I went to the Getty Museum today to view the Engaged Observers exhibition - a show of documentary photography since 1960. A lot of the work was familiar to me... actually it all was. That didn't make seeing it any less enjoyable.
Some of the images from Laurie Greenfield's work entitled "Girl Culture" was on display. In the past I have always viewed this work as trivial next to Griffiths' work of Vietnam or Nachtwey's images of Iraq. But today, for some reason it stuck a cord. Since I started this blog I have been dancing around my own girls as a documentary subject. When completely stumped at night I can easily fall back on the gaze and pose they project back at my camera. We often collaborate. In the last 222 days I have often felt this a cop out - a mother taking snap shots instead of an artist creating significant images... but today something changed to me. There are so many photographers that have made outstanding images by recording what is near to them - near in proximity and genetic make-up. Why fight it?
Good post Windo. I have always thought that an artists best works are the ones that come from their hearts. The work that is near and dear to you (ie: Katie and Abbey)are the best ones to share and those will be the works that stand out and make a statement. Rather than just making a quickly forgotten impression. So, I would have to agree, why fight it? If you photograph what you love it will show in your work.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh...and they are so precious and beautiful. You seem to often capture the right combo of beauty, mischief, innocence, sisterhood, and even pain. Pretty awesome stuff. xox
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