Exercise 5.6: Context and meaning

The images that I have taken for assignment 5 are not exactly site specific but have not only a common subject but also have the underlying pattern of being inspired by the location travels of South Wales of William Gilpin. I can see my images being used as a tourist guide for visitors to the area so maybe they would be displayed in a tourist centre or information location somewhere. All the images are of ancient monuments however they all have different time periods and uses so I couldn't see them being displayed together at a certain site that they were taken. On saying that, most (bar one I believe) are owned by CADW and so therefore could be used at a CADW site to promote tourist locations, etc. I would like that they not be bunched together, mainly because they are all different time periods and also so that it's not a case of 'you've seen one castle, you've seen them all'. I'd like them to be kept separate with a substantial space between them, all on the same level, so that people could admire the beauty of each site/monument.

With regards to John A. Walkers essay 'Context as a Determinant of Photographic Meaning' I found it an interesting read. There are a few factors that I picked out while reading the essay. Firstly, Walker explains that no matter how we see an image, a number of factors can still alter the way in which we see it. He explains that this is all down to the ability to context shift a photograph. So i could take a picture of my child's first birthday cake and have the snapshot memory of the day and the cake etc, but it can also be viewed to friends as an image depicting the cake makers ability and skill.
Walker also explores the way the meaning context and juxtaposition can create a third effect. I've never really thought of this before and yet the example given is actually very effective. But now I'm thinking of it, I couldn't think of another example where I could use this.
There is a good reference to the points made regarding the 'white cube, ex 5.1', Walker refers to images being admired in a gallery setting and this is exactly what we discussed in that exercise.
Walker also discusses personal context changing the way we view an image. Even in a gallery setting, we still have our own experiences and memories to influence the context in which we see the photograph. This is interesting as one of the main points in exercise 5.1 'White Cube', I discussed how the gallery setting allows you to have a pure environment to view the images without any influences from the outside world. But here, Walker highlights that this isn't truly correct as our own minds can draw an influence to how we view the image.
Overall the theme of the essay not only emphasises the different contextual meaning that photographs can have and be seen in, but it also points out that the photographer cannot have full control over how the photograph is seen, regardless of context, as there are so many factors that can influence and change the meaning.