MAS110 Sem 2 2012 - Lab 04

Photo Essay - Theme: Statues, Sub Theme: Cemeterial Architecture 

By Emma Jewell & Verneet Kaur

The everyday aesthetic that we have chosen to focus our photo essay on is statues, with a sub theme of guardians - cemeterial architecture.

We chose this particular theme for two primary reasons; the first being that statues are a typical element of an urban everyday aesthetic - they invariably exist in a public domain, however they are generally mundane and overlooked. This is an idea that Murray discusses - that an object can be brought to life and valued photographically if it is widely accessible and ostensibly banal (Murray: 2008). Secondly, we chose our sub theme specifically because we were looking to produce a distinctly ethereal and arcane tone to our essay; two qualities which cemeterial architecture undoubtedly afford. This was a creative decision designed to amplify the effect of the piece; putting an unearthly spin on what is ordinarily an everyday object – the statue.

Further, this particular sub theme had the potential to be significantly enhanced by music, which proved true as our use of the soft piano and strings instrumental in Van Syla's Wounded But Alive provided an eerie backdrop. Our essay is comprised of photos taken from various angles of different pieces of cemeterial architecture; providing a very wide range of content. Another crucial creative decision that was made was the use of black and white photos only; this was chiefly to retain the simplicity and haunting nature of the photos in order to more effectively communicate our theme. Soft transitions such as the cross dissolve were also used complementary to the music and content in order to sustain its mystical vibe; thus furthering the portrayal of the everyday aesthetic that is the statue, in a ghostly light.

References:
Murray, S (2008) Digital Images, Photo-Sharing, and Our Shifting Notions of Everyday Aesthetics. Journal of Visual Culture August 2008 vol. 7(2). 147-163.