What are the implications of making private images public?

A few months ago I started searching again through piles of images that I always keep stacked away, an accumulation of  images that I have collected or taken myself. Amongst these images were some polaroids I had taken in 1997 when I was about 9/10 years old – i knew this because at 10years old I loved labelling things and had written who was in the photograph and the date on the side. They aren’t very good images but one of them, a picture of my dad stood out. Its probably the only one out of those polaroid images that I like. When I saw it, it reminded me of Corrine Day’s images, In the sense that it had caught a moment where the person being photographed looks themselves. There isn’t a false pose or conscious-ness of the camera that the subject portrays.

 

 

This inspired me to want to create work, but i wasn’t sure of what I wanted. I had an idea in which i thought it would be interesting to document my initiation into a different social group from my own, such as with dancers or “goths”.. etc. but this idea posed a problem as I am still a student it would be very difficult to find a group of people that would let me photograph them for free. and as I don’t have anything to offer such as publicity It would be difficult for me to get strangers to agree. So with some thought I decided to do a project around some of my friends, in particular a family of nine siblings. i chose them because I am interested in they way they interact and remain so close to each other in such a big family and a family that constantly keeps growing. I want to use my camera to capture and document their relationships with each other, friends and themselves.

With all of this that I’ve started looking at it has now inspired my dissertation. “What are the implications of making private images public?” is the title or will be some variation of it. In which I’ve been looking at photographers such as Richard Billingham, Corrine Day, Nan Goldin, Robert Frank etc. I’ve actually really been enjoying researching these artists and It has been influencing my project. Juggling both (the project and dissertation) however is very difficult. Following someone around is exhausting but it really has been interesting and exciting to almost experience someone else’s life and watch them as they become into their own self.

Site Re-vamp (again)

I know, I know. I have changed my mind about how i’ll display my work many many times… and I have done it again. I’ve decided to abandon the online photo diary-blog, and get rid of my carbon-made portfolio and have just allowed the for ONE online porfolio which www.gabriellecooper.co.uk will direct you to. I’ve still got to find all images that I want displayed on it so its still underconstruction. Hopefully I will stick with this. Keep it simple. The diary-blog will still remain up for those who may want to look back on some on the images that I had on there…. it is found on www.coop-photography.blogspot.com.

‘LONG LIVE QUEENIE’ Indeed!

Catch an Interview with yours trully on Kate & Mariam.

Camera Less Photo: SelfPortrait

So as I stated before, I am without a digital camera as I’ve left the charger in Canada. This then started to spark the an idea, How can I make a photograph, a selfportrait, without using a camera?
photography originally meaning to draw with light… so I looked about thinking of what I could use and get an instant result. My Scanner!!!! My scanner just laying there on the floor.

I’ve just started with the basic idea and hope to expand it alot further. So here are a few of this basic idea. I will map this idea out and expand it.

The last image was an experiment to see what would happen if i moved whilst on the scanner….. I’m not sure i like that result but it is something i could take further.

Missed Me?

Its been about 2months since I’ve blogged.  I had, again, another falling out with my camera. Towards the end of June I was working on just getting the last of my work in to Uni ontime and as always when having my assessments I let the negetive comments hinder any small confidence i had in my abilities as a photographer rather than thinking of ways to use the words to make me stronger. It seems a regular problem I face. I then went to Canada for 3 weeks and some days just refused to pick up my camera. I did take a few photographs and you can see them on my Image Diary. 
Since being back I’ve been speaking again with my very talented and creative friend Yemisi Blake who has made me feel more relaxed and made me realise that it is ok to have these fall backs aslong as I make quicker and bigger comebacks. He has also helped me to remember other forms of art that inspire me and were the driving points for lots of my work.

So… lets start back to basics. I think I’m going to do a painting. I’m not good at painting but it has always been relaxing to me and hopefully just doing it will help restore some of my creative juices. I know my mom has been asking for a painting to hang at the top of her stairs so i’ll just start with something simple. Nothing too complicated or researched.

Lets see how I feel after that.

The Big Ink Event’s Success

The Big Ink Event exhibition came down on sunday evening at 8pm. They counted up thier makings and result was astounding. They had raised £2764 (on the art sold alone). I am very proud of the girls. Due to alot of tube line down on the weekend it was quiet but the friday evening of the exhibition was buzzing. I attended on both the Friday and at the end on Sunday.  

I took so many Pictures of the event that i cant post them all in,but here is a pic of me and my friend myrto (who was 1 of the girls who organised the event) and my friend Yemisi Blake’s submission to the exhibition.

I’ll try and find some quick way of uploading all the photographs later.

Camera Narcotics

A diary of Images.

Last week I started a new blog which is puely of images. Everyday (Not always possible but I’ll try) I must submit 1 or 2 of my own photographs to the page, to eventually build up a diary of images.  I decided to do this because I had noticed the distance between me and my camera and that most times I was only picking it up because I had to rather than because I wanted to. I had almost lot a little of the excited creativity that I felt when I picked it up. I’m not sure what the reason for this was, maybe the pressure at university that can sometimes make me feel I’m not creative enough for such a medium. Well….. So as of last week I took action. I told myself that I must get my Mojo back and so this new task was devised.

Its been 4-5days since I started it and already I’m feeling more inspired and creative and am really enjoying it. Lets hope it lasts.

To have a look at the blog you can go to:  www.coop-photography.blogspot.com

The Big Ink

Some of my fellow students of Camberwell College of Art studying BA Illustration (including my Best Friend Myrto) have organised an exhibition titled THE BIG INK to take place on the 12th of June til the 14th. They have been taking art donated to them from artists and students which they will then exhibit and sell with all the proceeds going to the charity Macmillian Cancer Research.

Here is a preview of the series of 5 images that I have submitted to the exhibition:

They are small prints 4 x 4 inches.

 

To see work submitted go to: www.thebiginkevent.blogspot.com

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The Image I had submitted in the exhibition:

The Private view…

Here are a few images of May 20th, the private view, and a pic of me and my work. Had a good turn out on the day.