Olympic Torch by Joanna Black

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The Olympic flame is ignited by the sun and then kept burning until the closing of the Olympic Games and is meant to represent a number of things, including purity and the endeavor for perfection.

I hadn't realised that I was in the same vacinity of the torch procession until I was caught up in it because of traffic. On realising what was holding cars from moving, my husband parked the car so my son and I could see it and sprinted across a park to catch sight. At the time, doing this was more for my son who was excited about seeing the torch in the way I was about taking some street shots!

On seeing the Olympic torch however, I felt surprisingly emotional, why? I am not an athlete, never have been albeit like many a little girl I did fancy being an Olympic Gymnast! Looking right at the torch as it came by me however was really moving. Did the torch have some magical effect on everyone it passed by, were they moved in the same way I was? Did we all see and feel it?

I don't think so, but on my own reflecting upon it, perhaps the symbolic reference of the Olympic Torch is more universal. Maybe it applies to everyone trying to be the very best they can be at something, whatever that might be, and maybe that is the spirit that I and maybe some others felt wash over so unexpectedly! Maybe they too woke up out of this spell once it had gone by left with the wonder of what had just happened!

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I was born in Edinburgh to Polish parents and studied photography, film/media and art briefly upon leaving school over 25 years ago but changed direction on the advice of my Mother who in her thick Polish accent said “Joanna, dat is all very nice you liking dis art and taking lots of nice pictures, but you will never make a living from it, it is far too hard. Why do you not go and study something that will give you security and a nice home”? So I did!

Having listened to her advice, I only started to create images to vocalise stories and my own thoughts/observations again in April 2010 and one year later was selected for Review Santa Fe in 2011. I had now demonstrated that I was a Fine Art Photographer.

In September 2012, I was awarded 2 Honorary Mentions for my Deeper Perspective entry in the IPA (International Photography Awards) having been selected from over 18,000 submissions from 104 countries across the globe. The IPA is a sister effort of the Lucie Foundation where the top 3 winners are announced at the annual Lucie Awards gala ceremony.

Web: www.joannablackphotography.com

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Contact Details

Tel: (+44) 07775583675

email: joanna@joannablackphotography.com

web site: www.joannablackphotography.com

facebook: www.facebook.com/joanna.black.9

I am a self taught photographer who studied briefly art, fashion and photography upon leaving school but gave it all up on the advice of my Mother who believed it was a field that was too difficult to become successful in.

It was not until April 2010 when I got a cellphone with a camera (ironically for work) that I started to produce photographs again. In 6 weeks of owning my phone I had taken over 1000 images and so my husband insisted I bought an actual camera which I did under protest! I now own hundreds (!) of old film cameras and lenses which I use to capture the stories, ideas and thoughts that are in my head.

In January 2011 I applied to Review Santa Fe, the first review/competition I had ever entered for a project I started that same month and was selected. This experience was life changing as it was the start of a realisation that I am in fact a Fine Art Photographer, something I thought I had given up over 20 years ago.

In 2012, I was awarded a Honorary Mention in the Deeper Perspective IPA Awards for my series Jubilee, part of the series The shell of the insane and the infirm.