The show is over. Perhaps my abiding memory will be the way that visitors interacted with the work. And they left gratifying responses in the Visitors Book. The interplay between ‘beautiful’ photographs and ‘terrible’ words came through clearly, as did the ‘informative’ side of the installation. Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 ..read more

Quick links to some of the most ‘influential’ of my posts of the past two years, in terms of either moving my thinking forward or building my practice. ……………………….. Final Major Project A Constructed Image: https://www.yatesweb.com/a-constructed-image/ A Research-Led Practice: https://www.yatesweb.com/a-research-led-practice/ Auschwitz and Memory: https://www.yatesweb.com/photographs-with-text/ Cambodia Project Ethics: https://www.yatesweb.com/cambodia-project-ethics/ Deleuze, Time and Archives: https://www.yatesweb.com/deleuze-time-and-archives/ Ethics of Photography – Participation: https://ww ..read more

Quick links to some of the most ‘influential’ of my posts of the past two years, in terms of either moving my thinking forward or building my practice. Final Major Project A Constructed Image: https://www.yatesweb.com/a-constructed-image/ A Research-Led Practice: https://www.yatesweb.com/a-research-led-practice/ Auschwitz and Memory: https://www.yatesweb.com/photographs-with-text/ Cambodia Project Ethics: https://www.yatesweb.com/cambodia-project-ethics/ Ethics of Photography – Participation: https://www.yatesweb.com/ethics-of-photography-participation/ Journalistic Ethics: https://www.yateswe ..read more

A friend pointed me towards this video of Stanley Greene talking about his life shortly before he died. Stanley was a photojournalist and a poet. He comments that concerned photographers need to find and share untold stories. ‘I always believe you have to show the symbolism of a civilization, whether it be the cave drawings or somebody drawing in the sand in Darfur to show a massacre’. ‘Some things simply need to be seen’. Exactly.  …………………. Header: Stanley Greene © Sara Shatz, NOOR BJP. 2017. Obituary: Stanley Greene, photojournalist, 1949-2017. Available at: https://www.bjp-online.com/2017 ..read more

One of the most humbling things that has happened during the BRLSI show has been the reception that my work has got from other photographers. Perhaps for the first time I feel almost comfortable calling myself a photographer, not because of any impending qualification but because my work is seen as a ‘proper’ body of photographic work by others. Many have asked ‘what’s next’. The reaction the the work has served to intensify my plans to seek other venues in 2020. It has also started me thinking what other projects I should be doing. So much of my energy has been wrapped up in making Unfinished ..read more

Saturday December 14th was last day of Week 24, or was it the first day post MA? Unfinished Stories: From Genocide to Hope has been running for 9 days, with 4 more to go. In that time about 300 people have viewed the show, and I have given talks of introduction to about half of that number, in the Private Viewings and last evening’s BRLSI Member’s Christmas Party. We have sold 36 books (selling out the first shipment) and have pre-orders for 15 more when the next batch comes from Phnom Penh. Quantitatively, it seems to be a success. Qualitatively, the feedback has also been very positive. The ..read more

The opening paragraphs of my Critical Review of Practice noted: In most of my photographic career, I have recorded what was in front of me, usually using colour. In the MA I have moved to constructing narrative through metaphorical landscapes in black & white. My practice has also become research-led in exploring documentary, better understanding Cambodia and evaluating the social context of Genocide. For twenty years my wife and I have worked in partnership with many Cambodian groups – government, NGO and private. That spirit is now being translated into a broader socially engaged  photog ..read more

Here is a link to my FMP Critical Review of Practice. FMP Critical Review of Practice Final Compressed ..read more

Here is a link to my FMP submission, meeting Falmouth University file size guidelines. This includes all of the images, video and samples of the book page spreads. It also includes exhibition display boards and installation shots used in the December 5th – 19th exhibition at Bath Royal literary and Scientific Institution, as well as some of the reviews and comments received. Mick Yates FMP Final Compressed Unfortunately the required compression slightly degrades the text embedded in the images. A better version is here: Mick Yates FMP Final Print A recap of the Project Statement contained in t ..read more

I am pleased to have ‘Unfinished Stories: From Genocide to Hope’ listed at Topping & Company, one of the UK’s leading independent bookstores. The book will be on sale at £30. As noted in the blurb: The book features my photography alongside the harrowing stories of our friends Sarath and Simeth who survived the Khmer Rouge Genocide, and who subsequently dedicated their lives to children’s education. The book has 106 pages and was printed at photo-book quality in Phnom Penh. It includes a short history of Cambodia and a brief account of the education programs. The book has been registered ..read more