Tom Hunter Study

The approach Tom Hunter has on his work is engaged and deliberate. He provokes thought and encourages his audience to consider and observe his images. He features social groups and stereotypes as his subject matter, seeming to connect with the audience, often staring directly into the lens. However, it does not appear intimidating, unless Hunter intends it to be. He has an interesting notion and insight into photography, using contrived scenes sometimes of an historical nature or merely re-enactments of daily life. He uses bold, symbolic gestures depicting scenes from a story or a chapter in a book. For example, Hunter’s interpretation of Millais ‘Ophelia’ from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  Or, some of his work being the result of an exaggerated link between newspaper headlines.
Hunter’s images are very visual, encouraging the audience to seek answers within them.
His use of light often plays a major factor in his work, creating mood and a sense of what the images are about.

He uses well known or obvious material to inspire his work.  Interpreting paintings and information and transforming them into narrative based images.

Hunter’s work tends towards social and political issues and focuses on unusual social stereotypes as subject matter treating individuals with a sense of self-worth, often using metaphors without including humour or irony, common in contemporary art. He also has a raconteur attitude to his work using contrived scenes to make bold statements that resonate with a broad range of the contemporary audience.

He delivers his work with super-sleek presentation and technique. Every element he introduces into his images is deliberate; the composition, the subject, lighting and focal point.

He uses narrative in all his photography, making his work have a unique stamp, his stamp. His use of both contemporary photography juxtaposed with historical references is very intriguing. I enjoy his use of this especially in his series of images based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with his own modern twist again using light to create mood and atmosphere. He never strays too far from the purpose of using historical references, still keeping a similar theme, but just transporting his images to places that the audience can relate too.
I enjoy his fearless approach to photography, always delivering strong images that tells stories in a graphic manner.

I find Hunter’s inspiration for his work somewhat unique. Using both real life situations and fictional creations from plays and poems. This shows to me his interest in both photojournalism and literature, turning it into visual art. This also encourages me to consider using similar things for inspiration such as music.