During this week’s topic; AUTHORSHIP AND COLLABORATION, I collaborated in a small groups and we explored the theme identity. Struggling to identify the exact concept of identity we decided to use the methodology of asking our sitter. I photographed Dr. Clara Baker; a transgender scientist, who is obsessed with painting miniature models.
Q What is the first thing that comes to mind when I ask, what does identity mean to you?
A Authenticity.
Q. And how would you identify yourself ?
A Nerdy, Proud, Positive, Creative, Science.
The question I have is do I capture Clara the way I identify her, or how she identify’s herself? I can only photograph her through my eyes and so how important is it for me to try to look through hers?
This is a super quick excercise, and so I’m going to aim to photograph her based on the answers she provided me with in our initial conversation. I’ll use that as a starting point and as I shoot, I want to keep in mind the words ‘identity’ and ‘authenticity’ – both of which are hugely personal and different for each of us.
“I’ve never taken a photograph of someone, and created a persona, I’ve just discovered what was all ready there” Anthony Farrimond
