This photograph by Peter Emerson stands out to me because of it's simplicity and boldness. The composition gives it a painterly feel. Emerson captures a moment in his subject's specific lifestyle. His knowledge on country folk helps convey an unusual perspective on what we might perceive as a "country/fisherman's workday". This man sits in a small row boat alone and seemingly motionless as if staring ahead, deep in thought. There is a pile of hay or some material in the front of the boat which the man is most likely transporting. Since the boat and oars seem still, their shadows are mirrored on the water in a dramatic way. There is no sign of other human life around. The softness of the plant life and horizon emphasize the man and the boat, giving off an extra sense of isolation.
I love the entire series titled The Architect's Brother by Robert and Shana Parkeharrison, but this photo is my favorite. While it has a somber and dark tone it also has a sense of warmth and hope. The dreamlike affect of the color and unusual content work together to make this a strong photo. He sleeps awkwardly on top of a small mattress, fully dressed in a suit. It makes you wonder if this is the perspective of a dream or if some sort of miracle is happening while he sleeps. In context with the rest of the collection the meaning can come through even stronger. http://www.geh.org/parkeharrison/index.htm (link to more from the series)
This photo by Diane Arbus is titled Child with Toy Hand Grenade.I love this photo because of how bizarre it is. He's holding a grenade in one hand and the other grips intensly at the air. His scrawny legs and hanging suspender also help tie together this look of insanity. Otherwise it could just be a boy making a silly face for the camera. I like the composition and how the boy is slightly off center. His foot stands in front of the other emphasising the shadow of the trees stretching out toward the viewer. It's humorous and slightly disturbing at the same time.
I found this photograph digging through a box of family photos. I fell in love with it immediately because it was so strange to me. I didn't know who it was and I had never seen an old portrait like this one. I'm not sure of the year, but written on the back in Portuguese is an inscription saying something along the lines of "To my cousin, with many kisses" and her name which I can't read. I found out that it was my grandfather's cousin/my uncle's godmother. She was said to be very eccentric. It's so interesting because when you see portraits of this period you don't usually see the creative side of people.
This is Ladybug by Regine Petersen. It is hard to tell that it is a man’s chest at first. His chest looks young but fragile in comparison to the shiny bright ladybug over his heart. I like that there are a few light colored beauty marks on the skin that almost mimic the few spots on the ladybug. The pale skin is bright and the ladybug seems like it was attracted to it how bugs like light. I got a sense of delicateness when seeing this photo, and a strong sense of life.
Physically Defective Children by Jessie Tarbox Beals, 1910. I like that this is a combination of a portrait and a documentation. They aren’t posing formally as normal portraits would be taken, but the photographer’s vantage point is eye level and face on. It's hard to read their expressions and when you read the title you try to figure out what might be wrong with these girls. I found out that the title had some humor to it. The defect in the girls was tonsillitis.
Emerald Garden Laundromat, made by Mark Lyon in 2008. At first glance it appears to be an actual landscape view, but upon closer look you realize that the dreamy view is just a realistic photographic wallpaper or mural. The bright colors of the scene in the mural and the real objects in front of it blend quite well. It seems to be a cheerful image until you realize it isn’t a real landscape. Coincided with the title, the real scene takes on a more humdrum feeling; as if the mural was put there to take the room’s inhabitants off to a more idealistic place in there minds. I enjoy photos that make you take a second glance and meanings might change.
My name is Andrea Benedetti. I am 26 and this is my last semester as a studio art major. I have taken photo I,II,and III analog here at MSU. Photography has always been an interest of mine, but I regret not taking the classes at a younger age. This semester I'll be using a Canon Rebel XT. I have a very hands on approach to most things and enjoy crafts. I love color, childlike themes (sometimes with a dark or creepy tone), vintage/nostalgic styles, and anything to do with humor/comedy. I love so many types of music but currently some favorite bands include Cults, Lykke Li, and Ida Maria. I crave mexican food just about everyday. Current TV show obsession is Breaking Bad; and very excited for the new season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Too many fav movies to count, but lately I can watch 500 Days of Summer over and over. The book I most recently started, but have no time to finish is Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. Some inspirational photographers that I enjoy include Diane Arbus, Cindy Sherman, and Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison.
A favorite photo....
This is a photo of my grandmother Maria, in Portugal. This has always been a favorite photo of mine not only for my love of old family photos, but it always stuck in my head as an odd portrait. I wondered why she was posed so adorably on this tree that seems to be growing through a roof. What is that the roof of? Why and how did she get up there?!
