Winogrand was a street photographer born in 1928. He often photographed the way of American life, including its social issues. Throughout Winogrand’s life he published four books and was one of three photographers featured in the New Documents exhibition at Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1967 and also had solo exhibitions there in 1969, 1977 and 1988.
Article on Garry Winogrand: http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2014/garry-winogrand
Article on Garry Winogrand: https://fraenkelgallery.com/artists/garry-winogrand
A lot of Winogrand’s images come across as very upbeat and as if everyone is happy all of the time. This is a positive representation of the people of New York, where he lived and worked. I think that these images are great as it allows the spectator to see the positive impact that family and community have on people and that we don’t always have to focus on the negatives and we don’t always have to have sad and horrible images in the art of documentary photography. Most images are like action shots produced on a film camera, so each is unique and individual to its own. There are no similar images in his work, for me anyway. I think that Winogrand has approached most the these people and asked if he could make a photograph of them and he has photographed their reaction, not giving them any direction and just allowing them to do as they please. I think that back then it would have been a lot more rare for a person to ask to make a photograph of a stranger as cameras were more expensive and not as many people had access to them, it was mainly just photographers. Nowadays we tend to have cameras even on our phones that we carry around everywhere with us.
I really like Winogrand’s work and I want to attempt to make similar images at a high standard, almost as if creating these images on a film camera. I want to create the most honest images that I possibly can while studying documentary photography as I believe that is what it is all about.
One image that I particularly like is this one. It seems as though there is a mad rush to get to work, rush hour. With all of these people in their suits trying to get to work as a photographer stands right in their way with a potentially large film camera, then at random taking a snap shot with the rush going on. I enjoy looking at all of the different facial expressions of the people in frame, some are happy, some look pissed off and others just look as though they’ve been doing it for years and there is no use fighting the current anymore. I think what draws your attention is the man right in the center of the image wearing glasses. He looks as though he’s been going through the process of trying to get to work on time for many years and is just going with it, contrary he could be partly trying to smile as the camera is right in his face. I then notice the two men right behind the first man to the right of the image. They look angry as though they are shouting at Winogrand himself to move out of the way of the huge rush, especially as the second man seems to be waving him to move out of the way. Next my attention leans over more to the right to see signs of protest. This makes me think that the business people are possibly trying to get out of the way of the countries ‘FIRST TEAM’. My eyes are then drawn right down to the two women on the left hand side of the image. They look a lot happier than the men and seem to be portrayed in a more positive and happy light compared to the angry men who want the photographer to get out of the way. I really like this image as there is just so much to look at and as the spectator you can allow your eyes to wonder across different parts of the image.