{"id":488,"date":"2019-04-07T22:08:17","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T21:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debraflynnphotography.co.uk\/OCA\/can-blog\/?page_id=488"},"modified":"2019-04-25T09:01:10","modified_gmt":"2019-04-25T08:01:10","slug":"assignment-2-photographing-the-unseen","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/debraflynnphotography.co.uk\/OCA\/can-blog\/assignment-2-photographing-the-unseen\/","title":{"rendered":"Assignment 2 – Photographing the Unseen – 1st submission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you can not see what your are touching, your mind fills in the blanks with images and feelings from your subconscious. These are unique to you because your life experiences and encounters will be what your mind recalls to make sense of what you are experiencing. Walter Benjamin’s<\/a> theory of ‘optical unconsciousness’ advocated that images contain unseen elements that trigger your unconscious and affect how a viewer sees the image. Therefore, if you cannot consciously see an item is the resulting image the unseen unconsciousness?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This set of images explores the depiction of objects that you have never seen. Each item was chosen by a different individual so that I could not be sure what it was. I have made these images based only on having been able to feel the item whilst blindfolded. The images are my visualisations of the experiences and feelings triggered by touching the and the subconscious associations that it brought to my mind. By this I hope to have unlocked the ‘optical unconscious’, making it conscious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although, the actual items have been photographed by an assistant, I have chosen not to see them or present them with this work. Mindful of Roland Bathes ‘winter garden photograph’ which he never showed the viewer because he felt the essence of his mother that he had been searching for, would not be evident to the viewer, I have decided that revealing the actual item may detract from the image presented. My aim is to represent the feelings I experienced, not the item itself. I have, however, provided a description of the feelings and visualisations that I had whilst handling the objects. I have tried to use a ‘relay’ style in the hope that the viewer will engage with each image in their own way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a detailed description of the methodology used and technical information about how each of the images was created see below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Item 1 – Helen’s Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The object was very small and fitted in my hand, felt cold at first, but warmed to my touch. It felt like an oval stone but had grooves and curves and reminded me of a talisman. The shape reminded me of a Sphinx and I thought about ancient Egypt and the colours of blue and sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

to see my blog about the production of this image click here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Item 2 – Ralph’s Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This object invoked confusion, I couldn’t work out which way up it should go. It was metal and was hard and slippy. There was an ‘S’ shape on it and wavy lines, which seemed to have no purpose. I found it intriguing and mysterious yet there was something symmetrical about it. The metal feeling made think of the grey’s and silvers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Item 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

to see my blog about the production of this image click here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Item 3 – James’s Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

James’s object was incredibly light and felt like plastic. It was solid, flat and was a kind of curved shape. It had cut out edges and a moving part in the middle, big enough to put a finger through. It felt like it might have a function, but I couldn’t work out what. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Item 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Item 4 – Emily’s Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily’s item was heavier than the first three and was placed on a table in front of me, as it was very heavy. At first touch it was very cold, probably porcelain. The base was circular and very rough to the touch, whilst the top part felt smooth and curved. It felt like it was handmade, as there were very slight indentations which felt like finger marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Item 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Item 5 – Penny’s Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A small glass object, which immediately felt like a nail varnish bottle. The bottle was a square shape with a dent in the bottom. As I couldn’t see it, it didn’t know what colour the varnish was (if that’s what it was) and this was the main thing I deliberated on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Item 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Item 6 – Riley’s Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a chocolate lover, this item seemed immediately recognisable, there was an element of doubt. The colours of the wrapper came to mind, especially the deep purple and the small size, hiding in my hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Item 6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Item 7 – Stan’s Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was given a bowl and was told the ‘object’ was within it. There were multiple objects, which were light, sticky and round. I ran it through my fingers many times and imagined a sunny morning breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Item 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Item 8 – Ross’s Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This object filled my arms when it was given to me and was floppy and heavy. Although it felt like a blanket it wasn’t very soft. It was quite thin and was folded into many layers. There were lots of dried on flakes which detached when rubbed. I didn’t get a strong sense of any colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Set<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n