RESEARCH, PHOTOGRAPHER

STARTING TO LOOK AT PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED FAMILIES

One of the first photographers suggested to look at is MATTEW FINN a British photographer who curated a project called 'Mother'. The project consists of documentary images of his mother in their home in Leeds over several years. 'Mother' never started out to be a project of archive but merely just taking images of his mother.

The creation of the project became from the absence of his farther in his and his mother’s life.

The lack of his father's presences which 'haunts' the images is why they both created this work into the project. (M,.Finn, n.d.)

Finns images shot in black and white and use the nature light and everyday life in a very athletic way. The documentation of his mother over the years in a very natural state creates a huge relatable experience when looking through the project.

Although photographing family members will not initially be a key factor within my project, I feel this work is an important practice to look at as inspiration; I will be looking at family archive.

Working with family archive, I will set out to use them as an inspiration for my-self-portraits.

The self-portraits will include me wearing items of clothing of my father's and hopefully my late grandmother in a reflection of me becoming my farther although I wasn't brought up by him.

The absence of Finns farther in these images over 30 years is something very much apparent in my own child archives you only see my mother or other family member who are women. my dad was not around for my growing up through family dispute. yet when I met him It became apparent to us both I am him. Perhaps using the absence of him within my own archives will be a pathway I can explore.

REFERENCE

Finn, M. F.. (no date ).Coming Home Mathew Finn. https://www.mattfinn.com/mother