Photographers with Image and text

Victor Burgin

'Possession'

For the image below Burgin has deliberately designed the layout to reflect that of typical advertising. The opposition of the text and image immediately catches the audiences attention and triggers questioning as to the reasons behind it. Burgin explores the idea of capitalism and uses this as a staple to produce meaningful images combined with contradicting text. 

                                                                

The image above is titled ' Life diamonds a little give and take' taken in 1974.

For this image Burgin has used a piece of text in a context that makes it's unrealistic assumptions evident. It's layout is that of a fashion magazines, but by looking at the text there seems to be some meaning behind the use of subjects used here. The cameras gaze seems to fall onto the black woman standing at a bus stop in modern day England, by looking at the text Burgin could be attempting to show some binary opposites through his imagery. Burgin usually shoots in black and white and his images have a documentary look to them, they seem to be shoot mainly outdoors using natural lighting, the image above is a good example of this, the subjects are not posed and the overall image is quite grainy and high contrast. 

Lorna Simpson

Lorna Simpson became well known for her photographic work in the mid 1980's. Her work with image and text challenged and confronted conventional views of gender, culture, identity, history and memory. Simpson looked at how our gender and culture differences shape our interactions, relationships and experiences in a contemporary multi racial American society. I have been looking at Simpson's work for inspiration as she also has works with confronting modern societies issues through imagery.

The image above is called, Waterbearer, 1986. Simpson has used Vinyl lettering and it is a gelatin silver print. The combination of black and white makes a great binary opposite here, as well as the highlights really standing out. I reckon Simspson has used a slow shutter speed to capture the water falling.  Lorna combines text with her images to express modern society's relationship with gender, race and ethnicity. 

The image above is titled 'necklines,' taken in 1989. 

Simspon shows in this photograph a black woman's mouth, chin, neck and collar bone. For the text in this image Simspon has used the words: ring, surround, lasso,noose, eye areola, halo, cuffs, collar, loop,' The text is quite suggestive, and could be used as a technique to confront an audience's opinions and views on the subjects that she explores through imagery. 

Taryn Simon

The photographer, Taryn Simon has been influential as to how I will approach and execute my final idea. . I have been looking at 'An American index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar.'

For this series of images she examines diverse subjects such as science and medicine, religion, entertainment and nature as well as government. She has used a large format camera and it took her 4 years to shoot the whole project. For my project I am also examining the idea of religion as well as exploring the government, and modern day issues, and like Taryn Simon I aim to expose different ideas through imagery. Taryn uses the technique of text to inform and engage the public, but after processing the visual side she adds text to define the images fully. 

Taryn Simon's work relates to my idea to a certain extent as she tries to expose the hidden sides of cultures and religion and the government. I am interested in exploring this idea further through my images. 

I particularly enjoy this series of images, it is obvious that Taryn Simon has taken so much time into researching these subjects, and I admire her bravery in exposing them to an audience. The image below really particularly stands out to me amongst her other work. It is a photograph of a man on death row, it has an strong element of ambiguity, you find yourself questioning and debating over the subject and the meanings behind why this picture was taken.

Barbara Kruger

Barbara Kruger re-makes signs. Unlike the bulk of signage we see every day, Kruger's work tries not to deceive us into believing we have a need to fulfill, but to allow us to discover the deception of signs. Kruger is considered a montage artist.  

 Her key influences are "movies, television, and the stereotypical situations of everyday life. I particularly like her work titled "Your comfort is my silence." It is a good example of an image that really involves the audience with the use of text. The use of the pronoun 'you' leaves the viewer shaken because the natural reaction to the piece is that the "you" does not refer the viewer in particular, but to some otherness that is not viewing the picture at the moment. The viewer reacts by stepping out of there normal frame of reference to evaluate the picture, almost forcing an audience to form their own micro narrative of what the image is referring to.

Jim Goldberg

Jim Goldberg is a good example of a documentary photographer who consistently combines text with image. He uses the technique of hand written text to add emotion and depth to an image. Goldberg takes photographs of his subjects and gets them to write about their themselves and their lives or emotions below the image. His style of photography is very complex, the images almost talk to you and they have the ability to have emotional hold on an audience, reading the text offers you a glimpse into not only their lives, but into their psyches. I find the individual narratives, for example the photograph below, hugely compelling.

  SAN FRANCISCO—"To me life seems so messed up but littel by littel I am trying to over come that. Because it is hard being a woman and to accept me as I am," 1978