Sandy Skoglund

During a peer's presentation on Sandy Skoglund, a particular photo of her's caught my eye.

The Wedding

I adore this photo for many reasons.... I love that it's an interactive piece with live models. I especially enjoy the specific atmosphere she chose to create, such as the use of marmalade and ceramic flowers, these contrasting materials create an interesting dynamic within the photo. The use of the title is an interesting way to get viewers thinking on what connections and observations can be made from the photo with regards to the topic of wedding. The Peer presenter made a suggestion about what this photo could signify with regards to the topic of wedding and the people involved needing to be there for each other through good and bad times, and I'd like to expand further. I consider the use of the colour red in this composition as being related to topics of love and lust. I image the subjects to be walking on the ceramic flowers as to not get stuck in a messy situation with the marmalade covering the floor. The fact that there is a possibility that they could fall into the marmalade mess, signifies the chance that lovers take with marriage. Therefore, the conceptual wedding that is basically taking place in this photo, signifies the agreement of the man and woman to take the chance of marriage and life together, essentially understanding the possibility of hardships that may arise.

Becher's Continued...

One of my favourite artworks by the Becher's is the following titled 8 Views of a Framework House. I've deemed it my favourite because I prefer to look at this photo of the framework of a house rather than the complex and confusing industrial structures of their common subject matters of blast furnaces, water towers, and gasometers, for example.

I find this photo authentic in the sense that it follows all of the typical photographic characteristics as the Becher's typologies, such as:

- overcast sky

- no clouds or birds in sky

- no people

- minimal background

- multiple images that are visually different, yet still relate

- neutrality conveyed

One particular observation that stands out is the use of Sepia, rather than the typical black-and-white that the Becher's use for their typologies. I find that sepia works well with this photo as it provides the subject matter with a more rustic feel and also contributes to the neutrality of the overall image composition, through limiting colour.

Bernd & Hilla Becher

 I found a really interesting quote which helps me understand the Becher's photography, particularly their typologies.

Bernd Becher said, "My first intentions were to photograph objects – non-architectural industrial structures – and then cut the pictures out, paste them together as montages, as collages. [...] Then we saw that if the photographs are placed side by side, they begin to relate. You can very well perceive things that differ little from each other as individual elements, if you assemble them in groups. [...] Only when you put them beside each other do you see their individuality."


I thought this quote to be brilliant in the sense that it promotes the ability to individualize a photo that is situated within a set of photos that are similar. The emphasis of typologies is on this process of situating photos of similar structures within a grid format, and yet what is interesting is this ability to evoke each of the photo's specific individuality through their grouping.

Personal Artwork

The following 2 photos are apart of a series I have begun out of pure interest.
The theme is Emotions.
I really enjoy using dry media because of the control and precision I can achieve.

Title: Inseparable, 2010
Medium: Black charcoal on white bristol board
20 x 16 inches

Title: Voiceless, 2011
Medium: White pencil crayon on black bristol board
26 x 22 inches

Philip Lorca diCorcia

Thoughts evoked from a peer's presentation on diCorcia's Photography


The first presentation in Lecture today on Philip Lorca diCorcia particularly caught my attention because of the process diCorcia took with creating his photographs. The fact that he specifically asked hustlers how much money they would require for him to photograph them seems very unconventional, or perhaps the fact that he is comfortable sharing that information with the public seems unconventional. Either way I can appreciate the artist’s frankness; he knew whom he wanted to use as models for his photographs and made it happen. More so than the actual photographs themselves, I like the intent and process behind them. As the viewer I appreciate knowing that diCorcia put a great deal of thought and effort into predetermining all aspects of his photographs and staging them to create a precise situation and imagery he envisioned. In general, I find that I appreciate artworks more when the artist has put a great deal of strategic intent and creativity into the planning process, as it then allows me as the viewer to read and interpret every aspect of the final artwork. I like to be an active and participating viewer, where the photographs for example, provoke my thoughts and get me thinking about what artistic decisions were made for the specific photo and why.


After looking through some of diCorcia's photographs, one of my favourites is the photo below. 

Philip-Lorca diCorcia
Chris; 28 years old; Los Angeles, California; $30
1990-1992


The first appealing aspect I notice are the colours in the photograph, particularly the red bricks, blue lighting on the back building, and the purple sky that create a visually interesting contrast. The textures of the photo are also important to note as I find them to be a strong artistic aspect of the photograph... particularly the roughness of the bricks, and the matte railing bars stand out. The lighting in the photo is also used very creatively and strategically; where the model's face and torso are lit up, casting a shadow on the brick wall. Overall, I really like how the artist staged this composition in such an intriguing fashion.

Kino Pravda 3G Video

My Thoughts...

I really appreciated the video Elle showed in class today, specifically for the locations that the video clips took place in. The video depicts the processes involved in world conflicts, for example; of violence, war, and protests. I took from the collage of video clips that such conflicts are not just prone to occurring in a specific place or country but can happen anywhere where a wide range of people all over the world can be involved. The images in the video were a sort of rude awakening of what controversies in the world have escalated to. I also liked how she took already-made YouTube videos and cut particular clips of them to recreate a new and appealing piece of visual art. The grid-like format of the video clips made for an interesting visual, where my eyes were lead across the screen and I was kept an involved participant in the viewing process.

Documentary Photography

These photos are part of the documentary series I took, which I then edited out from the 5-7 photo limit for grade submission.

Series title: A Day in the Life of a Competitive Dancer

Story focus -- a ballet dancer practicing, part of her daily routine

Model putting on the most important piece of ballet equipment -shoes. This photo expresses the significance of the preparation process, which was a fairly lengthy one, as focus was on ensuring the ballet slippers were secure and snug.

 I found the model's use of this window particularly interesting and visually pleasing. With minimal props and aids to practice with in her home, she uses the window sill to help her balance. Essentially this was a very difficult position that she practiced to help benefit her endurance with balancing on her toes. The shape of the window and colour of light coming through provides appealing contrasts in the photo.

I can appreciate this photo most specifically for the bent and curved lines, which contrast with many of the other photos I took where the ballet dancer displays strong and straight lines and posture. I particularly like the angle this photo was taken at, as I was on the ground at the same level as the model. 

The wall of mirroring that the model constantly used throughout her practice, allowed for an interesting use of space in the photos. The mirrors provide an intriguing visual, which allow the viewers eyes to shift between the model and her reflection.

The model spent a fair amount of time between practicing steps and routines to reflect on her performance and gather her thoughts before trying again. I particularly like how the model takes up the majority of space in this photo and the tight cropping that frames it.

I really wanted to use this particular photo in my 5-7 photo series for submission as it depicts a large part of being a dancer, but I thought the photo to be too blurry. This photo depicts the sores, bruises, redness, pain, and taping of feet that specifically a ballet dancer experiences on a daily basis.

At the end of the model's daily practice she threw her ballet shoe at the wall a few times, to relieve some of the disappointment, frustration and pain she was feeling. I particularly like the angled motion in this photo.