Richard Aldred - response

1. When I consider the Troy Paiva style, two different things come to mind. The first is that he uses gelled flashes inside small areas, normally vehicles. He uses the same colour combinations regularly which I find a bit tedious. I guess this is what you mean by the TP style. The second is that he brightens areas of images (with and without colour) using a torch from behind the camera. This has a flattening effect as it fills the shadows that face the camera.

I see no reason why either of these could not be used in conjunction with other lightpainting styles, such as the backlighting commonly used in drains. It's just a matter of displaying a location to its best effect rather than being intent on using a particular style.

2. They're very popular right now. In print, TP's Night Vision book is popular in libraries amongst both the young approaching it from an urbex position, and older people who are reasonably proficient amateurs who find it an interesting and easily practicable technique. Online, TCB-style light stencils and lights wands are the focus. These are more limited and I think will soon fall from favour, while the former will last somewhat longer.

3. Yes, though how long it would remain a popular title would depend on the level at which it is aimed.

4. My interest is in using different lighting techniques to create very different atmospheres from a single location - the power of lighting. I would like to see both a variety of effects at single locations, showing the breadth of potential different types of location can have, and particularly good individual photos.

5. Light modifiers for LED torches, allowing different spread patterns in the same way maglite-type torches have, or fresnel bulbs on continuous studio lights.

6. What are your views on the questions you've posed? Who do you envisage as the audience for any such publication?

Hope this helps. Feel free to quote me in your write up and say I'm a leader in the field ;)

Eddy Strickland - responses

1) Yes, I consider them one and the same.
2) I wouldn't say it was a case of recognition. I'd say it's more regarded as a sub genre.
3) I would say yes, it's feasible but you would have to generate a list of subscribers online. I don't think it could be distributed directly to newspaper shops
4) Drainz nah i'm kidding. Star trails always blow me away and that's a constant so could have a regular slot.
5) Tripod stands for torches! I've often thought of making some.
6) Looking forward to seeing your final piece.

questions aimed at existing photographers

As part of my research, it's important I understand the target audience. My target audience will be primarily existing photographers who do long exposure photography with torches and those with an interest in it.

Doing this type of photography myself, I have a number of contacts who also do it, so emailed the following to them....

"Good evening chaps,

Sorry to disturb you all, however as part of my ongoing research into my final major project I have selected you lucky chaps to assist me!

My idea is somewhat vague at the minute, my subject shall be low-light photography exposed with torch for instance underground photography and light painting, which you all should be familiar with.

The final outcomes shall be print and web based, some of my existing ideas include producing a magazine, aimed at experienced and novice 'light painters' and a web site/blog which features selected works via user contributions to a flickr group (similar things exist already).

As I said, it's early days, hence the ongoing research. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate your input in response to the following questions. Some may not apply to you, just leave it blank :-)

QUESTIONS

1. Do you feel different forms of 'low light photography' such as underground photography and light painting (both the Troy Paiva stuff and the pointing a torch at a camera types) could work together under a single genre?

2. Do you feel such types of photography are getting the recognition they deserve?

3. Would you consider a printed magazine dedicated purely to these forms of photography a feasible development?

4. If so, as experienced photographers, what sort of content would you like to see in such a magazine?

5. Is there any products you would wish to see produced which would make life easier for you when doing these forms of photography?

6. Any other thoughts or opinions regarding this?


Thanks for your time chaps, really appreciate it! I may contact you all again in the near future.

Craig"

Drain0r magazine

Drain0r magazine is aimed primarily at the international drain exploration community and is more emphasised on locations rather then photography, that said the photography within is excellent.

The magazine is only available via a small and fairly simple website. Printed in full colour on glossy paper, its 40 pages and A5, and appears to be designed in such a way to be cheap and small enough to post through letterboxes. Even the envelopes have been incorporated into the design, right down to the typeface on the address.

To date only two issues have been released, and has not set release dates.

Explonation

Explonation is an online magazine dedicated to Urban Exploration, particularly abandoned places. The magazine is presented in PDF format through a 'flip book' where users drag the page over with their mouse.

From a brief discussion with a friend who is potentially the target audience for my project, he said a printed magazine for such a specialised subject as low light photography may not be feasible and perhaps a better option would be something online like this.

That said I could get away with it for the sake of the brief, and perhaps pursue both options, with an outcome similar to Explonation?

Twin Cities Brightest

'Twin Cities Brightest' is an American photographer who describes his work as 'light art photography'. Using lights in innovative ways, he produces unusual works of art within the image, often in interesting abandoned and underground environments.

Interestingly TCB uses typography in the form of light stencils in some of his work. He collaborated with 'Crack For Your Eyes' to produce a stencil kit of their logo, which can be assembled at home by the user and includes an instruction manual.



He also produces videos showing how he makes his photographs.

Industrial Decay Network

The Industrial Decay Network is a blogger blog with the aim of promoting industrial decay photography. Like Shutterstock it is heavily linked with a flickr group. Each week (usually Monday) the blog is updated with a so called 'spotlight' of the best contributions to the flickr group (with links back to the original image) as well as interesting links relating to industrial abandonment.

Beyond this, the blog and flickr group are promoted via a Facebook page and Twitter, the latter often getting more updates during the week. Several regular industrial decay photographers from around the world have had their images brought together in a book which is available online via Blurb.

Shuttercrack

Shuttercrack is a more generalised photography site which works alongside flickr, featuring almost daily photographs from user contributions via a flickr group. Besides images, the site also has articles, interviews and videos relating to photography.

The main aim is to show 'inspiring photography'.

Shuttercrack is part of a much wider network known as Crack For Your Eyes, which covers music and street art/graffiti. A magazine is also printed, though doesn't appear to be produced on a regular basis.

Brief Three - Further Investigation

Don't Go
Blog post about the Derby Arts Fringe
Empty Shop - Durham

Pros

I have good local knowledge, contacts and means to pull it off, and maybe see it put to use beyond this brief. Even if not the FMP I may pursue this anyway.

The research phase in itself would be part of the final outcome.

Cons

Much travelling - will be dividing my time between here and home.

Reliant on the input of complete strangers, which from experience isn't always good.

Brief Two - Further Investigation

Example of own work

Useful links

Jon Doe
Drainor Magazine
Storm drain and Sewer flickr group

Pros

Like brief one, niche market, though the images (from my own experiences) impress many different people. The drain exploring community is close knit and many know each other - even overseas thanks to the internet.

I get to go in more drains, take photographs and throw typography and infographics into the mix for good measure.... what more does a man need in life?

Cons

Also like brief one, probably limited shelf life beyond meeting the needs of the FMP

Legality - this is going in an exhibition, in front of industry types. Last thing I need is an unfortunate reputation as a "turd wading terrorism risk".

Been there done that - drain photography is the visual element of my dissertation.

Brief One - further investigation

Example of own work

links

Troy Paiva
'Noctography' group
Twin Cities Brightest

Pros

An interesting, growing area of photography which has not been addressed much beyond the realms of flickr and a small number of well known practitioners (e.g. Troy Paiva).

No existing magazines/websites with similar pursuit as far as I know.


Cons

Very limited in future development beyond brief - especially the printed media.

Perhaps TOO specialised, hence lack of existing magazines etc.

FMP ideas

IDEA ONE is related to long exposure photography, e.g. 'light painting' and
underground photography both which I do much of. Both have become popular in
recent
years, however there isn't much in the way of websites/magazines dedicated to
it.

Deliverables shall be print/web, the web side of things shall be presented in a
blog style which will have weekly features showing some of the best images from
around the world which will be fed in via user contributions from flickr and
possibly other popular sites.

http://industrialdecay.blogspot.com/ is in a similar vein to what I have in
mind, except I intend to branch it out further to include interviews, tutorials
and reviews of lighting products etc.

Target audience shall be photographers with an interest in long exposure
photography or photographers whom wish to explore it further.


IDEA TWO concentrates more on drain photography, besides photography I shall put
a greater emphasis on the environments themselves, using typography and
infographics.

Deliverables could somewhat similar to the first idea - magazine, website/blog
with showcase of photographers work/interviews etc. Another thing is a series
of spoof 'tourist guides' to particular underground systems, showing key
features, maps and historical information.

Target audience would be underground photographers/explorers and people
interested in it, age group varies between teens upto 40s/50s.

I dunno if I want to do more of this though... done it for the Dissertation
visual piece and don't know if a load of photos of dirty underground places is
the best impression I wish to leave when I enter the big bad world...

IDEA THREE is inspired somewhat by my experiences in Manchester compared to my
home city of Derby. The Mancs seem to have unconditional pride for their home
city, a far cry from Derby where the general populace are either indifferent or
even depreciating of their home city. I sort of want to bring about some pride
through design.

This will rely on interacting with people in Derby and getting some opinions,
which I'll do via word of mouth, and online means and probably less
conventional means like guerilla graphics (e.g. Stickers on phone boxes for
people to fill in etc).

There is the potential to set some sort of event up for people to interact with.
The information gathering stage in itself shall produce part of the final
deliverables - these will include street art, posters,
social networking groups etc.

The final outcome shall be the visual presentation of these views and opinions,
one idea is using empty shop windows and other blank spaces in the city (this
may be realistically attainable) and also a book which might be done as a self
depreciating tourist guide. It's basically about doing something a bit
different and getting people thinking about their local environment.