Thomas Struths Expedition reveal about Photography - Essay Example

What does Thomas Struth’s Expedition reveal about Photography? What does Thomas Struth Expedition reveal about Photography? Introduction Reading and interpretation of a photograph is a complex procedure that requires the making of several assumptions as well as trying to unravel the subject that the photographer intended to be carried out in the picture (Robertson and McDaniel, 2005). It includes the art of looking at the photograph and reading it in order to know the elements and the themes that the photographer wants to bring across to the viewer. The Thomas Struth Expedition shows the works of Thomas Struth that have been presented in the form of photographs and exhibited in exhibition halls the world over. This particular artist creates photographs that are distinct from the works of other photographers and makes use of different styles that show his ideas and skills in the production of pictures. The artist presents in a landscape format or as portraits to highlight different themes as thought out most of these photographs. The photography according to Thomas Struth attempts to answer questions about self as seen by the audience. It is worth noting that the photography by Thomas Struth is mainly landscapes that are shown in different compositions, color and detail. However, an important part of the photography that has been exercised by the contemporary photographers is the use of portraits that also form a big part of photography collections found in galleries (Clarke, 1997).  Additionally, the photography by Thomas Struth is sincerely portrayed in that the artist attempts to bring out true life situations that make the audience trust the message in the portraits. The portraits are brought out in a natural way that brings about the true relationship between form and content, which makes it possible to identify with the photographer. Once a person comes into contact with the portraits captured by Thomas Struth, for instance the Giles Robertson, Edinburgh 1987, there is a communication bond that is created between the audience and the photograph, whereby the audience would be asking itself what the photograph represents in a continuous dialogue. This shows that the images in the portraits actively show that Thomas Struth prioritizes the perception of his audience towards the captured photographs. Through the creation of a concept that is displayed through photographs, Thomas Struth creates photos that the audience must keep looking at. These appealing pictures that come through Struth’s photography are large, bold and clear in color (Elkins, 2007). To achieve this, Struth ensures that most of the pictures do not have emotions or emotions that call upon the audience to interpret them at the time of viewing. The photography style of Thomas Struth also includes subjects that have historical connotations and at times show the artist as focusing on volatile themes or subjects. In addition to this, the views that are carried out in the photos offer panoramic views making the photography eye catching and attractive to the audience. An enduring quality of the work of Thomas Struth is that it creates awareness of the conditions at which the photographs are made. More importantly is the fact that the photography by the artist is that it uses conditions that help in the structuring of the images from the positioning of the camera. The pictures also reveal the collective cultural behavior of those captured within the pieces of art, while at the same time emphasizing Thomas Struth’s vision of uniformity between nature and the landscape (Cotton, 2009). This is because the artist always looked for new things to be represented in the work, which relate to the behavior of human beings. Struth also ensured that the photographs that he created did not have distracting backgrounds. The effect of ensuring that the background is not distracting is the fact that such pictures often show the lightness of spirit that is desirable for any photograph. Therefore, in photographs that he has captured such as the photograph that he captured captioned “The Queen: Art and Image” that is shown at the National Portrait Gallery in London, the subject of the photography only remains the queen and the duke only as opposed to the room. In photographs that were made as part of Thomas Struth’s journey in Israel and Palestine titled “This Place” shows the theme of a conflict-laden region with disagreements between the citizens. The portrait captured in this area is a landscape that emphasizes the centrality of human beings to the landscape and the desires of these people to have a peaceful coexistence. In another photograph that has been presented by Thomas Struth titled The Faez Family Rehovot, he has shown members of a young family from different generations and how the surrounding areas complement the persons shown in the image. The above photographs as captured by Struth show that the photographer is quite keen in looking for locations to shoot the photograph, which is achieved through instincts and the general outward looking of an area. This adds to the appeal of the pictures that are made by the Struth that ensures that the image remains in the minds of the audience even when it is not present. Therefore, according to the photography by Struth, the pictures can be easily understood for the specificity that they offer to the particular audience at any given time that they are observed (Durden, 2013). The implications of this photography by Thomas Struth of the Palestine and Israel are that it is driven by the urge to show the geographical and political realities that prevail in the areas and how human beings respond to them. The photography by Struth has also showed that the artist prefers to create them from a centralized perspective that ends up in the creation of symmetrical images in the pictures (Weski et al, 2000). This photographer also ensures that the images are simple using moderate lighting and use of mild shading for maximum differentiation of images and backgrounds. Through this, the chosen areas and backgrounds of his photography have ensured that the scenes are neutral as much as possible. Therefore, the black and white shots that form part of Struth’s work have been used effectively to underscore the relationship between human beings and their environment. The images by Thomas Struth were also equally shot from different angles such as the Velázquezs Las Meninas and the one titled Hermitage in St. Petersburg, whereby the spectators become the main point of focus of the photograph. Additionally, in these pieces of photography by Thomas Struth, the artwork does not form part of the frame hence ensuring that the photographer informs his audience of the active role that they should play in actualizing the photograph. This shows that the photography by Thomas Struth attempts to empower the audience as active consumers and interpretation of its past and the process of its creation till it becomes complete. In other pieces of work by Thomas Struth, he has created the Pictures from Paradise series that has settings of the natural habitats in America, Australia, China and Europe. In these photographs, the artist depicts a gathering of people showing the relationship between the human subjects and the jungles. In other series of photographs created around the same time, Thomas Struth has attempted to focus his subjects on the relationship between scientific and industrial places such as industrial parks. From the above, it can be shown that the pictures by Thomas Struth created a debate in the human mind and imagination as well show how innovative the artist was. This is quite evident in the photography whereby in one instance the photographs may show the culture and imaginations of a group of persons while the other just gives a panoramic view of nature and how the human life is intertwined to it. The works of this artist are also symbolic in the sense that they bring out the content in an abstract manner. The contents bring out the meaning and form in order to achieve adequacy to the highest possible level. Conclusion In conclusion, it can be restated that the photography of Thomas Struth is distinct in that he aims at creating the curiosity of human beings in order to interpret the images in an objective manner. In addition, his pictures possess some level of ambiguity and are organized in symmetrical manner such as the photographs of the streets. As time progressed, it can be seen that Struth also incorporated color in most of his works, especially the photographs taken in museums and the cathedrals whereby people are made to be the key factor in the appreciation of the photographs. The photographs by Struth also bring out the talent of the photographer as one who emphasizes order and composition in whatever is presented in a gallery or an exhibition at the end of the photograph session. It has also been shown that the photography by Thomas Struth was full of magnificent objectivity that can only be realized through the gaze of the subject as seen by the audience. This shows that the main objective of Thomas Struth was to ensure that the audience gets to relate to the photographs and perceive them from their own point of view as if they were part of the pictures themselves. Finally, Struth has shown that it is possible for a photographer to take pictures of any nature such as urban architecture and jungles amongst others, and bring out the desired effect as long as the audience can be emotionally attached to the pictures and express their feelings. His expressive nature in the photography makes it possible for the audience to interpret the pictures with utmost neutrality. References Clarke, G. (1997). The photograph. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Cotton, C., (2009). The Photography as Contemporary Art New Edition, The Second Edition, London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. Durden, M. (2013). Fifty key writers on photography. London ; New York : Routledge. Elkins, J. (2007). Photography theory. New York: Routledge. Robertson, J., & McDaniel, C. (2005). Themes of contemporary art: Visual art after 1980. New York: Oxford University Press. Weski, T., Liesbrock, H., Sprengel Museum Hannover., & Städtische Galerie im Städelschen Kunstinstitut Frankfurt am Main. (2000). How you look at it: Photographs of the 20th century. New York: D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers. Read More