- Final Major Project – Grades – Where To, Now? January 15, 2020
Well, it’s all over!
My overall grade for the Final major Project module was 72.9% – my best yet. Encouragingly, the results against the Learning Objectives ...
Read more... - Visitor’s Comments December 20, 2019
The show is over.
Perhaps my abiding memory will be the way that visitors interacted with the work. And they left gratifying responses in the Visitors ...
Read more... - Top Fifty Posts December 18, 2019
Quick links to some of the most ‘influential’ of my posts of the two years of the MA program, in terms of either moving my ...
Read more... - A Photographer, by Photographers December 18, 2019
One of the most humbling things that has happened during the BRLSI show has been the reception that my work has got from other photographers.
Perhaps ...
Read more... - Hope December 15, 2019
Saturday December 14th was last day of Week 24, or was it the first day post MA?
Unfinished Stories: From Genocide to Hope has been running ...
Read more... - Critical Review of Practice December 12, 2019
Here is a link to my FMP Critical Review of Practice.
FMP Critical Review of Practice Final Compressed
The concluding statement is perhaps worth noting here.
‘The MA ...
Read more... - FMP Submission December 12, 2019
Here is a link to my FMP submission, meeting Falmouth University file size guidelines. This includes all of the images, video and samples of the ...
Read more... - Book Listing December 12, 2019
I am pleased to have ‘Unfinished Stories: From Genocide to Hope’ listed at Topping & Company, one of the UK’s leading independent bookstores. The book ...
Read more... - Reflections on Paradox – Curation December 11, 2019
‘Beautiful, simply powerful, thought-provoking, the words and pictures go together so well, courageous‘.
These are some of the words written in the visitor’s book after the ...
Read more... - Installation Photos December 9, 2019
I have taken a series of installation shots, which I hope to use in future ‘marketing’ to see if I can get further shows in ...
Read more... - Opening Night December 9, 2019
The main ‘private viewing’ was Friday, 6th December, from 6pm until 8:30 pm. I was very pleased to have between 70-75 guests, and in particular ...
Read more... - Setting Up December 6, 2019
Sarath arrived safely from Phnom Penh very early on December 2nd. It is lovely to be able to share this week with him directly. We ...
Read more... - Exhibition Walk Through November 25, 2019
Whilst the centrepiece of the upcoming exhibition is my FMP series, the event includes both a brief history of Cambodia to set context, and a ...
Read more... - Well, thought this was all too smooth … November 20, 2019
I got a Facebook message from Bandol, today, IPML printers in Phnom Penh.
She sent a picture of the books packed up and ready to ship, ...
Read more... - Print Delivery November 19, 2019
The main images have just been delivered from Loxley, and I am very pleased. The quality is spot on – so, if there is a ...
Read more... - Memory (again) November 17, 2019
Jesse organised a really interesting ‘face to face’ yesterday, to see the work of Tony Ray-Jones and Jack Latham at the RPS, Paintworks, Bristol.
There was ...
Read more... - Week Eighteen Reflections November 11, 2019
Most of the planning for the upcoming exhibition is done. And, as the book is now being printed for real, nothing I can do there. ...
Read more... - Reviews and Feedback November 9, 2019
I have asked several people for feedback and / or reviews of my work.
I know some but not all of these people personally, and it ...
Read more... - Unfinished Stories November 6, 2019
Had another good webinar with Wendy, where we focused on how best to describe the core of my FMP work – Unfinished Stories. The challenge ...
Read more... - Private Viewing November 4, 2019
Just getting things organised for the private viewing, Friday December 6th.
I must say that Eventbrite is so easy to use. Now, just need to see ...
Read more... - Book – Digital Print October 30, 2019
Another piece of good news this week – the digital print of the book arrived from Phnom Penh. I am very pleased with the quality ...
Read more... - Sarath’s visa October 28, 2019
A small piece of very good news – Sarath has got a UK visa. This means a great deal to all of us, as it ...
Read more... - Installation – Layout and Display Boards October 20, 2019
Having pretty much settled the main wall hanging and sequence, I needed to turn my attention to the information boards. Whilst the show is focused ...
Read more... - A Constructed Image October 16, 2019
As I am closing in on the final choices and hanging plan – and nearing the time that I need to write a Critical Review ...
Read more... - BRLSI Publicity October 16, 2019
BRLSI do a good job of publicising events – online (web and social media) via their mailing list and with posters / leaflets available during ...
Read more... - Week Fourteen Reflections – video and subtitles October 14, 2019
In the short video of Sarath narrating his story about going to meet his Mother, I use what is called the ‘UN Style’ of voiceover ...
Read more... - Quotes and Photographs October 13, 2019
On Friday, I gave a talk to the Frome Wessex Camera Club, entitled ‘Unfinished Stories – From Genocide to Hope’. I was gratified that it ...
Read more... - Sarath’s Video – English voiceover October 9, 2019
Sarath has just completed a voiceover for his story ‘I Missed my Mother’. I have experimented previously with other ways of overdubbing the original Khmer ...
Read more... - Webinar with Wendy – Installation Planning October 9, 2019
Had a very good session today on how best to develop and show alternative hanging plans.
First, the focus will be on the black and white ...
Read more... - Installation planning October 7, 2019
Spent some time creating layouts at BRLSI, based on photographs of the space. Feeling quite pleased with how it is shaping up.
The idea is that ...
Read more... - Interactive Presentation October 7, 2019
I have to give another presentation of my work at the end of this week, to the Frome Wessex Club. I’ll be sharing the Unfinished ...
Read more... - The People’s Vote October 2, 2019
Data is an interesting thing, and not something one normally associates with artistic endeavours. Yet, just as we get feedback on our work from tutors, ...
Read more... - PhotoBath ‘Witness’ Exhibition October 2, 2019
It was opening night of the Witness show last evening. I have previously noted how this as curated.
I think it was the most professional show ...
Read more... - A research-led practice September 26, 2019
The MA is now in its 21st month. In that time I have flown almost exactly 50,000 miles to and from Cambodia. Looking at my ...
Read more... - Webinar with Wendy – Sept 25th September 25, 2019
Had a good webinar with Wendy today. I started by saying that I was quite pleased with how things had developed, and could now see ...
Read more... - Marketing September 24, 2019
So far, the Royal Photographic Society Contemporary group, in their magazine, and PhotoBath, both in the latest Showcase 4 book and the Witness exhibition are ...
Read more... - PhotoBath – Showcase 4 September 24, 2019
The PhotoBath collective had a book launch for Showcase 4 last evening.
This is the group’s fourth book of member’s photography, and it’s most ambitious yet. ...
Read more... - Book files sent to Printers September 23, 2019
Well. it is done. The Indesign and PDF ‘ready to print’ files have all been sent to pour printers in Phnom Penh. We are missing ...
Read more... - Newspaper Club September 23, 2019
For the BRLSI installation, I am exploring ways to involve the audience in the personal stories – zines to take away, QR code links to ...
Read more... - Auschwitz & Memory September 23, 2019
Over the past 18 months, I have spent a good deal of time researching atrocity and the ethics of images of such. In this I ...
Read more... - Finalising the images September 23, 2019
As previously noted, thanks to input from both Gem and Richard Young (a fellow member of the PhotoBath collective), I think I had a bit ...
Read more... - Changing the Story September 20, 2019
Frank Finlay, Dean of Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures at the University of Leeds put me in touch with Paul Cooke. Paul is Professor ...
Read more... - TV & Newspaper Coverage – Archives, March 2000 September 19, 2019
As part of the FMP, I am exploring my archives – not just my own images, going back to 1994 – but also contemporary press ...
Read more... - Book Foreword September 18, 2019
At the eleven and a half hour, I just received the signed book foreword from the Cambodian Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, HE Dr. ...
Read more... - PhotoBath ‘Witness’ Exhibition September 14, 2019
The PhotoBath Witness exhibition is on from October 1st until the 6th. As previously noted, one of my images was selected by the curators (Benedict ...
Read more... - Khmer Quotes September 11, 2019
Thanks to input from both Gem and Richard Young (a fellow member of the PhotoBath collective), I think I had a bit of a breakthrough ...
Read more... - BRLSI – Venue August 26, 2019
I have booked the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) for two weeks, from Wednesday, December 4th. Installation day will be on the 4th ...
Read more... - Tutorial with Krishna August 21, 2019
Very good conversation last evening with Krishna and Ash.
Both were encouraging about the status of my FMP. We discussed the use of quotes as an ...
Read more... - Book material samples August 20, 2019
I have just got the samples from Phnom Penh. Whilst I had seen paper samples and such when there, I had not seen a completed ...
Read more... - Multi-media August 20, 2019
I finally got around to working through some ‘road trip’ photography from my last Cambodia visit. When Simeth and I were driving north, I decided ...
Read more... - Portfolios of Stories August 19, 2019
I have started thinking about Wendy’s challenge – to create mini-portfolios of the Unfinished Stories – to help the creative juices flow, look at ways ...
Read more... - National Library of Cambodia August 15, 2019
Header image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_of_Cambodia#/media/File:National_Library_-_panoramio_(1).jpg .. Creative Commons License
Read more... - Printing, and Webinar with Wendy August 15, 2019
As I discussed with Wendy, I made an (expensive) error in printing, with a border that just did not quite work.
Not enough space at the ...
Read more... - A Matter of Tape August 10, 2019
It’s a small thing, but so useful.
There is an abundance of ‘nano-tape’ on the market right now. It is two sided, reusable, washable, and leaves ...
Read more... - Exhibition Print August 10, 2019
I ordered an A1 sized print from Loxley, using their premium metallic/perspex finish. It was completed and delivered within 4 working days. As noted before, ...
Read more... - Arles Inspiration August 6, 2019
I finally got around to creating gallery of images from Arles. So many points of inspiration, particularly for installations. I noted a couple that really ...
Read more... - Archives August 6, 2019
For both the book and the exhibition, I want to illustrate some of the history of Cambodia, and especially the Khmer Rouge years.. My own ...
Read more... - At the mercy of HM Government … August 4, 2019
Read more... - PhotoBath Showcase 4 August 4, 2019
The curation team have chosen four of my images for the upcoming Showcase book, with a different selection to the RPS Contemporary Group. I need ...
Read more... - Without Honor – Arnold J Isaacs August 2, 2019
The U.S. intervention was a military, political strategic, and moral catastrophe for which only Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, not the acts of ...
Read more... - RPS Contemporary Group August 2, 2019
I had noted in May that the RPS Contemporary Group planned to publish some of my work. Well, on returning from Rencontres d’Arles and vacation, ...
Read more... - Week Eight Reflections July 28, 2019
This was our first visit to Rencontres d’Arles, and it will not be the last. A terrific experience. The venues and presentation puts Paris Photo, ...
Read more... - Angkor Chum July 18, 2019
One story that will not feature in the book is one that concerns our family. It also is an exercise in rephotography, in the sense ...
Read more... - FMP Proposal feedback from Wendy July 17, 2019
Had a good conversation with Wendy of my proposal for FMP. Feedback was good, and I think the proposal (and project) was well received. Wendy ...
Read more... - First Book Spreads July 16, 2019
The content of the book is coming along, and Vicky has been doing some design layouts, which look great.
This evening, she created a series of ...
Read more... - Lukas Birk Webinar July 16, 2019
Terrific webinar today with Lukas Birk, hosted by Gary. Lukas was really helpful to me last year as I was starting to think my way ...
Read more... - Week Six Reflections July 14, 2019
It has been a busy week.
First, I have made some progress on the book editing, with a final story from Sarath. Vicky has also made ...
Read more... - PhotoBath – ‘Witness’ Exhibition July 6, 2019
For this year’s PhotoBath group exhibition, Witness, they have used an outside judging panel. From the Unfinished Stories work that I offered, the curators accepted ...
Read more... - Jeff Hays – A ‘New’ Source of Information July 4, 2019
It is terrific when one find new sources of information on Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge, even though I am reasonably well acquainted with a ...
Read more... - Sarath – Earliest Photographs July 3, 2019
Sarath and his family destroyed any photographs they had during the Khmer Rouge years, for fear of being interrogated about their past. He has been ...
Read more... - Cambodia Historical Timeline July 2, 2019
I have completed a thorough update of the historical timeline, cross checked with multiple official and academic sources.
I expect to use the most relevant items ...
Read more... - Roland Neveu July 1, 2019
Roland Neveu, a journalist born in Brittany, and now living in Bangkok, took many iconic photographs of the Khmer Rouge takeover of Phnom Penh, in ...
Read more... - Book Page Dimensions July 1, 2019
I have just agreed terms with the printer in Cambodia.
One aspect I am re-thinking a little is page dimensions. I need to creates something substantial, ...
Read more... - Jae Emerling – Archives and Time July 1, 2019
At Gary’s recommendation, I have been reading Jae Emerling, particularly on time and archives, as being highly appropriate for my FMP.
Whilst I find Emerling’s style ...
Read more... - Legal Complexities – the ECCC June 30, 2019
In 2003 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution approving a proposed agreement reached between the UN and Cambodia concerning the prosecution of those ...
Read more... - DC-Cam Archives June 30, 2019
As part of the FMP Installation, I intend to have a section on the history of the Khmer Rouge. The Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam), ...
Read more... - Cambodian History June 25, 2019
As part of any installation, public discussion or book, I need to ensure that the presentation of the facts of history are totally correct. This ...
Read more... - Week Three Reflections June 24, 2019
The week was focused on two things – getting the Final Major Project proposal finished, and working on the book content and timetable.
Working through the ...
Read more... - FMP Project Proposal June 22, 2019
Submitted the Proposal, timeline and Risk assessment
Downloadable here:
FMP Final Project Proposal & Risk Assessment
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Header: Mick Yates. 2001. Ta Prohm, Angkor.
Read more... - Print Exploration June 22, 2019
For a few years, I have used Loxley Colour in Scotland as my exhibition printer, and they are the provider for any customer orders taken ...
Read more... - Lewis Bush – Storytelling Workshop Notes June 16, 2019
Section One: Story versus narrative
One story (event) can produce multiple narratives. Narratives are all about choices and decisions. Narrative directs audiences.
From my earlier post on Narrative
© Beemgee ...
Read more... - Venue for FMP Installation June 7, 2019
I got confirmation today that I have two weeks at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, December 4th onwards (effectively until Christmas). This is ...
Read more... - RPS Contemporary Group Proposal May 2, 2019
I am testing the interest level in my latest work, so I have created a simple proposal for the Royal Photographic Society, Contemporary Group.
And just ...
Read more... - Book Design Inspiration April 30, 2019
In searching for inspiration for the book design, Vicky found Anna Kremenetskaya’s work, for a book on the Berlin Wall. We were both taken by ...
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- Surfaces & Strategies Reflections – Grades – Where To, Now? September 20, 2018
Just got the Surfaces & Strategies results – and although the overall result (70.6%) is remarkably consistent with Positions & Practice (70.8%), the internals are ...
Read more... - Week Eleven & Twelve Reflections August 20, 2018
Bill Jay, in Occam’s Razor, 1992, wrote:
‘… all good photographers have a deep commitment to, and involvement with, their subjects, and through photography they are ...
Read more... - Surfaces & Strategies Oral Presentation August 19, 2018
I am exploring the long-term impact of the Khmer Rouge Genocide, and especially its impact on education. This includes revisiting our family history with that ...
Read more... - Work in Progress – I missed my Mother August 18, 2018
I have completed the S&S WIP selection.
Posts have already been written which explain my rational on intimacy, landscape and negative traces.
Some of my fellow students ...
Read more... - Week Ten Reflections – Landscape, Context and WIP August 12, 2018
My reflections this week are about my photographic approach to ‘aftermath’.
Christian Schwager, a Swiss photographer, made a series My Lovely Bosnia (2003 – 2005), around the still-present ...
Read more... - WIP – Telling Sarath’s Story in the Jungle August 9, 2018
Part of this project is to tell the personal stories of the people who survived the Genocide. I am using video, and will include segments ...
Read more... - Time, Education & Rephotography August 6, 2018
I am examining the ‘time‘ aspect of my narrative, amongst other things.
In an earlier post, I noted that a young boy that started in a ...
Read more... - Negative Traces August 5, 2018
The impact of the Genocide of 1975-1979 is still, in many ways, hidden. It is visible only in traces, both physical and psychological.
My project is ...
Read more... - Week Nine reflections – Cambodian Narrative August 4, 2018
It was a very busy but productive time in Cambodia.
My reflections this week (partly whilst sitting on the plane home) are about clarifying the narrative. ...
Read more... - Week Eight Reflections – Cambodia – My Practice July 29, 2018
Another intense week.
I left London on Saturday morning, having completed a 4 day, full-on shoot with Andrew Mlangeni. I arrived in Phnom Penh on Sunday ...
Read more... - Week Seven Reflections – My Practice July 21, 2018
This week my reflections are about my practice, after a multi day event/documentary gig in London.
Whilst I have shot events before, this week’s project was ...
Read more... - Book Dummy July 15, 2018
I am having to jump ahead this week, as I am pretty much full tilt with work and travel from Tuesday.
I created a ‘book dummy’. ...
Read more... - Images So Far July 15, 2018
A selection of images for the project so far.
First, a small selection from my last visit to Cambodia.
Second, experimental work on developing ways to show ...
Read more... - My Friend’s Mother Passed Away – I Missed My Mother July 15, 2018
The first fully-translated ‘story’ from Sarath. Warning: gruesome reading in parts.
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It was possibly in 1977, I do not know for sure, but it was a ...
Read more... - Conversation with Lukas Birk July 13, 2018
Following an introduction from Cemre, had a terrific conversation today with Lukas Birk.
I explained a little of my background, motivations and the Cambodia project itself.
These ...
Read more... - Cambodian Photography – Part 2 July 12, 2018
As noted in the previous post, Cambodian photography is developing, though it’s clear that the hiatus of the Khmer Rouge years and subsequent Vietnamese administration ...
Read more... - Week Five Reflections July 8, 2018
A really simple reflection this week. Ingrid and I met up with Simon and Neang, who run a pop-up restaurant business called Khmer Kitchen. We ...
Read more... - Cambodian Photography – Part 1 July 5, 2018
Arguably, Dith Pran (1942 – 2008) is the most famous of Cambodian photographers. His story, working with foreign journalists, before the Khmer Rouge takeover, and subsequent ...
Read more... - Showing the Hidden July 4, 2018
The Landings Exhibition is in preparation, and there is a call for entries.
At the same time, I am continuing to explore the idea of ‘traces’ ...
Read more... - Ideas, Ideas, Ideas – Opening the Curtain July 3, 2018
An interesting conjunction of events.
First, it’s been made clear that we need to consider mounting an ‘Exhibition’ (‘Landings’, online or otherwise), giving a Workshop, and ...
Read more... - Cambodia – 2000 July 2, 2018
This week I am going through the archives, for rephotography purposes, as on my next trip I will be travelling up to Anlong Veng, and ...
Read more... - Windows on the Hidden June 30, 2018
I have found the last couple of weeks most enjoyable, exploring new kinds of imagery, both to learn new techniques and to consider ways of ...
Read more... - Documentary & Art June 29, 2018
Had a very good webinar today with Cemre and Yas. Just want to jot my thoughts down here, not in any particular order.
Cemre asked about ...
Read more... - Postcards June 25, 2018
In Week Three Reflections, I noted some thoughts about how I might bring alive an installation / exhibition of the Cambodia project.
That, pause being pushed ...
Read more... - Pop June 21, 2018
I have been experimenting with some of the ‘traces’ work, not least as a couple of the images have been chosen for the PhotoBath exhibition ...
Read more... - Trailer June 19, 2018
One of the tasks for Week 2 was to create a 2 minute trailer for our projects.
A little late, but here it is.
Soundtrack: The Industrialism ...
Read more... - Rephotography June 13, 2018
In preparation for the next Cambodia trip, taking Cemre’s advice, I’ll be looking at the implications of this project for our family.
As noted elsewhere, our ...
Read more... - Ghosts, Traces & Stories June 9, 2018
I am looking for ways to tell today’s story whilst also bringing yesterday’s in front of the viewer.
Anyone who has visited a Genocide Museum, anywhere ...
Read more... - It’s Not All About Genocide June 8, 2018
It has always been my intent to go back and re-imagine the journey that we took with Sarath, though I have, to now, seen that ...
Read more... - The Work for Surfaces & Strategies June 5, 2018
Very helpful webinar with Gary today.
As background, one of my ‘issues’ is the limited time I can be in Cambodia, and how I will develop ...
Read more... - A Place Over Time June 4, 2018
In the first week of Surfaces & Strategies, we were asked to consider a ‘Place over Time’, with these steps:
Choose a previously made image that ...
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- Sustainable Prospects – Grades – Where To, Now? January 14, 2019
I have just received the grades for Sustainable Prospects – 70% overall, Distinction level, I assume, which is pretty much in line with Surfaces & ...
Read more... - Sustainable Prospects Oral Presentation December 4, 2018
Robert Frank said, “Above all, life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference”.
Whilst I expressed the same thoughts in my first Oral Presentation, ...
Read more... - Week Ten Reflections December 2, 2018
With all the focus on the Oral Presentation and the Work in Progress, it would be easy to not step back and reflect. Also, there ...
Read more... - Week Eight Reflections – Work in Progress Reviews November 17, 2018
This summarises feedback from Jesse, Wendy and Krishna on my WIP portfolio, and my project in general.
Paris (10th Nov)
As background, I introduced the project like ...
Read more... - Week Seven Reflections – Paris Photo November 14, 2018
It was the week of a Falmouth Face to Face around Paris Photo, which we combined with family time in the city. Here’s my reflections ...
Read more... - Week Six Reflections – Part Two November 5, 2018
I sometimes try to separate the photographic focus of the MA, and my personal role as a ‘Cambodian Educator’, of almost twenty years standing, as ...
Read more... - Week Six Reflections – Part One November 5, 2018
These are some thoughts on week two of my Cambodia trip.
As noted last week, the main purpose is to see how much progress I can make ...
Read more... - A Prayer from Hell November 5, 2018
In Phnom Penh last week, I met Youk Chhang for the first time. The visit including a lot of such networking activities, in order to ...
Read more... - Gatiloke, Genocide and the Narrative November 3, 2018
After an intense but (I believe) successful two weeks in Cambodia, there are many things I need to write about. There is however an overarching ...
Read more... - Week Five Reflections – Cambodia October 27, 2018
The focus of the week was Cambodia. I arrived on Wednesday, from London via Singapore. From our home to the hotel takes about 22 hours. ...
Read more... - Meet Someone New October 25, 2018
I am responding here to the ‘Meet Someone New” challenge.
This is alway a good idea, though I must admit I have preferred usually to do ...
Read more... - Week Four Reflections – and Photographic DNA October 20, 2018
I have done my best to fulfil the requests of the course this week, despite my misgivings. I will not dwell much on this, other ...
Read more... - David Salle October 17, 2018
So why should I be fascinated with David Salle’s work?
On the one hand, his figurative, painterly (pictorial?) style was a welcome break from conceptual art ...
Read more... - Mango Flowers and Fruits – Sarath October 16, 2018
The second fully-translated ‘story’ from Sarath.
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This is a story about the time just before being liberated from the Khmer Rouge (in 1979). The lives of ...
Read more... - The Photograph as Contemporary Art October 13, 2018
I have been looking again at The Photograph as Contemporary Art, by Charlotte Cotton, 2014 3rd edition, and decided this time to write a few ...
Read more... - Let’s Talk Business October 3, 2018
We have been asked to write a business statement for our photography.
Mission
My work is ‘Unfinished Stories’. Life is always in motion, every moment creates a ...
Read more... - Looking Back September 23, 2018
I am exploring the long-term impact of the Khmer Rouge Genocide, and especially its impact on education. This includes revisiting our family history which goes ...
Read more... - David Hurn – A Life in Pictures September 23, 2018
Just finally catching up with the excellent documentary on David Hurn from the BBC. It only has a few hours left to be available – ...
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