25 Jan 2011

Three Websites

Social Activism/Documentary Photography – http://www.chinahush.com/2009/10/21/amazing-pictures-pollution-in-china/

These images by Lu Guang are a social document and focus on social phenomena, things we wouldn’t believe to be true if we couldn’t see them such as the toxic environments that these people are subjected to, these people seem to be living at the bottom of society, enduring this hardship to survive and provide for their families. A photograph of a woman washing in a seriously polluted pond, children born with defects due to Shanxi Province being one of the most polluted areas in china, all Guangs images evoke a strong emotion, you can’t help but feel the pain and suffering of the photographed.





Photo-therapy - http://christinebenjamin.com/photography/information/about

Through a series of photo shoots and “therapeutic” conversation, Christine takes you through the process of identifying your body image concerns, becoming familiar with the ideal for your body and photographing you in a way that enables you to see yourself differently than you have in the past. (Taken from the website). 
I can understand to a certain degree how this could be beneficial to the person being photographed as it may help them work through problems with body image and see themselves in a different light, perhaps being photographed in a way that allows the participant to remain anonymous as though they are looking at someone else. However, from an outsiders perspective looking at the image below it is clear to see that the girl is suffering with body dis-morphia or anorexia and I just wonder whether this is the correct promotional image to be used on her website for her Photo-therapy sessions. The image is quite haunting and the pose enhances features such as the spine and shoulders. This may however be the aim of the exercise, if the girl is seeing these areas of her body as problematic she may see them differently through a photograph than a mirror for example. The soft focus of the image below does allow for other features of her body to become subdued which may have a positive effect on her when she sees the finished result. 






Photography as Therapeutic - www.spencertunick.com

I remembered seeing this artist/photographer on the news a few years ago and have since thought about the potential of the work being therapeutic, not so much in the way of the actual photograph but more in being apart of the photograph, involved in the experience.  Tunick photographs thousands of willing nude participants in odd locations across the globe. The participants aren't paid but instead receive a limited edition photo, perhaps a memento of being involved in the event. I think it has the potential to be a liberating experience and one that may help an individual deal with issues of body confidence in a similar way to Gok Wans 'How to look good naked' T.V. programme. Everyone is in the same boat and there is nowhere to hide as Tunik says himself 'a body is always beautiful to me' and perhaps this is the message he is trying to spread. In this image I was particularly drawn to the man who is slightly protruding from the crowd, bottom left (excuse the pun) and I wonder whether or not he was told to stand there or whether it was a happy accident. All the participants are facing the same way in the image which could also raise the question of, what are they looking at? If they were watching a sunrise or sunset for example this could have the potential to increase the emotions of this shared experience whilst simultaneously working as a distraction from the potential embarrassment of being naked in front of so many strangers.







No comments:

Post a Comment