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Geoffrey Bradford - The Open College of the Arts

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Geoffrey Bradford

OCA tutor and assessor Russell Squires looks at the sketchbooks of Photography 3 – Advanced student Geoffrey Bradford.



15 thoughts on “Geoffrey Bradford

  • Congratulation Geoffrey!
    And thanks for highlighting this Russell, It is highly inspiring and beautiful to look at. It is great to see how Geoffrey manage to make his sketchbooks a tool for research useful for his practice, but also to create visually attractive objects to present at assessment.

  • As Geoffrey’s tutor for this module I found the when his work arrived (always a physical object rather than a digital presence) I couldn’t wait to open it even if I didn’t have the time to look at it in detail for a tutor report. I wish more photography students would use a sketchbook, it doesn’t have to be full of drawings but images with overlays and objects investigated like the matchbox can stimulate the photographic work. Thanks for these Geoffrey.

  • Everything about this work speaks to Geoffrey’s commitment and immersion in his practice. Giving a privileged insight into his internal creative processes mediated by wide ranging influences; but which aren’t allowed to overwhelm his presence in the work.
    It’s an example for all students at all levels of the potential for what’s achievable within the framework of the OCA courses.
    Having had the opportunity to handle the work I can confirm the important role that the physicality of the work, its tactile appeal, has in communicating that presence. It is a dimension that’s increasingly missing with digital only presentations and a property that I always recommend students to employ in some way their submissions for assessment.

  • Thanks for showing us this Russell. It’s inspiring, showing again how “sketchbooks” can be used by a photography student, so there’s really no excuse for me now! Lovely work Geoffrey and, just for interest, have you got an arts background as well?

    • Hello Catherine – thanks for your comments and yes I do have an arts background; about a hundred years ago! I studied art and design for four years and then taught it for another thirty, where does the time go?

  • Geoffrey, This is great work and sets a bar for the rest of us mere mortals. I had not commented earlier, I suppose out of fear, but feel now I have to congratulate you on this work.
    Russell, thanks for showing this to us and giving us a benchmark to aim for. To date all my work is computer based – read, type etc but nothing in tactile form. So, as Catherine says – no more excuses!
    Thank you both

  • Interesting, and beautifully presented!
    Every time I see something like this, I kind of feel a little sad that there is / was never really a place where level 3 students could share this kind of work, raising the bar to what is expected of each other…
    Thanks for mentioning this… I would love to have seen what the books led up to.
    Thumbs up Geoffrey.
    Dewald

  • Wonderful to see them presented here, although the video does not do justice to Geoffrey’s wonderful work and the tactile quality as outlined above. As a tutor on previous modules I have been privileged to see Geoffrey’s sketchbooks in the flesh on several occasions. I agree with Peter that they were always a delight to view:-)

  • I’ve been privileged to see Geoffrey’s latest sketchbooks over the last 12 months or so; they are extraordinary pieces of work, fascinating and delightful, works of art in themselves.

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