1. Read two texts above (John Szarkowski’s introduction and review by Jed Perl) and select 3 quotes form each that is relevant to your essay.
2. Select two images, one that represent a mirror and another that represents a window as examples to use in your essay.
3. Use some of the key words that you listed above to describe what the mirrors and windows suggest.

Notes

• Quote 1 – This thesis suggests that there is a fundamental dichotomy in contemporary photography between those who think of photography as a means of self-expression and those who think of it as a method of exploration – John Szarkowski
• Quote 2 – the photograph is seen either as a mirror–a romantic expression of the photographer’s sensibility as it projects itself on the things and sights of this world; or as a window–through which the exterior world is explored in all its presence and reality. – Original press release 1978

Jed Perl’s Review on Szarkowski’s Thesis
In his review of Mirrors and Windows: Messages from MoMA, Jed Perl critiques John Szarkowski’s thesis on the shift in American photography from public to private concerns. Perl argues that Szarkowski’s framework oversimplifies the complexities of the medium.
“Szarkowski’s thesis is a simplification, a reduction of the complexities of photography to a single, overarching narrative.” – Jed Perl
Perl suggests that Szarkowski’s focus on the private sphere neglects the public and social aspects of photography, which are equally important in understanding the medium.
Key points:
Perl argues that Szarkowski’s thesis oversimplifies the complexities of photography
Perl suggests that the private sphere is not the only aspect of photography
Perl critiques Szarkowski’s reduction of photography to a single narrative
Note: I couldn’t find any online sources with direct links to Jed Perl’s review. If you have access to the original review, please provide the publication and page numbers for further context.

Dorothea Lange’s Work on “The Grapes of Wrath”

Dorothea Lange’s photographs were not directly used in John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath”. However, her work did document the lives of migrant workers, including those who were affected by the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, which was the same era and theme that Steinbeck’s novel addressed.

Lange’s photographs were published in various publications, including the Farm Security Administration (FSA) collection, which was a government program that documented the lives of rural Americans during the 1930s and 1940s.

John Szarkowski’s Theory

John Szarkowski was a renowned American photographer and curator who served as the director of the Museum of Modern Art’s photography department from 1962 to 1980. His theory on photography is centered around the idea that photography is a medium that can be used to explore the relationship between the individual and the environment.

Key Points of Szarkowski’s Theory:

• The Camera as a Tool for Exploration: Szarkowski believed that the camera allows the photographer to explore and understand the world around them, and that this exploration is a key aspect of the medium.
• The Importance of Context: Szarkowski emphasized the importance of considering the context in which a photograph is taken, including the social, cultural, and historical context.
• The Role of the Photographer as an Observer: Szarkowski saw the photographer as an observer who can capture the world in a unique and personal way, but also as someone who is influenced by their own biases and perspectives.

Jed Perl’s Review of Szarkowski’s Theory

Jed Perl, an American art critic and historian, has written extensively on Szarkowski’s theory and its impact on the field of photography. In his review, Perl highlights the following key points:

• Szarkowski’s Influence on the Field: Perl notes that Szarkowski’s theory had a profound impact on the way photographers think about their work and the medium as a whole.
• The Importance of Contextualizing Photography: Perl emphasizes the importance of considering the context in which a photograph is taken, as Szarkowski advocated for.
• The Limitations of Szarkowski’s Theory: Perl also notes that Szarkowski’s theory has its limitations, particularly in its emphasis on the individual photographer’s perspective, which can overlook the role of power dynamics and social structures in shaping the photograph.

Links used:

• https://www.britannica.com/technology/calotype
• https://marinaamaral.substack.com/p/daguerreotype-a-turning-point-and#:~:text=Utilizing%20techniques%20he%20learned%20from,discovered%20that%20the%20image%20could
• https://archive.aperture.org/article/1978/2/2/mirrors-and-windows-messages-from-moma

Still Life

Still life is an arrangement of objects, typically including fruit and flowers and objects contrasting with these in texture, such as bowls and glassware. I found this project enjoyable to work with as I was able to take photographers images, from past and present, and produce my own photos inspired by them. I could photograph things that represented me, or intrigued me, making the project feel more personal.

My images:

Environmental Portraits

An environmental portrait is a portrait taken in the subject’s usual environment, for example, in their home or place of work. These types of photographs can reveal things about the person photographed, such as where they feel the happiest or most content. Since it’s in their natural environment rather than in a studio where photographs can be forced, the photos can almost tell a story of the subject as they’re being captured in their own, personal element. This was an interesting project as it was an opportunity to explore photography in another way. I had to take photographs of strangers, in their place of work, their natural environment, rather than in a studio. I like that for this photoshoot, my photographs could represent the strangers life, and the only thing that I controlled was taking the image itself.

My images:

Femininity Vs Masculinity

Femininity and masculinity are binary opposite, meaning they are a pair or related terms which mean the opposite to one another. Femininity and Masculinity can be described as the qualities or attributes of women or Men. The typical stereotypes of women tend to be kind, loving, helpful, nurturing, emotional and others related. For men, it’s being strong, powerful, scary, violent, assertive and others. I really enjoyed this project as I found it to be very inspiring. I knew my photoshoots had to be around ‘femininity vs masculinity’, however this was just a topic rather than a set photoshoot, so, I was able to take photograph of what inspired me and stood out to me, making m feel more motivated and involved. Which led to me producing a set of images which I am proud of.

My images:

Landscapes

A landscape is defined as all the visible features of an area of land, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal. The term Landscape originates from the Dutch word landschap which originally meant ‘region, tract of land’ but then took on an artistic meaning of ‘a picture depicting scenery on land’ in the early 1500s. This landscape project was an interesting topic to learn about especially the history of it. However I found the practical side, taking the photos, to be not as inspiring as other projects.

My images:

Street Photography

I enjoyed this project and focusing on Henri Cartier-Bresson as I find this style of photography appealing. When taking my own photographs I found it interesting and found that the photographs I was taking went really well.