BRING IT TOGETHER
Different mediums can come together to create a meaningful project
Keep the big picture in mind. Remember that the whole is more important than the parts that make it up. But what is the ‘big picture’? This can be difficult to ascertain, especially when it’s your first documentary project. Two bits of information can help guide you. At a bare minimum, begin the project by drafting a concise project statement. Write it as if the project has already been completed. Use this as your initial goal with a secondary goal of modifying it at least three times as you navigate through the project.
The more research you do upfront, the easier this will be to construct. Research other photographers and see what you like about their descriptions. Be able to pitch the project in 30 words (an elevator pitch) and 250 words (the standard length for a project description).
Thinking critically about where you would like the final work to be displayed will determine how it is produced and compiled. Is the project for online use, a traditional exhibition, will it end up as a monograph, or will you decide to hide it from the world? Be fluid and allow for change, but keep a general idea of what you’re working towards and why. Be realistic about where the work belongs; we cannot all hang work in an esteemed commercial or public gallery, nor should we all want too.
Returning to the idea of the ‘big picture’, some images, however stunning, will have to be left out if they do not fit the narrative or further the story. Think of these components as building blocks. Each image, audio clip, found object or section of text is a building block. The difficulty in curating a project is determining which blocks convey to the viewer something unique, and which ones only duplicate ideas.
Opposite top FARMER’S WIFE, AB, 2016 Placing people in the context of their environment is important
Opposite bottom EDGE OF A SMALL TOWN, SK, 2016 Images that set the scene are also vital elements