Before conducting another shoot I decided to look into a few more artists who I could relate my work to. To further my knowledge on the concepts surrounding my work, as well as the visual strategies I could use to present these clearer, I researched photographers John Kippin, Robert Adams and Paul Seawright.
John Kippin is often described as a fine art photographer. The work he makes radiates a calming atmosphere and presents itself as something that aims to invoke reflection and consideration. The subjects Kippin has chosen to capture establish themselves as remnants of the past; I found this most notable within the black and white image which features a McDonalds built onto a traditional building. Kippin subtly highlights these as if he wants us to become aware of the moments we possibly miss during our everyday lives. Perhaps notifying us of this gradual transformation of our surroundings as the past becomes overwritten by the present, whilst indicating that fragments of the past will always remain. The film format he uses to create the images compliments this suggested interpretation as well.
Robert Adams, similarly to Joel Sternfeld who was the focus on my previous blog post, bases his work around the American lifestyle through production of large scale film format prints of the American landscape. These prints most commonly depict California, Colorado and Oregon, places Adams is very familiar with. With these photographs Adams hopes to capture the continuous damage being done to the American West. The project focuses on the concept of the american west rather than the geographical location; the identity of this place and how it is being changed over time. Adams states that the work is a form of acceptance for him, realising that change is inevitable; although features hints of hope that he can preserve this place through his photography.
Paul Seawright’s “Invisible Cities” looks into the largely unrecorded post-colonial cities of sub-Saharan Africa. The focus is directed towards the edges of these cities where Seawright captures these newly developed settlements, often found within deserted apartment buildings, motorway overpasses and parking lots. Seawright also integrates himself into these places, offering a view into the interior of these settlements and the lifestyle these people are forced to live. Seawright appears to maintain minimal involvement with how the shot is constructed; they feel like a direct and unbiased observation straight into the daily lives of these people. The work strongly presents itself as something aiming to raise awareness of this situation. Whilst he captures the struggles these people face, this also highlights the ingenuity and resilience of these people. We should not feel pitiful but respectful towards them as they maintain themselves within such harsh conditions.
After observing the work of these three photographers I feel as if each individual clearly molds these ideas of place and time to suit their own perception of the topic. There are similarities between the work, such as this apparent documentation of forgotten/overlooked environments. The passage of time is an important consideration within these series; the images visualise change within the landscape and unearth the history of these places. I hope to advance my own practice using the insights I have gained from these practitioners.
Each collection featured within this post was sourced from the photographer's respective websites and galleries, the link to these can be found at the end of this description.
John Kippin - https://johnkippin.com/
Robert Adams - https://fraenkelgallery.com/artists/robert-adams
Paul Seawright - https://www.paulseawright.com/
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