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Project Frontiers
Event: Project Frontiers Cost: Free
Registration & Statement of Intent: 30th August 2021 Date: To be completed by October 2021 Follow-up Zoom meeting: A link will be provided to all those who have booked on the event to discuss the progress of the project. Organiser: Bhupinder Ghatahora ARPS – southern@rps.org Location: Personal independent project to complete following the brief provided below Details: All participants need to book the event on https://rps.org/regions/southern/ Please note that this is an independent project to complete following the brief provided on the next page.
Project Frontiers Brief (All events must booked via the Southern Region Website)
BRIEF
Project “Frontiers” - project description and brief
We’re launching a collaborative project involving several RPS UK Regions and Special Interest Groups. We want to support photographers of all levels to work on a photography project, and to engage with the RPS and fellow photographers.
The project is called “Frontiers” because it should serve to explore often overlooked subjects, to look at geographical boundaries and also help overcome personal boundaries.
WHAT:
The topic is the photographic exploration of peri-urban areas, often also called “edge lands” or “fringe lands”. These are the transition zones between urban areas and the natural environment. For further information on the theme, please see below. Contributions to the project can employ a variety of photography genres and approaches.
Each participant’s contribution consists of a statement of intent and either three or five images (as specified by your region or special interest group), edited and arranged as a sequence. Your region or group might allow or ask for additional information on the chosen subject and your approach.
WHY:
Edge lands are vital to settlements and their communities, but often overlooked or not appreciated. We want to explore the use, function, and aesthetics of edge lands, and to further the photographic skills of the participants.
WHERE:
In each photographer’s geographical vicinity. This allows repeat visits to the chosen location, it should encourage the photographers to look at their immediate environment in new ways, and to cut the need to travel to the bare minimum.
WHEN:
Now till October 2021
WHO:
All Southern Region members can participate, no matter on what photographic skill level you are. But an absolute requirement is intrinsic motivation, the commitment and dedication to put the required work and thought into the project, and participation in online meetings.
HOW:
While the participants generally work on their own, we encourage the formation of (online) peer group(s) to discuss the work and to inspire each other. The participants receive advice and support throughout the project.
OUTPUTS:
At the end of the project, we will self-publish curated photo books, put an exhibition together (print and/or digital), and further disseminate the work through appropriate outlets (print and ejournals, website, e-newsletters, online talks etc).
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
1) Please carefully read this brief and the accompanying ‘Questions and Answers’ document. 2) Then send your statement of intent of max. 300 words to Bhupinder Ghatahora via email on: southern@rps.org by no later than 30th August 2021. This statement should give information on your chosen subject and why you chose it. 3) Register here https://rps.org/regions/southern/region booking system before the 30th August 2021.
COSTS:
Participation is free of charge. At the end of the project, the photobook(s) can be purchased. The price per copy depends on the pagination and the number of copies printed. Once available for sale, the price will be advertised.
Project “Frontiers” - Questions and Answers
Why ‘edge lands’? Many edge lands can be reached without extensive travelling, and in this way, we can photograph even during times of restricted movements, keeping the carbon footprint low, and visit the location repeatedly until we are satisfied with our pictures. Looking at and visually exploring something we would usually overlook, and exploring our immediate surroundings, could even be considered a mindful approach. Edge lands might not always be pretty, but they are the location of vital infrastructure. Exploring edge lands poses a challenge on how we approach a subject and how we visualize it. To quote Andreas Feininger from his book on composition in photography: “…what counts is not what you look at, but how you look at it.”
What is the definition of ‘edge lands? There are definitions of edge lands in the literature, but for the purpose of this project we want to keep it simple, and so as a loose definition we consider the transition zones between the built and the natural environment as ‘edge lands. We do not want to be too specific, to give the participants, the most freedom and leeway for their creativity.
Can I go out and take pictures during times of government-imposed restrictions on movement? Under no circumstances do we ask or encourage participants to contravene government-imposed restrictions and breaking the law.
What do I do if the edge land I want to photograph is privately owned? You would need to obtain permission from the landowner to photograph on private land, and to receive permission for the intended use of the images. It might help if you point out that you are working on a photographic project, and that you are a member of the RPS. Please note that permission for the usage of the images can be very specific, for example the landowner might allow you to use them for a photobook but forbid to have them published on social media and other digital platforms. In this case the project will be a no-go, as the photobook will also be published electronically incl. RPS websites. Please be non-confrontational and do not argue with landowners, they have got the law on their side. It is the photographer’s responsibility to abide by the current privacy laws. If in doubt, it is better to pursue a different project.
Project “Frontiers” - Questions and Answers
Is aerial photography eligible? Yes
Why do I need to send in an artist’s statement and/or additional text? The artist’s statement supports your vision and the message you want to convey with your images. A concise statement helps you focus on the key points of your project. Additional text might further enhance this message and give the viewer additional information on your chosen topic. The requirement for accompanying text may vary by region or group, please check the requirements published by your region or group.
Do I need to post-process the images? If you want to, but it is not a requirement. Straight out of camera is fine if that suits you. However, please keep in mind, that images often benefit from post-processing and adding the final touch. If you process your images, you are in charge of what the picture looks like, and not the engineers and programmers working for the camera manufacturers. Please note due to the file size, raw images will not be accepted for publication. For technical image specifications, please see below.
What are the image specifications? Jpeg format, file size below 10MB, longest edge 4000 pixels, resolution 300 dpi, colour profile sRGB (please note: colour space and colour profile are two different things, please make sure that you apply the sRGB colour profile).
How do I need to name the files?
Please use the following file naming convention: Your full name (first name followed by surname) followed by a number in ascending order to reflect the sequence of the photographs. Example: John Smith - 1.jpeg. This will be the first image in John Smith’s sequence.
Who does the image sequencing? You define the sequence of the images. They will be printed in the order you specify (see file naming convention).
What happens to the copyright of my images? The copyright stays with the creator of the images. All photographers are credited.
Where will the images be published? All images will be published in a photo book or several books, depending on the number of participants. All participants will be sent a pdf copy of the book(s). We will publish the work on RPS websites and in RPS communications like newsletters of the regions and special interest groups, as well as on RPS social media accounts.
What happens to my electronic images after the book has been printed?
The images will be kept on the Microsoft OneDrive’s of the participating regions and groups until the end of 2022, to have the images available for the creation of further outputs. After that, they will be deleted, and no copies will be retained.
Do the images need to be in digital form? Yes. We cannot accept film negatives, prints, or slides. All images need to be in digital form. Please see image specification.
Who do I contact if I want to participate? The coordinator of your region or special interest group. The contact email address is given in the project brief published and disseminated by your region or SIG.
How do I get the pictures to the coordinator? Via the free browser-based file transfer services WeTransfer.com or Dropbox.
Can I apply image processing techniques like HDR? Yes, but please keep in mind that the processing technique should suit the subject matter. It might be a suitable technique for urbex or gritty scenes, but probably less so for a documentary approach or fine art approach.
Can I apply creative techniques like multiple exposures? Yes, but please keep in mind that the processing technique should suit the subject matter. Multiple exposures, intentional camera movement (ICM), Orton effect and the like might suit some subject matter better than others.
Can I use a creative approach, or does it need to be ‘straight’ photography? Every photographic approach, straight or artistic, is fine. It all depends on the subject matter and how you want to visualise it. The finished picture counts - it needs to convey your intention and what you want to express.
Is work eligible which is part of a project I already started working on?
Yes, you can use images of a project you have started in 2020, but it’s important that you add new work created during the time window (May to August) of project “Frontiers”.
I have a finished project I really like. Can I use these pictures? No. It is a requirement that new work is being made during the time from August 2021 to October 2021. However, you can use a project you started in 2020 as a starting point as long as you add new work, or you can revisit a previously finished project and add new work.
Do I have to purchase the book made with the images of project “Frontiers”? No. There is no requirement to purchase the book, but of course it is nice to have a tangible product of the collated work, which can adorn your bookshelf and which you can show to relatives and friends. It could also make a nice gift. Also: the more people choose to purchase the book, the lower the price per copy.
I don’t feel comfortable shooting in edge lands or engaging with the landowners to seek access to their land, e.g., an industrial or business park. What do you suggest?
Edge lands come in many different forms. It doesn’t need to be deserted edge lands, dodgy areas, or privately owned land. Look for easily accessible, public areas. As an example, I work on a project highlighting the importance and the use of a local cycle track which was created by the conversion of a disused railway line.
If I am a member of a participating region and group, can I submit two entries? Yes, one as a region member and one as a SIG member.
