portraits and typologies

10Nov08

Portraits and typologies have been common themes in past final projects.

Lise Sarfati/Magnum Photos from Fashion Magazine Austin, Texas

Lise Sarfati, a photographer with Magnum Photos recently completed an issue of Magnum Fashion Magazine, by photographing in Austin. She had photographed there before for her book La Vie Nouvelle. The portraits are all done with natural light and in a rather straightforward way. The pictures go beyond the typical portrait or fashion picture.

Catherine Opie Nick 2003 © Courtesy Stephen Friedman Gallery, London
C-print 78.8 x 62 cm

Catherine Opie is another photographer who uses the direct gaze when making portraits. This is from her Surfers series. She has also photographer high school football players.

‘Dusty’ photograph by Catherine Opie, 2007

Collier Schorr uses direct flash, but the gaze is very similar.

Collier Schorr The Brothers (A.M & M.) 2003 © the artist, courtesy Modern Art, London
Photograph 119.4 x 94 cm

Here is an article where Opie and Schorr’s work is discussed.

In terms of typologies, the web magazine Fraction has devoted it’s new issue to the topic.

Alec Soth, who is also a member of Magnum Photos, recently completed a project where he photographed 33 movie theaters.

Alec Soth Texas Theater Palestine, Texas, 2006

In addition to all of this work, the website pause to begin has interviews with several photographers that are woth listening to. The best part of the interviews is hearing how they frame their work within the medium. Their blog has links to interviews. This one with Shawn Records is a good place to start.

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Tags: Blog, Final Project, Interviews, Portrait, Typology