Herb Ritts

Herb Ritts Jr. was a fashion photographer that was known for taking pictures of celebrities, models, and other cultural figures throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He lived from August 13th, 1952, to December 26th, 2002. He was born and died in Los Angeles, California.

This image is titled: Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage, 1990.
I find it interesting because I think that there is a good usage of framing and contrast. I like how Ritts managed to make the focal point of the picture the person's head to waist, yet their thighs are also in the picture. I think that the framing is creative in this picture because material from the dress the model is wearing is what is being used to frame the person. I originally was drawn to this photo because of the contrast. The dress and hair are a dark grey and the background and person are white. I like how the part of the dress that is not touching the body is almost in a triangle from the waist of the model. I find this interesting because most examples of framing that I have seen involve square shapes, so when I saw this photo I liked it. Between the framing and contrast, I think that this is a very artful image.

Lee Friedlander

Lee Friedlander was born on July 14th, 1934 in Aberdeen Washington. He has been married to his wife, Maria DePaoli since 1958. Friedlander has currently has art showing in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

This photo is from a set called "Lee Friedlander’s Intimate Portraits of his Wife, Through Sixty Years of Marriage." This picture is of Maria in 1959. I admire the concept that Friedlander would want to capture his relationship throughout the years in images that he could later go back through and reminisce. I like the photo itself for several reasons, one of which is that the dress DePaoli is wearing dates the image to the time period. This is not a style that would be worn in more modern days. I also like the unique usage of framing.  DePaoli is framed by the open part of the window while the rest of the window is foggy, making her face (and the background of another building behind it) the focus of the photo. The scraggly plants and long windows give the image a tired look along with the lack of color. Overall, I think that this photo and the rest in the set are a beautiful time capsule of their lives together.

Michael Kenna

Michael Kenna is currently 66 years old and was born on November 20th, 1953 in Widnes, United Kingdom.

I like this picture because of the dreariness that is typically not seen in a playground. Playgrounds are typically associated with lively children and happy memories of childhood. This picture causes the viewer to stop and take a deeper look because of the abnormal darkness where there should be joy and light. A setting that is specifically built for children is a strange place to have a feeling of discomfort and abandonment, which is what this picture leaves you feeling. I think that this photographer is skilled, because not all photos can leave the viewer feeling, but--in my opinion. this photo does exactly that. It leaves you questioning what happened that made it so that the park was so abandoned. I like the disproportionate lighting because it highlights the swing-set and makes the trees look very dark. This draws the eye to the fact that this playground is not in use.

Man Ray: Indestructible Object

Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitzky) lived from August 27th 1890 to November 18th 1976. He was known for his artwork in photography, painting and film.

I was particularly interested in his piece called Object to be Destroyed. It is a metronome with a picture of an eye on the pendulum. He would tell people that the photograph was of someone who has been loved but is seen no more. The eye in his original version is of his ex, who was also his assistant, muse, and model. This piece of art was stolen when a crowd of students were protesting a Dada exhibition in Paris. After getting the money back from his insurance claim he went on to use the money to buy more metronomes and remake this artwork, re-titling it: Indestructible Object.

I like this piece because it draws attention to something simple, yet inspiring. The eye will always be there, while the rest of the person is no longer with him. I also like that he put the eye on something in motion, making it seem to me like this person will never be dormant in his mind.  I think that the eye represents the memory of this person. To elaborate on that, she loved her, and the thought of her will always be in motion, or never-ending in his mind. I think that that is a beautiful representation of how it feels to go through a break up. I think that it was iconic that it was stolen from him because often times when you're going  through a breakup, you become dramatically upset over it and need a wake up call. The piece being stolen may (unintentionally) represent him being told that he need to get over her. The metronome is known to keep rhythm for music and assists new musicians that may not comprehend rhythm yet. This breakup may have been a new experience for him or may represent new experiences. I think that the concept of the eye on the metronome is a beautiful piece of artistry.

Photography Changes Everything

I think that Marvin Heiferman brings up several valid points about how photography is viewed now that most people have camera phones and social medias to post pictures on. I also think that this essay draws attention to the facts that mundane images can be beautiful too. “Photography resists being shaped by any single set of imperatives or standards.” I agree with this statement not only because any photograph taken falls into the category of “photography,” but also because there can be beauty in anything. A simple photograph taken of something ordinary can mean much more than the viewer may realize initially. The viewer may not notice that a photograph of a flower is taken at a graveyard, or that a picture of a smiling person may be of someone who’s talents are yet to be discovered.  “In my work, I’ve often thought about how to talk about all those other images out there. Not the ones made by photographers and artists, but the less pedigreed ones that play equally important and vital roles in our lives—the photographs that don’t get framed, but which deliver news, sell clothes, get you a date, cause parking tickets to be written, and save lives.” I think that this sentence expresses the value in underappreciated pictures. This is important because most people don’t stop to look at images that are less than extraordinary, which is a habit that I think people should start doing. Even art that is originally not made to be admired, should be. Art is glanced over with the assumption that it is serving its purpose contains unrealized beauty. Overall, I think that this article emphasizes the need to appreciate art in this new digital age.