Chosen Photographer:

Diane Arbus

I have chosen Diane Arubus who is an American photographer famous for her powerful and often black and white portraits. She is a perfect choice because her photographs are abstract in concept, even though they show real people. She abstracted people from their everyday context, turning them into powerful symbols.

Gallery of Abstract Photographs

  • Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey (1967) 
  • Source:  Wikipedia/Diane Arbus 7
  • Two twin girls stand side-by-side, their nearly identical appearance

 

  • Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, N.Y.C. (1962) 
  • Source:  Wikipedia/Diane Arbus 7
  • A boy’s tense pose and grimace, contrasted with the toy weapon.

 

  • A Young Boy with a Straw Hat, Waiting to March in a Pro-War Parade (1967) 
  • Source:  Wikipedia/Diane Arbus 7
  • The boy’s patriotic costume and confused expression become an abstract symbol of the complexity of political beliefs.

 

  • A Jewish Giant at Home with His Parents, The Bronx (1970)
  • Source:  Wikipedia/Diane Arbus 7
  • The extreme difference in size between the man and his parents

 

  • Triplets in Their Bedroom, N.J. (1963) 
  • Source:  National Gallery of Art 8
  • The repetition of the three girls sitting in a row creates a pattern-like.

 

  • A Naked Man Being a Woman, N.Y.C. (1968) 
  • Source:  Wikipedia/Diane Arbus 7
  • This portrait challenges simple definitions of gender, making the subject an abstract representation of identity itself.

 

  • A Family on Their Lawn One Sunday in Westchester, N.Y. (1968)
  •  Source:  Wikipedia/Diane Arbus 7
  • An ordinary family scene feels staged and distant, making it an abstract study of suburban life and its hidden emotions.

 

  • Untitled (from the late series of masked figures) (1970-71)
  •  Source:  Chinese Encyclopedia Article 9
  • Arbus photographed people in masks, removing their individual identities and turning them into universal, abstract symbols.

Analysis of Photographic Style

She used a medium format camera that produced square pictures. This shape focuses all attention on the subject in the center, making the composition feel direct and intense. Her subjects often look straight into the camera. This breaks the wall between the subject and the viewer, creating a feeling of confrontation that is uncomfortable and but powerful.

She often used a direct flash, even in daylight. This creates harsh light, deep shadows and sharp details, making the images feel raw and stripping away any romanticism.

In what ways are the photographs abstract? 

Arbus’s photos are abstract because they use real people as symbols. She removes the context so we focus only on the person, transforming them into a concept. I like the emotional power of her work. She wasn’t afraid to make people feel uncomfortable. Her photos force you to stop and think about the story behind the face, and about your own prejudices.

A Quotation by Diane Arbus:

“A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.”

I chose this quote because it perfectly captures the mystery of her work. Her photos seem to reveal a truth about a person, but that revelation only leads to more questions. This endless curiosity is what makes her photography so deep and also abstract.

Connection to My Vision

I chose Her photography because my own vision is interested in finding the extraordinary within the ordinary. Just like her, I want to create portraits that are not just about what a person looks like, but about their inner world and the stores they represent.

I will try to create more direct and intimate portraits by asking my subjects to look directly into my camera. I will experiment with simple, uncluttered background to focus attention on the subject, similar to her.

I will think about the theme or concept I want to explore, for example like identity or isolation of people. Let that guide my choice of subject and composition

Analysis of a Single Image

 Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey (1967)

I chose it because it is incredibly simple but also deeply mysterious. The twins nearly identical appearance creates a powerful visual pattern that is mesmerizing. The most surprising thing is the slight difference in their expressions: one girl has a faint smile, while the other looks more serious. This small difference makes the image haunting and raises questions about individuality. The repetition of the two figures is the most important element. It creates a strong pattern like composition that feels both perfect and unset. This repetition forces us to compare them and look for tiny differences, turning a portrait into a puzzle about similarity and individuality.

 

Revised Vision Statement

My revised vision is to create intimate and thought provoking portraits that explore the themes of identity and human condition in Beijing Hutong. I will take photos in the style of Diane Arbus. I’m particularly inspired by her direct approach and her ability to find universal stories in individual faces. I will trying to take pictures that use simple, square compositions and direct eye contact to create a sense of intimacy and to encourage viewers to look closer and question their own perceptions of normality.