Researching the starting point

The work of the photographers Lee Friedlander, Naoya Hatakeyama, Lisette Model, and Robert Holden revolves around the theme of Reflection.

Lee Friedlander

Lee Friedlander is an “American photographer known for his asymmetrical black-and-white pictures of the American “social landscape.”

In his photography, the majority of his works are based on black, white, and shades of gray, capturing subjects or people in this monochrome style. When portraying people in his photographs, they are either facing the camera or holding an object towards the lens. Utilizing the effects of a black and white camera, the use of lighting in his photography is exquisite. As everyone knows, objects have their inherent colors, and although the photos are in black and white, we can still discern the layers of color arrangement within them. Moreover, the way of Friedlander’s photo is displayed through many different perspectives. His representative style involves the creative use of reflections, shadows, and textural elements.

Naoya Hatakeyama

Naoya Hatakeyama is a “renowned Japanese photographer whose work examines the life of cities and the built environment. ” (all-about-photo)

His photography largely captures the essence of light. When viewing his photos, there is an indescribable sense of haziness, yet this haziness is comforting and grounding. It does not evoke fear because the hazy feeling is associated with familiar subjects such as cities and landscapes. Furthermore, his photography often features leading lines, with large curves coming from all directions, some guiding the eye towards a specific point, while others seem to encircle the sky without a clear purpose. Hatakeyama employs a rich palette of colors and high saturation to express his photographic techniques.

Lisette Model

In the photographic works of Lisette Model, her expressive technique also employs shades of black and white. She focuses solely on capturing the dynamism of people in various environments. When viewing her works, the most impactful aspect for me is the interaction between the subjects, their expressions, and how people were positioned in the photograph along with their movement. Each of Lisette Model’s works appears to be filled with stories and emotions. Perhaps due to the monochrome tones, the vintage photographs often evoke more resonance and imagination.

Robert Holden

Holden’s work is fulled with imagination. He has a well-known photographic series titled “The Burning House Project.” The concept is to ask what items you would take if your house were on fire. Each object carries memories, those books that may seem insignificant to us but are incredibly precious to others. I believe Holden wants to convey through his photographs that every individual is unique, with their own irreplaceable memories, and the objects that hold those memories might be unexpected. Each person is unique, rich, and full of stories.

Comparing Photographers

Lee Friedlander & Lisette Model

Against the backdrop of society and history, Friedlander’s work reflects the alienation of modern cities in society and the isolation of individuals within social groups. Model’s photography, on the other hand, explores more the living conditions of marginalized individuals in comparison to their environment. Friedlander often uses windows, streetlights, porches, and the like to construct his images. His photographic style has been influenced by Robert Frank and Walker Evans. The scenes he captures are often of modern urban and chaotic settings, using these to reflect the streets of post-war American cities. Teaching for over 35 years, Model inspired and influenced a generation of photographers, such as Diane Arbus, Larry Fink, and Fox Solomon, but she is not widely known in the general publishing field. (Britannica) Model’s photographic works offer profound insights into social class and an individual’s place within society.

 Lee Friedlander & Robert Holden

Frieldlander’s work connects with visual arts. Focusing on artistic products that stand on their own, while Holden’s work is more focused on the individual’s journey and transformation.

Lee Friedlander & Naoya Hatakeyama

Hatakeyama loves to take black-and-white photographs, but unlike Friedlander, his photos feature a strong key light. For example, in this photograph,

Although the expression is monochromatic, there is a very strong light source and a clear position of the light. In Friedlander’s work, some of the lighting is reflected through the gradation of colors, with more diffuse light or not-so-intense light sources. In contrast, in Hatakeyama’s photographic works, the focal point of the light is quite evident.

Lisette Model & Naoya Hatakeyama

Lisette Model’s photographic work typically focuses on people, showcasing her profound insight into human nature. Her work not only documents individuals but also captures the appearance of society at the time, serving as a microcosm of an era. In contrast, Naoya Hatakeyama’s photography is filled with the conflict between gravity and energy. His work concentrates on the appearance of cities, not on individuals but on the collective whole. His photographs capture time and moments. Model’s work is more about interaction with people, while Hatakeyama focuses on nature and urban landscapes. Model employs techniques to capture her subjects, whereas Hatakeyama utilizes large-format cameras and long exposure times to create his images. The different historical contexts have also contributed to the distinct photographic effects of the two artists.

Lisette Model & Robert Holden

Model’s photographic works are all about the relationships of black, white, and shades of gray, without color. This is actually quite complex when viewed from different perspectives, because sometimes black-and-white photography, if not richly expressed, can lead to viewers not understanding the content of the photo or experiencing the emotions. However, in Model’s work, she enhances the visual effect and the emotions within the photo by using black-and-white cameras and shooting angles. Holden, on the other hand, takes color pictures. He does not focus on humans but rather on people’s inner selves, creating a more interactive piece of work.

Robert Holden & Naoya Hatakeyama

Their styles are distinctly different. Hatakeyama prefers to express photography through light and landscapes, while Holden enjoys capturing physical objects. Hatakeyama’s work invites associations through the images he captures, whereas Holden’s series titles are very captivating, prompting viewers to engage in thought and imagination.

Citation

All-About-Photo.com. “Lee Friedlander.” All About Photo, 31 Aug. 2024, www.all-about-photo.com/photographers/photographer/10/lee-friedlander.

“Lee Friedlander.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 10 July 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Lee-Friedlander.