Tagged / photography

Participants wanted for Self-awareness research project

BU research, PG research

Participants wanted for Self-awareness research project

In addition to our snapshots of friends and family, holidays and special events, some of us also take pictures of things just because they caught our interest. We were thinking about something else, when suddenly – as if with a tap on the shoulder – our attention was drawn to the sight of two children playing in a park, an old house, or a bicycle lying by the side of the road. But we don’t know those children, or the people who lived in that house – and that’s not our bicycle.

This project explores the possibility that, when our attention is attracted to images and scenes with which we have no logical or personal connection, it may be because we intuitively recognised the scene (or the elements within it) as an symbolic description of the way we see the world – or perhaps as an allegorical self-portrait of the person we have become.

This project will encourage participants to reflect on the possible significance of their apparently ‘random’ snapshots – and to consider them as potentially valuable sources of personal insight.

Over the course of (approximately) two months, participants will be asked to:

  1. Meet three times (online) for approximately one hour each time (twice with the researcher and the other participants – and once one-on-one with the researcher)
  2. Take photographs of scenes to which your attention is intuitively attracted
  3. Describe and discuss your thoughts and reactions to the things you have photographed

Full anonymity is guaranteed.

The following are regrettably excluded from participation:

  • Those under 18 years of age
  • Undergraduates

If you are interested in taking part in this project, please contact Rutherford@bournemouth.ac.uk

 

Participants wanted for Self-awareness research project

BU research, PG research

In addition to our snapshots of friends and family, holidays and special events, some of us also take pictures of things just because they caught our interest. We were thinking about something else, when suddenly – as if with a tap on the shoulder – our attention was drawn to the sight of… two children playing in a park, an old house, or a bicycle lying by the side of the road.

But we don’t know those children, or the people who lived in that house – and that’s not our bicycle.

This project explores the possibility that, when our attention is attracted to scenes with which we have no logical or personal connection, it is because we recognised something about the scene or the elements within it as an symbolic description of the way we see the world – or perhaps as an allegorical self-portrait.

This project will encourage participants to reflect on the possible significance of their apparently ‘random’ snapshots – and to consider them as potentially valuable sources of personal insight.

Over the course of (approximately) two months, participants will be asked to:

  1. Take photographs of scenes to which your attention is intuitively attracted
  2. Meet three times (online) for approximately one hour each time (twice with the researcher and the other participants – and once one-on-one with the researcher)
  3. Describe and discuss your thoughts and reactions to the things you have photographed

Full anonymity is guaranteed.

The following are regrettably excluded from participation:

  • Those with prior training or expertise in photography
  • Those with prior training or expertise in psychology/psychotherapy
  • Those under 18 years of age
  • Undergraduates

If interested in taking part in this project, please contact Rutherford@bournemouth.ac.uk

Wellcome Photography Prize

Research communication

Whether you are a professional, student or amateur photographer, you’re invited to enter the Wellcome Photography Prize 2020, which celebrates compelling imagery that will encourage conversations about the health challenges of our time.

For 2020, the theme is Mental Health, which covers two of the five prize categories. However, you can still submit photographs exploring other global health issues that may not relate directly to mental health, in the Social Perspectives, Medicine in Focus and Hidden Worlds categories.

The winning entries will be shown in a major public exhibition and winners will receive up to £15,000.

Find out more

Documenting scenes & events that did not exist: Rutherford’s photographic projects

BU research

Rutherford’s practice-based research explores the ability of photography to document scenes and events that did not exist ‘out there’ in the world – but were created by the act of photographing them.

*  *  *

In my previous photographic projects (1982- to present), I have explored the various ways in which the medium can be invited to provide an ‘unanticipatable’ contribution to the resulting artwork. I have done this mostly through photography, but an earlier project (Word processing as an act of collaboration) explored the use of word processing software to generate texts.

My current photographic project explores the ability of the camera to document scenes and events that did not exist ‘out there’ in the world – but were created by the act of photographing them.  The works in this series are all ‘straight’ photographs.  While in some cases, I have adjusted the brightness and contrast of the original files, these images have not been otherwise manipulated or ‘Photoshopped’.  This project developed through three phases:

The first phase Submarines exploited the combination of two factors: i) the reflective-refractive properties of water and ii) the way in which the monocular view of the camera interprets and renders the effect of these reflective-refractive properties on the appearance of those who agreed to undergo the ordeal of posing for me. As a consequence of the constant motion of the water and the ‘delay’ in the release of the shutter of the digital camera, it was not possible to determine the composition of the frame or to anticipate or choose with intent the ‘moments’ recorded, these photographs were the result of an active (an act of) collaboration between photographer and the medium of photography.

In the second phase of the project Supermarines, I held a waterproof camera below the surface and pointed it upwards (diagonally) through the surface of the water towards figures whose heads and torsos were above the surface of the water.

In addition to the factors of the previous Submarines series (in which the camera position, the constant changes in the surface texture of the water and the delay in the release of the shutter made it impossible to determine the composition of the frame or choose with intent how the figures would be rendered or depicted), as a result of holding the camera underwater, I was unable even to predict with any certainty what elements might be in the frame when, following the delay, the shutter released.

In the most recent phase, Technical Images of Flux, my starting point was the observation by Flusser:

The world reflects the sun’s and other rays which are captured by means of optical, chemical and mechanical [digital] devices on sensitive surfaces and as a result produce technical images, i.e. they appear to be on the same level of reality as their significance. […] This apparently non-symbolic, objective character of technical images leads whoever looks at them to see them not as images but as windows. Wilém Flusser. Towards a Philosophy of Photography. (Flusser, 1983)

As argued in my article Is This Photograph Taken?, the assumptions which follow from the widely accepted conception of photographs as “windows” which provide an “accurate and objective record” (Genoni 2002: 137) and “a truthful account” (Fosdick and Fahmy, 2007: 1) of the world ‘out there’ hinder our ability to imagine the possibility of an active (or, an act of) collaboration between the medium and photographer.

In an effort to reduce further my conscious control over the final result, rather than photograph those people willing to pose for me, I began to point the camera (which was still underwater) in the general direction of people I passed in the water, as well as nearby buildings, clouds and other features.

In an effort to reduce further my conscious control over the final result, rather than photograph those people willing to pose for me, I began to point the camera (which was still underwater) in the general direction of people I passed in the water, as well as nearby buildings, clouds and other features.

 

For more information, please contact Rutherford (Programme Leader – MA Advertising, Faculty of Media and Communication).

Previous projects and articles can be found on Rutherford’s website: http://www.theshadowofthephotographer.co.uk/

Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Research Photography Competition

BU research, Events, Featured, Research communication, Research news, Student Engagement, student research

This year marks the forth year of our annual Research Photography Competition at BU. We received 31 submissions from BU academics, students across all levels and professional services.

Sharing research through photography is a great opportunity to make often complex subjects much more accessible to all.  This year over 1,500 people from all over the world voted in the competition, showing the power of images to engage and inspire.  The research behind photos this year included areas such as archaeology, dementia and forensic science, among others.

The photography theme this year was people.  The theme was open to interpretation, with photographers choosing to take an image of their research team, show people who might benefit or be affected by the research or even take a point of view shot.  This year’s winners were announced in the Atrium Art Gallery on Tuesday 20 March, with prizes presented by Professor John Fletcher, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation.  Details of the winners can be found below.

The photos are currently displayed in an art exhibition in the Atrium Art Gallery which demonstrates the creativity of our BU researchers and the diversity of research being undertaken. It’s a really enjoyable way to find out about research in areas within and outside your discipline or interests, and value the work and efforts.   Do drop in and see the images, if you have a few minutes to spare!

The winners of the 2018 Research Photography Competition are:

1st place: Virtual Reality: The best way to train surgeons of the future?

By Shayan Bahadori (Orthopaedic Project Manager) and Mara Catalina Aguilera Canon (Postgraduate Researcher, Faculty of Media and Communication). 

In recent years we have seen a decline in theatre operating training time for junior surgeons. Simulators have subsequently been increasingly integrated as training, selection and evaluation tools. To fully formally integrate simulation into orthopaedic training we require evidence that the simulators are valid representations of the operations they seek to replicate. This is one the current research focus at Orthopaedic Research Institute (ORI) and we pursue to validate and develop virtual reality orthopaedic simulators so that they may be adopted into mainstream clinical practice.

2nd place: Soil micro-organisms

By Hai Luu (Postgraduate student, Faculty of Science and Technology).

Ciliates protozoa are a distinct group of unicellular organisms. They are abundant phagotrophic micro-organisms in soil, playing important role in food webs by controlling the abundance of smaller microbes and recycling organic matter. Ciliates are characterised by some specific traits. Firstly, ciliates are dikaryotic organisms due to having two different cell nuclei; one is responsible for reproduction; the other one carries out cell functions. Secondly, they use cilia for locomotion and feeding. Interestingly, ciliates can reproduce asexually and sexually. From an ecological and functional point of view, ciliates can be used as bioindicators of soil quality – and this is the aim of our research. We are investigating the species richness and abundance of ciliated protozoa in natural and agricultural soils in order to assess their potential as bioindicators of soil quality. Soil quality plays an important role  in agricultural production in terms of both quantity and quality, this links closely to quality of human life. This image shows Colpoda cucullus, a terrestrial ciliate commonly found in soils around the world, which was taken as a point of view shot through a microscope.

Research group: Hai Luu, Professor Genoveva Esteban, and Dr Iain Green (Senior Lecturer in Biological Science). Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology.

3rd place: The birth of Carnival U

By Dr Nicole Ferdinand (Senior Lecturer in Events Management) and her MSc Events Management student researchers: Diane Nthurima (pictured on the left), Cindy Chen (pictured on the right), Rui Bao, Yi-Hsin Chen, Simona Georgieva,  Amelie Lonia, Anh Thu Pham, Taylor Treacy and Sharif Zandani.

The photo is a joint entry by the co-creators of the Carnival U which consists of 10 enthusiastic and one BU academic. Together they are embarking on a journey to create a unique a fusion project. The students are working together with BU academic, Dr Nicole Ferdinand, CEL Learning and Teaching Fellow 2017/18, to create 4 workshops which target other university students interested in Carnival. They will engage in action research as part of the development of their workshops as well as evaluate the overall effectiveness of their co-creation efforts which will form the basis of an academic research paper. The project will also leave an educational legacy for other students wishing to develop event management, marketing and digital literacy skills.

The exhibition will be open until Thursday, 29 March at 2pm, in the Atrium Art Gallery on Talbot Campus. Please do fill in one of our feedback cards in the gallery after visiting the exhibition.

Research Photography Competition Deadline this Friday!

BU research, Featured, Research communication

There’s only a few days left to submit your entry for this year’s Research Photography Competition! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to have your photo exhibited in the Atrium Art Gallery!

Photo by Kerstin Stutterheim, Professor of Media & Cultural Studies.

The last few years have seen our staff and students submitting a wide range of images summing up their research (last year’s entries can be seen here).  Photography is a great way to capture and share a different side of your research with other staff, students and members of the public.  Nearly 100 images have been entered over the last few years, and we’re looking forward to seeing what this year’s competition brings.

Want to take part?

Whether you’re in the early stages of your research or it has come to the end, we are inviting all academics and student researchers from across the university to showcase your research through an image relating to this year’s competition theme ‘People‘.  This could include:

  • An image relating to people in your team,
  • People who might be impacted by or benefit from your research,
  • People you’ve met in the course of your research,
  • Or even from your own point of view.

Whatever your idea is, we want you to get involved and get creative!

Taking part in the competition is a great way to showcase and raise awareness of your research, as well as growing your academic profile both in and outside the university.  You will also be in with a chance of winning some Amazon vouchers!

How do I enter?

Step 1: Take your photo.

It’s easy! Grab a camera and take a picture connecting with the theme ‘People‘.  Interpret it in any way you see fit to capture any area of your research.

Each image will need to be 300pi (pixels per inch) with physical dimensions equivalent to an A3 size piece of paper (297 x 420 mm or 11.7 x 16.5 in).  Images smaller than this tend not to have a high print quality.

Step 2: Submit the photo!

You may enter only one photo per person.  Once you have the perfect image, all you have to do is submit it by emailing the Research account (research@bournemouth.ac.uk) before the deadline, along with a 100 – 200 word description of your research behind the image.

Submission details

The submission deadline is 12 January 2018 at 5pm.  Late entries will not be accepted.

Staff, students and the general public will then be able to vote for their favourite image.

The competition winners will be presented with a prize by Professor John Fletcher in the Atrium Art Gallery, in March 2018.  All photographs will be presented in the Atrium Art Gallery for two weeks in March so you’ll get a chance to see all the entries.

Please read through the Terms & Conditions before entering.

Photo by Rutherford, Senior Lecturer In Creative Advertising

Need inspiration?

Take a look at our Photo of the Week, where you can read about the research behind the images from previous entries. 

Should you have any queries about the competition then please contact Sacha Gardener, Student Engagement & Communications Coordinator, in the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office.

Research Photography Competition

BU research, Research news

The Research Photography Competition is run annually and gives academics and postgraduate research students the chance to work alongside undergraduates to tell the story of their research in an image.

Voting is nearly over for the this Competition! We have had some great entries this years competition, ranging from images of Nepal to microscopic organisms.

If you would like to have your say on who wins, then you can either vote on the research website or on Facebook.

Please feel free to come along to the awards event which be will held on the 4th of February from 2pm till 3pm, where the winners will be announced by John Fletcher. (P.S There will be free food and drink!). All entries will be kept on display in the Atrium Art Gallery from the 4th of February for two weeks

If you would like to view the entries from last years competition, you can view them here.

If you have any questions about the competition or the exhibition, please contact Oliver Cooke.

pomphMonsoon Nepal 2015 smaller version

Research Photography Competition – Voting is open !

BU research, Research news

Voting for the Research Photography Competition is now open!  Over the last few weeks, our staff and students have been using their creativity and photography skills to capture their research in a single image.  We’ve had a fantastic response and the entries submitted reflect the depth and breadth of research going on at BU.  The Care of Kin by Jill Davey to The Heart of a Fly by Paul Hartley, the photos give a glimpse into the world of research at BU.

Now we need your help to pick a winner.  You can vote either through our research website or by liking your favourite image on the Bournemouth University Facebook page.

Voting will close on 25 January, with winners announced at an event in the Atrium Art Gallery on 4th February.  All of the images will be displayed in the Gallery until Tuesday 16th February, so do drop and take a look.

CNV00061Calliphora Heart Comp_2

Research Photography Competition

BU research, Research news

Hello !

The entries to this year’s Research Photography Competition are still open for a short time !

Can you convey your research through an image?

We are looking for academics and postgraduates to tell the story of their research through a photograph, which can be used to inspire current BU undergraduates.

All submitted images will be showcased on the BU website late 2015, where staff and students will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite image/s. An exhibition will also be displayed in the Atrium Art Gallery during February 2016. Winners will then be announced during an Awards Ceremony which will take place on Thursday 4 February 2016.

How to enter the competition:

Step 1: Take your photo!

You can be as creative as you like in capturing the essence of your research. You could take a photo of your research in progress, showing how it is developed. Or you could focus on the people involved – the people behind the research, or the people benefitting from it. Unusual or artistic images are encouraged!

Step 2: Submit your photo

Submit your photo to the research email inbox, along with a 100–200 word description of your research by the 13th of January 2016.

Need inspiration?

Then take a look at our regular ‘Photo of the Week’, where you can read about the research behind the images or visit the Research Photography Competition 2015 webpages which highlight last year’s Research Photography Competition entries.