tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508066062598656842.post2536116185290319017..comments2011-12-05T11:41:09.741-08:00Comments on Scott Martin's PhotoBlog: Jem Southam - Landscape StoriesScott Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219467848144140098noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508066062598656842.post-17519561608986879602011-11-08T02:31:07.948-08:002011-11-08T02:31:07.948-08:00I wonder if you spoke to a miner (or ex-miner) or ...I wonder if you spoke to a miner (or ex-miner) or read a memoir, diary or poems about mining it may allow you to empathise with the role of mining - not saying it will but I know that reading about peoples experience really enhances my understanding of a work or a project that I want to do. I did an MA in Holocaust studies at Sheffield - obviously I didn't experience it but rather than reading history books I read memoirs & diaries and that was much more engaging. Just a thought - ignore me of course - now it's my turn to apologise for waffling ;)Deborah Parkin Photographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04178448264826225881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508066062598656842.post-57151303154135088042011-11-07T04:29:24.895-08:002011-11-07T04:29:24.895-08:00Thank you for the comment :)
Yes I don't beli...Thank you for the comment :)<br /><br />Yes I don't believe that you can photograph something well unless you have a personal interest in it. You don't necessarily have to love it... you might feel strongly the other way but as long as it brings out some passion in some form or another. Otherwise, as you say, the work wouldn't have a voice.<br /><br />I think this is what I am struggling with at the moment. I feel passionate about the landscape that I am photographing but I am not sure I have a strong enough interest in its mining heritage. I am always interested in history and how a landscape has evolved, adapted, recovered etc but I have never had any involvement with mining and so am struggling to bring myself to the project.<br /><br />Didn't mean to waffle on that much! I apologise :)Scott Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09219467848144140098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508066062598656842.post-73167566504889047902011-11-07T03:59:39.849-08:002011-11-07T03:59:39.849-08:00I didn't know the work of Southam but it is re...I didn't know the work of Southam but it is really interesting how you said that you get a feeling that he lived there and that he loves this place. I really believe that some of the most sincere work is when a photographer loves what he is photographing. I also thought it was really interesting that you used the work 'sentimental'. This is something that I have been thinking of in regards to my own work - I don't think it is a bad thing (though others will hate it). We often sentimentalise something as way of evoking a strong feeling, a passion, a voice. I was watching Jane Campion's 'Bright Star' the other day - it was romantic, sentimental and yet heartbreaking - it was beautiful too. I suppose what I am clumsily trying to say is that not everything has to be banal, grey, austere to be hard-hitting or thought-provoking - it can be beautiful too and still make you feel. I hope that makes sense :)Deborah Parkin Photographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04178448264826225881noreply@blogger.com