Narrative & Photography

There are many ways to tell a story or recall an event. The greatest aspect of photography for me however, is its ability to convey these stories to those who are witnessing them. It is interesting to think about the way humanity has previously shared stories, around campfires, by reading a book, or over a meal. This time for sharing has been taken over by the technology age, where instead of gathering together, we video chat or network with each other instead. Photography is a big part in this technology age. It is one of the strongest ways of obtaining audience attention and then getting the apparent message out there for the world to see.

The artists I found intriguing in the Chapter by Cotton, was Sarah Dobai and Wendy McMurdo. Both of these ladies create such surreal photographs, pushing the boundaries of what I know to be a photograph, and something that has been edited beyond belief.

Sarah Dobai "Red Room"

Dobai's work is very similar to McMurdos. They both use locations where there is no room for personal effects, they seem to almost want you to avoid getting to know the person being photographed, and focus on the story being told. The images force you to become the character and imagine what you would be feeling in the situation at hand. "Red Room" for me personally, is almost uncomfortable, the way they are lying is awkward and it appears that the girl is doing her best to please him. The insane red walls suggest passion at first, but at the same time I would feel endangered, pressured by society to go for it, rather then plan ahead.

Wendy McMurdo "Backstage..." 1996

This image above by McMurdo places you in the shoes of one of these young girls. Is it all an act? Are they really twins? An imaginary twin perhaps? She seems almost puzzled by the idea. This image similar to Dobai's takes away that feeling of she is a singular being, and rather suggests that she could be any troubled or curious kid. McMurdo has a similar style to Sally Mann, utilising her children as a way to make a statement or tell a story. They are useful as subject matter in art and photography as a tool to represent parts of the human condition. They are simple beings.

Wendy McMurdo

This image is another image by McMurdo I came across in my search. It is of a young girl being confronted by big scary bears, but yet hardly seeming fazed by it all. This image is once again stripped of its personality. She is curious and careful. The bears however could simply represent scary bears, however for me they are a metaphor of society and the trouble you can run into once you reach adulthood. The girl is representative of how we sometimes turn a blind eye, and stop watching where we are headed, but she also has the ability to look through the glass if she wants.

Sarah Dobai "Emily"

"Emily" carries out the same style as "Red Room". It it simple crafted, basic lighting structure and an uninteresting setting. She is almost consumed by the boring grey walls. You want to get to know her though, the human reaction is to reach out and help her, but at the same time it feels as though you can not, or you should not.

image references:

http://thomaslcummins.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/mcmurdobear.jpg

http://www.artsway.org.uk/images/sized/assets/uploads/events/photos/Sarah_Dobai_-_Emily-434x0.jpg