Darragh Francis O’Neill

where is

[k00329313]

Artist Research: Niamh Stanton

Niamh Swanton is an Irish Photographer from Dunmore, Waterford (Which is where i’m from lol). She is a performative photographer who focuses on the human condition. Interested in philosophy and psychology she focuses on human behaviour and the lasting effects of youth. Her use of colour and humour is very striking to me.

I actually have worked with Niamh and have spoken with her about creative direction and I was shocked to learn that all of her works are self portraits but deliberately does not show her face.

For my project, and especially for the photography workshop, I definitely want to do some sort of self portrait because I usually stray away from them (self conscious???? probs). Sort of the opposite of what Niamh does but keeping humour and human condition included.

Niamh’s website is www.niamhswanton. com, you can find her work there.

(Works in order :

1 - Just so you know I was thinking of you

2 - It is a little too late thank you for noticing)

[k00329313]

Photography workshop - Part 3.

After what I found was a successful day with sick photos I went back hoping to play more with shadow and projection. I brought it wires, headphones and cellophane that I didn’t end up using in my Art of of Noticing workshop to use here instead.

I placed them in the light/projector and it casted shadows onto the wall that looked almost like organisms under a microscope (consumption of music and the production your lifestyle? 👀) . I then took photos of just the projection and then of me standing in it - consuming the music and cables.

I also wanted to play more with black and white images to see if the image could work in a black and white format.

I think they turned out great.

I can definitely see myself using the photography workshop to help me further my idea of incorporating myself or just a human figure consuming music and the product being their lifestyle (Sad music / Sad Emotions, etc etc etc).

I want to try incorporating taking photos of myself and maybe turning them into a clay figure or somehow brining in a cast? Just some early suggestions that brewed during this workshop. I will try do a ceramics / plastering workshop next to see if I can bring it in to further my project.

[k00329313]

Some more pictures I took of Marianne in the workshop yesterday.

It was really exciting to play around with lighting, props, poses and textures. I’m really proud of how these pictures came out.

[k00329313]

Introduction to digital camera work and lighting:

I went to the workshop with Paul this week to develop and learn how to make and interesting photo but also to see if I could use it further on with my project.

After being stumped the last few weeks on where to go with my project, I really enjoyed the workshop today and playing around with composition, lighting and editing.

My theme sort of, for Consumption / Production is the consumption of music and the production being how you live your life. So how the kind of music you listen to influences your lifestyle.

The photos here are the ones I was most happy with when leaving today. The colours are so vibrant and almost like the shine on CD’s which fits perfectly for my overall theme. I took photos of the photos from a laptop aswell to give it and even more digital effect which looks sick.

I’m intrigued and excited to see what the rest of the week brings.

[k00329313]

The Art of Noticing pt 2 & 3.

To be completely honest I didn’t enjoy the workshop after Monday. Yvonne and Maeve were great at making me think further about the project but I felt a little stuck with what I was doing and nothing was really sticking or exciting me.

I went out to Limerick town to buy some cellophane and metallic paper to use as I haven’t used them at all before.

I was focusing a lot on the consumption / productioj of music and the CD outlines were interesting until they weren’t and I’m wondering if I should even stick with my idea or tweak it a little.

Hopefully the workshop i chose for this week will be a little more up my alley.

[k00329313]

Workshop : The Art of Noticing.

Yvonne and Maeve were teaching us about looking at subject matters with more depth and understanding. I had the task of examining a belt for 10 minutes (very boring) , and then draw it for 5 mins. Then we were told to hide it, and draw from memory (the one without notes is the belt drawing i did from memory lmao).

Then we had the task to use random objects to make something completely new. i saw those lollipop sticks and rubber band and made that slingshot straight away.

Lastly, we were given the task to go around the college and find something to focus on for 30 mins. My task was to play with perspective “Think Big / Think Small” so I played with the fire alarm. I find it a little bizarre that something that needs to be pressed in an emergency is so small. I imagined a humongous fire alarm that you’d probably have to fuck yourself at to press it.

I enjoyed the workshop today. I really think it helped me with fleshing out ideas and not just having a finished piece in my head straight away. For Consumption / Production I was quickly coming up with finished piece ideas, but now I’m going to do more looking and examining first.

[k00329313]

Final Radius Project.

A collaboration with Jagoda Ordon, myself and Jagoda worked together focusing on the idea of a woman playing on a child’s playground equipment with passer-by’s watching and judging. 5 pieces connected by wire bended to emphasise the natural shapes and grooves in nature, we both took on 2 mini canvases ourselves and worked on the centre one together. Collaborating with Jagoda was out of my comfort zone as i’d usually just work alone but I learned a lot from her and definitely would do group/team/duo work again.

[k00329313]

My Radius Project booklet that i’ve worked on slowly but surely throughout the few days we had. (2 weeks but who’s counting?). Our chosen radius was O’BRIENS PARK. I focused a lot on the idea of why don’t we, as adults, play anymore? If I were to get on a swing in a park full of children I would probably be told to leave.. like, almost immediately. So myself and Jagoda worked together as we both were focusing on the equipment of the park. The last sketch of the woman on the toy with the smoking lady in the back would later become our final piece in a way.