This page is going to be dedicated to continuous research into different photographers that I can take inspiration from.
William Eggleston
Andreas Gursky
Jill Greenberg
William Eggleston
William Eggleston is an American photographer who is credited for the increased recognition of colour photography. Some of his notable works are The Red Ceiling and Untitled, Memphis, 1970. He’s won several awards over his time, such as the Photographer’s fellowship in 1975, and he has had several publishing as well.
Eggleston’s photography is interesting for me because while many of his works seem to have little story behind them, they appear captivating. The use of colour really does draw the eye and makes it hard to look away. However the normality of the subject also seems to be a trademark of Eggleston’s. Futhermore he then has some works that look like stills out films, that I can just imagine being single frames in films. Some examples below. While being a still image they almost begin to tell a story themselves.
Finally I found looking into Eggleston’s history quite interesting too. To think one of the prime reasons he began taking interest in photography is simply due to a friend giving him a ‘Leica’ Camera, I find rather fascinating. I also find it quite endearing how he has continued to create new works for several decades now, even having an exhibition this year, despite being 78.
Andreas Gursky
Andreas Gursky is a German Photographer who is well known for his large form architecture and landscape colour photographs. One of his most famous piece of work is 99 cent, which I have attached below. All it takes it to see a few images from Andreas Gursky to make you know and also be able to recognise his style.
There is something that draws you into Gursky’s work. The colours immediately catch the eye but you can continue to look at the photo for a longer while, as it’s just pleasant to look at. The way he’s able to make something as mundane as the 99 cent aisle at some supermarket so visually pleasing is fascinating to me. One of his most famous works, Rhein II, is so simple, yet it is just framed perfectly, and it just looks great.
While it still completely blows my mind that Rhein II sold for £4.3 million, I can really appreciate his works. I think that out of all the photographers that I’ve looked at and researched, paired with the ones that I have been show in lectures and seminars, Gursky’s works are easily some of my favourites. I really do think it comes down to the use of, and abundance of, colour. It’s just very aesthetically pleasing.
Jill Greenberg
Jill Greenberg is an American Photographer who is best known for her portraiture photography. Without realising it, I’m actually familiar with one of Greenberg’s most famous works, End Times. The controversial project involved portraits of toddlers who had their candy taken away for thirty seconds. Some parents believed this photography project to be quite cruel in nature, which I think is an absurd view, and I personally think it’s actually very interesting.
I think it’s interesting because it just shows the mentality of toddlers. Their childlike and dramatic nature. It’s also quite simple in nature, which is something I quite appreciate in photography. However Greenberg is known for more than just End Times. She’s also done some quite impressive animal portraits. There’s just something about animals portraits, while very simple and quite silly, I find quite entertaining.
She’s also done quite a lot of film poster work. Some I recognise and some I don’t, but it’s fascinating how she seems just to do a little bit of everything. She also does Instagram, Art and film. I found her website very interesting to look through. Looking at her works, they are quite recognisable and in her style, and I wonder if I’ll be likely to recognise her works now.
