Jonathan Williams

'Failed memories': David Szauder

A photographer I particularly like when looking at the theme of digital memory  is the Photographer David Szauder. In one of his works titled 'Failed Memories' Szauder takes old past-time and historical portraits and distorts them using data scrambling techniques such as pixel sorting. In doing this Szauder draws a parallel between the passing of time and the deterioration of memories. 



The use of old images edited using the addition/removal of code from the scanned image and new digital editing tools such as photoshop allows Szauder to create a montage of things that used to be. The scrambling of data is very disorienting which could also be a statement on the deterioration of human memory as people begin to forget and their memories become distorted and blurred, as if given a 5000 piece puzzle with 5000 pieces that don't fit together.
___________________________
Digital memory test shoot


But although Szauder's work is really intriguing, my interpretation of digital memory is a little bit different.

concept drawing for memory box

"My initial idea is to continue the theme of a 'memory box', that allows the wearer to look into their own memories, only they cannot control what memories pop up. However, I want to change this idea slightly and turn the 'memory box' into a 'memory creator' with the power to extract data from the environment around the subject and manipulate the reality around them into something more pleasant, perhaps being a statement on the influence of new technologies onto our everyday perception of the world." 

Below I have included a few shots that I took during the week with my friends (thx guys xxxxxxx) in a session where we met up to experiment with techniques and discuss ideas.
I was really keen to test out the light trails as seen in the concept drawing above, and so with the help of my willing associates we got some torch apps on our phones and proceeded to have a play around with long exposures:






Although the  'memory box' is not present in the images above (as I haven't built it yet) I have tried to experiment with the light trails that would eventually come to represent wires that come out of the box to 'extract data'   from the environment around the individual eventually feeding information to the wearer of the box. I was quite happy with these light trails as they came out quite clean. I would like to experiment with a range of different coloured lights in order to create a more malevolent or sinister feeling.
________________________
LIFE CYCLE TEST SHOOT

This was quite a spontaneous photo shoot, although I have wanted to experiment with inks for a while now. Here they are:






I feel the ink dispersing in water is a good metaphor for the life cycle of humans. As the ink enters the water in the first photo it could represent the early stages of human life and our impact on our wider environment but then, as we get older we have more and more of an influence on the people and places around us as we acquire more responsibilities and meet new people. This is just a concept at the moment and the idea could do with some work. However, I like where this idea is going and it is definitely not off the table yet.

Before I begin it is worth noting that the 'Study after Velasquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X' is simply Bacon's own personal interpretation of Velasquez's original painting. In fact, Bacons interpretation took over 20 years of experimentation to complete. Perhaps this is why it has been so hard for scholars to come to a conclusion as to what Bacon's 'Study after Velasquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X'  means. For some the screaming mouth (which is the most prominent feature of the papal depiction) suggests some kind of existential agony, perhaps revealing the 'pathos of human vulnerability and loss of faith and conviction' as quoted from this article. 
_______________________________
Planning my sounds...

Our brief: 'To prove that sound is not subservient to images.' This sound project as it has developed has left me a little bit stumped. I have been stumped because I have trouble visualising how I can recreate sounds in my head. Typically when I try and tackle creative challenges that involve images I do my best to visualise what I want to put on that screen because you know, thats jus how I do HOWEVER, trying to visualise sound is hard and trying to think of ways to recreate that sound you are thinking of is even harder. Nevertheless, using the image itself in conjunction with the analysis above I feel like I have a rough idea of how I want the piece to progress. I want the piece to begin with the stillness that is depicted in Velasquez's original portrait by recreating the ambience of a cathedral (such as echoed footsteps fading away and the echoed murmur of prayer) combined with the Pope shuffling around in his chair such as wood creaking, light breathing and his robes making light noises as they shift with the moving body of the wearer. This is to set up for a change in pacing and to ultimately build up to the scream which is the climax of Bacons portrait. I want to make the second portion of the piece have more supernatural tones, with ghostly whispering and a rushing of wind. As the piece continues the rush of wind will become greater and the whispers will become louder. We will hear the Pope begin to tense up, clutching his chair, trying to resist the alluring yet conflicting things the 'whispers' are saying to him. As he resists the voices will become more persistent and grow more impatient. The wind will become stronger, forcing the Pope into the back of his seat.

That's all I've got so far and I hope to spend a bit of time in the studio tomorrow experimenting with some of these ideas. However, I'll keep you updated as I slowly but surely develop my ideas and make a lil bit of progress...Wish me luck

SOURCE(s)
Analysis of Bacon's study for Velasquez's Pope Innocent X

'illusion of consciousness' - Andrey Bobir

For our project we must produce five portrait stills looking at the idea of memory in the digital age. I have come up with the idea of a 'memory box' that allows the wearer to look into their own memories, only they cannot control what memories pop up. I have a few photo concepts at the moment, which you can read about here.

BUT REGARDING THE IMAGE ABOVE...

______________________________________________________

 This image seems to be a statement on the role of  technology and its influence on our perception of reality. The open door and the tipped over stool implies that someone used to occupy the room, but then opted to see what was the other side of it and spurred on by the idyllic images advertised within the room finding a bleaker reality outside the door.

Basically I want to portray the interior of the box, the outside of the box, the effect of the box on the individual, the way the box works and how it affects the world outside of it.

But if stuff is unclear, in this project I want the box to be a representation of all new technologies, and how through these technologies the way we perceive the world and generate memories is manipulated.


HP SOURCES:  Andrey Babir 'illusion of conciousness' 


hack frm jme lol x
(retweet from me)

_________________________________________________________________________________

Memory Generator v1.1 The squiggly lines represent light trails, acting as tendrils or receptors that gather information from the surrounding environment.

Another stills project? Prepare for lots of experiments and posts n stuff.

My initial idea is to continue the theme of a 'memory box', that allows the wearer to look into their own memories, only they cannot control what memories pop up. However, I want to change this idea slightly and turn the 'memory box' into a 'memory creator' with the power to extract data from the environment around the subject and manipulate the reality around them into something more pleasant, perhaps being a statement on the influence of new technologies onto our everyday perception of the world.

I want to experiment with long exposures to create multiple light trails, smoke effects, different kinds of lighting, green screen and different types of coloured light to create new effects. I will be sure to update you as these experiments happen.

_________________________________________________________________________________

BUT FIRST....research...

I didn't know where to start, so knowing the theme was 'memory' I simply searched 'memory art' and I have to say, I got some interesting results.




I came across a work by David Szauder titled 'Failed Memories'. In this gallery, Szauder takes old past-time and historical portraits and distorts them using data scrambling techniques such as pixel sorting. In doing this, Szauder draws a parallel between the passing of time and the deterioration of memories. This piece of art, although quite dissimilar from my initial idea stuck out to me as my Grandmother has dementia, and so this resonates with my own experience of the deterioration of memories.

This is an interesting concept, and I experimented slightly with this technique in my last portrait project (bottom right). I feel like this technique would be a fantastic back up plan if the other one goes south.


HP SOURCE:
David Szauder: behance.net/pixel_noizz

'Memory 2.0', Dugan O'Neal/Wilson Bethel (Prototype)

My initial concept is the idea that human memory can be downloaded onto a box that, when you place your head in it, allows you to relive and experience your memories. However, you have no control over which memories will come up, leading to potentially dangerous results.

Here is a quick sketch I drew just to get the idea down on paper. (apologies if it's too realistic)

It is based loosely off of this short film titled 'Memory 2.0'.
It is a "love-story set in a not too unrecognisable future world where virtual reality is employed by memory simulation services to help their customers relive moments in the past "

We did some experimentation with studio lighting. We used a Nikon D200, a wireless flash thingymadooda and 3 lights. It was fun, I can't wait to try it again soon.