Manchester Gallery

This image was one that really stood out to me in the modern photography area. Photographed by Donald Rodney and named "In the house of my father", I learnt that the tiny model house was pieced together from sections of his own skin which was removed from his body during treatment for sickle cell anaemia. The house is a metaphor for the place where we feel safe and 'at home' but for the artist his fatal illness made him feel vulnerable in his own skin. "It is a poignant image of the fragility of existence."
This image really inspires me because I've always felt better about things when I think about the comfort of my own home, and there's a song that means a lot to me called "To build a home."

A link to the song is here. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhHKfSFGdUI

The use of wide apertures to create a shallow depth of field stands out to me and the soft focus gives the idea a very delicate appeal. It links in to the idea of feeling delicate and sensitive.

 

Rossetti has always been a favourite of mine. My mother has pre-raphaelite prints all over the house and I've been inspired to create a similar style in my photographs. This painting is called The Bower Meadow and is oil on canvas. I've always admired the way Pre-Raphaelite's dress, how they have their hair and the whole idea they have of naturality.

 

This is then I found Photography inspired by Rossetti on the internet!

 

 

 

This one, on the letter from the editor page, is inspired by Rossetti’s Helen of Troy.

 

 

I'm incredibly inspired by boats, for some reason! Can't stop writing about them and admiring them. I keep thinking of ways to capture them in photography, and it also links to why I want to live by the docks so much! This painting stood out to me because of the emotion in the brush strokes creating a stormy sea and cloudy sky. The shadows and delicate coloured sails blowing in the wind is lovely and the composition of the image is brilliant because of the way the painting guides your eye.

 

 

This is a great idea, and a lot of people clearly took part in it, including I. Each person could collect a label, write on it a place where they would love to be, and attach it to one of the suitcases stacked up in the gallery. The vintage, travel idea to it all stood out to me a lot.