Exploring familiar subjects

the Goldilocks chair

As I have always had a fondness for photographing chairs and benches my immediate response to this brief was 'chair'. I have a small digital repertoire but my interest was founded in the days of film. But with a lack of immediate subject material, I dismissed the idea and turned my energy elsewhere. As the week evolved however, my luck changed and quite by accident, suddenly the perfect chair was in my sights. I feel compelled to share the 'acquisition of the chair' story before I delve into the process of capturing it.

Late on Saturday afternoon I popped across to the shops to pick up some desperately needed groceries. (I need to admit right here that since enrolling in this course I have dropped the ball a little on the domestic front.) By the side of the road, I noticed a waiting pile of discarded dilapidated chairs. My eyes lit up and excitement erupted in my chest, I knew they were waiting to be rescued by me. I raced home and reurned with our roomier car to comfortably escort my new friends home. I felt elated on a number of fronts; I had found a suitable subject for this brief, the chairs oozed charisma and character and the link between rickety broken chairs and my newly coined phrase 'Goldilocks images' seemed ‘just right’. I could not believe my luck; I actually had my very own broken 'Goldilocks chair' to work with.

I turn my narrative to photographing the 'Goldilocks chair'. On arrival home my excitement continued as I made decisions about where to sit her for the photo shoot. As the winter light was slowly fading I knew my time with her would be short but the shadowy magic of late afternoon sun added to the atmosphere. I took a sequence of photographs focussing on her seat before exploring her legs and back. At one point during the shoot I had to move her fragile frame causing her to further unhinge, this was a source of frustration as she became a wooden puzzle to be pieced together rather than a subject to be framed.

Photographing her, reinforced how important it is to feel connected with the subject at hand. Even though I had just met the 'Goldilocks chair' I had immediately established a bond. I felt I owed her the respect of taking my time to explore what she had to offer, to hear what she wanted to say. Today, she stands a broken old woman, irreparable and discarded but her history intrigues me. What past conversations has she overheard? Who has taken rest in her arms? Whose laughter has she shared and tears suffered? What quiet moments has she encountered?

Did capturing the 'Goldilocks chair’ meet my expectations and did I do her justice? I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of photographing a subject with intent. The image I thought I would use during the shoot was not the image I eventually chose to display here. In the end I was drawn to this particular image, not for its technical prowess or clarity but in order to preserve her dignity, to heighten her charm and beauty and to disguise her aches and broken bones.

This experience of taking photos of a subject with intent has helped me realise that understanding the purpose behind taking and creating an image is just as valuable as the finished result. In addition to the; who, what, when and how (technical) the ‘why’ is an essential element to consider when deciding which of your images becomes a favourite. I discovered that judging a photo only on its aesthetic merits may not always be enough. Exploring the intention behind taking an image and its conveyed meaning or message needs to be savoured.

Maxine