I happen to be quite fond of of viewing other photographers works. Seeing there project and series, having a look at there thought process and what they have to put into an image. I especially enjoy viewing those who have gained a substantial level of respect from the general public ie – Annie Leibovitz, Arnold Newman, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, ect. In viewing these different photographers works it’s interesting for me to find that each have a specific strength that makes there work worth viewing. Richard Avedon has been touted as one of the greatest communicators with his subjects. He gets in there and connects with the person he’s photographing and out of that connection makes photographs that have impacted our nation. He’s strength is that connection, now he’s good at other things like lighting, but lighting isn’t what he’s know for. (Normally his lighting set ups are fairly straight forward and un-elaborat). Annie Leibovitz on the other hand is know for her quality of lighting. That softness, the unreal permeation of quality that exudes out of her work. All this to say that in each photographer normally I see something that stands out and makes then unique.
In this past year I’ve had the enjoyment of becoming familiar with Arnold Newman’s work, and in that plunge have found what I believe to be one of the elements to his effectiveness. In viewing several of his published works I notice that he is quite purposeful in the relationship between the subject and the background. Often he position the one having his image made in such a way that what is behind him becomes a frame for his body or head to rest in. Almost a frame inside the image helping the viewer find the focal point. He doesn’t do this with every image, (and I think if he did it wouldn’t work, his photographs would come across as very formulaic) but when he does, he does it masterfully.
I think in viewing his work and how he used that technique of framing, my own images have started being shape with the tool. Often it isn’t even a consiouse desission, just how I see the image. I started viewing some photographs I had taken last week and ran across these two. Seeing my blatant use of framing to draw attention to the subject I realized how influencial Arnold Newman’s work as been on my own. That discovery reiterated the importance of viewing others work. In pursuing his body of images I gleaned another tool to help shape mine. This principle actually applies across the arts. I can view paintings or lithographs that inspire and plant artistic seeds inside of me that later turn into masterful works of foliage.
So, this splattering of words held two purposes for the day- to illuminate this tool in photography for any that had not considered it potential usefulness and to thus encourage it’s use, and to promote the viewing of the arts by artists. To seek out others works that differ from yours and challenge you, and cause you to think about the tools and concepts use to create what your viewing.
I would also encourage you -especially if your a photographer- to take a stroll throught some of Arnold Newman’s work. There is a fairly comprehensive gallery of his portraitur work posted online:
http://bit.l/9L9WRX
-Enjoy
create six or seven photographs that I was really pleased with. I know that for me and my life the more often I’m creating, the more fulfilled I am. So win win win win win, win. That last win was for you, because I like you (probably lots).
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