Visual Research - Project Brief and Ponderings

Project Brief
To photograph feet in different poses and create a rolling blog extending over most of the semester showing the most interesting and appropriate of these photographs.  This blog is to be accompanied by brief comment and analysis, and followed by a summary and evaluation of the results and in particular a critique of the modes of analysis used. The subject matter for the photographs may change if taking photographs of feet is found to be impractical or looks as if it will be an unpromising area to study.

The Methodological Considerations (data gathering and analysis)
Data will be gathered by taking a large number of photographs of feet in different poses (or other such subject as is finally chosen).  The methods of analysis will include Semiotic Analysis, Discourse Analysis and Grounded Theory as become most appropriate during the course of the project.

Equipment needs
A digital camera and a computer with access to the internet.  Also transport to different locations (car/bus/bicycle/foot/boat) as appropriate

Sample considerations
Given the proposed subject matter, the sample size should be large enough to get a good sample of different poses, but does not need to be large for statistical purposes, so around 30 photographs would seem a suitable aim, allowing for more if deemed necessary to the study.

Ethical Issues to be considered
The only ethical issue which could arise is if faces were shown, and these would be blurred or otherwise rendered unrecognisable.

Restraints and Issues expected
Permission may need to be sought for some photographs, but these would be accompanied by the reassurance that no faces or other recognisable features would be published.

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Ponderings......
I started this project thinking that I would look at feet.  Mainly feet with shoes on - in different poses.

As I started to take some photos, I began to think of tracks and journeys.  Walking on a sandy beach on Tiree, I started photographing the tracks of humans, birds and sheep.

  

Thinking about sand, sea and journeys, I thought about boats.  Ah.  Brainwave.  Boats would make a much better story.  So boats it is!