Alec Soth

Alec Soth is a photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota whose style of photography includes documentary photography. Soth likes to make “large scale American projects” where his images are ‘off-beat’, obvious and boring images of modern America. Within his images he likes the subject to be a “loner or dreamer” which is why the subject is often seen alone in typically a rural American landscape.

Alec Soths work is inspired by Diane Arbus and has had his work compared to Walker Evens and Stephen Shore. When taking his images Soth has admitted that he “feels very nervous at times” but he finds that his awkwardness comfort people. It can be argued that Soths project ‘Sleeping by the Mississippi’ is his most well know project as Soth worldwide artist recognition in 2004 after publishing this project. He wanted this book to portray the feelings of neglect and isolation by presenting rural, remote landscape and interior images along with portraits. The images that appear in the book were taken on his road trip along the Mississippi.

Sometimes imperfections make something even better – which is one of the reasons why I still enjoy shooting on film.– Alec Soth

Personally I think the work of Alec Soth is unique as his images and draw viewers in. There is a sense of power within his images and the lone subjects is surrounded by a vast rural American Landscape, leaving the viewers to interpret their own idea and story for the subject such as their background. When looking at Soths landscape and interior images there is a sense of awe as the setting appears quiet purely because of how abandoned and derelict the place are. The images Alec Soth takes are raw and detailed.

Image Analysis

This is a digital portrait taken of Charles Vasa by Alec Soth. The mise-en-scene presents Charles in his coveralls standing on a roof holding two model planes, one in each hand, presenting them to the viewer. Charles is stood against a rural winter background in Minnesota, which is out of focus. This tells us that that image has been taken with a narrow depth of field and a large aperture because the subject is in focus and the background isn’t. The photo has been taken from a straight on angle with the subject engaging with the camera, which makes the image feel tense and gives it depth. The use of lighting is natural however, as it is a overcast winter day there isn’t much of a light source which is why there aren’t many shadows present in the image. The colours in the image are quite dull and could be described as ‘army like’ as there are many greens, browns, white and blacks seen in the image. The use of those colours relate to the Air force as the subject is holding two model planes and wearing clothing that makes him look like a pilot. It can be seen that Soth has used the rules of thirds because he has cantered the subject in the middle thirds. Overall the image has a sense of awe and a dreamlike feel to it as the freshly painted house contrasts with the messy, unfinished rooftop.

Thomas Lodin

Thomas Lodin is a Biarritz-based surf photographer who creates images displaying the simplicity in surfing. Lodin grew up in the northwest of France, an hour away from the beach which is where he spent most his time during the weekends and summer holidays, messing around in the water bodyboarding and sailing. He first started to take images to create memories with his friends which later developed to Lodin wanting to take “better images” whilst still having fun. When Lodin started to surf he would bring his camera with him, capturing images of the surf which he is still doing now. The images he produces are taken on film so when I edit my images I will take this in to consideration so my images have the same feel to them as Lodins. When taking his images he focuses on how the light looks and the contrast of the images as well as any emotion within the photo.

“For me a photograph is fixing a moment that is already gone, it’s so powerful so if it creates an emotion at that exact moment, that’s a good photograph.”– Thomas Lodin

What I enjoy about Thomas Lodins work is how well it links and relates to the surf culture as there isn’t a strong professional feel to the images, there is more a sense of freedom which links in with the aesthetic of surfing.

Image Analysis

This is a digital image of a portrait of a surfer. The mise-en-scene presents a surfer sat on his longboard looking down at the sand in the foreground whereas it presents a pier and a mountain in the background. The use of light is natural and coming from the left side of the image as you can see the sand is lighter on the left side of the image. The photo has been taken low angle from the right side of the subject which allows Lodin to get the whole surfboard in frame as well as allowing us to view the subjects facial expressions. The foreground and subject is in focus whereas the background is out of focus suggesting this image has a narrow depth of field. The colours in the image are monochrome which includes darker and lighter shades within the photo. Lodin had used the rule of thirds which can be seen as the subject is in the middle third and the foreground and background are separated in to the background being in the top third and the foreground being in the bottom third.

I will be using the work of Soth and Lodin for inspiration throughout my project, as I will take a range of photos of my sister as she prepares for the Euros (surfing competition).