Assignment 5: Exploring Autism (Contact sheet)

Willy Ronis

“By magnificently harmonizing artistic rigor with a celebration of life, his photography offers a unique vision, one that combines emotion with reserve, humanism with technical mastery. Few photographers are in a position to teach us as much as Willy Ronis.” Dhouailly & Cie

Ronis travelled little, mainly photographing the local people living in and around the Belleville-Ménilmontant region of Paris which he knew well. Having experience in wedding and christening photography, Ronis loved the spontaneity of documenting everyday life. His most famed image, however is ‘Nu Provençal’, a nude of his wife, Marie-Anne Lansiaux, bending over a sink in a rustic bathroom.

‘Le Bateau Mouche’ by Willy Ronis shows a couple relaxing on a boat as they sail past iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower; the man’s pose reminiscent of a cruise down the river, watching the world go by, although the woman looks slightly uncomfortable. The couple’s close contact fits with the Parisian landmark, giving a romantic feel to the image.

Ronis shows another couple taking advantage of their high vantage point from a tall building, taking in the view of the Paris cityscape. Ronis has used the technique of shooting from behind the couple to bring cohesion to the image. Being behind the couple, we see what they are seeing, giving an insight into their personal experience. Again, I am struck by the woman’s body language; the straight back and hand placed on her hip slightly jarrs the otherwise romantic scene.

Walter Bibikow

Walter Bibikow is a travel photographer based in Boston, MA, USA. His destination photography is supplied to stock photo agencies as well as buyers worldwide. Spending half of his year traveling, Bibikow really captures the essence of the places he visits.

In a bid to develop my own personal voice, I often worry about a need to compromise my style in order to fit the client’s needs. Although Bibikow has a well-developed personal style, he speaks about photographing the locations he visits in many ways to fit with the needs of several types of client, from advertising art directors to travel editors.

His work has been used in many different publications and travel magazines.

Alex Treadway

Alex Treadway’s journal shows a rich and varied experience, traveling the world, photographing people and places for organisations such as Independent Magazine, Marks & Spencer and National Geographic. His passion for travel and remote cultures is clear in his work.

 

Project: Afghanistan

Treadway was commissioned for his project on Afghanistan to capture people’s every day working lives for a book about life in the Himalayas. A combination of portraits and larger landscapes incorporating workers shows a varied, yet cohesive view through the eyes of a worker. The overall feeling I get from these images is of a journey from the growing of crops, to the creation of products and finally to the sale of local produce in markets and shops. Although the land appears dry and barren on some of the larger landscapes, other images show fresh and healthy produce displayed alongside proud and happy workers. The feeling of independence and pride is reflected in the low and wide perspective often used for portrait images.

Thomas Ruff

A Google Image search for Thomas Ruff initially brings up a sea of faces in images reminiscent of the passport photo; similarity in crop and facial expression unites the images as a set. Unlike some of the work Ruff is known for such as domestic interiors and private sexual acts, these passport style images are intentionally unglamorous and ordinary, the subjects devoid of expression. The images were initially in black and white but Ruff eventually switched to colour.

Image search showing Thomas Ruff with some of his Porträts

Ruff used the Porträts to suggest that it is not possible to represent a subject’s inner life through photography. Although I am not convinced that this is true, it does open up the question of how much we can actually show about a person through photography. Yousuf Karsh, believed that when shooting at precisely the right moment, a man’s soul and spirit could be reflected in his eyes, his hands and his attitude. I also believe this to be true.

The more we pose a subject in photography, the less of his or her own personality we reveal. Ruff had posed his subjects for these images, even to the extent of instructing them on facial expression. I feel that this posing and instruction is what leads to the inability to extract any inner life, when caught unaware, a subject’s life and soul can shine through.

Adam Magyar

http://www.magyaradam.com/

 

Magyar's website hosts a selection of interactive images in which the viewer is invited to hover over areas of the image to see a close up of the area.

The images reveal Magyar’s fascination with high tech cities as well as his ability to use modern technology in the creation of his work. To Magyar, the city is as much a natural environment as the rain forest; he feels that the scientific achievements we make are an integral part of our evolution.

Magyar studies movement; sometimes created by merging separate images, the study shows people moving en mass, their main motivation being arrival.

I find Magyar’s work intriguing and quite voyeuristic. The original image is what we see every day and mostly bypass without thinking, yet having the ability to zoom in gives a sense of viewing through a telescope, watching silently and unnoticed.

I have attached a link to Magyar’s website rather than images as his work is about the experience rather than a fixed image.

Sporting Events

Having researched several sports photographers such as Steve Bonini and Adam Pretty, I came away quite uninspired; great photographers as they are, their style doesn’t really fit with what I am aiming to achieve. The editorial style, required in advertising a brand uses posed subjects, styled lighting and heavy editing which for me, removes the grit and character which I aim to show in my work.

A broader search lead me to coverage of lesser known sporting events around the world in which photographers really honed in on the action. The Guardian covers two Italian sporting traditions, Calcio Storico and Battle of the Oranges, both shot by a selection of photographers for Reuters and Getty Images.

Calcio Storico, heralded as the most brutal sport on earth is an ancient form of football from the 16th century. In teams of 27, using both feet and hands, players are allowed to headbutt, punch, elbow, and choke opponents in a bid to win the game.

The heat of the day and a sense of determination is clear as the team prepare for the final - Justin Setterfield

Although the main focus is on the centre character, this image highlights the risks involved in such a brutal event - Justin Setterfield

Light filters through as players fight for possession of the ball - Justin Setterfield

Action shots show the true emotions felt as the match progresses - Justin Setterfield

Italy's 'battle of the oranges' carnival marks a rebellion against tyrannical lords who ruled the Italian town of Ivrea in the Middle Ages. The oranges represent the swords and crossbows that would were historically used.

An upward perspective gives a feeling of power as participants prepare for battle - Marco Bertorelli

The edge of the truck divides the two teams; an image of hope as a tyrannical lord takes a blow to the face - Marco Bertorelli

The face of death hovers over guards in battle dress as one takes a blow to the head - Stephano Rellandini

Time stands still as a battler runs and orange hover mid flight. This image is reminiscent of a superhero film - Stephano Rellandini

Far removed from the technical images used in sports photography, these examples of events photography give a real sense of occasion. Power, determination and celebration represent the true nature of these most brutal events.