At first, I wanted to photograph cups of tea and then immerse the resulting images in different types of tea, matching the tea in the depicted cup. By doing so, I would obtain a different colour cast due to the type of tea used. For example, mint tea would have given the photo a green cast, raspberry tea would make the image pink and blueberries would provide a blue colour cast. My aim was to show that I like drinking tea even if I am not British.
My concern after shooting the images and developing the film was that the images might not be as strong as I expected them to be. I was running the risk of photographing cups in different places and angles which would have no connection between them.
I shot and developed the images with the cups of tea before going home in March. Thinking that I'd have more to photograph, I loaded the 3rd role of film in the camera and was ready to take the photos. I then realized that I had already shot all the frames I could think of. However, I still had the role of 10 shots in the camera and had to use before returning the camera. Instead of taking the film out and ruining it, I decided to shoot my stuffed animal collection which is here with me in the UK. I have 10 toys and 10 images on the film. It was perfect! I shot an image of each fluffy friend. That film wasn't developed with the other ones of the tea cups because of lack of time.
I then went back home for about three weeks and that meant I couldn't work on the analogue project because I didn't have the camera with me. Whilst being at home I got sick and ended up staying in the house for over a week due to chicken pox. That period of time prooved to be essential for all my projects including the analogue one. My Major Practical Project focuses on different states of mind which are associated with certain actions and objects.
This project is also related to the idea of objects as symbols. In this case, the objects are plushies, each of them representing a certain memory and event in my life. I relate to them to the extent that they make me feel closer to home, even if I am miles away. I couldn't imagine the place where I live now without having them alligned on my bed. I find their effect to be amazing because of the influence they have and their capacity to make me feel at ease with their "presence".
Every time I travel somewhere, there always has to be someone from the Fluffy Family with me. They create a feeling of security and confidence, but at the end of the day, I do realize that all this has to do with my subconsciuousness. These objects have the role of an emotional trigger which determines me to think of home, every time I lay eyes on them. I have had some of the toys with me sincer Year 1 and I received the rest of them as gifts or I bought them myself.
I shall talk about each of them later on in the critical journal. They each have names and represent something important in my life. I can honestly say that I love these animals and if I ever have to part with them for a certain reason, that would bring tears to my eyes. I am amazed by the level of attachement I have developed towards some pieces of fabric (because that's what they are, in theory).
The first role of film I shot with the plushed turned out to be out
of focus and the images were blurry. I then decided to reshoot the
images, using the same camera (Mamiya RB67) positioned on a tripod this
time, I order to get the focus as shart as possible. After developing
the film, I noticed that the images were sharp and then I began printing
them.
I am aware that the minimum number of prints for this
project is 6, however, I shall be submitting 10 simply beacuse they
depict each fluffy member of the family and I cannot exclude 4 of them
as that would be very unfair.
I didn't reach a suitable answer to why these toys are so important to but I am certain that it has something to do with the connection between photography and psychology.
