Photographer research

INDEX

Photographer’s Name
Place of Birth
Date of Birth
Medium(s) used [pinhole, digital, mixed media, etc.]
Favorite subject matter
How did this artist get into photography? What led them to photography?
How did this artist get interested in their chosen subject matter?
What technique(s) did this artist use to give their photos a distinct look?
What are their best-known photographs (and, if you can find it, why)?
What impact do you think these photographs had on society in general? Why?
What impact do you think these photographs had on the world of photography? Why?
Chose 4 photos that best illustrate the photographer’s work. Provide the title and date created for each.
In your own words, why did you choose this photographer?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Photographer’s Name.

The photographer that I choose is called Sebastião Salgado.

Place of Birth.

He was born in Aimorés, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brasil.

Date of Birth.

Salgado was born on February 8, 1944.

Medium(s) used [pinhole, digital, mixed media, etc.]

He always uses a Canon digital camera.

Favorite subject matter.

It is fascinating how Sebastião Salgado’s work is deeply political, social, and economic in nature. It has always something to teach and to show to the society.

For example, in his project “Workers”, he traveled around the world photographing the different horrible working conditions of workpeople. For “Genesis”, another project, he tried to inspired the people to preserve the planet by capturing the beauty of nature. He says that your photograph should show your ideology.

Furthermore, Sebastião Salgado doesn’t really believe in “style” in photography. He thinks that a photographers “style” is essentially what is inside them.

How did this artist get into photography? What led them to photography?

In an interview, he said he discovered photography completely by chance when he was 29. His wife is an architect; when they were young and living in Paris, she bought a camera to take pictures of buildings.

He said, “For the first time, I looked through a lens, photography immediately started to invade my life.” He finished his PhD in economics, and become an economist, but the camera gave him 10 times more pleasure. Eventually, He abandoned everything and started a new life as a photographer.

How did this artist get interested in their chosen subject matter?

He thinks that the picture is not being taken by an object, a passive camera, though. It’s by the human being holding the camera. And this may be what makes Salgado so special.

He somehow gets everything into a picture, the political idealism, the connection with nature and the past that comes from his forest childhood. Somehow puts his soul into the image.

What technique(s) did this artist use to give their photos a distinct look?

He shoots with the closed aperture because he says that is how we humans see things as well. All focused. The eye does not blur, it sees everything focused.

The technology of modern cameras made it even easier. Using Canon 1DX he can shoot with a super high ISO and always keep my aperture small.

To get great shots, he says, you “need a lot of time”. You have to put yourself where things are going to happen. “You know where you’ll go, but you don’t know what you will bring back.” When the subject suddenly appears, you have to be ready and fast. “Photography is one 250th of a second,” says Salgado. And so much can go wrong. “There are a lot of variables. There must be light. There must be power. There must be personality if it’s a portrait.”

“I work with very fast film. I always close my diaphragm to give a huge depth of field. Volumes for me are very important.” The result, the expansive but immensely detailed reach of his pictures.

What are their best-known photographs?

Brooks Range, Alaska, 2009-1

Kuwait, Removing a well head, 2007

Dinka Cattle Camp 2006

130632894487

What impact do you think these photographs had on society in general? Why?

With political discourse in the United States mired in bitter discord over how to deal with millions of illegal immigrants and Europe inundated with those fleeing the houses of the Middle East, Salgado’s photographs have never been more relevant. They remind us not only of how little has changed over the years with these cyclical crises but also of what the consequences may be, should we fail in our responses to them.

What impact do you think these photographs had on the world of photography? Why?

I think that Salgado teaches something with every work he does. Like to put all your ideology in your photos, your photography is deeply influenced by your personal history, the subjects you studied in school, your family, relationships, and the way you see the world.

Another lesson is that if you want to be a good photographer, you must go outside. “You can sit in your house and be a great writer. But with photography, the story is outside the door. You have to go and you have to go far.”

The last advice is that have a relationship with your subjects, know their history. He thinks every photograph you take is a self-portrait of yourself. You end up photographing others how you would like to be photographed.

Chose 4 photos that best illustrate the photographer’s work. Provide the title and date created for each.

uhg

larger-9

larger-1

In your own words, why did you choose this photographer?

The last summer holidays, I was with my parents and my sister in Vilagarcía de Arousa, a small town near the sea in Galicia (Spain). We went for a walk and in the middle of the street we saw a photography exhibition, and by chance, all the exhibition was about the amazing Salgado’s pictures. My parents already knew about him, but for me was the first time that I saw him and I completely fell in love. He says so much in just one photo, and the subjects that he chooses are so interesting, in my opinion.