Animalism

I went to the National Media Museum a few weeks ago which is located in Bradford in West Yorkshire - it is well-known for the Imax Cinema. There was a photography exhibition on called 'Animalism'. I really enjoyed this exhibition. It was a variety of different photographers work. I really like animals- I think they are amazing to see aesthetically and in nature.

There was something written on the wall of the exhibition which made me think:

'Our visually driven society tends to give animals human characteristics to make them seem more like us. This exhibition, however, considers the animal gaze and the ways in which animals see us, quite simply, as other animals, rather than distinctly and uniquely human.' 

I do that. I can really only understand my own mind and the way humans think - not in a scientific way - just the way we all can. I don't really understand what animals are 'thinking'. I know they run on instinct but I do tend to see animals to be like myself. 

There are two cats that live in the area that come and visit the house. When I walk past them in the street and they are alone I feel like they might be experiencing loneliness. I see their life and I feel like it is lonely because I know they like attention and being fussed over. I've been lonely before and I feel like if I was in their position, I would feel unhappy. Yes this is ridiculous. I don't think animals feel loneliness but I still feel a pang in my stomach. I don't like to see them sitting alone.

I dislike birds in cages and I feel sad when I see leads digging into dog's necks because they want to run so fast but can't. Dogs needs to be on leads for their safety in the man-made world and so they don't run away, and I think dogs might actually like leads and feeling like they have an owner but many dogs want to run so fast and never get the chance.

I'm probably sounding insane now. I just tend to empathize with animals from a human's point of view.

Here are a few images that were in the exhibition by the photographer Pieter Hugo called 'THE HYENA AND OTHER MEN' and I as a person who likes to see fluffy lil animals looking cute n hapi found this quite haunting and brutal:

P.S  The exhibition is running til the 27th of September.  CLICK HERE for more information.

New Lens

I have recently bought a new lens and I am really impressed with it. It is a Tamron 70-300mm and has a 1:2 macro function. This means I can take pictures of things from quite a distance away and also focus very close up on things like flowers. It's great for capturing tiny details sometimes missed with my other lens. I feel slightly rude because I take pictures of flowers and then am not sure what they are called. Same with birds. I have a book about British wildlife to help though.

Here are a few photographs I've taken with the lens:

I included the photograph of the blurry bird as I think it would have been a good image if only it was in focus! I just wasn't quick enough fiddling with the camera and then it had flown away.

Eyes of a Child

I, like everyone, was once a child but the feelings and perceptions that I had as a child have gone.  I see the world from an 'adult''s perspective now.

I find it fascinating but perplexing the way children see things.  It's hard for me to even describe what that might be.  It's more of a vague notion or like looking at something but having to squint my eyes to see it properly.  

I was playing with my 5 year old neice in the garden today and we were playing with her toy gardening tools and I was using the rake and she said I was using it wrong, and I responded 'I don't know everything'  and she said 'But you're 20'.  

It made me think about how when I was a small child I didn't question the authority of adults and assumed they knew best.  It was almost like the adults were a different species to us children,  living beside us as we were living in another world of toys coming to life, games, father christmas and tooth fairies. 

I remember once I slept in the middle of my parents in their bed as I was afraid of the tooth fairy coming into my room.  And on a separate occasion I lost my tooth in the school playground, so I wrote a letter and put it under my pillow, telling the tooth fairy where I had lost it and asking can I still have the cash please.  Things that are magical are so easy to believe when little.  I remember that believing in something that you can't see is an exciting thing when a child.  

I played with dolls and little characters when I was younger, and set up different scenarios for them - I enjoyed doing this as it felt real to me.  If I were to do this now I wouldn't get any pleasure from it, but when I was a child each game I made up was like becoming engrossed in a favorite film - you feel you are there and believe it is happening.  

It's one of the things that make children so special and fun, the fact that they act naturally and behave in a more natural and free sort of way.  The only people who will truly know what the child can see is the child themselves, but it would be nice to feel what it is like once more. 

The Animal Farm

Last week I went to Graves Park with my college friend to take some pictures of the surroundings. We ended up spending all of our time in the animal farm.  It was the first time I've been to this park which is a shame really as it is only 15 minutes away with a car.

There are a wide variety of creatures living in the farm and it was a joy to be around other species of animals.  I didn't take pictures of the ducks for some reason, but I felt sad for them as they were in a pen but there was no pond.  I do hope that they have some swimming arrangements sorted as it seems unnatural - ducks without water.

I liked the inquisitive goat, however I wasn't sure whether it's okay to stroke them as I'm not sure if they are known for biting..or not..?  I also saw a lone chicken flapping about and motioning her head back and forward.  I saw some pigeons sitting on a roof too.  All in all, a fun and interesting day.