1854 Presents: In conversation with Laura Pannack – London based portrait, social documentary work photographer 15.4.20
Subject: The challenges faced by photographers during lockdown alongside themes of separation in her work. She works a lot with connections, engagement
Laura is a London-based photographer, known for her portraiture and social documentary artwork, who seeks to explore the complex relationship between subject and photographer. Interestingly for these lock down times Laura has completed a project based on Brexit called separation, a different type of separation to that which we now face but with some similarities. I am interested in how she has treated this:
(Laura Pannack, 2020)
I also like the fact that her work is research driven and tries to be as truthful as possible; she says that ““time, trust and understanding” are most important to achieve this.
Laura is currently gathering ideas and taking time away from the screen- she comments:
Q: How do you find approaching people on the street? Be confident, don’t overthink. Be transparent
Q: How to photograph during a lock down?
- Keep working
- Shift your project from what it was to something that fits
- Remove the pressure on the end product
- Generate a community
- Look for other inspiration such as poetry, magazines, Ted talks,
- Projects on connection and changed social contact
- Think about immediate post covid projects – reuniting, new connections,
- Trial and error
- Finding inspiration elsewhere
Q: How did you get started? Curiosity, the support of others/community, building a network.
Q: Have you ever felt frustrated with a project not well received and how do you cope with this? Change your intention. Would be frustrated if can’t get feedback to move forwards, otherwise treat it as a learning curve.
Q: Do you consider yourself a social commentator or a participant? Doesn’t feel she has the right or the intelligence to comment but does like to be present. Struggles to dip in and out of places
Q: Do you feel being a woman has hindered or helped you in your practice? Neither but wouldn’t let it hold her back.
Q: One piece of advice for creativity: Pass ideas on to create a chain of creativity. Not selfish desire but about a circle of energy.
Her work is very interesting and I must look at more of it once I have finished assignment 1. This was the first Zoom 1854 in conversation that I’ve taken part in so it was a learning curve for me in using the technology to interact and pose questions to the artist. It was a useful session and was the beginning of a more positive attitude for me make positives from the current lockdown situation for my photography
Photography 2: Documentary 