Constructed Landscapes
by David Kieckhefer
Julia Fullerton-Batten is a worldwide acclaimed and exhibited fine-art photographer. Her body of work now encompasses twelve major projects spanning a decade of engagement in the field. Julia’s use of unusual locations, highly creative settings, street-cast models, accented with cinematic lighting are hallmarks of her very distinctive style of photography. She insinuates visual tensions in her images, and imbues them with a hint of mystery, which combine to tease the viewer to re-examine the picture, each time seeing more content and finding a deeper meaning. These distinctive qualities have established enthusiasts for her work worldwide and at all ends of the cultural spectrum, from casual viewers to connoisseurs of fine-art photography. - juliafullerton-batten.com
Teenage Stories
2005
'Teenage Stories' portrays the emotional dynamics of the female adolescent - self-consciousness, mood swings, uncertainty and vulnerability; experiencing over time, changes in body, psychology, emotional and social identity. Adolescent girls often spend time day-dreaming, just staring into space, immersed in their own thoughts and fantasies. For a while they inhabit an imaginary world. At this vulnerable age their imaginary world appears to be bigger, grander, more real than their own mundane suburban surroundings. In this fantasy world girls feel that they have much more power than in their everyday lives.
Fullerton-Batten shot the images on location in model villages so that the girls appear to have outgrown the world they live in, as in their day-dream existence. All of her models were street cast, with no formal training whatsoever. Young, vulnerable, awkward and uncertain, as they already were as models, she directed them to be static and show no emotion.
Airport, 2005
Beach Houses, 2005
Broken Eggs, 2005
Girl with Baby, 2005
Awkward
2011
In ‘Awkward’ Fullerton-Batten shows the social limitations and anxieties that girls endure in their relationships with the opposite sex. Her choice of location, sombre colors and the use of subtle lighting techniques to increase the tension between the sexes, and in some instances between the same sexes. She emphasizes the lack of understanding between boys and girls, despite the fact that they are close to adulthood and have gained at least some meaningful worldly experience on the way.
They are aware of the underlying sexual overtones, but they still don't have the emotional maturity or social skills to know how to handle their hormonal impulses.
Bathroom, 2011
Bike in Living Room, 2011
Girls in Bedroom, 2011
Sports Hall, 2011
Night-dress, 2011
Yellow Dress, 2011
The Act
2016
Fullerton-Batten examines the lives of female sex-workers, women who choose to earn their living by exploiting their bodies as escorts, dominatrices, porn actresses, web cam and live sex and peep show performers, striptease, lap dancing artistes, or sexual surrogates as therapy for clients, and transgender people. She interviewed 15 women for the project. During her meetings with her models, she sensed that they tend to live their entire working lives as if on a stage. They are women who are proud of their bodies and choose to use their bodies in order to make an income. Many have had physical enhancements in an attempt to be more physically attractive to their client. They live in the present and think little of their long-term future.
Most are single, but some have relationships. Some are bold and confident while others are very vulnerable.
Fullerton-Batten created the backdrop for the images in the form of mini-theatrical sets. Each setting is relevant to the individual woman and her profession. The mini-sets were mounted on a stage as if they were giving a performance. She avoided sexually explicit scenes – the images are sexy and provocative, but also playful. The role of the sex industry in today’s society is heavily debated. While many feminists believe that sex work should be abolished, others on the other hand claim it as a contribution to a woman’s freedom of choice as to the work she engages in.
Bentley and Jade, Pornstars, 2016
Eliza De Lite, Burlesque Dancer, 2016
Jaye Rose, Webcam Girl, 2016
Lola Marie, Escort, 2016
Mouse, Ping Pong Girl, 2016
Veronica, Aerial Artiste, 2016
Their stories accompany the images in text form and can also be seen in here in this ‘behind-the-scenes’ video.
These seem chosen because they may give you some insight as you work. What inspiration and ideas do they offer you?
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