Reshoot: Control // Face Holding

I have decided to try and reshoot these images, as I am very happy with them but feel that they are not quite ready. Firstly, when looking at the photographs, I noticed the power dynamic that I was unknowingly capturing. Pointed out to me by tutors, the way in which both of the boys have held each other, particularly the thumb on top of the head, tells a lot about the dynamic of power and control of the two brothers. Excluding myself from this dynamic, you are clearly able to see who is the more dominant. In Jacks portrait (left) Rowan has firmly put his hand on top of Jacks head, with his thumb on both hands curling round Jacks face. There is also no shadow between Jacks chin and Rowans hand, which shows how the hand is skin-to-skin the whole way around, completely holding Jacks face. Mainly, the the thumb on top of Jacks head shows control and dominance as it is firmly placed on Jacks Temples. However in Rowans portrait (right) there is a shadow between Rowans face and Jacks hand and he holds him more with his thumb on the cheek than anywhere else. The hand that Jack has on top of Rowans face is not firm at all, it is more placed on top, almost as though Jack wants to be more gentle.

This interesting power dynamic is something that I want to explore further. I would like to also make this photo with myself, to see how they hold onto me. I am interested in how Jack holds me differently to how he holds Rowan, and the same with Rowan. I am the youngest and I am also the only girl so I wonder what this might do to the roughness of their holds. I also feel like it may be uncomfortable, as I have no physical contact with either brothers, therefore I feel that I may be uncomfortable with them touching my face, but I am interested in how this may look visually.

I have also had an idea about my own face being held like this and the relevance of both Rowan and Jack. While Rowan is the oldest and shows the most dominant behaviour towards Jack, I wonder if I want both of them to hold my face in some way. I am the youngest and they are both dominant to me, therefore I feel that a better representation of the power dynamic is if they both hold my head. Perhaps no-one holds Rowan (or he holds himself?), Rowan holds Jack, then they both hold me, as this is the order of age, and perhaps dominance.

I am also very aware of Piotroska’s work in domestic spaces and physical contact, and how she stated that she “was concerned with relationships between family members – how they can be uncomfortable, oppressive, unhealthy and dependent,”. All of those words have really resinated with the feel of the work, it feels so uncomfortable, forced, disconnected and has an underline tone of aggression and control, not affection. I feel that incorprating myself in the work in this way I will be able to emphasis the way in which something as simple as touching someones face can show control and dominance.

One concern I do have is that visually the face touching is too similar to the work of Nelli Palomaki. However I am trying not to let this effect the work too much, as I was initially inspired to try this as a technique of getting my brothers to have physical contact it actually became a key way for me to see how they interact with each other with tiny details, such as the way they have held each other. I do, however, not want the work to look too similar, therefore may try to do something else in order to not have the images so blunt. I may experiment with the direction of the hands and the direction of the head, perhaps be naked or have our shoulders out in order to make the work even more uncomfortable and exposing.

I would like the upcoming reshoot to result in three images, one portrait of each of us, with an interaction from the others.

PHOTOGRAPH PLAN – FACE HOLDING:

  • Rowan with no one holding him // holding himself.
  1. From the side, looking out of the window (with white t-shirt and topless).
  2. From the front, looking into the lens (with white t-shirt and topless).
  3. From the back, no face, back of the head (with white t-shirt and topless).
  • Jack with Rowan holding him.
  1. ” ”
  2. ” ”
  3. ” ”
  • Me with both Rowan and Jack holding me.
  1. ” ”
  2. ” ”
  3. ” ”

PHOTOGRAPH PLAN – HUGS:

  • Rowan hugging Jack (with white t-shirt and topless).
  • Jack hugging Rowan (with white t-shirt and topless).
  • Rowan hugging me (with white t-shirt and topless(?)).

PHOTOGRAPH PLAN – CHAIRS:

  • Rowan on chair (with white t-shirt and topless AND black vest top (mine)).
  • Jack on chair (with white t-shirt and topless AND black vest top (mine)).
  • Me on chair (with white t-shirt and topless (?) AND black vest top (mine)).