JIM GOLDBERG IMAGE ANALYSIS #1

This is a photo taken from Goldberg’s collection Raised By Wolves, a series of images of teenagers on the streets of California. He documented their emotions and battle with taboo subjects such as addiction or abuse – the series focused particularly on two young runaways, Tweeky Dave and Echo, who met each other and were interviewed by Goldberg on multiple occasions. I took inspiration from Goldberg from the bold way he presented identity and showed the reality of what life is like through the eyes of people – particuarly youths dealing with trauma.

The image is taken in black and white, with a stark black square around the subjects arm, highlighting what seems to be a bruise or scar. It immediately directs the viewers eye to the injury without noticing anything else. The models emotion seems to be that of discomfort judging by the look on her face as she is not making eye contact and instead staring off into the distance. The photo appears to be taken in natural lighting, perhaps outside in the middle of the day. The holes and dents in the walls gives a wider idea of the setting and the meaning behind the image.

JIM GOLDBERG IMAGE ANALYSIS #2

These photos are from the collection Ruby Every Fall – this series captures growing up through the eyes of parents and the individuals identity through the years. What caught my eye about this series was the different layouts – some big some small some with multiple photos.

This group of photos presents identity through different aspects – the drawing of the girl highlights childhood emotion through the distressed look on her face versus the photo of her walking to school looking happy shows contrast between the photo and how they are laid out.

BOB GRUEN IMAGE ANALYSIS

As mentioned in previous posts, Gruen is famous for photographing multiple celebrities, predominantly throughout the 70’s and 80’s e.g Led Zeppelin and John Lennon. The reason I was drawn to his work was mostly for his photos of musicians from the rock scene as my whole theme is centered around music, but also the way he takes the photos, like the one above.

The image above is of Tina Turner, taken at a concert in 1970. Although this is one image, it was taken with a slow shutter speed throughout one second, so Gruen managed to capture Turner moving in a way that when an image is taken, it presents as a multiple exposure. The photo itself is in black and white, illuminated by the stage lights in the back.