Where: I will be going to my local supermarket, which is Asda, Filton, Bristol.
When: Mid-day. I have found around mid day is good for lighting. Creating contrast and shadows can help to add more depth to an image and it means I also have the option to shoot in the shade, giving me a wider variety of options and outcomes. It is also a busy time for shopping, meaning I have more chances to come across interesting people.
How: I will focus on staying in my car and using the windows and mirrors to frame shots and shoot through things.
Why: To show the fear people have about the pandemic and going into public. Using masks and gloves offers a visiable symbol to the pandemic and people taking precautions. I would like the outcomes to offer an insight into the realities of a pandemic and what life looked like during this time, when it is talked about later on in the future.
Lighting: Natural lighting. Mid day offers more intense lighting, creating more contrast and shadows.
Artist Inspiration: Enri Canaj. After completing research as a way of improving my images I came across Enri Canaj who has been documenting the pandemic in a similar style, shooting from his car. I felt a bit lost with using windows and mirrors to better my images and frame my shots and found after analysing his work I feel more confident in knowing how to approach subjects from my car.
Enri Canaj
These images were shot by Enri Canaj, a magnum photographer based in Greece. I chose his work as inspiration as it displays a similar idea to mine. I like the way he uses his car to frame the shots and connect them as a series. All the images are landscapes and are black and white. Again, the repetition of common themes makes the series work and makes it clear that each image is shot by the same person. The images show the symbolic theme of ‘social distancing’ as they are being shot from a car, seperating the subjects and the photographer.
This image is a landscape of a man selling fruit. He wears gloves and a mask, showing the context behind the image and when it was shot. The image has been shot through a car window, like the other shots from the series. I like the clear concept of isolation and distancing. The image is black and white and holds strong contrast, with the car window framing the scene. The image hasn’t been taken at a flat angle which in this case works and adds more depth to the image, making it clear it was a ‘grab shot’ instead of a set up scenario. I like the authenticity of the whole shot, it shows it has been thought about in terms of framing and technique, but documents the scene in a real fashion.
This image shows a man to the left of the frame who is dressed similarly to charlie chaplin. To the right of the image we can see the cars mirror, reflecting the scene behind the car. The Mirror is slightly out of focus, bringing the attention to the man who is in full focus, also making eye contact with the camera. The shot is quite odd, mostly due to the main subject being in fancy dress and acknowledging the camera. It is especially strange that this was shot during a pandemic, which raises questions as to why he is out in public being in fancy dress.
Jodie Tovey PJD blog 