Analysis & Conclusion

This project has taken me on a journey that has opened my eyes to a different world. The world of entertainment has its highs and lows which I have seen first-hand. It’s not just about the glitz and the glamour, the psychological and emotional side is just as important. Being given the opportunity to see Mark’s life from both a professional and personal point of view has made me really appreciate what he has achieved.  Mark has made me realise that in a world of impossibilities that if you work hard enough you can achieve your dreams.  I wanted to work with a few professionals for this project, however, I am actually very happy to have a client who not only is a professional but has a life story to tell.  It is not just enough to take a photograph but to have a story behind it.  I believe with this project I have not only created images that are captivating but also allowed the viewer to feel the emotion and love that Mark so wants. 

I gave a lot of thought to the decisions I made from the drag queen I chose to work with through to the locality of where I had to go. So far, this project has gone as well as it could have gone.  I am very lucky to have been able to follow a drag queen for a short period of their professional career. I do wish I could have attended more weddings, and events that Mark was involved in, however, Covid-19 restrictions have not helped along with location and financial circumstances.

I felt I could have improved some of the shots. I used a different camera which I was not entirely sure about, I did not know the camera as well as I could have in order to create the images I wanted. I was upset by the clutter of the room when Mark was changing. Although Mark was very particular about how he got ready, he was not concerned about the mess around him. This impacted my photographs and made them more cluttered and messier than I would have wanted. I could not manipulate the photographs as much as I would with a normal shoot as Mark needed to be in control, he had everything the way he needed them to be. Although I could remove the clutter during processing, after much thought I realised I would not be representing the true situation, and the purpose of this project was to show something real.

The process proved to me that there is always room for improvement but also that working with a subject that is quick moving, and with different lighting and settings, I need to gain additional experience. Mark was very quick and was unpredictable in his movements, which caused problems for me, particularly because I was doing all the photography manually.

I would like to change my system of working, particularly the camera I am working with, as well purchasing faster lenses. I also feel I need to work more with flashes and available lighting, as well as my settings to create a better photograph. If I had not worked with digital and had gone with film-based, I would have been concerned that the photographs would not have worked out, therefore using digital has helped me to have more confidence in my photos.

With the videography, I set the camera up and was asking him questions while the camera was running. This made me very nervous as I had never put myself in that sort of position before. Although I had gone prepared with a set of questions, I became tongue-tied and concerned about what Mark thought of me. But I realised that Mark probably felt the same way and he let me know that he had never done a video or had people take photos of him throughout his transition into Cheri.

Mark made me aware he was not too bothered about having the photographs for himself, his manager Donna and his husband both wanted to have them to document his long career, as he is due to retire in the next two years. This is therefore an emotional project for Mark’s team and for Mark, although he may not have admitted it. I am completely privileged to meet and work with a true gent, a professional through and through.

After shooting the video for Cheri Treffiel (Mark), I decided to use the video as a research piece and not put it on this website due to the length of it being three hours.  On contacting Mark after we shot it he did not want the video put on any social media platforms. In this situation, I am rendering it and sending it to his manager Donna to keep for his career journey privately.

When I initially heard from Twm I was extremely relieved as I had given up on the project.  On meeting him he was extremely positive and had an upbeat approach.  I really feel from the start of the communication back in December 2021 we clicked.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions and Twm working mainly in nightclubs and private events it made it difficult to find a way for him to be part of this project.  Once restrictions were lifted Twm kept his word and helped me every way he could by emailing me a list of dates, venues and times where I complete my project of drag artistry.  With Twm I definitely would not be able to manage this.

I am also eternally grateful to him for that and for introducing me to other drag artists to allow my project to grow.  With the help of the other drag artists, the nightclub staff and management they all helped me achieve my goal. A big thank you to the following:  Cheri Treiffel, Polly Amorous, Justin Drag and all the other drag artists who allowed me to capture images of them behind the scenes and performing.  Also to the management team in Atik Nightclub, Edinburgh, Gordon Tovey the manager of Mary’s Nightclub, Cardiff who have been supportive too.

Twm allowed me to not only capture images of him but also a video which he has given permission for me to use on my website.  Despite it being short in length I believe the interview is also another part of my technical skills for this project.

The whole experience has improved my photography as a whole. Considering I had never experienced or visited a gay bar previously I have thoroughly enjoyed them.  I have made not just contacts but also friends in the LGBTQ+ community which has opened a new world for me.  I found it tremendously difficult at the beginning of this project due to Covid-19 and the regulations surrounding it. The lighting has caused problems with my camera settings at times but it has been a great learning curve and helped me understand my camera, studio and indoor lighting more. My perseverance paid off and despite the project for university ending I have decided to make this project long term.  Mary’s Nightclub and the event of Hey Mary which is on the last Friday night of every month hosted by Polly Amorous have agreed to have me back long term.  This will allow me to improve my event and low light photography and widen my contact list within the LGBTQ+ community.  

I have produced a book for this project called ‘Drag’. The project has had a few name changes during its lifetime mainly, due to its evolution and the involvement of different people. I believe the name I eventually chose was more appropriate and I am very happy with what I have achieved for this module.