LUCY MARTYN

RESEARCH ESSAY: UNIT 3

Artist focus: Shannon Taggart

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Inside the book



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Throughout the course of this essay I will be looking at the work of
Shannon Taggart, an American photographer focused on documenting
the supernatural. Within this essay, I plan to outline and analyse the
photographic project entitled Séance as well as looking at work
within the project.
Taggart became aware of spiritualism as a teenager, after her cousin
received a message from a medium that described further detail
regarding the passing of her grandfather. Her interest with this topic
led her to produce an eighteen year photographic project,
documenting spiritualism and exploring various different aspects
within this, in both the US and Europe. The project is initially centred
on a location famous for its background in spiritualism – Lily Dale,
New York. The project as a whole contains 150 different images that
explore and document spiritualism in various forms; focusing on
looking at mediums at work, their environment and paraphernalia,
seances and readings and healing and training sessions for aspiring
mediums and finally, ectoplasm; this is something Taggart focuses on
a lot within her work, showcasing this element in numerous ways.
Taggart’s photographic project is one of the main sources of research
for my project; her work displays a timeline of the history of the
supernatural whilst simultaneously exhibiting visual work that creates
a multi-facetted informative project. The project as a whole contains
various images displayed in numerous ways, each individual to the
subject of the image. I find the project to be emotive through use of
photographic technique and composition; the images are visually
pleasing but there are also dark underlying connotations in each,
further highlighting certain aspects within spiritualism, allowing the
audience to further understand the supernatural.
Taggart’s work has influenced my own in numerous way, her images
allowing for greater knowledge on spiritualism. Whilst researching her
work I have found that I now not only have a better understanding of
the topic but better knowledge on how to portray images to create
ideas of the supernatural effectively.
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‘Séance’ explores numerous avenues in regards to photographic
techniques and composition using this to create thought provoking
images. One of the best examples of this being the wide range of
colour used to highlight certain aspects within individual images,
thus creating variation in all images. Taggart has focused on
documenting various aspects within spiritualism, doing so by use of
various image focuses. An element within her work that is poignant
for me is the constant lingering of spirit presence within all images,
this theme seen within the vast majority of her images.
The significance of this spirit presence helps to elevate meaning
and the idea of the supernatural within the project, but it also
allows viewers to further connect with the supernatural. The
artist’s work has been influential in many ways, the variation in her
work in regards to framing, tone and lighting has equipped me with
better ideas of how to portray my own work.
I find the use of
colour clever as this
opens an avenue for
further
understanding,
certain colour
helping to emote
the audience,
directing them to
perceive the image
in a certain way. I
would like to
translate this into
my work, I feel that
use of colour to
highlight certain aspects and create further connotations could
allow me to more effectively convey my idea and overall theme.
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Taggart uses various layouts and formats within her book ‘Séance’ a running theme within her work is use of series. The layout of a series of
images allows for further insight and perspective into the scene, this permitting further contextual meaning to images and ultimately allows the
audience to further understand the images and the meaning. The format of a series works well as it can show progression and show a scene
unfolding. I would like to further use this format as I feel this can help to elevate images and allows the progression of an image to been seen,
therefore allowing the audience to have a wider perspective and more knowledge.

Shannon Taggart’s
First photographic
anomaly - Dorothy

stories about her

With Bob’s orb. Lily
Dale, NY, 2001

photographs.
Shannon Taggart .
(2019). Stories . In:
Found in the book
Seance . United
Kingdom: Fuglar Press.
p227.

Lily Dale historian Ron Naggy

examining a rare painting of the Fox
Sisters. Lily Dale, NY 2004

Shannon Taggart . (2019). Stories . In:

Seance . United Kingdom: Fuglar Press.
p222.

Inspirational stump, Lily Dale,

Prepared healing room with Native American

NY, 2012.

Indian white bison blanket. Monycabirol

Center for Physical mediumship, France,
Inspirational stump can be seen

2014.

as Lily Dale’s open air cathedral.

Shannon Taggart . (2019). Stories . In: Seance .
Where Mediums deliver short readings to United Kingdom: Fuglar Press. p268.
anonymous visitors at the stump, twice daily in
the summer season.

Shannon Taggart . (2019). Stories . In: Seance . 4

United Kingdom: Fuglar Press. p223.
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Chosen image to analyse 


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Taggart captured this image when 1partaking in a spirit photography making this the clear focal point, this paired with the strong tones
class experiment, focusing in ‘photographic mediumship’. The image seen within the subject’s clothing. The detail in the subject’s clothing
depicts Donna Sinclair, who Taggart met whilst on the course at is profound and contrasts with the slightly darker elements seen in the
Arthur Findlay College. background of the image. This ghostly figure fading into the
background, almost acting as a leading element to draw audience
The value of the colour red in the background of the image is attention to other elements within the image.
especially prominent, this aspect further adding to the intensity
seen within the image, supported by use of strong tones, detail and
framing. The strong red throughout the image raises questions about
religion, red being a known symbolic colour within the church. The
red in the image, creates ideas of the religious aspect within
spiritualism, region playing a big part in spiritualism.
The colour mainly carrying overtones of death and violence, red has
been heavily used in art to portray the power of royalty, at the same
time it is also a common colour used in leaders clothing as a way of
showcasing power and establishing status. The colour red holds
mixed connotations and contradicts with the gold seen within the
carpet.
The colour gold having great implications of power and wealth,
contrasting with the negative emotions carried through within the
red that is heavily present within the image. The idea of wealth and
power is further supported by the setting of the location which is
very visible due to the wider framing of the image. Thus allowing the
audience a wider perspective, allowing for further context.
The image has various layers, including various focal points; this
adding further depth and contextual meaning. To me, there are
three main focal points that then work in assisting the audience to
other sub focus points. These three key stones within the image
allow for further context and meaning within the image, introducing
further questions and establishing perspective. The main centre of
attention being Donna centred within the image, the framing of the
subject

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The other key elements within the image are the flashes of light seen
on either side of the subject, there is a clear contrast between this due
to the intensity of the flashes. The flash to the right clearly stronger in
tone and definition. However, the flash to the left of the subject is
toned down significantly, fading naturally into the background, this is
almost seen as natural emerging light in comparison to the harsher
flash which appears like a camera flash.
This potentially portraying the fraudulent side of spiritualism. Mediums
and photographers trying to prove the reality of the supernatural were
proven fraudulent on numerous occasions. This harsher flash almost
mimics the natural light to the left of the subject, I perceive this as
portraying the fraudulence within the spiritualist community.
The second and more natural flash loosely links back to the idea of
religion present within the image, the use of the natural emerging light
almost creating ideas of new life. This creating strong ideas of spirit
presence within the image, this is further accompanied by the
placement of this light. The light is placed above a spirit manifestation
box which was used to allow mediums to communicate to spirits and
other worldly beings.
This is followed by the use of movement prominently to the left of the
image, the dragged out movement seen in the bottom corner as well as
positioned above the head of a background subject. This generating
ideas of spirit presence within the image. Particularly in the left side of
the image as nothing like this is seen in the other half of the image.
The staggered movement can also been seen fading into the image, like
Donna. Use of movement within this image to portray ideas of spirit
presence, stands out to me a lot and is something I would potentially
like to further work with. I think this is very effective in the sense that
this allows for an element of uncertainty, potentially helping to
reinforce the idea of spirit presence.

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In conclusion, further research into Taggart’s photo project ‘Séance’
has helped my greater knowledge on both the topic of spiritualism
as well as how I can effectively portray this theme within my own
work. Taggart’s work is effectively portrays the supernaturally
whilst at producing goof quality images. Something that is poignant
for me in regards to Taggart’s work is the successful use of colour to
highlight certain aspects within an image, I would like to
incorporate this into my own work, focusing on how I create certain
emotions through use of specific colours. I feel this help to elevate
the images visually but could also further elevate the meaning
within my images.
Another aspect of Taggart’s work that stands out to me is use of
format, the layout of a series effectively displaying the progression
of a scene, allowing further insight and allowing a wider
perspective for understanding. I feel this could be effective within
my work, especially with the idea of documenting a seance, a series
would allow for a wider perspective and overall help to elevate the
meaning.
Bibliography
The main source of Research was the book, having this enabled me to
have access to Shannon Taggart’s whole project. The book also includes
short stories about each image that allows further insight into the
image - I was able to use this in my presentation. - Shannon Taggart .
(2019). . In: Charlie Mounter Seance . United Kingdom: Fuglar Press.
total pages 298.
Shannon Taggart Research - Shannon Taggart. (2019). Séance.
Available: https://www.shannontaggart.com/. Last accessed 2nd Jan
2021.
Colour research - Bojan Lisjak. (2017). Colour meaning in culture and
religion. Available: https://www.about-colors.com/color-meaning-
cultures-religions/. Last accessed 2nd Jan 2021.
Colour Research - ZenArt Supplies. (2018). what does the colour red
mean? History, Symbolism and Use. Available: https://