Friday, November 19, 2010

Lecture 11/19: Contemporary Photography

Ansel Adams
- 1940's photographer, defined classic photography
- Black & white photos, extremely detailed

Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Also helped define classic photography
- Waited to capture moments in life through photos

"Ouija"
- Reputation for being on a scene first (even before police)
- Murder victims, showgirls, etc.
- Various other moments of life not usually seen
- Camera was an eye, saw everything whether good or bad


Photography used as a means to convey feelings, unusual places, etc.
Also helped document a world that was changing rapidly (1940s)
Erosion of original photos as unique works starts ~1970s
     - Photographs of photographs, etc


Richard Prince
- Took photographs of Marlboro ads
- Gave appropriation a solid footing in photography

Cindy Sherman
- Used playacting to explore different photograph styles
- Photographed self trying on different personae that were faked


Constructed worlds - building a scene just to take a photo of it
       - Going through a lot of trouble to take a picture of a fabricated scene


David Leventhal
- Recreated historical scenes using toys
- WWI trench scenes
- Western cowboys
- War in Iraq


Personal Narratives - investigating darker sides of personal life

Nan Goldin
- Took pictures of ups & downs of life
- Unedited recording of life

Wolfgang Tillmans
- Photographs of life
- Some pictures intentionally kept that would otherwise be thrown away
- "Feels more like real life"

Richard Billingham
- Social commentary through self portraits
- Took pictures of home life
- Lower class British home

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