Assignment 4: Social Document

Image 1: Containers in a Kitchen

For this image I filled the frame with my subjects. I also got the camera very close to get unique perspectives of objects from around a kitchen that you might not notice before.

I wanted to show different objects that do not show a kitchen but still present the idea and feeling of a kitchen. I used close-up images of familiar kitchen objects, but did not give the viewer enough context to understand the space these objects occupied as a kitchen.

I was inspired by David Hockney's work and the other artist that Sarah showed in class (the book one that she could not find a website for), so I already had this idea in my head when I started photographing. I picked out which important objects I would photograph from my kitchen, and then experimented with what ones worked. I also experimented with using a collage-type image.

My goal for this image was to try to do a "collage" of sorts, it is a type of photograph I have not yet attempted. I really liked the way that these types of images looked by the professional artists.

Like I mentioned before, I was really inspired by these two other artists. I think my image offers something a little different because both of these artists use collage techniques to show more context (by creating a space), which I have not done. It is definitely an image that is anthropological, it is showing what a kitchen is in my culture.

Image 2: Hannah

This image is a snapshot. The image was carefully framed with the subject in the foreground and most of the background eliminated. I thought that the background might draw too much attention if most of it was shown.

The image is about the subject, Hannah. I told her, I was going to take a picture of her, and that is how she posed. I believe the image shows a lot about her personality and also a lot about the environment that she lives in, because you can see in the background her bedroom.

It was a snapshot, so I did not do much in terms of method, I just told the subject that I would take a picture of her. I used overhead lighting.

My intention for taking this picture (and the others related) was just to show my friends and how they behave in their "natural habitat".

This image relates to Martin Parr's work, because he also takes images of people just doing what people do. My perspective for this image is slightly different because I have a friendship with the subject, and tried to capture the essence of her in a slightly more deliberate way than just taking shots of strangers.

Image 3 & 4: Facebook Profiling 1 & 2

Both of these compositions include two different perspectives of a subject. Each composition includes an image where the subject fills the frame and also an image where the subject is only a small part of the frame.

Both of these compositions are exploring the absurdness of the idea that you can really know and be friends with someone through social networking, and more specifically that you can really know who someone is by their profile picture. For these compositions I took pictures of the subject in very typical profile picture poses, and then zoomed out to give this pose more context.

For these compositions I used the new lighting technique to bounce light to both sides of my subject. I also added text to the image for the first time.

My goal for this image was to be a little funny, but to also make a statement about social networking.

I'm not sure how my photos compare to other artists. These photos definitely make a social statement, and maybe even an anthropological one as well.