Project Evaluation

Overall i have really enjoyed this project. while i got off to a slow start and found it difficult to find my style and the ablitiy to create atmosphere for these images. i got there in the end. I like the subject matter of haunted locations as it is something that ive been passionate about since i was a child. The fact that i have been able to include that in my work has been great. I like that i have been able to explore new techniques and styles, ive never used a pinhole camera before and ive never been overly keen on film cameras. My experiementtion in style and technique is so different from how i normally shoot, very clean and straightforward it has broadened myself as an artist. Given more time i would of liked to visit more locations, but as i am unable to travel easily and inexpencively this project has been limited somewhat. I wouldof  also have liked to print my images larger onto A1 but at £120 for the 6images it was a little out of my price range. I also think that given more time i could of got other people involved with the creation of my ficitonal character, which may of improved the writing to go with the images, not as if i dont like it, but i do think that given the right person to have wrote it it could of been improved. Overall i love the final images that i have produced and the idea behind these images. I have always been intrsted in how an audience reacts to an image and i love the idea of swaying the way they view an imagewith the addition of text.

Final Prints

so today i got to use the epically big printer to print my A2 images in the maclab. The prints themselves look amazing. just the quality and the way that i wanted them to look.  The size is great, tho if i would of had the space and money i may have liked them A1 size. Unfortunately thats not always possible to be able to afford that. Expesh now at this size it will be easier to allow me to present them at the degree show. For handin they will be presented in an archival box with proper photgraphic seleves. along with that there will be a peice of paper with the layout of the images in question (they will be ordered already too), as well as the accompanying text.

Layout and Final presentation of work.

So after alot of umming and aahhing about my final selection of images i have settled on these as my final images. As they are a mix of landscape and portrait images i really have to be careful with how i want them presented and in what order. Originally i was looking at 3 landscape and 3 portrait so i could of had them placed alternate in a line but now with 2 portrait and 4 landscape the layout has to change to fit in with the images. I also need to think about the location of the text. After alot of playing around ive mocked up a selection of images and layout ideas. I want the images printed A2, and presented in a gallery with the addition of a small white space around in a simple black frame. The text next to it will also be framed in a frame of the same kind. This work is designed to be shown in a gallery space with alot of white walls to act as white space and allow the audience not to be distracted. The alternative to a gallery would be to show in an inclosed location, such as a stately home or an empty house that itself has been known for its 'hauntings' and ghosts. While i really like this idea, it isnt very practicle.

 The simple line layout appears to work when the two portraits work on either end with the text central to the middle of the images.

 i also did try rearranging the images to maybe a different combination. some of the images are similar in shading and tones and i dont want it to look to much.

 A slightly different layout with the text still to one side but the images far more towered. the only problem with this would be the size of the images is rather large and im not sure how well that would work.

 

another slightly different take with the text being more central and intergrated to the layout of the images. again the problem here would be the hight of the images compaired to the height of the audience. i dont want to audience to have to look up or look down overly alot.

 Here would be an alternative in which the the height thing would be less of an issue. But how well does the text work between the images?

Finally a slight change on the style above where the text is to the side of the image. Again i dont really think this will work with the audiences eye and how they read and veiw the collection.

Overall i think that the best way to create the layout would be in a simple line like example one and two. it allows the audiences eye to move smoothly from one image to another without having to look up or down, and reading left to right which is normal for viewing images and text would mean that it would be the best layout.

text edited

after asking opinions and abit of playing around i achieved my final text, the main 'professors' text is pretty much the same but the text from 'me' has completely been rewritten.

“The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always -- take any form -- drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!”

EMILY BRONTE, Wuthering Heights

When I started this project, I had never imagined that my work would lead me to where I am today. The following images were captured on a 35mm film camera and are unedited. With in intention of documenting the relationship between modern day and historical locations, that are claimed to be 'Haunted.' The following images were taken over 5 separate locations. I was completely alone when taking these images. On seeing the final images, I did question if there was any cross processing that had occurred, however looking in comparison to the negatives it is clear that the apparitions seen in these photos were present at the time they were taken, and were not visible to the naked eye. I never thought that a simple documentary approach to these locations would allow me to capture images that are so apparent in showing apparitions of disembodied souls. On the completion of these images I begun communication with one of the leading teams in the United Kingdom, who deal with the scientific investigation of the paranormal, The Koestler Parapsychology Unit in Edinburgh. I was surprised with the response that I received.

Dani Martin

Photographer

“With response to our previous communication regarding my opinions on the case study presented to our team by you, I would like you inform you of our final decision on the matter. We at KPU, while the evidence collected is only of a qualitative method, it is to be my belief that the images presented to us are indeed examples of Spiritual photography. While personal experiences are often down to qualia, the evidence provided to our department allowed us to investigate your claims. We sent the provided negatives to our photographic team in which we were able to confirm that no tampering occurred during preproduction or post production of the images in question. We can confirm that these images contain the captured presence of the paranormal. With the clear visibility of many different forms of apparitions from full bodied to orbs, with the inclusion of what appears to be a demonic presence in image three. It is still unclear to us as to why these occurrences happened to you specifically. Intuition tells me that with further testing we could focus our efforts to see if you have General Extrasensory Perception or a form of Clairvoyance which allowed these apparitions to 'choose you.' With the six images presented to us it is clear that the five locations in question, are haunted by the definition; it has recurrent sounds or sighting of human activity, sightings of apparitions, and other psychic phenomena, in a location when no one is there physically. Without a ghost investigation, it is unclear at this point if the haunt is residual or intelligent, but we would like to thank you for bringing such clear and apparent evidence to our attention. Once again we would like to state that here at KPU, we believe this not to be a case of objective apparitions, but a valid case for investigation.”

Professor Byron.J.Ostermann

BA PhD FBPsS CPsychol

Head of KPU (The Koestler Parapsychology Unit)

fakery-modern examples

With this idea of fakery in mind it didnt take long before there was a perfect example of a faked image broadcasted all over the world. Only days ago Bin Laden was confirmed dead by the President of the USA. however it didnt take long for sceptics to say that this was actually a lie. As an example of how easy it would be to doctor an image to look like a dead bin laden, an american blogger mocked up the image below. Within hours the image was everywhere with many people stating that this is the proof tat bin laden died. Ironic really.

how this image was made, with the source photos, are avlible here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/02/osama-bin-laden-photo-fake

Another famous modern faked famous image is that of 'tourist man'
This image appeared only weeks after the 9/11 attacks on the world trade center.  the image shows a 'tourist' on the viewing tower with one of the hijacked plane heading towards the tower.

The image looks actually rather haunting but there are many things to disprove this as a real image. The observation deck, where the image was taken was on the second tower to be struck. The direction of the plane vs the skyline is all wrong. Also if the plane was that close, why would tourist man not turn to see what the noise was?! sadly this was another photoshopped fakery that made its round. I just wonder what honestly possessed these people to do this when so many thousands died that day.

first attempt at the text

i wanted to include a famous quotation about ghosts to start off the wording and ive settled on:

“The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always -- take any form -- drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!”

EMILY BRONTE, Wuthering Heights

My idea still stands at creating a peice of text by me as a photographer, and a profressor of the paranormal, someone who stands on a scientific viewpoint and back up my claims. As a first attempt i got the following:

When I started this project, documenting locations that are said to be haunted, I never imagined the results would cause this much controversy. On the review of my images to see such prominent and apparent apparitions, I was in shock. Not only are they so vastly apparent, but to have them appear to me in more then one location, to be able to document them, I don't think I will ever understand how I have been chosen to show the world the existence of ghosts. Once a secptic I am now a believer. Once confirmed by my peers, I went to seek the help of someone with a more vast knowledge of this phenomenon. After discussing with lecturers here at the university (DMU), I was able to get in contact with Professor. Ostermann From the Koestler Parapsychology Unit in Edinburgh. After a few communications with him, I was shocked with the response I received.

Dani Martin, Photographer

“With response to our previous communication regarding my opinions on the case study presented to our team by you, I would like you inform you of our final decision on the matter. We at KPU, while the evidence collected is only of a qualitative method, it is to be my belief that the images presented to us are indeed examples of Spiritual photography. While personal experiences are often down to qualia, the evidence provided to our department allowed us to investigate your claims. We sent the provided negatives to our photographic team in which we were able to confirm that no tampering occurred during preproduction or post production of the images in question. We can confirm that these images contain the captured presence of the paranormal. With the clear visibility of many different forms of apparitions from full bodied to orbs and mist, it is still unclear to us as to why these occurrences happened to you specifically. Intuition tells me that with further testing we could focus our efforts to see if you have General Extrasensory Perception or a form of Clairvoyance which allowed these apparitions to become so apparent to you. With the six images presented to us it is clear that the five locations in question, are haunted by the definition; it has recurrent sounds or sighting of human activity, sightings of apparitions, and other psychic phenomena, in a location when no one is there physically. Without a ghost investigation, it is unclear at this point if the haunt is residual or intelligent, but we would like to thank you for bringing such clear and apparent evidence to our attention. Once again we would like to state that here at KPU, we believe this not to be a case of objective apparitions, but a valid case for investigation.”

Professor Byron.J.Ostermann BA PhD FBPsS CPsychol

Head of KPU (The Koestler Parapsychology Unit)

My first impressions is that the second peice of text works well in contrast to the first, however while trying to convay a different persona i seemed to have made myself look like abit of an idiot.  i also feel like the second while good, seems to avoid alot of discussion. while it briefly talks about the images im not sure if it is enough? I think a second re-write is in order.

the creation of the 'fake' terminology.

while creating my professor of parapsychology ive been catching up on terminilogy of stuff that i could use in my work.

Obviously being a professer he has to have a BA and well as a PhD but FBPsS and CPsychol are two accronyms that are specifically for psychologists.

I also reserched parapsychology units in the uk with the top hit being Koestler parapsychology unit in the university of edinborough.

Im also looking into sections in books on the subjects as well as reports from people in the feild for more teminology i can use.

Ive also found a rather good teminology glossery online of parascychological terms. seen here:
glossary

the creation of the 'fake'

Looking over the amount of big faked images and faked artworks, the main thing that is present through all of it is the representation of a story, background or history of the work. The story and the character is what makes these storys somewhat more believable then that of just a simple statement saying they are real. Like the work of joan Fontcuberta that made a whole character up to be the 'scientist' behind the new 'discoverys'. 

My original idea was to have me, as the photograph write about how the project changed and how ive shown it to a proffessional, then creating a fake persona, a doctor or professor of para psycology or something along those descriptions to back up my claims of apperitions in the images. 

After a lengthy chat with my lecturer i need to deside on a few things:

What kind of character is this professor going to be?

what viewpoint/stance is he going to be looking at these images?

many people when they here about the subject of ghosts automatically think of other the top, obvious 'ghost lovers' such as the legendary darick akkora who i personally cannot stand. 

However personally i want to create someone people are more likely to believe, someone with a higher education and a vast knowlage of science and a rather flamboyant use of the english dictionary. People are intimidated by long words and view that of a sign of intelligence. if said 'professor' could believe in what there is in my imagery then why shouldnt they?