Now will not be with us forever

In this book he deals with photography’s intrinsic dimension: seizing a moment that will not return. He does this by focusing on his close surrounding environment, his family and what he is familiar with. This would be done through images of his younger brother leaving for school each morning, or his grandfather putting on a pullover and other physical objects like a car or a blanket.

I came across this book in class and it immediately stroke my attention due to the unique layout of the book, or a collection of zines. It was unusual for me but it interested me at the same time.

Van Es captures detailed photos in his work “Textures of Childhood” (2012), zooming in on items from old family photos, such as his parents’ bedsheet and the couch. He adds dates to show when these things were used, giving them a sense of life that objects don’t usually have. The “book” is a set of eight booklets in a case, each with a different coloured cover and paper inside, ranging from shiny to soft. They’re like a beautiful plate of desserts, carefully made to be enjoyable.

The project as a whole is imbued with an exploration of the passage of time. In “New life” (2012–14), van Es captures the evolving dynamics with his younger brother, who, upon reaching sixteen, refuses to be photographed. Van Es responds by documenting his brother’s attempts to evade the camera, resulting in a series of candid images reflecting adolescent frustration. In contrast, “To me you are a work of art” (2011) presents a touching homage to their mother. Described as “Unintentional installations made by my mother,” the booklet departs from the typical format, featuring a pocketed folio containing five posters depicting everyday domestic scenes.
The book “Now will not be with us forever” acts as a big self-portrait, showing what’s important to van Es in his life. While most of the book focuses on his relationships with others, the thickest booklets, “Putting on 2012” (2012) and “The past is a strange place” (2010–present), are all about him. “Putting on 2012” lists every piece of clothing he wore in 2012, while “The past is a strange place” has photos of his daily life. These photos reveal how van Es notices small and interesting things in ordinary life. He uses a bright light in his photos to make the details stand out and sometimes makes things look weird or abstract.

Since it was the layout that captivated me more than the subject of the photographs themselves. not because the photographs were unsuccessful, but instead because the subject of them doesn’t link to what I wish to explore. I wanted to focus in more detail about the layout of them.

What I like the most about his outcomes is the layout, as it is unusual, compared to traditional methods of displaying images, such as a standard photobook. One of the many things about his layout is how he is not afraid to combine various techniques, like how in the compilation of the zines there is a folder containing photographs which unfold to an A3 paper size. To me this layout enhances the message of the collections itself. Through this layout he can mix different photoshoots by putting them in groups, a zine for each photoshoot. Like when he grouped textiles from childhood, into a zine consisting of only zoomed in photographs of different fabrics. When thinking about how I plan to present my final outcomes if I follow Murices’ methods that he used for this book, I will be able to communicate the message of my selected theme the best. as my idea consists of many different approaches to the subject, my outcomes are also going to vary from each other, therefore by grouping them together, zine per photoshoot, I am able to show them in a better way than in a photobook. I also want to experiment with the different ways of the image display, like the foldable images in the folder.

I wanted to analyse it and educate myself about Ansel Adams due to the romanticised look of his images, as well as the journey he takes in order to capture such extravagant photographs. The motive behind his images relate to my key themes, observe, seek and challenge. Especially my own set values which revolve around travel and adventure. After analysing Ansel Adams, I hope to produce similar photographs, or photographs of the same/similar values.

He assisted a photographers’ association promoting the principles of “pure” photography, emphasising sharp focus and maximising the tonal range in images. This collective, known as Group f/64, took its name from the smallest aperture achievable on large format cameras, the type Ansel and his team utilised. These cameras offered remarkable depth of field and exceptional detail owing to their large negatives. However, their considerable weight made them bulky and impractical, especially when navigating to remote locations with intriguing backgrounds. Additionally, the associated equipment added to the logistical challenge due to its bulkiness.

To ensure all the tonal values are shown in a photograph , he came up with the zone system, this system is said to make the “perfect” photograph and he would often make his photos darker then the original or the ones he would firstly take.

Zooming into one of his images to the point where it is so pixelated and the little coloured squares show a range of colours , where each square is a different shade of black &white, supporting his zone system.

Ansel Adams is renowned not only for his photographic skills but also for his dedication to visualizing images exactly as he conceived them in his mind’s eye. Recognizing the difference between what he perceived and what the camera captured, he began a quest to close this gap. Through experimentation, he aimed to translate his mental images successfully onto film.

In one example, Adams used a yellow filter with his camera in an attempt to replicate a specific effect. However, he found that the result did not align with his desired outcome, instead of enhancing the shadows as intended, the image did not turn out how he intended it to be. Determined, Adams insisted for perfection. Substituting the yellow filter for a red one, he tried to achieve the desired darkening and accentuation of shadows, materialising the image he envisioned in his mind. Though what he captured through the lens may have mirrored what he saw, it was the image within his imagination that drove his creative success.

Ansel Adams, a pioneering figure in photography, introduced many innovative techniques, including the Zone System. However, his influence extended further than technical innovations, he also left behind a legacy of inspiring quotes. Among them, the one above, resonates deeply with me, embodying a profound significance. This particular quote underscores the essence of Adams’ approach to photography, emphasising the power of visualisation inherent in each image. “Expression of one feels” captures the core philosophy of photography. Photography, in my opinion, should serve as a medium for individuals to express themselves creatively, sharing their emotions and experiences through visual storytelling.

Adams’ view that photography is an expression of one’s inner feelings resonates with me on a personal level. It speaks to the fundamental purpose of photography—to capture not only what is seen but also what is felt. For Adams, this aspect of photography was most important. It was about more than just technical skill, it was about capturing his vision, emotions, and thought processes through his photographs.

Take the image above as a good example of Ansel Adams’ technique. Even though it’s in black and white, the richness of tones on display is eye-catching. These tones are cleverly balanced. When envisioning this composition, Adams not only selected an interesting subject but also timed his shot perfectly, relying on the sun’s angle to cast sharp highlights across the scene. The resulting darker effect, achieved through strategic manipulation, leads to a sense of the sublime—a strong mix of awe and trepidation. In contemporary terms, copying such an effect would tell a deliberate exaggeration of shadows and dark areas, adding a layer of drama to the composition. Overall, this image shows Adams’ mastery of both technical precision and artistic vision, inviting viewers to contemplate the profound beauty inherent in the natural world.

Personally I wanted to educate myself on his work as his images have a mystery behind them and aren’t just simple block&white images. If the images were taken now this effect would be achievable through editing and adjusting exposure, darkness, shadows, brightness etc. However whats so amazing is that he achieved this by changing a colour that he put over the lens. It his experimentation that I find ambitious and determination to achieve the exact image that he inspires to, and wont give up until he produces exactly that.

In conclusion, Adams viewed photography as a means of sharing his inner self with the world. A sentiment that I find deeply amusing and one that continues to guide my own approach to the art form. Now that I have a deeper understanding of his images, but more importantly the stories that they tell, I am confident to produce my own responses with the same values. I want to focus on the trip and adventure behind the motive of photoshoots, as well as capturing discoveries and desired final outcomes.

I would want to explore adventure through the photographs as it response well to all : challenge, seek, observe. to me all these aspects are mostly seen when seeking for travel and exploration. To me specifically I see traveling having an impact on my future, therefore choosing to focus on a subject I know I will be passionate about photographing I hope will result in great outcomes.

I am planning to start by collecting archival images from my last summer, where I went for a trip with my 2 friends where we camped in another country with no plan, I will look for photographs taken in the past where I was exploring other cities, towns, countries etc. I then plan on a series of photoshoots where I will have a huge difference in my outcomes. Although I will have different outcomes, the theme of the photoshoots would be the same, most of the work will be outdoors and challenging me to get out and seek for adventure.

I will begin my study by diving into photo albums that include pictures of travel, I then want to plan a photoshoot revolving around rural landscapes and some urban. As I am limited to Jersey, I plan to explore jerseys some hidden some obvious points, and hopefully discover things that I can capture through the lens.

When it comes to photoshoots I will collect pictures of objects that carry sentimental value from the previous trips and hold memories. A lot of the photographs however I think will revolve around rural landscapes, where I can tap in into romanticism. However I also wish to photograph people, where I want to capture moments of people living, not posing, I want to capture the beauty and nature within people, to catch them is a natural settings. This means photographing subjects in motion, in the moment scenarios, instead of pre planned studio photoshoots. Meaning most of the pictures will be taken outside the images will be more documentary and observational, however I might have to stage a couple to get the desired look.

I will make sure to be very experimental with the images I create. Experimenting with different angels, ways of taking photographs, I want to especially explore underwater photography, or strive for an underwater photography effect. Other ways I will achieve interesting photographs could be through zooming in onto subject photographs not only from one distance.

Some of the images might be taken by different mediums of photography, this being shot on film, digital camera, or polaroid’s, I love film photography so I will try to use it the most when possible, but when it might not be possible I can always achieve a similar effect through image altering in photoshop or Lightroom. Depending on the format and how well the images compliment each other the sequence of them might change. I think adding in a more older look to the photographs will also enhance the meaning of them being documentary, taken in the past, reminiscing on the adventures etc.

When it comes to presenting my outcomes I am still unsure how I would present them exactly, however I know that I don’t want to make a photobook, instead I will look for other ways to display my outcomes.

Overall, the outcome I want to achieve will be to have a series of images that are of adventurous nature, images that are discovery and look fun. I want them to how travel and exploration through travel. I want to show that even in a restricted island it is still possible to find beauty and be adventurous regarding it’s size.

Mood-board

I have made another mood board which presents my focus in a narrowed down way. This revolving around the ideas of adventure, travel, discovery and freedom.

The outcomes vary from each other in the mood board as I don’t have a specific way of capturing my images just yet, but I know there are some elements I wish to in cooperate, these being portraits in natural scenes, landscapes of more rural landscapes as well as I want to explore challenging but effective photographic techniques, such as underwater, reflections, etc. Where it is also the camera that is adventurous.

I think exploring these themes relate to the title of the exam well , as I will constantly be observing life around me through documentary photography. The photographs themselves will have a meaning of seeking for adventure, exploring and finding. And the photographing process will be challenging to capture specific moments.

The title for this project is Observe, Seek and Challenge, I have attached bellow the exam paper. In this booklet there are useful tips on how to gain ideas for these themes.

Mind Map

Bellow I have created a mind-map of ideas from the main headings. these included similar words, but also relating words and subject ideas I can focus on.

Observe- The main ides that strike me when hearing observe is everything that surrounds us on a day-to-day life, things that are ordinary, because many people might see them but not observe them. For example when choosing the same route to school everyday after weeks there can still be subjects that become unnoticed. Therefore to me observing means paying attention to one thing thinking about it, analysing it, enjoying it, and having a response to it. Therefore to observe it is much more than just seeing. By observing we discover and fin new things, we become more creative and curious. When it comes to photography the camera lens acts as a lens to observe the worlds through, therefore photographs that respond to this the best are ones where life is being represented, for example moments that are captured by the camera, but also photographs of subjects that represent that the photographer looked for, meaning they discovered them, just like special moments/ special events. To this documentary photography responds to very well as to be able to capture moments through documentary photography, photographers have to constantly observe everything around them in order to focus their camera on a specific moment and subject.

Seek- The first words that come to my mind is to be wanting, to seek for something, this leads me into the category of goals or wishes, to be seeking a specific kind of future, if it is with family, a person, career. To seek is to want something this might be a specific feeling or person or item, place. This is why when it comes to photographic responses to this category, what comes to mind are portrait responses that show people striking to achieve something, to reach a goal. This as well as photographs that show emotions, because I feel that out of all 3 to seek is a very emotional world that could be shown through portrait photographs. There is also another interpretation of that word where more photographic responses showed up once searched for this word, which are of hide and seek, this links well with the idea of observing, and finding, as when kinds play hide and seek, they seek for people, to find them. This can be also interpreted with outcomes that are playful and adventurous, responding to the idea of hide & Seek.

Challenge- To challenge means to go against something, this could be a view or an opinion, it also means to do a task with difficulty, therefore this can be interpreted many ways as photographic responses could go in different directions, some showing challenging tasks that people or animals go through, sometimes willingly or sometimes not. A great example of this is the image Migrant Mother showing the struggles of a single mother in poverty with 3 kids, then some can be seen of animals in a wild doing best to survive. However what cant be discouraged is challenging tasks people willing like to put themselves through games, board games or video games, or stress at work, learning or other personal challenges. I thing the biggest one is one that majority of people can relate to, mental health, nearly every person struggles mentally with a task or just with personal issues. Therefore many photographs can show this, these need to capture human emotion. I think the ones that do that best are once again documentary photographs of protests, where raw human fatigue and distress can be seen, not in one but in a group of people. The other side of “challenge” as a topic could be taken literally onto the technical aspect of the photograph, a photograph which was hard to capture, this because of the subject being photographed being challenging or by the specific way of photographing that is challenging to the photographer, an example of this are Olympic and sport photography, where it’s challenging to capture the perfect moment as the person is in constant motion, therefore ensuring the right setting on a camera is essential, to know how to do that might also be challenging for the photographer. Depending on light, speed, etc.

Mood-Board

Bellow I have collected few of photographs that I believe respond well to the mind map above as well as the description of each word in the title.

After creating the mood-board I could see a certain theme that the photographs all lead to, this to me were of adventurous nature, documenting life, catching key moments and being very discovery and full of life behind them. This means that majority were documentary photographs. From this I will be able to narrow down my focus for the exam.