Andrea Sonnenberg

Anna Sonnenberg

Californian contemporary photographer

I really thought I had posted on this Anna as I went to reference her work drawing a comparison to Jared (previous post).

So here it is

Images are sourced from her website

images appear in continuous reel 

(did not seem to have defined series)

Like Jared this artist mimics the snapshot. The sense of spontaneity appears strongly; telling intuitive  stories about friends, strangers and locations from one unique perspective; which belongs to Anna. 

There is a youthfulness present through much of her work - scenes of music moshes/death circles and cultures and scenes that are embraced by youth.

Raw images shot from eye level draw the viewer closer in to the world that encapsulates Anna; we are given the chance to stand exactly where she exists and it's just cool.

Colour is celebrated through character and landscape 

Jared Eberhardt

Jared Ederhardt

American Photographer/Skater/Snowboarder

I am a fan of youthful spirit present in these photos - each image seems to borrow the snapshot feeling; capturing a spontaneous moment. Each fun action and creation of doing in camera imparts a participatory sense onto the viewer. 

I consider myself as aligned with these ideas of fun and spontaneity - who doesn't really? These images are so rich and it seems that they are pulled off and presented in this nostalgic manner partly because of the beautiful light. 

The natural light used in the photographs is warm and seems to me a product of shooting within the golden hours (morning/;late afternoon)

These images are not part of a series but instead are presented as a diary documentary collection of images that give an insight into the life of this photographer. Its spirit is similar to that of Californian photographer Anna Sonnenberg

http://www.mcdermottmanagement.com/jared/

Great example of light coming through behind subject to make a beautiful, exciting portrait. She looks like the angel of fun with wings of sand haha.

This image is delicious.

I have realised that lots of his images feature natural, open horizons - hardly any environmental shots of suburban/urban places. Part of the aesthetic is wide open spaces and the freedom to explore them.

This image is full of wonder. The light is other-worldy. especially in the dust kicked up from the action of swinging the golf club. We follow the view of the subject as he is facing out towards the horizon.

Clever, fun observations feature heavily in Eberhardt's work.

Trent Parke

Artist - Trent Parke b. 1971

Body of Work - The Black Rose @ Art Gallery of SA 2015 Exhibition

Source - Interwebs  - http://www.stillsgallery.com.au/artists/parke/index.php?obj_id=series&nav=10

What I think - 
I know Trent Parke has been mentioned in class but I can't not include this body of work into my research file - I'm too obsessed with it!

This oceanic, galactic construction appears in the first room of the exhibition alongside numerous fragments of abstract thoughts that point towards the universe and existence. Hanging photographs that line the walls are hosting the only available light; previously captured and then momentarily projected onto the viewer. Parke's process of transitioning and transforming light provides an insight into his worlds of imagination. Turn the page. Enter the next room. 

Poignant moments in nature.

So I would like to draw attention to the image above (the Nullarbor) and below( ants on a Jatz biscuit)  to exemplify Parkes ability to contrast the micro and the macro, scale and how space can be perceived through the human eye.

Firstly, it is such a wonderful observation in its first instance and secondly, I want to talk about context A) Tim Winton - both creators enable a sensory experience you can taste and feel their content and B) Malcolm Gladwell - they both draw attention to the way in which we think and come to conclusions.

So by noticing that ants appear on biscuits as trees do in the Nullarbor there is this recognition of worlds existing in parrellel times on wholly different scales, quite unaware of one another but ultimately in sync in existence.  

Through Parke's unique worldly explorations a sense of clarity and understanding is achieved.

Ben Zank needs work

Ben Zank

American Photographer living/working in New York

Source - artist found on blog I need a guide

http://ineedaguide.blogspot.com.au/

http://www.benzank.com/about/

http://phlearn.com/phlearn-interviews-ben-zank

These images are sourced from the I need a guide blog, they are both untitled works. 

Reading information from Ben Zank's personal website tells us that he works mostly in self portraiture, he is mostly always the subject of these obscure timely interactions. 

Zank creates clever compositions through an approach that embraces spontaneity, resourcefulness and willingness. Zank sees locations very uniquely in his process of art making; he projects his imagination into the location, searching for potential surreal interactions. He gives himself wholly to the photographic process and the results show evidence of his open minded approach.

Zank creates worlds of wonder and intrigue in his images, as a viewer I find it very pleasing thinking of the possibilities of the characters in the photos. The photos are staged but that doesn't detract from the genius of the photograph! This style of work inspires me to engage more ambitiously with location and be inspired by a particular place because Zank does this so incredibly well. Its like he sees a place and then extends it in his mind and then projects that extension back into the space. I love.

Frederic Lezmi needs work

These images were presented in a book titled Poor Politicians 

 2011

comprises of 29 Cards in a Box

The project: tells the story of 28 destroyed/damaged/forgotten images of Albanian politicians in the streets of Prishtina. 

Is this a representation of politicians

 or a reflection of the streets in which they reside

maybe the fluid nature of urban graffiti

...time moving by

...shifting politics ??

Were they intentionally destroyed. How long did the original image last?

These are the thoughts that I have whilst pondering the content of these images and I have realised that for this reason it is a great concept. Quite simple and abstract, this series based purely on an observation of the street. The fact that there is 29 of these images of different peeling, decaying faces of politicians makes an interesting comment on the notion of politics and seeking popularity for votes, but the facade fades. Upon recognising the face of a politician we most likely draw a link to the politics and ideologies that they stand for, does tearing away their representation show that there is little care for there politics? Maybe. Maybe not.

The surface quality of the torn posters render really interesting layers of textures, adding quite a chaotic element to the composition. These images are not overly complex in my opinion and there isn't the element of experimentation that I am drawn to but what I do love is the observational quality that was executed in capturing this series.

Ed Freeman needs work

Ed Freeman

Desert Realty series

Ed Freeman is great photographer with a diverse range works that include nudes, surfers, underwater captures and reflections on architecture. In my research file I have included the photos that first drew my attention to Freeman; which are part of his Desert Realty body of work.

Desert Realty is a compilation of digitally enhanced photographs of buildings in locations that scatter across small towns and deserts of Southern California. 

These buildings look like they would be worn out and lonely in reality but Freedman shows us something else in these locations. There is a sense of serenity in the solitude in which this photographer presents these highway stop overs. I think that the light is particularly effective in creating a painterly effect and giving new life to these crusty old buildings. Dreamy skies take me to the most romantic times of day and I want to be in these photos.

The framing is really great, shot from a distance these highway stop overs are presented as portraits that have character. The line of the horizon seems to always be in a similar position, the top two thirds of the image is designated for beautifully unreal skies. I find myself curios about these places.

Risaku Suzuki needs work

Risaku Suzuki (1963)

Began exploring the medium of photography in the mid-1980s.

1990 first solo exhibition, and in 1998, he published his first photographic book, KUMANO (Korinsha Press), which looked at his native Kumano region of Japan.

 Since then he has portrayed a wide range of subjects—sacred places in Japan, Mont Sainte Victoire in southern France, cherry blossoms, snow, and Cezanne’s studio—taking a different approach for each. These works he has shown in a succession of solo shows and books

This work was untitled but part of a photographic book titled Stream of Consciousness 
I am reminded of the work of Rinko Kawauchi aesthetically and conceptually; the use of Fuji 400 film favours the beautiful, crispy, cyan tones and the subject matter is delicate and fragile in nature like Kawauchi's work.

Personally, I find his images unbelievably beautiful there is a sense of mystique, nostalgia and a kind of rare momentous magic. Nature is featured heavily and almost exclusively in Suzuki's Stream of Consciousness and it is captured and presented in a very fairy-take like manner. In the three images below we look into the picture frame from vastly different angles, but the suggestiveness is as strong throughout. The top image we look up through beautiful, snowy pink blossoms to an airy blue sky. The second image shows an untouched snowy path through the trees, void of the presence of any footsteps this image is full of potential! The third image peeks down through branches to water below, the focal point of the image movement in the water - what is below the surface I wonder?

These wonderfully crisp images tickle my imagination in all the best ways - I could become consumed by Suzuki's Stream of Consciousness.