Photography’s modern day quest was the reason for the research group Image in Context to start up a centre of expertise in which the insights ofphotographers and artists concerning this problematic status of photography can be brought together and studied. This centre of expertise PRICCAPractice (PhotographicResearch in Cross-disciplinary and Cross-cultural Artistic Practices) conducts researchinto the way in which professional photography is reinventing itself. It is aimed at theartistic research practices of artists, designers and photographers into the status ofphotography in our society. The focus lies on newly developed methods concerningphotography as part of an interdisciplinary artistic (and critical) research practice;photography as a means of research to make reality visible again. For this reason it makes sense that photography should allow itself to be nourished and inspired by other reality seeking disciplines, such as sociology and anthropology. Based on her interest in processes which are socially meaningful, photography moreover connects itself with fields of study such as semiotics, cultural studies, art theory and philosophy. And in her forms of expression she learns from literature, theatre, and journalism as forms of representation. In other words, the centre of expertise researches how dimensions of reality in photography are made into problems in images which are not merely representations, but also a commentary on photography itself and which explore the narrative and communicative possibilities and limitations of the photographic image at the same time. We are looking for artistic research practices in which a new, authentic relationship between the photographic image and reality will be researched.In this paper I would like to present a few of these practices.
DOCUMENT
www.priccapractice. is a website in which artistic researchers, journalists and ethnographers can publish their photography based research.
LINK
Differences between tourists in photographing and photo-sharing behaviours have been under-researched. We examined the influence of geographic origin and travel group composition on tourist photographing and sharing. Questionnaires were used to measure photographing and sharing frequency, while participant observation afforded a deeper examination of sharing processes. Findings showed differences in photography behaviour between solo and accompanied tourists. Tourists from some continents also took and shared photographs more frequently. Observations uncovered processes connecting sharing, photographing, and content of photographs. As user-generated content becomes increasingly influential in tourism management, attention to origin, group composition and other individual differences can help engage tourists in photographing and sharing.
LINK
The quality of the built environment can impact the quality of life and the sense of home of nursing home residents. This study investigated (1) which factors in the physical and social environment correlate with the sense of home of the residents and (2) which environmental factors are most meaningful. Twelve participants engaged in a qualitative study, in which photography was as a supportive tool for subsequent interviews. The data were analysed based on the six phases by Braun and Clarke. The four themes identified are (1) the physical view; (2) mobility and accessibility; (3) space, place, and personal belongings; and (4) the social environment and activities. A holistic understanding of which features of the built environment are appreciated by the residents can lead to the design and retrofitting of nursing homes that are more in line with personal wishes.
LINK
Are tourists who take more photos happier? Our study investigates the relationship between tourists’ photographing and happiness based on two proposed theories: photographing as a behavior that society expects from tourists, and photographing as a mechanism for social interaction. Questionnaires measuring photographic behavior and components of happiness such as positive emotions and life satisfaction were collected from 417 tourists at three destinations in the Netherlands. Additionally, we carried out participant observation to explore the potential roles of fulfilling cultural expectations and social interactions. We found a positive relationship between photography and tourists’ levels of happiness. People who take more pictures on holiday and rate photographing to be important experience more positive emotions and a higher life satisfaction, respectively. The participant observation data reveal that this relationship is strengthened when photography is used to build relationships, but weakened when people photograph to fulfill cultural expectations.
LINK
A historical and collective research into one of the first photographs made in present day Uganda, adding to our understanding of the history of photography in Uganda and demonstrating how a collective investigation can inform a single picture.
LINK
Humans use metaphors in thinking. Most metaphors are visual. In processing information stimuli the mind depends partly on visual codes. Information is processed and stored through two channels: one for non-verbal information and another for verbal information. The two different areas of information in the brain are interconnected. The information is stored in patterns that form an inner representation of how individuals perceive their reality and their self. The active processing of new information, remembering and the self-image are related phenomena, that influence each other, sometimes leading to biased interpretation or even reconstruction of contents in each of these areas. Imagination, expectations and anticipations of the future and memories are the more active manifestations of this process. In this process mimesis plays an important role. Mimesis is the imitation of reality in play, story-telling or creating images of how things should look like in the future. Through mimesis people can anticipate on roles in social life, or appropriate experiences from someone else and relate them to one’s own life story. When this happens the information is related to the self through processes of association and becomes ‘Erfahrung’.
DOCUMENT
After two years, The Mix is coming home. This photo project - a series of four presentations - has been on view at various museums in the Netherlands in recent years. To create it, contemporary photographers were inspired by a photographer whose work is included in the Nederlands Fotomuseum’s collection. Not only did this result in astonishing combinations of photographers and works, it also demonstrates that the Nederlands Fotomuseum is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for new generations. In The Mix, contemporary photographers present new and personal perceptions of works in the Fotomuseum’s collection. For the first time, all four presentations in this photo series will be on show at the same time at the Nederlands Fotomuseum in an exhibition that opens on 15 September. Mission Paul Julien & Andrea Stultiens The second presentation, Mission focuses on the photographic work of Paul Julien (1901-2001), an anthropologist and amateur photographer. For his anthropological research, Julien frequently travelled to Africa where he often made use there of the missionaries’ facilities and expertise. By the time he died, he had accumulated a sizable photography and film archive. For this presentation, Andrea Stultiens (1974) responded to the photos that Julien took during his travels through Liberia (1932) and Sudan (1933 & 1947). For this purpose, she made various journeys to these countries taking pictures made by Julien along with her. There, she consulted local specialists such as storytellers, journalists and photographers to collect stories related to Julian’s pictures with the aim of contributing to a nuanced perception of the huge and diverse African continent.Mission was realised in collaboration with the Limburgs Museum where it was on show from 11 December 2016 to 26 March 2017.
LINK
