John Szarkowski’s theory highlights that photography can either show the world around us (windows) or express the photographer’s inner world (mirrors). Both the approaches offer valuable ways to see and understand photography as a viewer externally.
What is the difference between Windows and Mirrors?
The difference between Windows and Mirrors is that Windows are considered as documentation and reality/truth, meant to show the world as it is as looking outward from the photographers perspective. It is not set up and positioned for the photographers liking and self-expression but more for authenticity. As mentioned before they reveals theses truths about people, places and’ or events. It shows us a new perspective and insight to the world around us/ something we may not otherwise experience. An example of this could be a photographer/journalist trying to capture a war zone or a photographer that specialises in landscapes showcasing nature through photography (windows).
Mirrors are refections of the photographers “inner thoughts” or personal feelings and vision. The photos express their emotions as well as their interpretation of the world rather than showing the “objective” reality (more subjective so based on personal opinions rather than on facts). The photograph becomes a almost reflection of the artists inner world and/or personal vision. An example of this could be a photographers (conceptual) creating a surreal image to explore their emotions or a self-portrait ( meant to express identity).
The mindmap above I created for Windows as well as Mirrors includes such examples of photographers that do such work as well as examples of their work that I might take inspiration from and other photograpnhs that I think fit the theme and ideologies.
Key words associated with Windows: Candid, Factual, Truthful, Realism, Everyday, Clarity, Authenticity, Shared, Experiences, Depicted, Outwards and/ or Representation.
Key word associated with Mirrors: Manipulated, Posed, Artistic, Surrealism, Distorting, Provoke, Alternative, Extraordinary, Unfamiliar, Exploration and/ or Reflecting.