Documentary, identity and place...

Exercise 28 - Read the article in Foto8 about 'We English' by Simon Roberts and write a short review.

Extract from 'The English Outdoors' by Stephen Daniels:

"A bright new world of weekends and annual holidays with pay, of new motorized modes of transport, by car, charabanc and caravan, as well as a frequent and far reaching rail network, brought thousands to the country. Trippers flocked to the beaches, hikers to the hills, sunbathers to lidos, cyclists along country lanes, and picnickers to woods and fields.

Then as now, most people happily cleaved to each others company, not too far from designated places. It was and remains a collective, sociable pleasure on the whole, not a solitary one: an encounter with nature, or at least fresh air, green space and water, conditioned by comfort in numbers."

 This particular section refers to the advancing state of holidays and tourism in the mid 20th century - one really has to question whether or not we have progress very much further? But, fundamentally, is this not the question (or depiction) being asked (made) by Roberts photograph? Daniels and Roberts references to J M W Turner as an inspiration rings true when you look at the landscapes he chose to paint. 

We English by Simon Roberts

My observations:

• As a photographer he appears to prefer to carry out extended project, over long periods of time - even years. Perhaps enabling to engage more completely in the subject he is trying to capture.
• Specifically, We English, follows on directly from Motherland and there are clear carry-overs in composition and artistic presentation. That said, We English, feels more personal and inclusive rather than purely observational.
• Whilst these essays clearly have a documentary element, they cut across genres into landscape and tourism - this potential stems from Roberts background and university studies in Human Geography. 
• Whilst the photographs are interesting and some of the familiar landscapes have resonance, Roberts book essay accompanying the exhibition and explaining the rationale behind each image, makes the portfolio significantly more engaging.
• The photographs, whilst all about 'the English at leisure', are very varied shots capturing: English culture, various pastimes - historical and contemporary; landscapes, beach-scapes and town-scapes, depicting classical and unchanged views, as well as showing the impact of the development of the tourist and travel industry on the environment.
•  Roberts works from a clearly defined project brief - in terms of the photographs he intends to take as well as the style, including the format of his compositions. Regardless of this, he seems to be flexible enough to evolve and adapt the brief to include images that at first glance do not completely fit e.g. Derby day and Rushey Hill caravan park.

 Returning to the initial extract from Dainels, Roberts has a knack of showing the English 'escaping' to the country, at the same time as remaining with the pack...