Critical Review - Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, “Untitled (Birth)”, from the series: Beneath the Roses (2007)

Description:

The photograph shows a house where in the inside, the viewer can see a woman and a baby on the bed. There is snow on the outside and on the inside the baby is naked lying on the bed where the woman is sitting and just watching it. There are no vibrant colours and not so much light in the picture and the environment it might be said to be ‘cold’

Interpretation:

In relation to the way Crewdson captured the subject and the general concept of his images, he stated that “My pictures must first be beautiful, but that beauty is not enough. I strive to convey an underlying edge of anxiety, of isolation, of fear”[1]. This picture reflects to the intentions of Crewdson as a viewer can feel the above feelings. The point of view makes the viewer to feel that he is standing outside in the cold night where he can see what is happening inside the house through the window. Why is the woman just sitting and watches a naked baby which it cannot be said if it is alive or dead.

Evaluation:

In my opinion this is a beautiful photograph where Crewdson has succeeded in satisfying his intentions of what a picture should be. As a viewer I can feel anxiety for many reasons. I don’t know why the baby is lying there naked and why the woman is so empty with an “impassive look”[2]. Moreover the feeling of anxiety and fear also results from the fact that there is a mystery in the reason the baby is there and especially because it might be dead. Just the thought of the assumption that the baby is dead makes me feel sorry for both the child and the woman. I create scenarios in my head about the past that this woman might had in order to be in such position. Finally, Crewdson well chose this concept of low lighting, snowing, and no vibrant colours as it helps with embracing the dramatic subject.

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[1] Between Moments: Gregory Crewdson, Faded and Blurred, Nicole Rae, <http://fadedandblurred.com/spotlight/gregory-crewdson/>

[2] Why Art Photography? By Lucy Soutter, Routledge(2013). 

Critical Review- Assignment 2

Kevin Carter, “Struggling Girl”, Sudan 1993

In this assignment, we are asked to provide a photograph that appealed us, and hence provide a critical review. Through my research I have found really interesting to focus on the photographer, Kevin Carter and his worldwide known photograph ‘Struggling Girl”.

Background

As it was mentioned above, this photograph had been taken by Kevin Carter during his trip at Sudan in 26 March 1993. Near the village of Ayod, (South Sudan) where starvation and illnesses are extremely increased, Carter found a girl who was struggling to reach United Nation centre to ask for food. The photographer approached her carefully in order not to disturb the vulture and capture the best possible photograph. At the moment Carter did not realised that he had captured one of the most controversial photos in the history of photojournalism!

The photographer had sold the photo to the New York Times and other famous magazines and newspapers in 26 of March 1993. One year later, on April 1994 he was awarder with one of the most popular prizes that photographers dream for: The Pulitzer Prize.

A lot of people, who had contacted with the magazines and newspapers that published the photo were concerned with the faith of the girl and hence many had blamed Carter for not helping the girl. This was the controversial issue that came on the surface with this photo.

 St. Petersburg Time in Florida had the following comment in their magazine: ‘ the man adjusting his lens to just take the right frame of her suffering, might just as well a predator, another vulture on the scene’.

Kevin Carter had committed suicide three months after his rewarding of the Pulitzer Price.A note founded on in his car stated: "I am depressed ... I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain ... of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners ... I have gone to join Ken if I am that lucky."[1]

Critical Review

As examined above, the issue of morality and the impact to the society had a major role to the review of the photograph. Nevertheless, at this point it is crucial to examine the photographic work.

As an image of photojournalism, it was captured as a part of a larger scheme by which Carter covered “the rebel movement in famine stricken Sudan”[2]. Thus it is considered to be a part of a larger body of work.

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Interpretation:

As mentioned above the interpretation of this image has more of a moral nature. The, viewer, is facing the cruel reality from the worst point of view as they cannot do anything to help. Carter, succeeded of capturing his subject in reflection to his larger scheme intentions.

Thus the argument arising from the review is regarding the difference between the photographic and ethical aspect of the image.  Respectively it was provided that “The mission of photography is to explain man to man and each man to himself”[3]. Carter did that in a very effective way, even if he affected him.

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Evaluation:

In respect of arguments drawn above, through the views MacLeod it is steamed that that Carter made a mission of providing a well-constructed photograph by forgetting his humanity side[4]. Moreover, London Sunday Mail described it as “a truly iconographic image that captured the full horror of the famine in Sudan” [5].

In the light of the well captured photographic elements of the photo, and the criticism on the ethical grounds, I submit that as a photographer, a person, in some point, has to distinguish a good photograph and morality, and to be prepared for the impact that would have in society.

  

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS AND ONLINE SOURCES:

Ø  Agoratz P. (2004), ‘Ethical limits on documentary photography’ [Online] Available at:http://paulagortazar.blogspot.com/p/ethical-limits-in-documentary.html [Accessed on 3^rd of January]

Ø  Photography News. (2013), ‘Remembering Kevin Carter and the photo that make the world weep’ [Online] Available at: http://www.photography-news.com/2013/09/remembering-kevin-carter-and-photo-that.html  [Accessed on 3^rd of January]

Ø  Kevin Carter, The impact of Photojournalism: http://kevincarterpresentation.wordpress.com/ [Accessed on 7^th of January]

Ø  Paul Martin, ‘I’m really sorry I didn’t pick the child up’, London Mail, Sunday, 16 October, 1994

Ø  MacLeod, S.The life and death of Kevin Carter, 1994, Retrieved from < http://members.home.nl/gerhardnijenhuis/msp/time.htm >

Ø  Todd Brandow, William A. Ewing, Edward Steichen: lives in photography (Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography,Thames & Hudson, 2007), at page 249

IMAGES:

·         Kevin Carter, “Struggling Girl”, Sudan 1993, Available at < http://cogtography.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/exampling-ethics-kevin-carter-the-struggling-girl/ >

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[1] Kevin Carter, The impact of Photojournalism: http://kevincarterpresentation.wordpress.com/ [Accessed on 7th of January]

[2] Kevin Carter, The impact of Photojournalism: http://kevincarterpresentation.wordpress.com/ [Accessed on 7^th of January]

[3] Todd Brandow, William A. Ewing, Edward Steichen: lives in photography (Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography,Thames & Hudson, 2007), at page 249

[4] MacLeod, S.The life and death of Kevin Carter, 1994, Retrieved from < http://members.home.nl/gerhardnijenhuis/msp/time.htm >

[5] Paul Martin, ‘I’m really sorry I didn’t pick the child up’, London Mail, Sunday, 16 October, 1994, p. 40.