David Webb

This body of work explores the idea of personal space (the English have a greater need for this than people from other nations). The use of a camera has enabled me to cross this threshold into a more intimate engagement with the sitters. Dependant on the proximity of the part of the head being focused on, the identity of the sitter is more or less apparent and the images can become abstract and ethereal.

 
Jason Shippey

'The current global recession and the impact on large businesses is detailed in the media everyday. However, a large proportion of the British workforce are in fact self employed, a status that I aspire to myself. This series of portraits highlights the silent victims of the recession, the self employed.

The skill in photography is having the vision of how you want a photograph to finish. When I compose an image in my mind, I see the final image.

However, for this project the final images are not the only story. By displaying the pre-edited it offers an insight into a photographer’s vision, the small details that transform an image from OK to interesting. 
 
Come with me as I highlight, improve and manipulate images to achieve my vision.'


 
 
Gordon Jackson

"The images are located in the tradition of self-portraiture and my aim is to explore aspects of the human condition alongside recognising my emotional journey in recovery from addiction. To some degree this body of work deals with raw emotions, which are difficult to verbalise.

From the age of 12 I began to self-medicate and continued to do this for 20 years. Gradually I became more dependent on changing my mood and blocking out my emotions with excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs, until my life became so unbearable that I had reached the jumping off point, I decided to quit!

Nearly four years on my life is unrecognisable from what it was. Yet, I still feel uncomfortable with myself, frustrated with the confusion of my newly regained emotions and frightened of discovering and accepting who I really am."
 


 
Louise Astbury has been documenting life in the form of a reflective diary.
"This project is about my life at present and my feelings about coming from a frequently turbulent
relationship; my frustrations, thoughts, soul searching and the reality of being thrust into single parenthood.
With continuing troubles, there is the need, I have realised, for setting boundaries for the care of my own sense of ‘self’ and for that of my girls, to keep hold of and gain back the ‘truth’ and ultimately, keep our family’s life moving in a positive direction."

 
Louise Todd is busy, creatively producing imagery surrounding the theme of 'Childhood Memories'. Within a heart warming, interestingly beautiful set, Louise's focus is to communicate, in a retrospective way, the 'fine' details of a childhood.
 
Sharon Baddeley has been travelling widely along the north Wales, and north west England coastlines in her pursuit of great photographs.
"For my final project I’m looking at the issue of coastal erosion with a particular focus on the steps taken to preserve the coastline. I’ve come across a variety of structures already on my early trips to the North Wales and North West England coastline including sea walls, groynes and dunes planted with recycled Christmas trees. I’m looking forward to reasearching more about coastal erosion and visiting other areas of the coast for my next shoots."


More of Sharon's work can be seen at her blog.
Local photographer Mark King has been documenting the scenes of unsolved murders in Cheshire in his series, "Unsolved".  An ongoing project, he has been extensively researching the background of these crimes before journeying to the scenes to photograph them in a sympathetic manner.  The results are are compelling, thought provoking, and sometimes a little eerie...
Click to set custom HTML
 
Howard Baker is a photographer who has been tirelessly returning to his chosen wind farm locations, waiting for the right weather conditions for shooting.  On more than one occasion he has been shrouded in cloud, with only the sheep for company. 
His perseverance is beginning to pay off as can be seen in these images.


 
Welcome to the Illume blog.  We will be regularly be posting updates as we prepare for our end of course exhibition at "The Cube" Gallery in Manchester.  Follow our highs and lows here.  Sneak peeks of photographers work coming soon.
Most of the students are busy shooting this week.  Many are experimenting with different media; large format field cameras, medium format, and "retro" 110 film.  Some interesting ideas are under development - which makes us keen to see those test prints next week!
See our exhibition venue.
 
Start blogging by creating a new post. You can edit or delete me by clicking under the comments. You can also customize your sidebar by dragging in elements from the top bar.