Week 7

        

Elspeth Diederix: "computer"

Blogpost written by: Hannah Zimmerman

           For my week 7 blog post I am writing about a photograph titled “computer” taken by Elspeth Diederix.

Many of the photographs taken by Elspeth inspire my own work, which is why I choose to write about her work frequently. One of the elements that I admire about Eslpeth’s photography is the diversity found within it. She takes photos of many different things and people, all with a cohesive style, but each photograph narrates a different concept than the last.

I decided to write about this photograph because it read a similar to my photo of the week from week 6. It is a computer desk in what seems to be an office. It is only lit from the computer screen and some indirect dim lighting coming from the top of the photo. The desk is covered “things” that could be owned by whomevers computer it is in the picture. It is cluttered with a number of things, from a calculator, knickknacks, papers, markers etc. It could be described as a very messy computer desk. What is almost humorous about the picture is all the silly string sprayed on the desk and up onto the wall behind it. I really like this element because it feels like Elspeth is commenting on the messiness of this space and enhancing it with silly string. It feels like a “why not?” moment, to just spray silly string all over it because it is already covered in crap.

I think what I find interesting about it, is that I think of the owner of the desk having been the one to spray silly string all over the space. Then the photographer came across this computer desk and snapped a photograph of it. Also, this picture feels different than some of the other photographs of Elspeth’s that I have written about because of its more light-hearted and fun tone. She is still continuing her style of sometimes staging things and making small changes to cause the viewer to think about different concepts and possibilities. However, this picture just seems to be commenting on the idea of just making something that is already messy, more cluttered. I think the viewer could come up with ideas about spraying silly string over technology because they get tired of it. However, I do not read that from this photograph.

I usually struggle with taking photographs with more light-hearted content and with my art in general. This photograph still feels like the photographer is staying true to their style and metaphorical content, but was able to do it with a little more humor. This is something that I would like to achieve at some point within my own photographs, while still staying true to my work.

Elspeth’s photograph “computer” can be viewed here : http://www.elspethdiederix.com/

My photograph of the week: 

Week 6

     Week 6: "katja" by Elspeth Diederix

Blog post by Hannah Zimmerman

     For my blog for week 6 I wanted to write about another photograph by Elspeth Diederix. It is titled “katja.” This photograph stuck out to me not because of technique but the way the photographer captured her image. Many pictures by Elspeth that inspire me are usually related to the subject matter of objects and how she is able to create a narrative in the way it is set up or how she arranges things. However, this photograph is of a woman in black sitting in what appears to be a diner booth. She is staring down at a small cup of coffee on a saucer. The odd thing about this photo is the woman is putting the tips of her fingers into the coffee. There are blurred out people in the background behind the woman, eating or waiters waiting on people. The lighting appears fairly bright as if it was just a table lamp hanging above the subject.

            I find this picture interesting because it feels like the photographer was casually sitting across from a friend or someone she knows, putting their hand in their coffee and snapping a picture of it. It appears as if she just captured a “normal” moment occurring across from her.

            This type of photograph feels like that of the reportage movement, or the art of storytelling movement. It often captures a moment in a narrative fashion in an unobtrusive way. These photographers often observe lighting and plan shots of a picture ahead of time. This photograph reminds me of the movement because the way in which Elspeth took the photo. It feels like a bystander photo or as if she was just capturing something she was quietly observing.

            Elspeth was still capable of creating confusion within the viewer of why this forlorn woman is putting her hand in coffee, which is usually hot. She doesn’t seem to be reacting to the temperature, which makes me think that she may possibly want the pain of a hot beverage. Perhaps the woman in the photograph doesn’t feel certain things because of something that happened or is part of her life. I am not sure of what this woman’s personal story may be, but because of how this photo is taken, forming a possible narrative is very easy. It definitely creates inspiration for my ongoing project of reportage.

Seeing this gave me confidence that I can also try out this type of photography. With a little bit of planning and knowledge of where I am photographing, I too can create an interesting narrative, using the technique or “way” of reportage photography. It also makes me think about different situations or places I would be interested in for taking my photographs. I also feel like I can take a picture of an “odd” moment if I am patient or set up my photograph in the correct way.

Elspeth Diederix's photograph "katja" can be viewed here: 

http://www.elspethdiederix.com/ 

My photograph of the week: 

Week 5

Week 5: "ljsje"by Elspeth Diederix 

Post Written By: Hannah Zimmerman 

     My blog for week 5 is about a photograph called “ljsje” , which is the Danish word for ice cream. This photograph was taken by my mentor Elspeth Diederix. As the title hints, this picture is of what appears to be a red ice cream fruit bar, melting out into foam and then a liquid puddle on concrete. The ice cream bar is in center frame of the photograph with the pinkish colored puddle spreading around it. It’s a classic popsicle with a wooden stick and indents in the body of the bar.

     This photograph could easily be taken for a study of the action of a frozen treat melting outdoors and giving off the nostalgia of summer and warm weather. However, with my most current class assignment of the use of metaphor within photography, I can’t help but apply it to this photograph.

     I think that the beauty of successful photography lies in the photographer’s ability to allow the viewer to create their own meaning and narrative. I especially believe that in regards to pairing something with something unexpected creates a strong since of metaphor. However, after observing photographers over time, and those who embrace metaphor, some have the ability to use subtle metaphor in their photographs. The use of subtle metaphor seems more challenging to me than more obvious mis-pairings of “things” because it takes more thought and takes the chance of the viewer not being able to identify it.

     So, the detail of this photograph that jumped out to me as subtle was the simple detail of there not being one bite taken out of the popsicle. While I know that sometimes people just accidentally drop a popsicle, I think there is a meaning in just that. Who or why did someone drop this treat? Did they see something or hear something distracting? Did someone bump into them? Did they receive a phone call about something shocking? Was it a child? Was it an adult? Is this uneaten and fallen popsicle a sign for something entirely different in life? Is about the things we want but cannot hold onto? Is it about dreams or desires that we have as children that pass us by into adulthood that we no longer reach for? Is it the memories we leave untouched and let fall away as children? Is about things we think we want but then once we have them we decide we don’t like how it tastes?

     I could go on to list the questions that go through my head when looking at this photograph, but the fact that it causes this reaction is the reason I chose to write about it as my chosen photograph of the week.

     Additionally, I want to use this idea of subtle metaphor within my own photographs or at least reach over time with practice. 

View photograph, "ljsje" by Elspeth Diederix here: 

 http://www.stigtervandoesburg.com/artists/elspeth-diederix# 

My photograph of the week:

Week 4

Elspeth Diederix: "Hand"

Blog by Hannah Zimmerman

     For my fourth blog post I chose another photograph by Elspeth Diederix. When thinking about what photograph of hers that I wanted to choose, I allowed the current class assignment to impact my decision. For the next two weeks we are supposed to take photographs reflecting the photography movement of the “metaphor.” This type of photography reflects the main definition of the word metaphor. It uses imagery with objects, places, people, actions etc that are paired together to create a meaning or a narrative that isn’t normally seen together. It requires a deeper thinking process instead of just focusing on technique or creating a certain effect, there is more of a storytelling element to this type of photography.

     I chose a photograph of hers that exemplified these elements of a metaphor because it is helpful to me and creates a place of inspiration for me to take my own photographs. I also draw inspiration from how she uses objects and things within her body of work but I have talked about that before within my past blog posts.

     The photograph of hers that I have chosen to write about this week is titled “Hand”. This is a picture of a hand in shadowed outdoor lighting with five dandelion seeds, each resting on the top of each finger of what appears to be a male hand. There is also a direct ray of light that touches the very top of the dandelion seeds and fingertips, which helps to draw the eye right to these areas.  The center frame composition also keeps the focus on this imagery without over complicating the information in the photo.

     To me, this photograph reads as metaphorical because normally when people pick up dandelions they are blowing the seeds away into the wind or releasing them. It isn’t naturally possible to balance a dandelion seed on each finder without them blowing away. In regards to the possible meaning of this image, blowing dandelions away into the wind is normally associated with having fun, making wishes or releasing things away into the world. However, in this image the dandelion seeds are unnaturally stagnant on each fingertip. This photo doesn’t read as negative to me because of how the light is touching the fingers. Instead it feels more neutral in tone to me. It could possibly be about the beauty in the stillness of a moment, when viewing this situation that can’t actually occur in real life. However, it feels like a commentary on how we as humans don’t pause enough on these moments in life and we loose them because they are so temporary. It feels like the photographer is almost asking the viewer to stop and think when viewing this image.

     Because Elspeth is able to do this in a single photograph, it is one of my favorite pieces. It generates a lot of inspiration when moving forward into thinking about my current assignment with metaphor.

Her photograph can be viewed here:

http://time.com/3781659/still-life-when-the-familiar-becomes-abstract/

My photo of the week: