Kenneth Josephson

ARTIST:   Kenneth Josephson

 TITLE OF WORK:  New York State, 1970, Gelatin Silver Print

SOURCE: Book 'The Nature Of Photographs' Stephen Shore

What I like: 

I'm immediately drawn to the photo within photograph play, a self reflexive expression of the photographic medium that functions to break the illusion of the photographic truth. Josephson is reviewed as a highly influential American photographer who had a great deal to do with encouraging experimental and conceptual photographic practice. This layering technique implored in this image does not stand alone in his oeuvre as he is well recognized for this style of black and white photography. 

There is a strange dialogue created in this action of even just viewing this photograph because, within this action is the action of the photographer to be also viewing an image. The actual photo no longer exists as a representation of reality but merely as a frame for another image within the frame. It's very clever. I feel really torn looking at this photograph, there is such a tension created in the action of the photographer to celebrate another image inside the scene that is being captured. I don't know what the hero is, or maybe the hero is the action. It's wonderful to ponder this image, the suggestive nature of a constructed narrative is very engaging. I have not yet mentioned the use of the point of view angle to make the viewer to feel like it they could be taking the photo, there is such a closeness created here as I think about the possibility of my arm reaching out.

Annegret Soltau

ARTIST:   Annegret Soltau, b. 16 January 1946 Luneberg

 TITLE OF WORK:  Self Portrait

SOURCE: Internet, http://ineedaguide.blogspot.com.au/search/label/photography, accessed 3/03/15

WHY DOES THE IMAGE INTEREST ME.

This photograph demands attention, it is a self portrait that has been given to the reader in a new light. In a photographic self portrait we might expect to see a realistic depiction of facial features, however this example of a self portrait strays from the regular selfie. Soltau has taken several different images and combined/juxtaposed them to create a whole new image. 

Imagine a person posing for a photograph. smile. snap. An instructed image created for purpose. The purpose to recognise a moment in time for the sake of identity. In the same way that a photograph can be instructed and constructed this artist has shown that a photograph can be deconstructed and simultaneously reconstructed. 

The embroided element of collage is most interesting, it creates an extra chaotic layer to this expressive piece. It reminds me of an exothermic reaction. 

Ryan McGinley

Ryan McGinley

Contemporary American photographer
These works are from his 'Adventures' and have been referred to as Evidence of Fun
Sources - http://www.vice.com/read/ryan-mcginleys-yearbook-opens-at-team-gallery
http://www.vice.com/read/ryan-mcginleys-advice-to-young-photographers

http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201404/ryan-mcginley-photographer

An article by Alice Gregory published online through GQ provides a really comprehensive discussion into McGinley's artistic trajectory and he is a HIGHLY accomplished photographer. 

• 2003 Solo Show at the Whitney Museum of American Art (he was 25) 
• 2007 Young photographer of the year
• has been titled the most important photographer in America

Photo editor of Vice Matthew Leifeit did a write up on a speech that McGinley gave at his graduation ceremony and he had had some really wonderful words to share that provide a great insight into how he approaches his photography -

"Everyone always says it helps to picture [the audience] naked to calm my nerves. Unfortunately, that’s another day at work for me."

Everyone I shoot is part of downtown's creative community—painters, musicians, dancers, writers, sculptors, photographers. Those are the people who understand what I do and are excited to pose nude for me.

Here is another piece of fabulous advice -

"Be busy. Seek and find a way to do what it is you want to do. Identify what that thing is and do it. Don’t stand around too long having conversations about it. Do it. Refine it. Do it more. Try it a different way. Keep at it until you break through to the next level. Don’t talk or think yourself out of doing it. Put one foot in front of the other and let it happen organically."

Another article reports that over the last ten year McGinley's photos have evolved - his work now is more ambitious and complex. The images are the results of road trips across America; the forms of the models make the images scream as they run, jump, dive, fall, zip-line. Then there is the addition of colour and light - dreamy, surreal and other worldy.

Punchy and exotic; I imagine that these photos are created in far away places void of any realistic responsibility. Bodies are flying and falling, in the presence of wildlife and nature, there is a definite sense of freedom. 

Rhobin Rhode

Rhobin Rhode

Collection of works 2002 - 2015

Much of Rhodes work is stills from animation videos

I'm drawn to artists that create the majority of their image in camera, letting aspects of their imagination show through in the process of making and experimenting. The extent in which an artist can push their materials and surroundings is of much intrigue to me and for this reason Rhobin Rhode is exciting and fun! I love that he can take a rather plain space and transform it eg. taking a footpath and part of a road and displaying it as a half pipe; the angle that his photos are taken from is part of that innovation. 

he is genius!

This is my favourite. It is one simple line that is added to a seemingly boring setting then BAM looks like this guy is having a hoot!

Double backflip ally oop cowabungaaa

This is called Colour Wheel! It's a really interesting concept to apply people to a somewhat calculated representation of the colour spectrum. We can identify complementary colours, primary colours and secondary colours - what does this say about how colour represents people?