Name of Artist: Lee Friedlander
Dates of Artist’s Life: July 14, 1934 - Now
1. Personal Background: (5 sentences. Culture, nationality, schooling, important life events, etc.)
2. Style: (5 sentences. What visual characteristics does this artist’s work possess? If you can compare it to a painting or art history style please do.)
3. Philosophy: (5 sentences. What were the major ideas behind this artist’s work? Where they personal, political, social, etc. What were they trying to “say” with their photographs?)
4. Influences: (5 sentences. How has the photographer influenced you in your work?)
Dates of Artist’s Life: July 14, 1934 - Now
1. Personal Background: (5 sentences. Culture, nationality, schooling, important life events, etc.)
- Lee Friedlander graduated from high school in 1952 and moved to Los Angeles to study (briefly) at the Art Center School in LA (1953-1955).
- He moved to NY (1956) and began his career by taking photos for Atlantic Records of their blues and jazz musicians (Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and John Coltrane), he also began to work as a freelance photographer for magazines such as Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Collier’s, and McCall’s (Around 1960s).
- Lee Friedlander was granted Guggenheim fellowship by the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in 1960, 1962, and 1977.
- He had his first major exhibition at International Museum of Photography at George Eatsman House (Rochester, NY).
- He was later diagnosed with arthritis; while being bound at home he photographed his surroundings and produced stems during the time of his knee replacement surgery.
2. Style: (5 sentences. What visual characteristics does this artist’s work possess? If you can compare it to a painting or art history style please do.)
- He focused on the social landscape of the late 50s and 60s as well as contemporary urban life.
- His photographs employed complex compositions that mixed both order and chaos (Created feelings of tensions, peculiarity, and unease).
- His photos are all in black and white focusing on everyday people, places, and things.
- Boring aspects of modern American life were transformed into surreal, strange places.
- Frequently took photos of himself using shadows and reflections, often masking his face.
3. Philosophy: (5 sentences. What were the major ideas behind this artist’s work? Where they personal, political, social, etc. What were they trying to “say” with their photographs?)
- Friedlander took a variety of different photos. He took personal photos of his wife and other members of his family.
- He took photos of televisions once they started to become more popular - explaining the social implications of the small screened tvs
- He took photos of American monuments, proposing a new look at romanticized political, military, and religious icons. - Took a photo of Father Duffy in front of a coca cola billboard, hinting at a tension between old forms of religious authority and the new religion of consumerism.
- Friedlander took photos of people that portrayed the political and social environment at that time (50s-60s). One particular photo showed white tourists amongst black people, who were obviously familiar with the area, in the same frame. But the white people were in front and more pronounced while the black people were in the back with their backs turned. (American race relations).
- He enjoyed taking self portraits that blocked out his face, normally confusing the hierarchy of the frame. He shows a new world where he (or people) are secondary behind obstruction and confusion.
4. Influences: (5 sentences. How has the photographer influenced you in your work?)
- I have become more involved in street photography because of his work.
- I love historical photographs and his are from a more personal view. I really like the idea of photographing things differently based on how I see them especially in relation to the times.
- His style of taking photographs of himself have also helped me to see the usefulness of props, even if the prop happens to hide part of your face, it still gives the photo that complex look.
- Hi subtle showing of the changes in our environment are also very inspiring. You wouldn’t think that was what he was doing until you looked into the photo more.
- I enjoy his odd use of shadows to portray a more sinister tone. Especially when his shadow overcast on a random passerby.
6. Compare and Contrast: You will need to compare and contrast your final 3 images with the 3 images you choose by your photographer. Write about each piece (5 sentence.)
7. Personal Artist Statement: Your images should tell a story. In 5 sentences tell me about your images. Use the Composition 101, Elements and Principles and 10 Rules of Photography vocabulary.
For each image I used the rule of thirds and positioned myself, the tree, and the bunny towards the edge of the photos. I also made sure to make my images darker and take the saturation out of them so they would match up better with Friedlander's. I also have a bright focal point in each of the photos. The light bulb in my second one shines brightly and stands out against the dark background. All three of my photos practice clarity, which is the number one composition rule when taking photos.
- The first Friedlander photo covers the whole screen while mine only covers part. His also incorporates multiple trees while mine only has one. The colors are very similar though.
- The second photo has Friedlander in hotel with the lamp attached to the bed while my photo is just be holding a lamp in a dark room.
- The light bulbs aren't lined up the same, but both photos have the same concept of the lightbulb in front of the face.
- The third photos were taken in different lighting. Mine was taken indoors while his was taken outside.
- The third photos have similar looking grasses but are obviously different. Mine also happens to have a bunny statue within it.
7. Personal Artist Statement: Your images should tell a story. In 5 sentences tell me about your images. Use the Composition 101, Elements and Principles and 10 Rules of Photography vocabulary.
For each image I used the rule of thirds and positioned myself, the tree, and the bunny towards the edge of the photos. I also made sure to make my images darker and take the saturation out of them so they would match up better with Friedlander's. I also have a bright focal point in each of the photos. The light bulb in my second one shines brightly and stands out against the dark background. All three of my photos practice clarity, which is the number one composition rule when taking photos.