Week 14

My first photographer is Jen Davis. Davis received her BFA from Columbia College Chicago and her MFA from Yale. I think its important to mention these facts because many people assume you cannot be successful in photographing yourself as your main photographic focus. Davis clearly shows that it is entirely possible. Davis's work is a direct comment on beauty, identity, and body image. David frequently showcases or makes no effort to hide her so called "ugly" body due to her weight. She also frequently photographs herself with her lovers as another way to comment on relationships and stereotypes.

I think what I find most interesting about Davis's work is her choice of photographic moments. She makes no attempt to show herself as this significantly interesting or unique person. In fact she almost appears to go in the complete opposite direction and show herself in the single most ordinary moments possible. I think that it is all to easy to create images with the intension of reforming peoples ideal standards of beauty that are meant to show sexuality and desirability. Davis goes the opposite direction and photographs herself in situations that we all relate to from eating to waking up to bathing. In these images she shows herself as average and normal and relatable despite her weight.  You can find her work here.

My next photographer is David de Beyter. I found his work in a book in the library that catalogues up and coming photographers.  It rook a while to find out about his actual work. Beyter is a French photographer frequently photographing how nature and man interact. His work frequently incorporates sculpture that influences his work such as the mod 60 inspired sculptures seen in his series Concrete Mirrors (not shown). I however am much more interested in the images above from his series In the Middle of Nowhere. The title itself says plenty about the work. Beyter feels this work is influenced on a future he thought about as a child and his memory of it. 

I find these images interesting for their color and composition. Beyter photographed the subject in a way that allows it to be somewhat centered and yet still interesting. He isolates it allowing only distant subject matter to come into the background thickly covered by fog or swarms it in grass. He also forces the perspective to make the viewer at eye level with the subject. These compositional elements keep an incredibly simple image visually beautiful and interesting. 

My final photographer is David Graham who's website is found here. This series is called "Immediate Future" and features young adults in their 20's. During the process of his shoot he asks them about their childhood dreams, current goals, their passions and ambition. However rather than depicting them as confident or excited or even emotional Graham shows them almost completely emotionally devoid. His sitters also look away from the viewer causing even greater tension. 

What I found most interesting is the choice of color Graham used. He used color filters when photographing causing intentional color cast. This cast of color changed the already prominent emotion of each image. It makes them appear more or less vulnerable or stoic. I found that use of color really interesting and yet still visually beautiful.