Semiotics

Semiotics is basically the study of signs and how meaning is constructed.

We are constantly surrounded by signs whether they’re what we see around us, or

what we hear, they’re everywhere, whether we take notice of them, or pretend not to. When looking at the semiotics of an image we are looking at the signs and symbols that constitute the picture, these signs are used to translate what the photographer is saying. It is up to the viewer to interpret what they’re looking at. As we’re all different, and from culturally different backgrounds, we will all interpret an image differently. It is through the use of signs that we share understanding. It is from our consciousness that we decipher how we feel about something or what it says to us.

It is now that semiotics; in a 21^st century world that it is used more than ever. In advertising we’re constantly bombarded with signs and signifiers. It is becoming to the point where adverts and marketing are considered evil. Although semiotics is subjective, without it we would have little understanding of the world around us. With the use of semiotics telling us to buy everything, its worth wondering is semiotics used for our universal understanding as a way of helping us communicate in a non verbal sense, or is it being used for evil. As a way to subconsciously speak to us and intern making us do whatever they want.

http://www.semiotic.co.uk/

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/sem02.html

http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/semioticsterm.htm

http://www.flamingo-international.com/semiotics.cfm

Irving Penn

Irving Penn

Irving Penn was an American photographer most notably known for his timeless portraiture and fashion photography. Penn studied at the Philadelphia school of industrial art which he graduated in 1938. His first job was an art director of the Junior League magazine, later he worked in the same capacity for Saks Fifth Avenue department store. By 25 he quit his job and used his small savings to go to Mexico, where he painted for a year. Returning to New York, Alexander Liberman hired Penn as his assistant, specifically to suggest photographic covers for Vogue. He then began photographing the covers using a borrowed camera, his art knowledge and drawing skills, Penn arranged a still life consisting of a big brown leather bag, beige scarf and gloves, lemons, oranges, and a huge topaz. It was published as the Vogue cover for the issue of October 1, 1943, and launched Penn on his photographic career. He went on to work for vogue for a number of years. In 1953 he founded his own studio where he would invite famous names to be photographed in front of plain backdrops and simple lighting. He created sharp, technically perfect yet stylized images. That set the standard! In 1958 Irving Penn was named one of "The World’s 10 Greatest Photographers" in an international poll conducted by Popular Photography Magazine. In his portrait work Penn uses different devices from time to time. In some portraits he would place to backdrops together to create a corner. He would then have the subject step into. This would have an impact on the sitter, whether it was them feeling trapper or secure, he claims this ‘made them quickly available to the camera’

As a photographer to have technically perfect images is always an aim, But for a portrait photographers there is also bridging the gap between you and the sitter.when we see a portrait we see how the image is portraying the subject. 

                                                               Pablo Picasso 1957

In this particular image it is more about what we aren’t shown. The shadow down one half of his face, the high collar that covers his mouth, all we are really shown is his piercing eye. I wonder whether this is a reflection of Picasso’s portraits. When I think about his work I think of the classic side profile, distinctive eyes and prominent noses.

http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/irvingpenn/index.htm

http://www.photo-seminars.com/Fame/irving_penn.htm

Feminism

Feminism is defined as a series of movements still ongoing today that; establish and define the social, economical and political rights and equal opportunities for women. A feminist is a person of whose believes in equality amongst genders. It doesn’t mean you hate men! As men can be feminists too! It’s a myth that feminists are angry lesbians with hairy legs.

Feminism is the recognition and gratitude to generations of women who have fought to have equal rights we overlook. It’s easy to take for granted that women even have the right to vote.

What is said to be the first wave of feminism was a movement during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the UK and the US. It focused on establishing equal political, contract, marriage, parenting and property rights for women. The second wave being between the early 1960’s and late 1980’s this focused on women cultural status and to question idealised domesticity, forcing women into a strict housewife and mother role. Establishing unofficial inequalities women experienced in their day to day life. The third wave started in the early 1990’s and is still on going today.

Being a woman I feel appreciative that i live the way I do today. I couldn’t imagine a world where I was not equal to a man. I would say I was a feminist as I think its very important that both men and women are treated equally in every aspect possible. Yet I also think that it shouldn’t be an aggressive battle of the sexes. I like to appreciate that, men and women are different, as both genders have their strengths and weaknesses. 

Because lets face it there are just some things in this world that women can do better than men and vice versa!

‘The man brings the seed, but a woman won’t forget the compost’

http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=103

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/05/feminism-today-long-winding-road

http://bible.org/seriespage/all-about-eve-feminism-and-meaning-equality

Zena Holloway

Zena Holloway was born in Bahrain (1973) a scuba diving expert turned self taught underwater photographer and director. Zenas work is impressive having worked for major fashion and advertising companies. She has also worked on promotional videos for Kylie Monogue.

Her work is powerful and fantasy like, she creates dramatic images that create a sense of surrealism. Being such a big name and having access to the type of large-scale equipment her work and dedication is admirable. I recently experimented with underwater photography and failed miserably at achieving anything worthy of presenting! Even taking a decent photograph on land can be challenging. To attempt that whilst holding your breathe and keeping yourself still without the aide of your arms is very difficult! although i didn't have a scuba suit on so i think Zena has a big advantage there.

 http://www.thefstopmag.com/?p=246

http://www.zenaholloway.com/indexzena.html

The Secret Garden

Naa Teki Lebar-The Sceret Den

Austrian born freelance photographer Naa Teki Lebar, now living and practising in the Uk, Lebar is interested in re-encountering self, artificial scenes and restaging are the core of her practice. Taking inspiration from mythology, theatricality and fantasy she tries to achieve a blending of opposite realities in the secret of nature and the nature of secrets. Also the idea of the lucid dream and its connotation and symbolism is played within masks. The characters wearing masks inhibit a neither human nor animal like nature. They are living in a world where identity of the human or the animal is aloof and we are left with something more abstract.

Martin Parr

Martin Parr was born in a middle class family in Epsom, Surrey, Britain, in 1952. He claims his grandfather inspired him to become a photographer. He later went on to study photography at Manchester Polytechnic. Most of Parr’s early work was black and white it wasn't until 1984 that he begun his produced work in colour. In 1986 Parr produced a series of worked entitled ‘Last Resort: Photographs of New Brighton’

New Brighton is a small very run down sea side resort in the north west of England. At the time of the photographs Margaret Thatcher was in power, parts of the country were falling apart. Parr documents the decay of the affected surroundings juxtaposed against the people in the images, still living normally, having days out and enjoying themselves. Parr claims he always found traditional aspects of British culture appealing. This type of surrounding was new to him having given his background.

New Brighton, Merseyside 1985

His images in the series show a sense of vulnerability, they’re raw and true, documenting people doing what people do. That can sometimes be uncomfortable we don’t like to see the bad points about ourselves. Also Parr’s use of saturated colour is solid and strong, it makes his documentary photography even more powerful. There always feels like there is a lot to take in from a Martin Parr images. He has the ability to make his viewer remember an image, making his a pretty skilled documentary photographer.

http://www.opus-art.com/artists/MartinParr

http://www.martinparr.com/index1.html

Stephen Shore

Stephen Shore is an American born photographer that started at a very young age. At six he received a dark room set as a gift from his uncle. He quickly became interested in printed photographs. It wasn’t until he was eleven that he started taking pictures. Throughout his late teens Shore met Andy Warhol he started photographing him and the artist’s musicians etc. that surrounded him. In 1971 Shore became the first living photographer to have had a solo exhibition at The Museum of Metropolitan Art in New York.  In 1972 Shore drove across America and documented the event producing a series of work entitled ‘uncommon places’ here he would take pictures of seemingly banal objects, intersections, residential architecture, diners, gas stations. All of which he shot on colour film and a view camera. Shores work could be argued (despite his technical precision) that his work crosses over into intimate life, as he was documenting what he saw at that period of time for the duration of the trip. His day to day life that only he saw, which is pretty intimate. I love his snapshot style and vivid colours. He's certainly changed my opinion of deadpan photography, which before i found a bit dull. I take it back.

Trail's End Restaurant, Kanab, Utah, August 10, 1973  

http://www.phaidon.co.uk/agenda/photography/video/2010/september/01/being-stephen-shore/

http://www.spruethmagers.com/exhibitions/273@@press_en

http://www.phaidon.co.uk/agenda/photography/video/2010/september/01/being-stephen-shore/

http://www.spruethmagers.com/exhibitions/273@@press_en

 'the camera only records what no one else was around to see'- Jonathan Walton