The Hoarder Next Door

I watched this series over the summer. really inspirational towards my project. obviously its fascinating to see how these people live but also how the actual programme was filmed is very interesting. 

it tries not to be too intrusive and follows the hoarder and takes their view on it rather than altering it. 

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-hoarder-next-door/4od

if anyone didn't watch the series i definately would. its amazing that these people can live like this but then i understand how easy it is to suddenly have a house full of things and getting rid of the stuff takes forever.


i'm a hoarder in the making. 

one to watch

so i've started watching this programme. doesn't really relate to any of my photographic work but it is really interesting. seeing as i love anything architectural or to do with renovating. good one to watch.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3425742

about. 

For many the dream of having a bolt hole or a place to escape from their hectic lives can seem unobtainable. Architect George Clarke shows how such big dreams can be achieved in small and affordable places.

George meets the creative people who are making homes out of shipping containers, horseboxes and old buses. Others are building tiny huts or incredible treehouses in the middle of the woods.

George also undertakes a small-build property project of his own, buying a dilapidated caravan for just £300, with the aim of transforming it into a stunning second home for his growing family.

Sketch book

Began printing out my contact sheets and going through them.
Lots to look through.

Lets see some work

Here are a few images from the interior of my mums mums house. As you can see the rooms are pretty full. for this project i am going to be looking at the life of a hoarder and how it affects someone. not only do i want to capture the house fully of junk but i also want to look at how my mums mum interacts with the rooms and how she feels. To begin with i have been getting initial shots of the house just to get a feel of what the place is like and so that i get used to shooting in the spaces. i have been exploring different techniques of shooting and am yet to find a way that perfectly works. 

As you can see there's a lot of clutter every where. The rooms are very difficult to photograph because of the sheer volume of stuff. jsut getting into the rooms has been a difficult task.

Theres alot of junk. 

Yesterdays Visit

Yesterday i went to my mums mums, i took a ridiculous amount of images. And surprisingly most of them are really good.  i am so pleased, i am so inspired for this project and really want to do it well.
Yesterday was just the start however. I am going to be visiting alot more to get even more material.
I also shot a couple of videos yesterday of my mum and mums mum talking. They are quite funny but i'm pleased with them. I obviously need to improve my video skill but practice makes perfect.
Now to start editing and making contact sheets...


but for now here are a few of the images that i particularly liked from this shoot

 Now her lounge has become are lot tidier than it used to be but its still pretty cluttered. you still cant sit on the chairs and all the space behind then is just a mess. however for this image i was looking at the best angle to use so that i could get the best possible view of this arm chair. the lighting is quite dark but adds to the effect of the image. i did experiment with flash when trying to get this image but found it made the image too bold and harsh which isn't the effect i want to create.

this image is very simple and isn't cluttered like the other images of the house. this image shows how the house is falling to disrepair. and how nothing has changed in a very long time. its literally falling apart.the image itself is quite dull from the natural light that is coming in through the window. the colours emphasise the bland appearance of the house and reflects a lonely existence i think.

 this image depicts my mums mum in the lounge sorting through the various items around her. shes poised on the sofa. looking ready to move. it shows her surrounded by her clutter and i think she fits in with it quite well. its a busy image however but this engrosses the viewer more i think.

now i have included this image because of its simplicity. it depicts her perfectly. with her typical expression. plus the image shows her sat focusing on the camera where as many of my images dont have her engaging with the camera. its a dark image with the light coming in from behind her so half of her face is shadowed but i think this adds to the overall appearance of the image and makes it more successful.

now from here i need to continue sorting through my images because there are alot. 

filthy home offices

just read this article on the 'news'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2221821/Filthy-home-offices-piled-high-cigarette-butts-beer-cans-make-commuting-living-room-nightmare.html


pretty gross, but oddly enough kind of relates to my project in a way.

Tomorrow

So tomorrow is the day that i'll be heading to my mums mums to start shooting. I'll be spending the whole day with her so will hopefully get loads of shots.
Usually when i visit i help her tidy something up or get her to chuck at least one thing out. Its a slow process but it works and she feels better for it and loves repeatedly saying that she'll pay me 10p an hour to clear the whole house for her.

She always has a story to go with everything so its great listening.

I'll be looking to document anything that we throw out. And seeing as most of the stuff she throws out i end up with anyhow, i can take some time to photograph individual objects.

Lets see how it goes.