Born in 1971 in Belfast, Ireland Hannah Starky is a well known photographer who is based in the UK. Starkey attended Napier University in Edinburgh from 1992-1995 followed by studying at the Royal College of Art in London from 1996-1997.
Starkey regularly creates images involving young women taking part in day to day activities such as chatting with friends, walking along the streets, shopping and sitting in coffee shops. Her work relates to theatre performances because she allows her models to be the main focus of the image like a main character in a story. The models Starkey chooses to use in her work usually show bored, plain facial expressions suggesting that they are waiting for something. In addition to this, her images show city life from the view point of young women which perhaps reflects a few of her own personal views and opinions about life.
Starkey would usually print her images as c-type prints roughly about 122x183cm and they have pretty much always got a narrative to them. This adds mystery to the pieces and the audience is left wondering about the story that the image is telling. Starkey would often cover the model’s faces in her images which again leaves the audience wondering about the model’s identity and what facial expression she is showing. Viewers have to attempt to identify the women through other things like clothing, hair styles, body language and surroundings which makes strong links to the theme of my project.
In these three images the second one contrasts to the others because of the position of the model and the camera. The camera has been placed behind the model and she is looking in the opposite direction so as none of her face can be seen. However, in the other images, the camera is placed in front of the models but slightly to the side so there faces can be seen but not straight on. The second image also differs from the other two because it features only one girl sat alone, whereas the first image shows two females in the mirror, and the second image shows a woman and a baby.
All of the pictures compliment each other and are similar due to the busy, detailed backgrounds. All of them provide clues about the situation thats taking place and the people in those situations.
When studying the second picture closely it appears as though the woman with her back to the camera is sitting alone in some sort of cafe diner staring at the painting of fishes on the wall. The dull, bland blue and grey colours of the image suggest that she is miserable or bored, and because she is alone perhaps she is waiting for someone. The woman is placed right next to the door of the cafe which acts as a further suggestion that she is waiting for someone to walk in. This image in particular appeals to me because of the mysterious effect of the woman sitting alone looking away from the camera. I can stare at the photograph for ages and let my mind wonder about why she is sitting there and what she is thinking about.
If I were to improve the image somehow, it would be by adding little bits of detail such as a drink or some food or a possession of the woman to indicate more about what she is doing at the location. I would also think about adding in another person to the image like the others to add a new clue to the story.
References:
Gallery, Saatchi. ‘Hannah Starkey – Artist’s Profile – The Saatchi Gallery’. Saatchigallery.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
Starkey, Hannah et al. Hannah Starkey, Photographs 1997-2007. Göttingen: Steidl, 2007. Print.
Tate,. ‘Hannah Starkey, ‘Untitled – May 1997′ 1997′. N.p., 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
Representation 