Jock Sturges

I often enjoy seeing photography that is based primarily on people but they aren't the ones I usually find myself wanting to take or understand.  This girl's gaze did catch my eye though.  One of the things I love the most in this world is the California beaches and this picture makes me feel like I'm there even though it probably is no where near there.  The soft neutral skin tone and the way it interacts with the sand is great in this picture and I love how dark her hair is and the way it contrasts so well with the lighter tones at the top of the photograph.  The girl's posture seems to be vulnerable and shy which is augmented by her seemingly lack of clothing but she still gazes strongly at the camera when the picture was taken and it adds a great sense of strength to the photograph

Joakim Eskildsen

This photograph caught my eye immediately.  Like some of the other photographs I have chosen, this picture has a very strong sense of direction of purpose to it.  The man's view of the street sends the viewers eyes wandering up the picture and throughout the numerous windows and doorways but eventually you end back with the lonely old man in the chair and it just makes you wonder what his purpose is and what he wants to accomplish by sitting in that spot at that moment.  The dog is perfect as well.  I don't know what it is about that dog but I get the sense that he is waiting for that man to make any kind of move.  He seems dedicated to that moment and fits to well as a part of this intricate yet dynamic photograph

Elizabeth Weinberg

This was another picture that initially caught my eye but I had passed it up in favor of other photographs.  The freeze and perfect capture that this photo has is so interesting.  I love the position and moment that this was taken.  The glassy lake is so serene and the perfect frozen motion of the person is as well but the viewer knows it wont last and that is almost intoxicating in a way.  it makes you wonder what will happen next and pulls you in and makes you want to know more about this moment.  Again this picture is a what, why, when, where like some of the others.

Door County, Wisconsin, 1970

This image stood out to me in an earlier shot but I had passed it up for what I thought were some more interesting images.  When it came up again however I thought it wouldn't hurt to check it out.  The date is actually what got me to choose this image in the end.  I'm not that familiar with how photography has progressed over time but this image struck me as being very very modern but it was taken in 1970.  It makes me wonder what influenced the work and what the artist was thinking.  It appears that there is a garden wall or something to the right but the left seems to be the all of a broken down house.  I really enjoy the extra dimension of the mirror centered in the picture and that is what made me think it was more modern at first glance.  The reflection of his fingers as well as the wall keeps it grounded and dynamic while the rest of the arm gives the viewer a closer connection to the photograph as if it is their arm.  

Kim Jong IL

This picture may seem like an odd addition to the blog but I couldn't resist due to current events.  This picture is actually part of NorthKorea's press releases with information about their leader.  I'm guessing it is supposed to show that Kim Jong Il cares about the small things in life or something ridiculous.  Plus it shows how many people follow him, trust him, put faith into him, and of course look to him to make the big decisions which it seems like he is making here.  The absurdity of this photograph is just amazing to me.  It makes him out to be so human and so personal and the subtle hints it gives are actually not subtle at all.  The fact that Kim had photographers portray him in such an artistic way though fascinates me.  This photograph is so contemporary and interesting when looked at for artistic content rather than its true purpose.  Props to Kim's photographers.  They've got some skills.

Hiroshi Sugimoto, Gemsbok, 1982

I don't usually enjoy wildlife photography that has a documentary feel to it and when I first looked at this photograph that is the thought it was.  The more I look at this photograph the more I enjoy it and the more i feel like it is not just a "wildlife" photograph.  The almost perfect size of the empty space around the animals sets this image off as unique right away.  The uniform shape and patterns on the animals combines with that space to add an almost surreal feeling to it also.  The white sky, the sharp distinct horns and face, the random spacing of the animals... it all just combines to add such a depth and intricacy to the image that I enjoy.  

Wayne Wallace

This image caught my eye because of how dynamic and "centered" it is.  By centered I don't mean in the sense the the subject is centered (obviously its not) but because the photographs subject and focus is so centered on the mysterious man standing at the end of the alley.  The wet sidewalk and close walls add a personal and dark touch to the photograph.  Also the figure seems like the could have stepped out of a 1920's movie and it adds a very vintage touch to the artwork.  I really enjoy the centered focus and although it is mysterious, it is also a calm image.