The Epic Culmination Post of My Feelings About This Blog

For my last post, I decided to write my feelings about the blog. The blog was a hassle to do, but a much worth hassle. Blogging about my progress and my projects was uninteresting, and the fact that the only other persons blog i had was biancas to look at, watching other peoples progress and their influences did not go over to well. However, the blog influenced how I thought and percieved photography.
At first I blogged about the few photographers i knew, or had seen in a magazine etc. Once that ran dry I had to actively look for photographers to blog about. In doing that, I was able to see the extreme variety of works being done. It showed me how my traditional thought of photography was limiting my ability to even think in the most creative way. That is why I blogged about all the artists who were doing stuff that just amazed me. This blog forced me to look outside of what I know and absorb all types of influences that I would have never found on my own. To be able to see some of the things that are possible when it comes to photography really pushes what I try to think of. All the artists I found and looked at made me more interested in photography and expanded my mind on what photography really encompasses. This blog was a chore well worth doing.

Matt Hoyle

Matt Hoyle is an interesting artist. After browsing his different series, one caught my eye, Barnumville. In this series, Hoyle did several portraits of contemporary side show performers. Some more performers than others, He has images of surly looking clowns, sword swallowers, gentle giants, the ghost girl depicted to the left, midgets, strongmen, and knife throwers.

Whats interesting about these portraits is that they are simple headshots against a neutral background. With only the figure to focus on, their individuality and uniqueness comes through. The portrait also puts more emphasis on who they are, not what they are. You cant tell that the fat lady is giagantic from her portrait, and you can bearly tell that the siamese girls are conjoined. You do see their expression, or lack thereof, and see the person more for who they are.

The ghost girl pictured is eeriely beautiful, with giant saucer eyes and a small pursed mouth, staring at the viewer. The same goes for the siamese twins. You see their beautiful faces, with scattered freckles about, and as you examine the image, you see that there is no seperation between their shoulders.

I like Hoyle's images because he took what people might have false preconceptions of, sideshow performers, and created a more intimate and personal look at them. You see them for who they are, not what they are, not sideshow freaks, but people.

joel peter witkin

Joel Peter Witkin is one wier photographer. He does these disturbing and surreal images, many which include deformed people as the subject matter. His photographs have a macabre feeling about them, and also a vintage one. Many of his images look like they come from an 1800's medical oddities book, or a behind the scenes look of sideshow freaks.

However, Witkin is a contemporary artist, and all of his images are only a few years old. His images are pure creepshow with twisted symbolism and often head turning imagery. Many of his images could be related to that of a car wreck, uncomfortable to look at, yet you cant help but stare.

As i have said before I love disturbing images and these are beautiful in their macabre creepiness.