PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO III

I recently read Screaming Life by Charles Peterson and had a revelation about the concerts that I have been shooting here in Lethbridge. Charles in his foreword describes how he considers traditional photographer’s when doing shows. He references many greats such as Gary Winogrand and Robert Frank and how they contributed to the photos he was making. I had never considered the photos I was making for these shows art until I read this book and it totally changed my outlook on this type of photography. This most recent show I focused on the people and space and how they interact with one another. In the past I was caught up in the bands and how could I make them look cool. I traded this idea with caring more about the documentation element of these shows and how I could visually describe the culture at these events.

 For this assignment I am looking to farther flesh out a zine I made during a the summer. The project explores themes of identity by exploring the changing political climate in Southern Alberta since the Covid-19 pandemic and the Trucker Convoy. Since these events took place I have been feeling very uncomfortable with my Canadian identity and how I am perceived. The following is the foreword I crafted to accompany the zine.   The first time I questioned my Canadian identity was the uncovering of mass indigenous       unmarked graves due to residential schools in 2021. My sister brought this to my attention as she has always been an advocate for Indigenous peoples, and cares deeply about the community. Canada day had taken on a different meaning for me; no longer a celebration of patriotism but a day of mourning and reflection on who I am, and how I got here. No longer did we wear red shirts, put temporary tattoos on each other and sing Oh Canada. This ...