memory & decay

BY KALEAH CLARKE

[kaleahclarke]

DRAFTS & TESTS I considered different ideas of constructing the physical photo book and experimented with stamps and leaving stains on pages to make them appear aged. I found they might appear too distracting from the photographs and decided against these tools in the final production.

[kaleahclarke]

memory & decay

Project Concept: Theres beauty to be found in what is imperfect, impermanent & incomplete Themes: Nostalgia, Wabi sabi Medium: Instax Polaroid Film Location: Hamilton, NZ This project aims to capture the resilience of Hamilton by exploring historically significant locations such as Victoria Street, and the Courthouse building amongst other public spaces.I plan to create images that evoke a sense of nostalgia, strength, and the passage of time. Wabi-Sabi is rooted in the belief that everything is either growing or decaying, continuously evolving. This philosophy suggests that nothing is ever truly complete or perfect, and it is within this imperfection and impermanence that real beauty is found.

Polaroid Instax film, known for its instant and tangible results, plays a crucial role in the project by providing a personal and intimate connection to the scenes. The inherent imperfections of Polaroid photography, such as light leaks and uneven exposures, are embraced as part of the wabi-sabi aesthetic, emphasizing the beauty of imperfection and transience.

[kaleahclarke]

WABI SABI

imperfect, impermanent & incomplete

my concept for this project included this theme of imperfection and impermanence. appreciating the beauty of the moment and the unexpected.

with photography often aiming to be a perfect interpretation of a moment; sometimes constructed scenes with staging and lighting, capturing the obscure and overlooked scenes was an interesting perspective while the polaroid film gave me and instant tangible result. something that is uneditable, fixed and one of one copies. the uniqueness of the medium is intentional and reflective of the themes i'm aiming to capture. this concept meant capturing random and unique scenes, trying to hint and feelings of the past and raise questions about the story and meaning behind each image. with each viewer having a different memory or feeling evoked by different images. a unique and one of one experience that makes the viewer question the reasoning and decisions made.

[kaleahclarke]

After scanning the images and getting test prints made, I wasn't completely happy with the results and the difference compared to the original polaroids. This made me rethink and reconsider how I was going to create the photo book. I decided that using the originals was the best way to display the images for the desired quality. Considering the way I had originally displayed the images in my visual diary made me think of this option as one of the most effective ways to display them as a collection while giving the viewing time to view each image intentionally.

[kaleahclarke]

Digitally Generated Polaroid Examples These examples where taken to see how these would compare to the scanned polaroids and if it would be possible to combine both mediums. In review I would've been better off taking all the polaroids digitally if I wanted to produce the photo book digitally.

[kaleahclarke]

Scanned Images #1

These images were taken near Mardon Rd in Fairfield, Hamilton. Portraying themes of forgotten possessions and the feeling of leaving something behind. These scenes where all incredibly temporary, as I drove by the following day the objects had moved or completely disappeared.

[kaleahclarke]

Scanned Images #2 These b&w shots are intended to take you back in time, evoking the idea of a time that has long passed.

[kaleahclarke]

Confiscation of Māori land

"After the Waikato war, Māori-owned land in west Waikato was confiscated. Most of the Māori population withdrew behind the ‘aukati’ or boundary line of the Pūniu River, in what became known as the King Country (because the Māori King had taken refuge there). This map shows the boundaries of the land confiscated by the proclamation of Governor George Grey in December 1864. That year soldier settlers moved into abandoned Māori villages, former military posts and new militia towns which were established to guard the frontier."

Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/27791/confiscation-of-maori-land

[kaleahclarke]

This series of maps charts the loss of Māori land in the North Island between 1860 and 2000

This resource shows the direct impact of land loss taken from Māori people for the benefit of the British Empire under the Governance of Queen Victoria. It's important to understand this history to be able to recognise the potential ongoing effects this would have today. In my project, I want to showcase the strength and resilience of Native Aoetearoa.

[kaleahclarke]

The Waikato War of 1863-64 A guide to the main events and sites

This document showcases the history of the Waikato Region. The natural landscape and the significant sites throughout the area. This history is important in understanding and acknowledging what has happened, who it would have affected and how those impacts are still felt today.

[kaleahclarke]

Victoria Steet, Hamilton Central, 1906 These images showcase the centre of Hamiton town at the time. Many of these buildings have been redeveloped, repurposed or removed. This image shows the heritage and history of the city, showcasing the constant growth and development it has seen to become what it is today. I wanted to explore the history of the city to understand the impact of the differences we see today. To honour the present is the acknowledge the past. Victoria Street is not uncommon, with most cities having a street with this name.

[kaleahclarke]

Archival Historic Photographs of Hamilton, Waikato

This image shows the rich history and documentation of that period. Photography was used primarily to record the world around us exactly as it was. This image shows the roots of Hamilton and the landscapes that once were.

[kaleahclarke]

Case Study - Teo Crawford

This video created by Teo Crawford highlights some key principles he has incorporated into his photography approach. This philosophy called 'wabi-sabi' focuses on the constant change of things and the idea that everything is either in a state or growing or dying, thus never being finished or perfect. This idea of imperfection is the essence of wabi-sabi, which is appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature. This idea and medium is something I want to explore in my own project. The use of black and white film, alongside polaroid photography has a unique and distinct look and feel to the images.

[kaleahclarke]

Case Study - Platon: Portrait Photography

In the Abstract: The Art of Design episode featuring Platon, the photographer emphasizes the power of simplicity in his work by using film cameras and black-and-white photography. Platon's approach avoids letting technology overshadow the essence of the shoot, focusing instead on capturing the raw emotion of his subjects. He employs a unique machine, a vintage Rolleiflex camera, which forces him to engage more intimately with his subjects. This method allows him to create portraits that are timeless and deeply expressive.

[kaleahclarke]

Leo White, Waikato River, 1940s

"Leo White is best known for founding Whites Aviation, the company he ran from 1945 until his death in 1967. Whites Aviation specialised in aerial photography, documenting some quite dramatic changes in our towns and cities in the postwar era, and also published numerous aviation-related periodicals."

Leo White's scenic images, URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/leo-whites-scenic-images, (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 23-Dec-2013

[kaleahclarke]

The Great South Road This was a really interesting perspective and insight into a place that can be seen as a more than what it currently is. This land holds history and culture, with many people still trying to stay connected to their land. To know what had happened, to understand those impacts and to decipher the hidden intentions behind political agendas. From Auckland to Drury, the road was used as a popular trade route. Its expansion into the Waikato was used to start invasion rather than increase the regions ability to access trading. I researched this to gain a better understanding of some interesting viewpoints and perspectives of places in New Zealand.

[kaleahclarke]

Photos taken on a Fujifilm Finepix 2000's camera Images are to explore the theme and idea of 'Home' With motifs of shadows and plants Capturing life without people Experimentation was done to explore the concept of place photography