Morimura Yasumasa

Self-Portrait/After Audrey Hepburn 1

1996

Gelatin Silver Print

 

This photograph is by a Japanese artist named Morimura Yasumasa. Instead of creating his own styles and or subjects, he takes previously done art and puts his face into them. Examples are the Mona Lisa and Olympia. This photograph above is part of a series of photgraphs Yasumasa put together as self-portraits of himself, dressed up as legandary silver screen goddesses. This is obviously a depiction of Audrey Hepburn. Yasumasa explored these women in an unusual way. Everyone knows that these women are loved by others and are famous in their own way. What Yasumasa did was to see if these women could be just as sexy and flirtatious if they were men, and Japanese. By becoming these women, he became them, but also attempted to make them more exotic.

I find this series very interesting. One because of the idea behind it, but two, how much he looks like  these actresses. I had to look twice at some of these because I thought they were the real actors. His ability to dress just like these famous women, and the flirtatious attitude he gives off is spot on. I do believe he makes these women just as flirtatious and sexual as they were before because of his posture and his attention to detail. Audrey Hepburn's hair is spot on along with her makeup. Despite Japanese men usually being pretty skinny, Morimura is very feminine looking and can portray a great seductive look. It is his ability to dress the part, but also be the part in looks, and attitude that Morimura is very successful in his goal to explore famous women and portray them in a new yet similar way as before. 

Dog Documentary Part 2-Jordan Sjostrand 

This is the second part of my "Shoot a Documentary" project. I was asked to shoot the other side of part 1 so I decided to shoot what volunteers do for the dogs in the shelters. Being a volunteer, I know what we are capable of doing and it is the volunteers that walk these dogs everyday, take them to showings, and hold adoption events every Sunday. The first picture is of a dog being walked by a volunteer and just so happy to be outside of his cage. The next four pictures are from an adoption event. All the people in the photographs are volunteers. An adoption day entails driving the dogs to the event, putting "Adopt Me" harnesses on them, walking them around for everyone to see, playing with them, and just allowing them to be relaxed in order for their true colors to be shown so they have a chance at being adopted. These volunteers were at this event for 5 hours. The greatest part about these volunteers is that they are always happy and just so excited when the dogs get looked at and adopted. The dogs are just as happy even if it is to be away from the shelter for at least a day. The city tags picture represents the idea that volunteers are the ones who promote these dogs and in return, they are adopted to good homes and are given tags to ensure their safety. Although it is not a name tag, it does represent the same idea and is every dogs dream to receive one because then they are owned by someone. I printed these in color because that is what volunteers do. They bring color to the lives of these dogs. 

Dog Documentary-Jordan Sjostrand 

This is the first part of my "Shoot a Documentary" project. For this assignment I chose to take pictures of the animal shelters in which I volunteer at. Instead of just taking pictures of dogs and how sad they are, I chose to show the funds or lack of funds the city gets for the shelters and the conditions these dogs have to deal with. The lonely dog picture is meant to represent the longing for attention these dogs need because city workers do not have the time to play with them or interact with them outside of their cages. The second picture is of the building with at least 100 dogs in it. As you can tell, the hallway is empty which is normal for shelters unfortunately. Also, it is clean, but not the most inviting place to be. The third picture represents the crowding animal shelters have now forcing dogs to share a cage together. These dogs not only have to live in small cages, but they have to share them with another dog. The fourth picture is of a collar on a dog and the name tag is missing. This represents the idea that dogs in the shelters have no owners. They are owned by the city, but what does that really mean? They don't have a family to fill out a name tag with. The van is the vehicle in which dogs are brought in to the shelter on a daily basis. It is far from inviting and cramped as well. And finally, the last picture is a picture of the dog's playground. This small area, that looks like a cage itself, is an area prospective adopters can take them but they are rarely taken here. These pictures are in no way meant to criticize city workers or shelters, but is supposed to depict the lack of funds the city gets for the shelters and the lack of comfort dogs receive when they live in the shelter.

Artist : Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin is a very unique photographer who captures very intense moments. I chose to talk about one of her photographs because to be honest, her photographs make me uncomfortable. Nan Goldin is known for focusing on gay and transsexual communities and photographing them as they proceed with their daily lives. However, Goldin also shoots couples in intense, sexual moments, but also one member of a couple who has suffered abuse from the other. This photograph is a young man who has obviously suffered intense physical abuse throughout his rib cage area. Although I could not find the title to this piece or when it was shot, I find it to be a very strong photograph that reaches out to the viewer.

The young man in this photograph seems to be showing his bruises off quite openly to whoever wants to see. However, the jacket he is wearing, and the fact that he has his hood on suggests that before this photo was taken, he was covered up completely, trying to hide his pain. The physical abuse looks recent as his nipple looks to be bleeding. The bruises are red and have not turned a complete purple or green which signify a sign of healing. Instead, red and pink dominate his ribs. His facial expression suggests that he has a secret, but will not tell it openly. As many abuse victims do, he seems to want to hide this and wait it out to see if it gets better. Also, his pose represents a strong person with the way his back is curved and the gaze he is giving. It is possible that this young man is trying to say that he is capable of dealing with this situation. Nan Goldin captures these sad, intense moments that most people who have not been subjected to such abuse would never see. These are the hidden stories and the people who are unfortunately subjected to abuse that happen all the time.

Photo a Day Project for the month of September 

 

From the Book Inferno

Famine in Sudan

James Nachtwey

1993

 

James Nachtwey began his career as a newspaper photographer in New Mexico. He later moved to New York where he became a free lance magazine photographer. Nachtwey is known for his photographs which document wars, conflicts, and critical issues. This image in particular is in the book titled Inferno and is a shot from the famine documented in Sudan during the 90's. This man is obviously beyond the state of being hungry. He is starved and is dying. His arms seem abnormally long due to their thinness. Bones are seen clearly almost as if skin does not exist on this man. It is a very hard image to look at, but I chose it because sometimes documentaries are hard, but they are stories people should be subjected to.

 

This photograph is well shot for the circumstances Nachtwey was in. Being subjected to such an intense scene is a hard thing to get over, let alone take a picture of. Most people do not want to make a memory of something so sad, but Nachtwey is fearless in his work. He is not afraid to capture the devastation at its prime time. This photograph captures the sadness immensely by being in black and white. The gray tones in the photograph capture the "gray" mood of a sad, dirty, disturbing situation. The expression on the man's face is devastating. He looks scared as someone hands him a piece of paper. He seems hesitant to take it, and with good reason because a piece of paper in no way could save this man, at least not immediately. The ground this man is lying on sums up the environment he has been exposed to for a long time now. Empty, colorless, and hopless. This is a devastating picture not only for the content, but for the story behind it as well. 

Through the Looking Glass - Jordan Sjostrand