Mark Power

Power, born 1959, first stumbled upon photography as a boy when he discovered a homemade enlarger in his attic. However studied fine art until he gained a job in editorial and charity markets when he classes himself as a photographer. Since 1992, Power has been a Professor at Brighton University. This lead to long term projects that he set himself; alongside large scale commercial  commissions.


This is Poland during December in 2004. the power lines and roads in this image all point towards the building to the left. There is only part of the building that is visible however it feels like it is important. I want to know more about it. There is also a Christian Cross on the corner about what looks like a bus stop that is encased by a heart suggesting that religion is loving and kind. This is contradicted however by the wires. The wires are enclosing this whole area, it looks like people are captured in this space, they are in religious trap. A model has been used under the cross looking out into the road suggesting that he himself may be a prisoner or because he is so close to the cross he may represent the temptation to join a society/group. The surrounding area and background of the image looks dead, it looks dull which emphasises that this whole area is entrapment and the only thing that happens here is withering and dying. The exposure of this image is also very strange for this time of year. the background shows a haze in the air; however the sky above this foreground area must be clear. The shadow under the buildings roof shows that the sun is quite intense, but there is barely a shadow behind the bus stop, as if this has been purposely done to make it look more attractive.

 

Again, Poland is the setting for this image however it was taken in February 2005. A couple of months have really changed the overall appeal of Poland and the exposure Power has used took advantage of snows reflective abilities. He has balanced the exposure of the sky with the reflection of the snow, which has only left some objects visible in the frame. The items consist of benches, trees with supports, lamps and a Dalmatian. To me this would suggest that it is a park with a pathway and the dog is the only thing that can navigate in the baron land because of his sence of smell. A path is also created by the other items. The trees are placed in a very organised fashion suggesting that they are where they are for a reason, however the benches show that there is a different path which leads to more possible confusion. All the trees and the benches are almost in a perfect line just under the centre of the image. The centre lamp looks like it is an enlargement of the one to the right because of its identicle appearance and distance from the camera. White may also have been used to hide parts of the image that Power didnt want to show the audience. We start to ask again what is he hiding from us? Similarly to the image above.