Documentary photography is a way to record what is happening in the moments at present for future reference. However, documentary photography has always had the inseparable connection with portrait with its reflections on people in daily life. The series of images below aim to reflect the moments of people’s imagery status in the public from photographing. In this set of images, I try to explore and present people’s personal life in the public in terms of imagery status by taking photographs from absent-minded people. These images revealed the disconnection from their spiritual status to the world. Even existing in the surrounding of crowds and noises, the isolation of their spiritual status remains at those particular moments.
On the other hand, Street Photography is extremely easy disputed by law, such as how and where you take or use the photograph. Especially in the situation of violate Portrait from the citizen. In theory, it is against the law of the Portrait when someone takes those personal photographs for business purposes without the represents’ permissions. However, to remain people’s reflections of the moments in documentary photography has to photograph them immediately at the time when things happen in order to record the facts. Nevertheless, most of time people don’t realize they have been photographed while it’s happening, therefore, photographers can capture the actual image they wanted from the person at that special moment. However, in this case, there seems to be a contradiction between the right of expression oneself and the power of the law in one’s portrait. At the result, Street Photography has been retrained a great quantity of ideas expressing from the right of Portrait.
Inspiration:
The spirit of Street Photography - Bruce Gilden
Bruce Gilden, born in Brooklyn, is known as the "archetypal street photographer" and is famous for his unique attitude towards photographing, which shows a strong spiritual force in his photographic works. He brings the philosophy of the survival on the street into art. For Gilden, the images of all objects and people are his inviolable private properties; he must be cruel to "capture" them even with the risks of any conflictions. My favourite image of his works is a photography called “Two Members of the Yakuza Asakusa”. The characters have drawn the distinctive personalities and dramatic tensions into his photographic. However, his approach of shooting was full of controversy. Bruce Gilden once claimed, "I'm known for taking pictures very close, and the older I get, the closer I get."
Privacy Policy - Cases Study
“Heads ＃13” by Philip-Lorca diCorcia
In 2006, Ermo Nussenzweig accused photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia of violating his privacy and Jewish Orthodox faith, by displaying, publishing and selling his portraits without his consent. However, based on his portraits has been taken in public places, and was recognized as works of art, the court ruled Ermo Nussenzweig lost in the end. New York court ruled that the works of art, which were for sale in a limited numbers, were still under its artistic; it is not equivalent to profit-seeking behaviour. Even so this work was sold 10 copies on the sale price of 30,000 U.S. dollars.
Cardiff at Night (2008) by Maciej Dakowicz
Like Bruce Gilden, Maciej Dakowicz used the "violent" approach, toughly and quickly took pictures of the targets. His latest works “Cardiff at Night” aroused the widespread discussion. He spent four years in the regional capital of Wales Cardiff shooting a series of photographs of people’s nightlife, represented the scene of night of the Cardiff Street.
However, the most interesting part for me is the deputing of the right of portrait in his photographs. In his works, most of the people have been taken photographs while they were in their drunken states, such as vomiting on the side of litter, or passing out in the middle of the road. These kinds of images might even have affects on the personal image and life. It would have a lot of attentions for the right of portrait and the follow-up impacts of it are worth to investigate.
In my opinions, the timing is the most difficult thing of street photography. Neither for the legal or moral considerations, it is impossible for me to take picture without concerns of these kinds of issues in the course of shooting like Bruce Gilden does. I only manage to wait for the best moments and take some snap shoots. In addition, compared to some other countries, the privacy policy is much more concerned in the United Kingdom, which also encountered some difficulties in the process.
I explore this project by using black and white images to create the dramatic tension and intend to congeal the moments. Compose the image based on colour levels of monochrome in black, grey, and white to inspire the appreciator with its power of simplicity.
Peyton Chiang 04/06/2009
