Introduction

To kick off the new brief "Directions within Photographic Communication", we received the PA2, and to my shock and later, excitement, we have been asked to produce a digital book on InDesign, to show off a typology that we have produced. We are required to develop our understanding of how photographs present their work to their audience, through book layouts and presentation, as well as reflecting upon our own practice.

I was stuck with what exactly a typology was, until a member of staff explained, and a friend confirmed this to me. I have wanted to do a project and present it in a book for some time, and had an idea that I wanted to convey. I plan to take a series of photographs of people in outdoor locations, such as my Mum, Dad, sister, boyfriend, friends and then ask them to carry the photograph around with them for a week. I want to show how photographs don't need to be preserved in photo albums, and never looked at again. I also would like to investigate people who carry photographs around on their person anyway, such as in wallets and purses. After some experimentation and initial exploration into the two ideas, I will then decided what to continue with.

ty•pol•o•gy (t-pl-j)n. pl.
1. the study or systematic classification of types that have characteristics or traits in common.

I had a look at the document Les left us on Blackboard and decided to take some front line research into what was defined as a 'typology'.

Thomas Ruff • Portraits (Blue Eyes)

Thomas Ruff takes a very systematic approach to photographing the portraits of people, and each set has a common theme running through them all. Although all of these subjects look different, Ruff has captured all four people with the same common trait; they all have blue eyes. I would like an element of structure and systematic composition within my photographs, which is something I must explore in further detail.

Julian Germain • Classroom Portraits

The theme runs through all of the photographs in this series; children or teenagers in classrooms with the same mundane face on each of them. No smile, no expression. When I first was confronted by this set, I was shocked to see this, all the children almost look relaxed by the photographers presence. Although these photographs aren't taking the systematic approach to their layout, they all adopt the same theme.

Bernd and Hilla Becher • Various Typologies

I am familiar with Bernd and Hilla Becher's work from my college studies, their typologies are iconic and it wasn't until now that I understood that they were a typology. Their photographs are very systematic in all their typologies, which is something I want to reflect in my work.