Mitch Epstein- Family Business

Mitch Epstein is an American photographer that tackled a multimedia project about his father and their family furniture store and real estate business. The project includes photographs, videos, interviews, a personal essay and archival material. The photographing of William Epstein’s life is a reflection of the downfall of Holyoke, normally a lively and thriving town. The story questions how the American went wrong. I wanted to research this project because I like Epstein’s style of photography, he captures single moments in snapshots which are usually very bright and full of life; this is ironic considering it is based on a town which is struggling. I like the simplicity to his images, for example the suit case it a very interesting image as there is not a great deal to it yet it manages to tell a story. It allows the viewer to imagine the narrative or to create their own. 

‘As an artist, I wrestle with the challenge of how to bring meaning and new ideas to my work. To keep picture-making fresh and meaningful has been a fundamental struggle since my beginnings.’ 

‘I worked hard to find a balance between my ruthlessly direct approach to the work and the respect and empathy that I felt for my father as his son.’ 

Sally Mann

Sally Mann is one of  America’s renowned photographers famous for her black and white photographs of her young children. Mann was criticised for supposedly exploiting her children and being a bad mother. However in my opinion Mann’s maternal eye allows outsiders a glimpse into her and her children’s world.  

‘One of the things my career as an artist might say to young artists is: The things that are close to you are the things you can photograph the best. And unless you photograph what you love, you are not going to make good art.’ – Sally Mann

‘What is truth in photography? It can be told in a hundred different ways. Every thirtieth of a second when the shutter snaps, its capturing a different piece of information.’ – Sally Mann