REVIEW

Andres Serrano, Series:THE KLAN, Klansman ( Wizard III)

Andres serrano has taken on an unusual and daring subject within this work; his positioning of this figure as it appears from the darkness around him is ominous, much like the figures clothes too. The viewer is kept distant from the subject, and made to feel curious as to who lies beneath the clothing. It is ironic however, how such a person could have agreed to have his photograph taken by the photographer himself, who clearly by the name, and through research I have found has an afro cuban background. As a result, for me personally I see alot more than what this subject realises; the contradictions that he faces, and this as a result belittles the visually hidden subject. 

Bill Brandt, Nude, Camden Hill, London, 1958

Bill Brandt takes on a different composition altogether; it is unconventional, placed from below and capturing different proportions of the bodily form from different distances, creating an ununified positioning as a whole. However I see this as an interesting thing; the reader themselves almost feel as though we are intruding; the subjects position clearly shows this, with her arm and leg covering the mostpart of her nude body. The lighting is interesting here; the shadows are soft and almost fall off the body like a fading glow of light, and of course we then see the contrast of bright light most probably lit above the figure, rather than from the side. This subject succeeds in it's hidden form and we can tell very little from the character as a whole due to the above aspects. 

 Turbulent by Shirin Neshat

This simple but effects use of the camera focus sparks curiosity in the viewer's mind. Who are these blurred people in the background, why is the man in the foreground clearly visable? what is the purpose? unfortunately however, I personally dont like this photo as much; i cannot get a meaning from it, or understand even slightly the composition or story behind this image. However, I believe that how this image differs to the rest is that the use of bright light is used to wash out and hide the people's features, rather than the opposite of using dark light to do so.