Looking at three photos in depth- Photo 3: Teenage relationships

Teenage relationships:

My first reaction to this work was that I liked how the natural landscape, soft light and calmness between the couple all complimented one another and produced this sense of ‘young love’. This photo was the perfect example of the teenage essence and passion that flared and inspired Tamara Lichtenstein’s work. I think what initially made me feel the serenity of this photo was the fresh, natural light that captures the woodland around them and the paleness of their skin. I think, yet again, what I liked about this photo (and not just this one in particular) is that Lichtenstein’s work is relatable to teenagers and her work can be easily connected too. A lot of it concentrates on capturing the photo in the moment, the essence and the feeling. That’s why her work is inspired by her friends I feel she waits for the photo to make itself for her to capture and reveal it’s own form. Furthermore, much of her work captures the feelings and emotions we all endure: the strength of a friendship for example or the pure undoubted thought of being in love so young. The colours being soft and the photo capturing warm streams of sunlight brought a predominant sense of peace and stillness which was the apt tone to express and portray the feeling shared. What I liked even more so though was the contrasts of woodland with the exposure of skin. Together to me they seemed to work hand in hand, both natural and not polluted with harsh colours of tops and jumpers.

Looking at three photos in depth- Photo 2: The allure of smoking

The allure of smoking:

Another aspect of the work I am looking at is the allure and sexiness of smoking which is portrayed and favoured by a range of photographers. First of all, I found a lot of these photos originated from photographers who purposefully captured very vintage style photos with teenagers who poured out this aura of youth and bliss. They revealed smoking in a way which appears attractive and sexy but ignores the harm and damage it truly does. Instead, it seems part of this ‘false, ideal utopia’ that all the models are living in. This photo below by Solveig Selj did just that. Selj herself is inspired by a simplistic variety of ‘evocative music’, ‘playful designers’ and a ‘feminine photographic style’. Although I didn’t choose a lot of her photos, there were a couple which entwined with the selection of pictures I seemed to constantly be picking out. The one below was the perfect depiction of smoking that I wanted to photograph; the kind of smoking which seemed so sexy and cool it weaved a sticky web of deception in which we all got stuck in. By choosing an attractive model slouching back in high fashion clothes, varying from furs, laces, leathers, dolly dresses and peter pan collars painted with an expression of broody yet charming sexiness which oozes ease and hides in a frame of silver smoke, any teenage girl truly couldn’t say that doesn’t look ‘cool’ and cool is what any teenager wants to be. Therefore we become the flies tangled in the web of deceit seeing only this beautiful image of smoking but not seeing the truth which wisps away from pursed lips. That in itself is exactly what I want to draw up in my photos: the allure, the addiction and the truth.

Looking at photos in depth -Photo 1: Friendship

Friendship:

As teenagers grow up their friendships expand. Usually their friends at childhood revolve around the neighbourhood or friends from primary. But teenagers are more selective about the friendships they make. They make friends depending on interests, status, values and personality. As children, emotional needs and support come from their parents, however as a teenager unfolds they look towards peers for support. Teenage friendships are more complicated. Friendships mix into different genders, features on choosing friends become more complicated and hormones bring upon arguments, differences and the saying of being ‘two-faced’ or ‘backstabbing’. We need to work harder on our friendships, however when we do, the friendship and feeling we have for our friends is ten times more intense and we’re often inseparable from one another in high school, whereas in the transition from primary to high school, we often drift apart. That’s what I think is portrayed in this photo below by Tamara Lichtenstein. Between the image of comfort, relaxation and teenage spirit it portrays how unbreakable our friendships can be. Tamara said her inspiration came from the beauty of her friends and the splendour of femininity, teenage essence and youth. Much of her work explores a summer haze and daydream sound tracked by summer tunes and acoustic chords; though a lot of her photos seem to stand aloof to reality. What drew me into this photo initially was the beach. The question of why did Lichtenstein choose to shoot it on the beach is not an optional one as she takes a lot of her photos in the ‘moment’ which is what I do. I prefer for the photo to reveal itself to me though sometimes I have such vivid ideas I have to try them. By capturing it in the moment when the photo appears in front of you, I believe you catch the true sense of feeling and the instant itself. By using this theme of youth and this technique of capturing the ‘moment’, I think Tamara Lichtenstein’s work is easily relatable and reminds us all of a moment and time we’ve all had with our friends. That’s what I believe makes her a popular artist. Then, there’s the warmth of the sunset contrasted on sandy beaches which gives the photo comfort and portrays a sense of security that comes hand in hand with a close friendship.

What to concentrate on throughout my work

As well as studying a variety of artists and creating my own photography through my inspiration from them I would like to branch out into studying the artists work in depth, perhaps looking at it in colour, then black and white, perhaps study it with composition lines and then answer a few questions to analyse the photographs or even paintings. Furthermore, this year I need to concentrate on using a fluid vocabulary of mature language and develop a clear understanding for it throughout my work to show the examiner that I have a perceptive understanding for the correct technical terms and language of photography.

Where to take all this into my own photography.

I needed to pull together what all the photos in my photography were beginning to portray and how I could put a deeper aspect behind that for my photography AS2 work. Firstly, all my work idolised and orbited around ideas of freedom, nirvana, eutopia and teenage fantasy. So I would start my work off by looking at this, photographing it and trying to capture the same spirit of that captured by the artists I've studied. However, I will then go onto showing how this image isn't the truth. The theme I have then chosen is 'False eutopia'. Smoking isn't glamarous like it is in the photos, I could show a glamarous lady smoking on one side of the mirror and the truth is her reflection. Her reflection may be for example, an aged cancer patient. The freedom explored by teenagers can never truly be as easy as its depicted. There's recession and money issues. The cost of petrol to travel for example. I feel this idea will expand with more depth as I work my way into it.

Sofia Ajram, art and history

Sofia Ajram said herself art and history inspires her work, the art in the style of photo itself and the historic books and skull intwine both of these. However, what I liked about this photo was that it reminded me of a quote by Twyla Tharp saying, "Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

Sofia Ajram, Winter nostalgia

When I first saw this photo, I wasn't sure if the model was truly in her surroundings or standing infront of a projected image. However, this uncertainty none the less worked for Sofia Ajram's intentions. She intended for much of her work to be surreal and dream like. The unsteadiness in the fact I couldn't see the difference between truth or reproduction gave it that dreamyness. The mist surrounding the forest also gave it a mystery and mist in dreams represents uncertainty, reminiscence and being lost in the unknown. Despite the dream likeness of the photo, the steep of her hair covering her face is slightly haunting and dark, the woods are similar to this as they are a well used symbol in films for horror and hauntings.