Dean Leivers Dean Leivers

Journal

Frame 36 - 03/06/18

June 2nd, 2018

A fairly project heavy series of articles that have caught my eye over the last fortnight. As I start the first steps of actually getting out and shooting my new project work I’ve been drawn more to imagery that I want to absorb and inspire my own practice. The first two projects come via Creative Boom and deal with portraiture and landscape. Charlie Clifts ‘Brixton’ depicts a multitude of people from all walks of life that are connected by a location. I was interested in the use of a mobile backdrop within the images.

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Consistent throughout the whole series it frames the sitter whilst we are still allowed a glimpse of the busy environment behind, a moment of stillness amongst the rush of the world around them. Stillness is evident in the landscapes of Brando Ghinzelli.Lost in La Bassa’ traces his childhood memories and the landscapes connected to them. Devoid of people the scenes have an emptiness but still offer us evidence of human involvement in the landscape.

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Both of these projects are interesting to me as I intend to capture portraits of various groups of people that are connected by place but it would be interesting to approach the images of those places with the people removed as well as images that see them interacting within the space. That kind of mix, more documentary in approach could be achieved in a similar vein as these portraits taken during Ireland’s recent abortion referendum that were featured over on the Huck Magazine website.

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I enjoyed the mixture of portraiture approaches/ compositions and also the establishing shots of the surrounding details of the location. I think I’m starting to realise that if I try a number of approaches in each of my chosen scenarios over an extended period of time I’ll have enough material to start to shape the final output in which ever combination suits the series best.




I’m still busy sourcing potential venues for a pop up gallery to exhibit my recent landscape project (whilst working on the accompanying prints and publication). As a result articles relating to exhibitions continue to interest me lately.

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Over on the BJP website there were some ideas relating to exhibition promotion. Whilst largely focussing on the use of social media to promote a show it did also have some interesting ideas on ways to deliver a private view which I may take on board. Finally, and in keeping with the gallery theme an interesting interview with Catherine Edelman was featured on Lensculture giving an insight into what she looks for in art photographers work when selecting for exhibitions.

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There’s a wealth of interesting responses but this one really struck a chord with me:

“I look for people who are passionate, who make work because they have to, not because they’re thinking about sales. Sometimes, I think, the sales mentality gets in the way. If you’re too focused on the money, it dilutes the core of what makes your art powerful.”

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