Selfies' have become one of the dominant features of the decade - but the more formal self-portrait has been a staple within the fine art world throughout its history. The 2014 Student Focus finalists were tasked with the brief of developing a self-portrait series of up to ten images. The work presented is a stunning approach to these students’ lives, how they think, how the see the world and the future, their dreams and their fears. Going back to the roots of the artistic medium, they present how they see themselves within the wider world.
To get a better sense of the 2014 Student Focus Finalist series, we've asked the photographers to reflect on their shooting experiences. Today, Jordan VanSise of Marylhurst University shares his thoughts on his self-portraits' development.
What was your initial reaction to this year's theme of "Self-portraits"?=
I was excited because I was able to stick to the theme of my original image. It gave me a reason to start making these pictures which have previously only been ideas written in my notebook.
Tell us what first comes to mind when you think of self-portraits today? As a photography student, how do you react to word "selfie" becoming 2013's Word of the Year?
A self portrait can be whatever a person wants it to be. It can simply depict how we want to physically look, or it can include references to what's going on in our mind or how we feel about the world, it is open to however we wish to approach it. 'Selfie' being the word of 2013 was interesting to me, but I'm not really sure what it says about our time. I think it may be reflective of our access to technology as well as the way we use it.
How did you decide to approach your photographic series to fit the brief? What were some of the things you considered in developing your project?
I wanted to develop the concept of my original picture, which also happened to be a self portrait. I decided to try and tell a story in each picture about things I am going through personally and hopefully in a way that other people will be able to relate in some way.
What was the biggest challenge you encountered putting together your series?
Time was a big struggle while making my series because I still had everything else going on in my life but I had to give myself a lot of time and energy towards these pictures. Just the act of making them was time consuming, and compositing the images was just as challenging.
What was the biggest thing you learned undergoing this project?
I learned a different approach to picture making. I would say that my style is more on the side of straight photography - which tries to stay true to the moment. In this series of images I had to conceptualise what I was going to do before making the pictures. It was much more expressive about what's going on inside of me compared to what I'm out observing in the world.
What do you hope viewers will take away from your self-portrait series?
I hope that others will be able to find their own meaning in my series. But I want to express the self awareness I have developed, partially, through processing my experiences; and hopefully I can promote the importance of being aware of what you feel and why you are feeling it.
Any final thoughts on the experience you wish to share?
This has been a great experience for me, I have found a way to express the things I haven't been able to before verbally. And it is a project I wish to continue beyond the competition.
To see Jordan's full series, click here.
To see more of the Student Focus Finalist series, click here.
The photographs of all the student finalists will be exhibited at Somerset House in London, as part of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition from 1-18 May and published in the 2014 edition of the annual Sony World Photography Awards book. The overall winner will be announced at the Sony World Photography Awards gala ceremony in London on 30th April.
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