Portraits

MOMA Review

    The Cindy Sherman exhibit at MOMA was good. It was very interesting to see how she took portraits of what seemed to be the same person in different ways. Each portrait was very different yet very similar at the same time. For instance, she would pose the woman in the same way but put her in very different clothing. In one image she was wearing a plaid shirt and a blond braided wig, while in another she would have strange red hair and her face would be oddly painted. In most of those portraits the light was harsh and colors were bright which emphasized the bright colors.
   
      Although Cindy Sherman took very nice portraits, they weren't great. Her portraits didn't grasp me and pull me in the way that Weegee's photos did at the ICP museum. His photos were fantastic. Cindy Sherman's style is not that attractive to the eye. The person in the portrait does not have to be good looking to make the photo attractive, but her style of taking the photos was not pleasing. Also, many of her photos, such as Untitled #250 and #263, were to vulgar to be appreciated artistically.
   
       Although I did not like many of her color portraits and other color photos, her black and whites were beautiful. There is something about a black and white photograph that is always gorgeous. The shadows are emphasized and the photo overall has more personality. The Untitled Film Still #13 is wonderful. The books on the shelf in the background have every shade of gray and the light that is cast on the woman is beautiful.

Layering

Abstract

Color and Light

Look Notice See

ICP - Weegee Review

       Weegee was an immigrant free-lance photographer during the early and mid-nineteen hundreds. He had a radio that allowed him listen to the police. Through this radio he would hear where crimes had taken place and would arrive on the scene before the police got there. He took pictures of murders, fires, and anything interesting enough to sell to tabloids and newspapers.

       Upon entering the basement of the ICP museum I immediately fell in love. The fact that the photos were worn and had creases gave then character. Not only could you see the crime going on in the photo but the crinkles brought it to another level that could not be reached without them. It gave the viewer a look into the life of the photograph and created a curiosity to know where it’s been. Another physical representation that was enjoyable was the board that was set up. Once again, it gave the viewer a wonderful example of how the photos would have been viewed during the time period.

       Overall, I found the Weegee’s photos conveyed a very romantic American era. Standing over the dead body there was almost always a man in a suit and an old time hat. When looking at the picture the viewer can almost smell the cigarette smoke and hear the hustle and bustle of the city. It also gave a look back into the time where crime scenes were not protected like they are today.

       For someone who is very interested in history and is mesmerized by this era this is an absolutely wonderful exhibit. I walked around this floor of the museum more than once and am excited to go back. All though many of his photos primarily involved crime, Weegee’s photos were always exciting and pleasing to the eye.