Exploring many themes such as, intimacy, AIDS/HIV crisis, LGBTQ, and the opioid epidemic, Nancy Goldin is an American activist photographer. Born in 1953, she has created a lot of popular work, including The Ballad of Sexual Dependency (1986). Documenting the post0Stonewall, gay subculture, the monograph incorporates her family and friends. This included addicts, hustlers, transgenders and prostitutes. Redefining photography, she explored what it could be and do.
Goldin seems to be an outgoing character, standing out from the normal group of photographers in her time. In an interview with The Guardian, they stated that she had a coyote hung in her house. She enjoys the fact that it startles her visitors, explaining, “It likes the light”. The coyote is possibly a metaphor for the ‘most celebrated and controversial photographers of our time’. Goldin doesn’t follow the rules, and typically decides to live on the edge of society.
Material –
From the age of fifteen, she began using polaroid cameras, provided to her by her teacher. She progressed, and started taking monochrome images of her friends in a transgender community in Boston. She also experimented with Cibachrome prints; prints made using a photographic printing process in which colour dyes embedded in the paper are selectively bleached away (destroyed) to form a full-colour image. Her medium then developed to presenting images on slideshows after she moved to New York. These were partnered with music by punk rock venues.
By experimenting with several mediums for her photography, she is able to present her works emotions and story. I like the idea of polaroids and prints because it adds texture, context and the overall look becomes more interesting than just basic digital images.
Analysis
This image represents how her images are no the typically ‘perfect’ edit. Although this image is full of strategic techniques, mostly using light, she has kept grain, very dark areas/ over exposed areas, and left the image at a slant. This adds to the documentary style of Goldin’s work. The imperfections in the image are what make it distinctive, and different to other photographers such as Alec Soth who perfects his lighting. In the photo she has used the bright beam of light to illuminate the front of the girl, creating a sharp shadow on her hips. She may be looking at body image in this photo, using the light and shadow to represent how the girl wishes to look, whilst facing the mirror. Goldin has left the photo with room for interpretation. The fact there is a large amount of shadow and dark space means that the window and the girls face are the focal point of the image. This photo is a key representation of how light is one of the most important matters in photography, and I will make sure to use it effectively.
My shoot
For my shoot inspired by Nan Goldin, I am going to try and use her distinctive style of vibrant and black and white images. Although I can’t capture as expressive portraits, I will try to remake her style with what I have.
What? I will take documentary images in the style of Goldin of my grandmother
Why? I want to portray her earlier life with my grandfather compare with now. I want to create images that are interesting, rather than plain/basic photos.
How? I will use my DSLR camera to capture most of the images. I will also bring a film camera and polaroid to get different mediums, adding to the nostalgic sense. I might also bring some studio lighting with me. I could experiment with butterfly, Rembrandt and split face shadow lighting to add intensity to some of the images.
When? I am going to do the shoot just after midday because it is when the light beams through her windows. I want to make sure I have a good amount of natural lighting to light up her face and the room, and possibly use as backlighting.
Link to theme? By exploring her and my grandfathers past I am seeking into their lives. I am now observing the change that time has caused, the death of the grandfather, and my grandmothers present life without him.