Having done an emulation on August Sander in an earlier module I thought he was quite relevant for this project. Sander created portraits that documented his local community in Germany. The series that has most relevance is "People of the 20th Century" where he documented a portfolio of occupations. The collection is split into 7 categories: the farmer, the skilled tradesmen, classes and professions, the artists, the city and the last people.
He would cycle down country lanes with his camera looking for subjects "that would create his masterpiece".
Physically the compositions of the many of his photographs are cohesive, he has the subjects facing the camera in the centre of his capture and takes them in black and white.
The photographs give the viewer an insight into the subjects lives and each time we look at an image of Sanders we gain a brand new observation. The peoples clothes give us this intriguing insight into factors such as wealth and status in society.
Relevance to our Vox Pop Project on Self Image
I have looked into August Sander becuase of the relevance both physically and theoretically. His subjects look straight into the camera lens like we have directed our subjects to do. Also self image is key in both Sanders and our work. In our project we try to portray our subjects personality and interests through capturing what they draw, how they are dressed, and through photographing them in their shops/ businesses on backgrounds which give an overall insight into the photo location. Similarly self image is as significant in Sanders images as it is ours if not more. Sander seems to capture a community at a particularly hard time in their society, the postures of the people he photographs seem quite confrontal as if saying "no one will change who we are". Their clothes capture their professions and status.
Rebecca
No comments:
Post a Comment