Wednesday, 31 October 2012
one of the magazines I purchased to aid me in this project
one of the magazines I purchased to aid me in this project
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Friday, 26 October 2012
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
The clock is ticking
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Domestic animal overpopulation
It is a sad fact of life in our society that millions of “surplus” cats, dogs and other domesticated animals have no place to call home. The kennels and cages of animal shelters are filled to capacity with these abandoned, lost and unwanted creatures.
It is estimated that between six and eight million cats and dogs enter animal shelters every year, but only about half of them make it out alive.
The Causes of Overpopulation
The problem of overpopulation is not the result of one cause but many. Some of the key reasons why millions of cats and dogs are put to death every year are as follows:
Biology – Humans domesticated cats and dogs tens of thousands of years ago by taking them out of their natural habitat and selectively breeding them, changing the very course of their evolution in the process.
Dogs and cats are not native to most of the areas they now occupy, so their reproduction remains relatively unchecked by natural predators or environmental conditions, especially when under human protection. At the same time, their breeding frequency and litter sizes have remained the same as they were millions of years ago. For instance, a single female cat can have three litters a year with an average of five kittens per litter. In only seven years, she and her offspring could potentially produce 420,000 cats. In just six years, one female dog and her brood can produce as many as 67,000 puppies.
Commercial breeding – Every year, commercial breeders deliberately bring millions of animals into an already overpopulated world to sell them for profit. Driven by marketplace demand, they provide “purebred” cats and dogs to people who often want them as status symbols or because they believe they are genetically superior to mixed-breeds. Some “purebred” dogs come from puppy mills that mass-produce animals in squalid conditions and sell them in pet stores. Many more dogs are procured from pet stores or breeders than are adopted from shelters. Tragically, every purchased animal represents one less home for an animal in a shelter who will die for lack of a guardian. In addition, purebred dogs often wind up in shelters after their guardians no longer want them, compounding animal homelessness. Approximately one-quarter of the dogs in shelters are purebreds who were originally purchased and then abandoned.
Lost and abandoned animals – One out of every five animal companions becomes lost at some point in their lives. Of these, only 16% of dogs and about 2% of cats are ever recovered by their guardians. Many of these losses could be prevented if guardians had put collars with ID tags on their animals or had identification microchips permanently implanted under their skin. Animals who are not claimed go up for adoption, but they may not be fortunate enough to find another home in time to meet the deadline. Meanwhile, lost animals take up precious shelter space that is needed for truly homeless dogs and cats. Other dogs and cats are deliberately abandoned by their guardians to fend for themselves in the wild or on the streets. Most animals who are not taken in by someone or brought to a shelter starve or freeze to death, die from illness or get run over by cars.
Social attitudes – Most guardians deeply love their animal companions as members of their families and would never dream of giving them up for any reason. On the other hand, there are still many people who are not prepared to provide lifetime homes for the animals they purchase or adopt. Over 30% of the animals who wind up in shelters are surrendered by their guardians, who, for whatever reason, are either unable or unwilling to care for them anymore. People’s readiness to dispose of animals as though they are old possessions they no longer want reflects a lack of empathy for living beings whose lives literally depend on their caretakers’ decisions. It also points to a larger systemic problem in the way animals are defined legally; that is, as property. As long as animals are considered objects under the law that can be discarded at the “owner’s” whim, many people will think of them as such, and living creatures will continue to pay the cost with their very lives.
(http://www.idausa.org/facts/overpopulation.html)
It is estimated that between six and eight million cats and dogs enter animal shelters every year, but only about half of them make it out alive.
The Causes of Overpopulation
The problem of overpopulation is not the result of one cause but many. Some of the key reasons why millions of cats and dogs are put to death every year are as follows:
Biology – Humans domesticated cats and dogs tens of thousands of years ago by taking them out of their natural habitat and selectively breeding them, changing the very course of their evolution in the process.
Dogs and cats are not native to most of the areas they now occupy, so their reproduction remains relatively unchecked by natural predators or environmental conditions, especially when under human protection. At the same time, their breeding frequency and litter sizes have remained the same as they were millions of years ago. For instance, a single female cat can have three litters a year with an average of five kittens per litter. In only seven years, she and her offspring could potentially produce 420,000 cats. In just six years, one female dog and her brood can produce as many as 67,000 puppies.
Commercial breeding – Every year, commercial breeders deliberately bring millions of animals into an already overpopulated world to sell them for profit. Driven by marketplace demand, they provide “purebred” cats and dogs to people who often want them as status symbols or because they believe they are genetically superior to mixed-breeds. Some “purebred” dogs come from puppy mills that mass-produce animals in squalid conditions and sell them in pet stores. Many more dogs are procured from pet stores or breeders than are adopted from shelters. Tragically, every purchased animal represents one less home for an animal in a shelter who will die for lack of a guardian. In addition, purebred dogs often wind up in shelters after their guardians no longer want them, compounding animal homelessness. Approximately one-quarter of the dogs in shelters are purebreds who were originally purchased and then abandoned.
Lost and abandoned animals – One out of every five animal companions becomes lost at some point in their lives. Of these, only 16% of dogs and about 2% of cats are ever recovered by their guardians. Many of these losses could be prevented if guardians had put collars with ID tags on their animals or had identification microchips permanently implanted under their skin. Animals who are not claimed go up for adoption, but they may not be fortunate enough to find another home in time to meet the deadline. Meanwhile, lost animals take up precious shelter space that is needed for truly homeless dogs and cats. Other dogs and cats are deliberately abandoned by their guardians to fend for themselves in the wild or on the streets. Most animals who are not taken in by someone or brought to a shelter starve or freeze to death, die from illness or get run over by cars.
Social attitudes – Most guardians deeply love their animal companions as members of their families and would never dream of giving them up for any reason. On the other hand, there are still many people who are not prepared to provide lifetime homes for the animals they purchase or adopt. Over 30% of the animals who wind up in shelters are surrendered by their guardians, who, for whatever reason, are either unable or unwilling to care for them anymore. People’s readiness to dispose of animals as though they are old possessions they no longer want reflects a lack of empathy for living beings whose lives literally depend on their caretakers’ decisions. It also points to a larger systemic problem in the way animals are defined legally; that is, as property. As long as animals are considered objects under the law that can be discarded at the “owner’s” whim, many people will think of them as such, and living creatures will continue to pay the cost with their very lives.
(http://www.idausa.org/facts/overpopulation.html)
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Animal Shelter Portraits by Mark Ross
Animal Shelter Portraits by Mark Ross
I came across a body of work by photographer Mark Ross. He has produced a book titled "Animal Shelter Portraits."
I was instantly captivated by the images as they (some more successfully than others) did to me, exactly what I aspire to induce in viewers of my final series of images.
 |
| BOOK COVER |
These examples in particular I found were the ones more successful in generating a sympathetic mood in the viewer.
I have noted, as with the portraits of the homeless there is a lot of focus on the eyes, in some cases eye contact too.
This is obviously, as suspected and essential factor in 'tugging' on the emotions of the viewer as originally suspected.
Some of the images seem really over processed for my liking, although I like the tonal qualities of the images I feel in some it is a little too much. (example later in this post)
I am thinking the photographer has used flash on the images as there is a lot of reflection in the metal surfaces on the enclosures.
One thing I note it the absence of bars in many of the images. (see below)
For me the geometric bars in this image instantly place the photographs in context and help up locate them. This image also shows the medial apparatus applied to the dog which instantly aids our reading and controls our emotional response to the picture.
The bars will be an essential element in my images, however unlike these examples I would like to produce a sense of flow, if possible I intend to use the bars and metal constructions to frame the key features I wish to be the main focus (eyes and nose mainly)
I think this image presents the desired feeling in a very different manner to my proposed composition.
The image feels almost claustrophobic. The cat, water bowl. food tray, bed and rug all seems squashed at the back on what looks like a relatively small enclosure.
The paws against the enclosure suggests an attempt to escape which is completely in keeping with the mood of the series I aspire to produce. I will be looking to capture images like the two examples here
Again, similar to the one discussed earlier this image feels claustrophobic, as a viewer we sympathise as they appear uncomfortably cramped. In addition to this there is the element of interaction as mentioned in relation to pervious examples.
I have chose to include the example below to illustrate the extreme of the processing in this body of work. I personally feel whatever effect/process has been applied to the images, in this one particularly it is too much.
The next image I feel seems out of place in this series as it feels almost comical in a peculiar way. There is a feeling of a studio environment here which doesn't sit well in conjunction with the other images in my opinion. It also feels very formal, central composition and generally looks 'too perfect' which makes me disengage with the issue the images are ideally supposed to highlight.
The final three examples I wish to discuss (below) I feel are less successful in relation to my assignment as the present the animals in familiar poses, doing the ordinary, everyday things we would expect a pet to do in it's own domestic environment.
Monday, 15 October 2012
How Long Do Animal Shelters Keep Animals Before Putting Them to Sleep? Read more: How Long Do Animal Shelters Keep Animals Before Putting Them to Sleep? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7404543_long-animals-before-putting-sleep_.html#ixzz2Bs3xvtbQ
How Long Do Animal Shelters Keep Animals Before Putting Them to Sleep????
"Each day hundreds of dogs and cats are left behind in shelters by owners who are certain the pets will be adopted. Few people realise how many pets are euthanized daily and even fewer realise how little time animals spend in shelters before they are put down."
*Time in Shelter
- The time that animals spend in shelters before being euthanized depends on the type of shelter the animal is in, the area where the shelter is located and the condition or behavior of the animal.
*5-Day Stay
- While it is only a recommendation, the Humane Society of the United States suggests that all pets be held in a shelter for at least five days.
- *Changing Rules
- When caught in financial difficulties, many shelters are forced to decrease the time animals have before they are put down. Some money-tight shelters implement 3-day rules, euthanizing the animal on the fourth day of its shelter stay.
*No-Kill Shelters
- No-kill shelters keep animals indefinitely unless they are too ill to be treated or have an overly aggressive nature.
*Save a Life
- Time is limited for any animal in a shelter, unless the shelter is a no-kill one. If left unadopted, any animal will be put down eventually.
Sunday, 14 October 2012
Info - STRAY DOGS
STRAY DOGS
A stray dog is defined as 'any dog, tagged or not, that wanders outside its owner's property boundary, whether by accident or design'.
Allowing a dog to stray can lead to indiscriminate fouling in public places, attacks on other people or animals and road traffic accidents.
If you have secured a stray dog, you have a legal duty to either return that dog to its owner or inform the Dog Warden Service or local police station.
If you find a secured or roaming stray dog between 8.30am-5pm Monday-Thursday and 8.30am-4.30pm Friday contact the Dog Warden Service - see ‘Related Contacts’ on the right of the page.
If you find a secured stray dog between 5pm-1am Monday-Friday and 8am-1am Saturday and Sunday you should contact Animal Wardens on 0845 241 7253. If you are unable to get through to speak to an operator during these times, leave a voicemail as prompted by the automated message and someone will get back to you.
What happens if a stray dog is seized by a dog warden?
If a stray dog is seized, the potential owner will try to be identified by a warden. If a potential owner is identified and able to be contacted, they will be required to show identification and pay any associated stray dog fees in full before being able to collect their dog or have it returned to them (out of hours only before 9pm). Free microchipping will also be offered upon payment of the fee. If a stray dog is seized after 9pm any potential owner identified upon seizure will attempt to be contacted the following day and provided with information about how to reclaim their dog.
If no owner is identified or an identified owner is unable to be contacted, the dog will be taken to Manchester Dogs Home where it will be legally kennelled for 7 days. If an owner does claim the dog, they will have to pay any associated fees incurred, including all kennelling costs, in full before their dog is released.
To establish the current kennelling charges please contact Manchester Dogs Home direct on 0844 504 1212. If after 7 days the dog is not claimed, it will become the property of the Home.
Can I keep a stray dog that I have found?
If you secure a stray dog then you are legally obliged to return it to its owner (if known) or inform the local Dog Warden Service or police station. It is essential that you make all reasonable attempts to find the owner as failure to do so could result in you being accused of theft.
If you are interested in keeping a stray dog which you have found, you should inform the dog warden as soon as possible. If an owner cannot be established by the warden they will assess the suitability of you and your household and if satisfied, will complete a Finder-Keeper form.
You will then be legally obliged to keep that dog for a minimum of 28 days. However, if the owner of the dog was to come forward at any point during or after the 28 day period, it is likely the dog will have to be collected and returned to its owner.
Lost dogs
If your dog goes missing in Stockport, you should contact the Dog Warden Service to see whether it has been found by a dog warden. If not, your details and a description of your dog will be kept on record and the service will contact you should your dog be found.
It is also recommended that you report your dog as lost to Animal Wardens by either visiting their website (see Related Links on the right of the page), where you can also upload a photograph and description of your dog, or by telephoning 0845 241 7253. Please note however that lost dog enquiries will not be taken after 9.30pm but, if you leave a voicemail when prompted by the automated message, appropriate action will be taken.
Abandoned dogs
Your dog should not be abandoned either temporarily or permanently. If you believe a dog has been abandoned, this will be a matter for the RSPCA - see ‘Related Links’ on the right of the page.
Dogs should not be left in vehicles for long periods of time as this can cause them to overheat. If you are concerned about a dog being left in a vehicle please contact your local police station.
Worrying livestock
Stray dogs can also worry livestock that not only puts farm animals at risk, but dogs too. Many people find it hard to believe that their pet could be capable of chasing and harming livestock, but any dog can have its chase instinct triggered by the sight or movement of farm animals.
The dog is also in danger of being trampled by cattle and horses, or can be shot by the farmer. If your dog causes an accident, worries livestock, damages people or property, or is handed to the Police as a stray, you are liable for any costs incurred.
(http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/environment/envhealth/animalwelfare/dogwardenservice/strayandabandoneddogs)
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Haunting Portraits of the Homeless by Lee Jeffries
Haunting Portraits of the Homeless
Lee Jeffries
As soon as I consturcted this idea for the assignment in my mind I thought of these images by Lee Jeffries.
I remember the lasting impact they had on me after viewing them for the first time.
The intense focus on the eyes makes the images so engaging and almost uncomfortable to view in a way. Despite that, there is so much detail in the rest of the image I continue to stare into these strangers eyes however great the feeling of un-comfort may be.
The sharp eyes being the main focus of the images is something I intend to achieve in my body of work for this assignment. I think there is something about eyes which induces sympathy.
Despite the fact that we assume the animals have a fairly good quality of life in such places (and probably do - to a certain extent) there is something un-natural about an animal behind bars, and most people often experience a feeling of sadness when in such environments. This feeling is often present regardless of the expression the animal delivers, I feel it is that human assumption that the animals are in artificial surrounding.
Additionally there is a instinctive assumption that animals should be 'in the wild', as god intended before they became domesticated.
as there is a whole string of the role of the dog especially in British culture. From the working dogs on farms, to the blood hounds who aided criminal investigations, to the symbolic nature of the British bulldog and the Queens iconic furry friends - the corgi. Alternatively I feel it is important for me to consider the social relations with dogs in recent years. Pedigree puppies being bred for monetary gain, dogs being forced to adopt aggresive behavioural traits in order to serve as protection. Status dogs chained to the arms of young men to defined their masculine appearance. Designer pooches in the handbags of 'wanna' be celebrities' or
snuggled into the coats of young glamorous women.
I want to approach my images in a similar way to these examples, tonally I feel they compliment the topic of the work whilst revealing ultimate detail and showcasing the imperative factor.
The eye is a extremely powerful element of the human face, capable of encapsulating so much emotion in one gaze.
I suppose in a way, by focusing on such features I hope to bring out and element of human-like attributes in the animals. I don't want to give them human qualities, nor do I want to present them as 'human'. What I am interested in illustrating is this idea that they too have feelings, and like us are capable of experiencing similarly to us.
This work is not a scientific experiment surrounding the extents of the two ideas mentioned above, I have no interest in attempting to 'prove' those statements to be true of false. I am simply hoping to illustrate the emotional engagement and make the viewer consider the welfare of the animal.
In a nutshell. I want to generate compassion.
Monday, 8 October 2012
Breed: The British & their Dogs
Breed: The British & their Dogs
Breed: The British and their Dogs will be on at The Manchester Museum from 6 October 2012 - 14 April 2013.
The history of the British Isles and its inhabitants, both human and canine, has long been entwined. Breed reveals the enduring and affectionate relationship between the British people and their dogs and explores the very beginnings of pedigree dog breeding in Britain.
The exhibition focuses on six pedigree dogs: bloodhound, borzoi, bulldog, collie, Irish wolfhound and Pekingese. Each breed highlights something unique about British history and culture and the connection between human and dog, from the bloodhound's role tracking down Jack the Ripper to the patriotic spirit the bulldog embodied during WWII.
This exhibition is free to attend.
I stumbled upon an exhibition which will be useful for me in this assignment.
(see video embedded above)
(http://www.visitmanchester.com/breed)
I also found some other useful events, I attended a talk with Jo Longhurst. (http://events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:z1g-h5tqze8g-rxeafo/)
Sunday, 7 October 2012
THE CONTACT SHEET
THE CONTACT SHEET
"The illicit quality of the contact sheet is the source of much of the viewer’s fascination with it. Like reading someone’s diary or looking in their closet, the contact is not meant for public consumption. As Cartier-Bresson noted, “A contact sheet is full of erasures, full of detritus. A photo exhibition or a book is an invitation to a meal, and it is not customary to make guests poke their noses into the pots and pans, and even less into the buckets of peelings.”Martine Franck, Cartier-Bresson’s widow, is less insouciant than her husband, and speaks of her deep misgivings about letting her contact sheets be published, comparing them to the stream of free-associated talk of a patient on a psychiatrist’s couch. “I feel that by allowing myself to be violated [sic], and by publishing that which is most intimate, I am taking the very real risk of breaking the spell, of destroying a certain mystery.”"
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/photography/8884129/Magnum-agency-making-contacts.html)
Margaret Thatcher
Blackpool
October 1981
Peter Marlow
"I was a youngish photographer on assignment for Newsweek. We had a policy in those days, with our Nikon motor drives, of making what were called “in camera dupes”. This was so there was always an original slide, rather than a copy, to send out to the magazine network. I had a large Rollei flash on my Nikon F2 and simply blasted away during Thatcher’s speech, hoping to get that one shot which would end up on the cover of the international edition of Newsweek."
-Peter Marlow
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