LEEDS CITY MUSEUM

In order to highlight the upkeep and long preservation of the skulls, insects and taxidermy held at Leeds City Museum, Sara Porter was employed for a commissioned exhibition where she photographed the preservations. Porter is a commercial photographer and her approaches reflected this – she has presented the work in familiar and stereotypical ways for the viewers to relate to the images. I feel this is appropriate in order to address a wide audience, given the nature of the exhibition. The stereotypical nature of the images makes it more about the celebration of the subject matter and therefore Porter has fulfilled the purpose of her commission. Although this is not an approach that I would employ in my own work, I aknowledge that it is about being able to adapt in order to make some form of income, even if it isn’t the photographic style of your preference.