The metamorphosis of a photograph over time is a curious phenomenon !
Time appears to transform some pictures from cutting edge Doc photography into sentimental old tosh , monochromatic tones do not help, they contribute to the “Sentimental Demise” of what was once serious photography created with “serious” intent !
Christmas is the season of imagery that relies on the “Sentimental Old Tosh” hook and many of us are happy to accept the commercial gains of sentimentality , be aware that the “Good Old Days” mentality is a pictorial and psychological trap that awaits us all , sooner or later !
In many ways this blog is not about how pictures change over time but how our perceptions of imagery changes as the years pass …
Pictures depicting old poverty themed subjects frequently appear to be met with a warm glow by many of the online audience, those who look back see “better” times , the winter of discontent could never happen now , we believed then that foodbanks would never be needed in the UK as we have a fully functioning welfare state and a “World Class” health service …
I’m reluctant to go down the “gravel for breakfast” & “sweeping the lake” path but I do wonder if significance is lost at some point between the original authors intent and a modern “Poverty Porn” audience as the years pass …
Nostalgia is a dangerous place for photographers to inhabit , especially Doc photographers , my view is that photographs now should reflect the here and now and avoid a disingenuous narrative or aesthetic , I am currently conflicted by my last statement as it contradicts sincerely held production values that have become central within my current series , my usual glossy saturated pics feel misplaced in 2022 , my England has lost its colour , I see life in tones right now …
England feels and looks like the seventies in many places , despite being in a new century the UK State is failing .
Is a seventies aesthetic really out of place amongst todays chaos ?
The old picture above could be accompanied by the “Hovis” music , sepia toner and the warm glow of nostalgia , it could also be read as a portrait of “Better Days” but that would be misleading , the old picture above was captured at a time of war in Europe, at a time when poverty prevailed and at a time when England was on the brink of a national strike !
The picture above is not from the “Good Old Days” , the picture above was shot two weeks ago and is from my Limboland project , this is my here and now !
Sometimes I try to show more than how life looks , I try to capture how life feels , “time changes everything” or should that be “time changes nothing“ , including “Disingenuous” aesthetics …
Maybe the clue is in the “LIMBOLAND” title …
Have a safe and warm weekend …
A “OLD” photograph from 18 days ago …
MORE…
If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from LIMBOLAND , my Another Day Off project , The State Of Britain series or The Testing Times pictures , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life…
Forty of my Foto What I Took Blogs are still available too
