Representative shot for NathanPhotoSchool

Hello again and welcome to another blog from the thoughts of nathanphoto. I’ve been searching for an image that will sum up why I’m doing it and what I’m thinking about for NathanPhotoSchool. Now that’s a big ask but I think I’ve found it. This is it, shot in 2 different formats. More on that later......

A new building rises up in front of the long established previous structures.

The image shows a new construction site being built in front of one of Manchester older landmarks, symbolising so much in what I’d like to do with the NPS. I want to build something new in front of the established structures!

This is an image I’ve seen for a while when walking into the bottom part of town.  As I was thinking about the image, I watched the building being established, starting to block out the lower levels of the Hilton. I’m not sure exactly how high it will go but it looks like construction may be nearing its finishing height. Much like the school I’m establishing the shell of it first with some strong foundations and then I will furnish it with ideas and aim for it to be a space that can be as diverse as possible in all aspects.

What symbolism! 

Now some who follow this blog may recognise this image from a previous blog as I have been looking at these buildings for a while now. I made it first in December and used it for my reopening blog, but I’d shot it on film and in black and white. The more I looked at it the more it spoke to me, however, the more I looked at it though, I realised that B&W film didn’t do much for it.

So, I went back and remade a couple of images with different cameras and at different-ish times when the weather was fine and made these two images with different lighting and structures.

What do you think?

In the interests of the discussion, then one question that can be asked is now that it’s done could you have done anything different? I guess the subject would lend itself to a time lapse but I don’t believe that would say what I want to say about it, plus it looks like it’ll be another year or so before its finished…and I do see my vision in still imagery rather than moving images even though they are similar. I stick to the premise that you’re primarily either one or the other.

I think we could pick this image apart and this dissection would sit in a lesson plan, that I affectionately call “good/bad” where I would set up homework to go out and make a bad image. I won’t ruin the surprises that are contained in this session, but can you go out and purposely make a bad image? Then can we see it, discuss it, all with the aim of learning through another less established process.

Another one of the more interesting ideas that the making of this image has thrown up, is the comparison of cameras to cooking methods. So I have previously compared the new mirrorless equipment to the air fryer as in it’s quick, taken over rapidly, smaller than its predecessor and makes things differently. Then taking that timeline I guess you could say that electric ovens are the digital equivalent, the microwave is the iPhone mobile type image makers, and traditional film is charcoal!

Now this theory is only at an early stage but it hopefully shines a light onto the thought processes and practice of the way that NathanPhotoSchool will teach image making.

If I was in a classroom teaching environment I would ask if I should I expand further on this idea or move on?

As this is the blog that introduces the school then maybe I’ll cover both bases, and you can pick which one you read.

Expanding further on this and touching upon a cliché, I will say that I want the school to be different, as I’m different from the next tutor/photographer. Different in what way? Well, I feel that I’m not so prescriptive in my approaches to image making. I aim to provide learners with a wide set of tools to make, interpret and talk about images, cameras, processes and approaches. I will cover the use of cameras, how to make images but will also expand this to include our lived experiences in photography and how we can elevate photography in this current climate. A combined effort to further the understanding of photography in modern times? Possibly...

To sum up this unassuming image, I do love this simple yet packed image and maybe I could be accused of waxing lyrical about this banal image, making something out of nothing but I prefer this approach rather than laying down a traditional image that gets made into a jigsaw. Think that sums up my approach very succinctly, it’s more a wandering than a set of instructions. Lets get lost in this world of photographies and see what we can see!

Now, that may be the quote on the side of the tin.  

But as much as I don’t like quoting this particular franchise, (that’s symbolic in itself) for now I will use this quote

'For certain you have to be lost, to find a place as can't be found.

Elseways, everyone will know where it was'

Hector Barbossa.

The reason behind my reluctance is that I need to find a similar sentiment by some other writer/franchise that is less tainted by the actions of one of its actors.

This school is woke. So is this better?

“For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought.”

Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene

I realise the sentiment may be slightly different but at least its less tainted. But what a combination, Disney and one of the classics of literature that may sum up the school as much as that image.

Thank you for reading.