Inspiration X 2

I've been looking through some of the work that has inspired me over the past few years and came across Marjolaine Ryley.

She has done several projects and her website is really kind of interesting but the project I've been looking at a lot recently is 'Résidence Astral'. Usually I find that reason I'm draw to a photographer is because one or two photographs remind me of something from my past, but I find most of Ryley's images remind me of something or another, even if that detail that reminds me so very tiny within the image. Its like someone has photographed my memory's I had forgotten about.

The images she uses for the project where taken in her grandmothers apartment. She states that she is interested 'in the duality of experience within the familial realm that encompasses the closeness and comfort, as well as claustrophobia and ambivalence that we may feel towards members of our family'.She is also interested in the intimacy of a family and the things that make families so unique.

In the past I have explored photographing my home environment and this personal connection to places and people is something that has gone in to my current project. Instead of using the family home as a places of "closeness and comfort, as well as claustrophobia and ambivalence" I have used the landscape and the ideas of not feeling alienated within it. My work is working with the idea of memory and significant places, places of longing, something that Ryley does, however I don't think this is as intentional as my own use of it.

I find work focused around personal memory, connections to childhood, family and family environments fascinating; I think this is partly due my own bizarre family and the memories I have.

Anyway, I'll finish on one of my favourite quotes by Harry Callahan as I think its quite fitting,

"I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure the same as life itself and felt that their individual feelings were worth expressing. To me, that makes photography more exciting".