Reflection
Lee Friedlander
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Lee Friedlander was an American artist, as well as photographer. Friedlanders work consists of various reflections, from mirrors, glass, windows etc. In looking at a range of his images, it is evident that he mainly uses reflections from shop front windows. This becomes interesting, as there is a correlation throughout his images of figures - and there are often people, or mannequins on the other side of the shop front windows.
Friedlander has clearly thought through the composition of each of his images, apparently looking at the elements colour, line and, seemingly, composition. All images of his that I looked out were in black and white, with I thought really coincided with the images themselves. I feel Friedlander totally alters peoples perception of everyday scenery. He can take a glamorous window display and disfigure it to become rather dull. An example of this shift of perception is the image of a church sign. You can see the inner body of the car, as well as the church sign, and cars and trees in the background. Looking closer, you notice Friedlanders reflection in the wing-mirror of the car. Instead of judging the church sign from your viewpoint, and instead take on his mindset and look at the scenery in a whole new way, as if 'reflecting' upon your entail judgements. |
Lisette Model
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Lisette Model was born in Australia, but classed as an American photographer. She devised a series of images created around, and based on, the subject of 'reflections'. She made a collection of images promoting shop windows, based in 5th avenue in New York. Included in this collection of images, was many features in the city demonstrating the diversity between the shop fronts and the inner-city lifestyles - this was strongly highlighted in her work. Her images almost appear to be a collage of images from different eras, or at least different cities. This in itself really shows the efficiency of the composition of her images.
Throughout her images, there is a correlation of dolls/ elegant figures. This corresponds with the correlation of figures in Friedlanders work. Composition is a key aspect of her work, and this blends with the black and white images, making them even more simplistically contrasting. The seems to be a common contrast of women behind the window front, in contrast to men, free on the outside of the shop. This could be portraying a deeper message of how women are objectified, and expected to be aesthetically pleasing, rather than being expected to fulfil a practical purpose - as men are. |