- Based in Bristol
- Likes Ben Weaver as a publisher because he genuinely cares about the subject matter of what he is publishing.
- Uses large format
- Is well-researched on his subject matter before and during photographing. (Archival Material)
Latham photographed the places and people that feature in the many varied accounts of what happened to Gudmundur and Geirfinnur after they vanished, resulting in his Sugar Paper Theories project. Spending time with the surviving suspects, as well as whistleblowers, conspiracy theorists, expert witnesses and bystanders to the case, Latham’s photographs and material from the original police investigation files stand in for memories real and constructed.
http://www.herepress.org/publications/sugar-paper-theories-1/
This project was very thorough and well put together over a number of years. Jack Latham got deeply involved with the Guðmundur and Geirfinnur case (The Reykjavik Confessions), photographing the people involved, the places and items related to the case. Combined with material from the police investigation, it makes a well constructed visual narrative of the case within a photo book.
I learnt from this that to make an interesting documentary using photography, you have to be very involved with the subject matter to accurately represent them. In a case such as this it can also be very consuming and emotionally demanding.
In ‘Parliament of Owls’, Jack Latham investigates the effects that a vacuum of information can cause.
http://www.herepress.org/publications/parliament-of-owls/
I found this documentation on Bohemian Grove and the events and people surrounding it really interesting and the range of photographs he took to compile together in the photo book ‘Parliament of Owls’ to reveal more about the secretive gatherings. I like his combination of documentative portraits, landscapes and studio photos of owls to reflect the strong presence of owl statues within Boheimian Grove, and their placement in the photo book to break up the different sections.
I found this talk with Jack Latham really inspiring and insightful to how a dedicated, large scale operation to photograph what is hard to get access to is done. It resonated a belief I have that photography can be and should be used to capture the truth, that information that is relevant to all, should be available to all. The photo book was also similar to a fable, saying that when things are too secretive, conspiracies emerge, then conspiracists can take dangerous radical action.
Jack Latham on Matthew Paul Finn’s Instagram Live Interview
Newport uni learning photography
Documents stuff far away from home. He is British but documents in usa, Iceland, etc. You don’t have to photograph only close to home stuff. Subject/concepts matters more than location.
Sugar paper theories – collabed with Icelandic psychologist scientist friend to have key source of research close that would influence the art. Gisley. A friend.
Doesn’t want to lecture others about someone’s experience.
We have transcended the idea that one medium fits all; photobooks, video, written, etc.
There is symbolism that can be read into and sometimes misunderstood. E.g. churches bc 1 of the 6 convicted became a minister, idea of confessions.
Books with pictures vs. books used to further meaning of project.
More interesting if the reader is challenged and not just tell.
2015 Bar-Tur Photobook award
Wouldn’t print sugar paper theories until every 6 person (convicted) had signed off on the book and its final design etc. He didn’t want to use their suffering of their marketing tool. Herepress
Parliament of Owls vacuum of info presented to the public they fill it with conspiracy.
Alex jones. John ronson. They both interpreted owl burning v differently. Info wars. Misinformation = d trump.
Linear narrative remove context of photos to present 1 view of events.
Walker Evans.
10×8 camera. Slows u down time to look. Taken seriously big camera. Large format. Developed negs from water from bohemian grove.
What’s next? – china put on hold. Algorithms & how we interact online. Rn everyone communicating online. How we lied to on social media.
Ppl will be apprehensive of each other for a while after lockdown. Humans are meant to cohabit and tactile. All online is dangerous.
oliverclarkephotoppp1 