Photography Project: Cultures of Nature

Shot: Art and Media degree, Year 1, semester 2, February 2004.

This was a complex and difficult project. The images were shot in a studio, on a medium format camera (Mamiya TLR), and then printed on fiber based paper (size= 12" x 14"). These were all new skills and I felt that it was a good opportunity to learn such methods to aid me when I advanced into the second year.

The brief was to address the subject of cultures and nature. My take on this was to look at the choice of animality and the link of human and animal behavior when in distress, or mentally ill. My start was to look at animals in zoos and how confinement can cause some nonverbal behavior which highlight their distress. Behavior such as: pacing, self harm, rocking, apathy or lack of behavior (simply sitting there), anger, and so on. I used people to recreate these behaviors within the studio environment which would create a feeling of isolation this, combined with careful composition, would reinforce the feeling of confinement.

The images below are contact sheets (an exact copy of a whole film like an index print) and scans of the final set of images off of the contact sheets. Due to the final images size my scanner will simply not be able to scan them. This accounts for the different sizes and poorer quality as I never really take the time over contact sheets that I do over the final prints.

Please note: This subject matter/ issues were explored futhur within painting (see Painting section).

Before the images I placed the following quote to aid understanding of my idea or message:

"Obsessive repetitive pacing, neck-twisting, head-rolling, vomiting, self-mutilation and other forms of stereotypic behavior seen in zoos, can be found in institutions caring for our severely mentally disturbed patients." Head of Clinical Psychology for Mental Handicap.

My aim was to explain and increase awareness of such behavior.

FINAL IMAGES:

I also created a key to explain the behavior, each image is numbered if you hover over each one you will see their number:

Key:

1. Rock: (verb) - To move backwards and forwards or from side to side in a regular way. Sitting, sometimes hugging the legs, rocking forwards and back. A recognized symptom of mental illness in humans and animals.
2. Hallucination: (noun) - An experience, which could affect behavior and cause distress, that does not exist physically. Causes could be the result of captivity, drugs or mental illness.
3. Schizophrenia: (noun) - A serious mental illness in which someone cannot understand what is real and what is imaginary. To seem to see, hear, feel or smell something which does not exist, possibly due to illness or drugs.
4. Mania: (noun) - A state of extreme physical and mental activity, often characterized by a loss of judgment and periods of euphoria.
5. Self-harm:(adjective) - The intention to cause harm the body such as inflicting physical harm, biting or chewing parts of the body, hitting a head with hands or against a wall: also displayed by big cats, bears & primates.
6. Deranged:(adjective) - Completely unable to think clearly or behave in a controlled way, especially because of confinement or mental illness: a deranged mind/personality. Behavior could consist of anger or physical assault.
7. Defensive:(adjective) - a.) To physically protect or position against attack. b.) To protect from being criticized.
8. Phobia: (noun) - An extreme fear of a particular thing, place or situation, especially one that cannot be reasonably explained.

All pictures © Laura Elliott (Elliott's Web UK).

This material may not be used without prior permision from the owner.