Part One:
Paul strand:
Paul strand was a very influential photographer in the early 1900’s, Paul strand took a different approach on abstract art than we know today. While he also took the ideas from painters as well as sculptors and applied those skills to photography to make very interesting photos. He also took photos in which also created social awareness around an image. Which is why I think he stood out so much. I also personally like taking abstract images as well but I loved seeing his images cause it gives you a different idea on abstract images which I think I could use to apply more to my photography. While also taking controversial photos which he used for a powerful image, that was one of my favorite things that he did.
Edward Weston:
Edward Weston was another photographer that I connected with mainly because he also took a lot of abstract images but using mainly objects, while also using landscapes like the two photos above of the desert. He also took photos of objects to also create abstract images, like the photo of the onion above. I never realized that something as simple as an onion can make such a great photo, which is why I think he also stood out in the early 1900’s because he took photos of something so simple and turned it into a great photograph. Theres a lot of things I can take away from his style of photography, I enjoy taking a lot of photos of landscapes and trying to bring out the beauty in them, looking at the photos above I’ve realized that you can use the landscape in different ways and try to make it look more appealing for the human eye to enjoy and wander around the photo.
Part Two:
Richard Avedon:
Richard Avedon was more of a modern photographer dating back to the mid 1900’s, he stood out a lot due to how he used his subjects. He took a lot of photos of mainly people, a lot of people with authority like celebrities. He also started out a lot more by encouraging subjects to move in front of his lenses to embrace their flaws more. My main take away from Avedon was how you can use your subjects, when I’m taking photos of people I always try to think of ways to use them in different settings to create beautiful photos but I never thought of his approaches which helps me more now when I decide to take photos of people and figuring out ways to use them to capture clean and crisp photos.
Diane Arbus:
Diane Arbus was more interested in abstract people, which made her stand out. She was more interested with people that were more “special” in a way. While also taking photos of them in a comfortable setting, like their own home or in the street. She created a different kind of abstract art but with using people in a way, which I find fascinating.