Em Victoria Photography
Inflorescence
The natural world is in a state of perpetual flux, never remaining the same for too long. As Spring emerges every year, we start to see regrowth and new beginnings within nature. Witnessing the natural world around us blossom and bloom but because of pressures within contemporary life we lose our sense of connection and awareness.
Inflorescence allows each cluster of flowers along the floral axis represented to tell their own story with the help of quiet interventions, highlighting the way we see them and the differences each petal holds. Inviting us to appreciate and reconnect with nature, recognising that just like humans they each have a sense of individuality and uniqueness.
Hidden Details
Taking photography one step further and combining it with other art forms, whilst furthering my digital manipulation. Experimenting with the ways in which we see photography and the beauty of nature.
Urging photographers to break the rules of the past, celebrating the limitations and possibilities of the medium through the surface of the photograph.
Holding It Together
Holding It Together. I interrogate the relationship between the physicality and immateriality of photography. Taking something flat and untextured and giving it a tactile element through embroidery interventions to ultimately give the photograph another dimension. Photographing trees and using embroidery to emphasise the natural lines in nature to help viewers experience and notice the hidden beauties, that are often overlooked and taken for granted.
Using 35mm black and white film to work in contrast against the coloured threads as I believe the process of film adds a personal touch to each photograph, just as the hand-craftsmanship of embroidery does. The name Holding It Together came from the fact that stitches physically hold things together and so does nature, as it plays a vital role in keeping life running smoothly and this is exactly what I wanted to portray through my final work.
Doodle The Day Away
Being both an avid photographer and everyday doodler, I decided to combine both of these skills and techniques. With only my laptop and imagination I began to draw, exploring the vast realms of possibility. Thinking outside of the box and transforming ordinary photographs into whimsical, one of a kind stories. Photographs with a narrative and the ability to allow you to think that anything is possible even if it is a fire breathing dragon guarding a castle or a pirates ship roaming the seas for treasure.
Once Upon A Time..
For my book project I decided to commemorate one of the most well-known fairy-tales as it turns 60; Sleeping Beauty. In addition, as every fairy-tale has an underlying message, I decided to create my own. Using Sleeping Beauty as inspiration, I have adapted parts of her story to create my own narrative and within a hidden message about the decline in green spaces.
My book takes you step by step through the process of what is happening to the green spaces using parts of the fairy-tale to represent how they are being replaced and destroyed. Starting as bright, beautiful roses and greenery depicting what we had to dark, high contrast thorns and brambles representing the gradual decline as they are being ruined and taken away. However, just like every fairy-tale my book has the element of hope, so to portray this my last image of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty) asleep after pricking her finger in low saturation but the rose will be bright and colourful to show that there’s still time to change things and get our green spaces back.
Freedom and Limitations
We were given the ability to explore and investigate our own personal interpretation of Freedom and Limitations. My experimentation and development led me to pushing the boundaries of photography through multimedia techniques, showing the literal freedom and limitations within photography. Naturally, butterflies are associated with freedom as they have a long transformation process before they gain the freedom to spread their wings and fly. Bearing this in mind and thinking outside the box, I created an installation. Using a real branch from a hazel tree, I suspended origami butterflies which I hand folded from various botanical photographs I had taken. This could be viewed from all angles and was showcased by suspension from the ceiling, to give the viewers the impression of the butterflies flying.