Conceptual nominee

The premise behind this body of work is to visually explore the methodological and aesthetic characteristics applicable to differing sources of crime scene photography. In order to produce this work I utilized established historical and contemporary methodologies applicable to this genre of photography to visually record each presented scene, integrating and exploring lesser-known exemplars of authentic crime scene photography in the process. Ignoring the broader physical limits of the given crime scene, I photograph the visible subject from a close up perspective, with particular attention given to the visible blood trace evidence and the varying forensic markers used in its delineation. The resultant photographs visually present a small fragment of the aftermath of a larger, unobservable and undisclosed act of prior violence. The exact context of the given crime scene and the exact nature of the prior act of violence is left open to interpretation, and is reinforced through the simplified titling of each photograph. In presenting the photographs in this manner the authenticity of the presented photograph and the documented subject is cast into doubt. Thus, challenging the veracity and authenticity of documented subject and it photographic recording as truth.

I was born in Dublin, 1977. I completed my B.A. in Design at the Dublin Institute of Technology in 2000, specialising in photography and illustration. In 2003 I successfully attained my M.F.A. at the University of Windsor, Canada, where I examined and investigated the interconnections understood to exist between death and photography. This research visually and critically explored the iconographies of death in conjunction with the concept of absence/presence. My current doctoral research at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin is centred on the appropriation and positioning of crime scene photography within contemporary fine art practice. The investigation is undertaken via an integrated approach, combining self-directed photography practice, existing fine art photography practice and critical theory. My photographic practice has been exhibited in Ireland, Canada and the United States, with my most recent work featured in the Creative Review – Photography Annual for 2015 and is forthcoming (June 2016) in Photographer’s Forum – The Best of College and High School Photography 2016 publication.