from my childhood, such as parks, playgrounds etc., although I would have to be careful around these areas as to not violate people’s privacy. A way around this, however, could be by visiting these places later in the day when they’re quiet or empty, or even at night, to contrast the familiarity of it.

Challenge:

• Stereotypes (gender, race, age, religion, class)
• Authority (government, people in power, protests)
• Photography (compositions, lighting, camera settings)
• Myself (experiences, behaviours, ideas)

To challenge something is to rebel against it, something that is often done by a lot of photographers and artists. When I think of the word ‘rebel,’ I often think about activism against some form of authority, whether small or large. Artists often express rebellion through subliminal messages in their work, or bold messages such as through graffiti. The style of graffiti in itself represents youth culture, something I align with, and something that I could consider searching for and finding images of. In my own work, I see myself challenging other people’s opinions and views on certain groups of people, particularly youth, but also my own views, as they change and adapt through my own experiences. I’m keen on the idea of going against what others think, as I often trust my judgement the most – for better or worse – which could actually be an idea in itself for this project, going against who I am and what I do, although this may be too complicated. Alternatively, I’m also interested in directly challenging various stereotypes, instead of the natural subtlety that usually ends up in my work. Whatever I decide to challenge, I want to do it through juxtaposition, presenting both the ‘order and disorder’ of what I decide to shoot.