Am I Dreaming? : Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, 2007

Image © Christopher Peterson - www.christopherpeterson.com

Gregory Crewdson is a man you might choose to describe as a filmmaker using a still camera. His elaborate, and sometimes highly expensive photo shoots remove the viewer from the real world, tearing them through a wormhole of dramatic graphic imagery. His surreal, almost fantasy styled images leave a lasting impression, and involve the viewer in his vivid, dream-like stories.

Crewdson was born September 26, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. He studied photography and received a BA at the State University of New York at Purchase, and later received an MFA from Yale University in 1988. Crewdson began teaching at a number of colleges in the United States before finally settling on teaching photography at Yale University, where he remains on faculty to this day.

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Untitled, Winter 2005

Image © Gregory Crewdson

A glum, unmotivated man conveys a feeling of depression and loneliness amidst the ruin of his ravaged dwelling. Cinder blocks, drywall, and wood scraps lay scattered about the room, illuminated by the ominous beams of light protruding through the decaying ceiling. The unfortunate man's house appears to have been ransacked; terrorized so badly, even the wounded walls scream in pain. The stranger rests upon a chair, gazing down into the abnormal aperture before him. Apparently indifferent to his setting, he ponders the mysterious glow emanating from the fractured floor, and considers his next step in what might prove to be his worst nightmare. The image communicates an eerie sci-fi feeling with the glowing light, heavy shadows, and faint haze of dust or smoke lingering in room. Some other-worldly phenomena or presence may be causing the debilitated man to remain in his seat rather than act upon his misfortune. Readily perceivable as a still from a sci-fi thriller, Gregory Crewdson encourages the viewer's desire to investigate further; to understand the man and his plight, and witness the next scene in his film.

South of my Neighbour: Manuel Alvarez Bravo

Manuel Alvarez Bravo - Self Portrait, 1980
Image © Manuel Alvarez Bravo

Manuel Alvarez Bravo is a renowned photographer from Mexico City, Mexico. Born February 4th, 1902, Alvarez Bravo broke into the professional world of photography in his mid-20s. Though he was completely self taught in photography, Alvarez Bravo quickly demonstrated a natural eye and ability with the camera. Within a decade, he realized the development of a unique personal style.

In a description of a gallery showing of Alvarez Bravo's work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, his work is described as including "photographs of the Mexican landscape, cultural and religious artifacts, and the daily life of the people, as well as modernist works influenced by such international trends as Surrealism."

In the course of his lifetime, Alvarez Bravo ascended to become one of the greatest Mexican artists of the twentieth century, and a highly influential historic member of the photographic community. Much of his work draws on themes concerning life and death, the notion that with birth comes new death, and how in Mexican culture the human spirit transcends the physical and embraces renewal when it meets the end of its cycle.

Mr. Alvarez Bravo incorporates intelligent use of symbolism in his thought provoking images. A single glance at any of his photographs is not nearly enough to encapsulate the deeper meaning behind his masterfully interesting imagery. His valuable historic contribution to photography, merged with his attentive eye for beauty in the seemingly mundane merit his incorporation into my blog.

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"The Spirit of the People"
Image © Manuel Alvarez Bravo, 1927

The sunlight paints spotted patterns across the earth surrounding a shallow grave. The lack of sunlight on the grave is reminiscent of a slumber in darkness with death beneath the sand. The light however, remains justified - the dark and dreary mood presented by the final resting place of a stranger stands in stark contrast to the candles and mixed splotches of light. This exists as a reminder to the viewer that although we may at times fall into darkness, the light persists in its dance within reach. An abundance of flowers rests upon the heap of sand; a tribute paid to the dearly departed. Two of the four candles perched upon the burial mound remain lit, however faint the existence of their luminance may be. Destined to be extinguished like the others, Alvarez Bravo captured this scene with a mood altering zenith. The candles' capacity to be ablaze once more recites the common Mexican lore that demise is not the end. Scattered foliage lay littered across the land, failing to rest upon the three anonymous graves in the background. No doubt commemorated in the past, the evidence of this has been swept away with weather and time. Alvarez Bravo vividly paints a picture illustrating belief, culture, and practise in a truly timeless image.

Tribute to an Icon: Tom Hanson

Image © THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ottawa Sun-Tony Caldwell

Tom Hanson began his career freelancing for the Canadian Press in 1989. By 1992 Hanson earned the position of full-time staff photographer with CP. Born in Rochester, New York in 1967, Hanson's family would later relocate to Montreal where he studied at Vanier College, before moving onto Concordia University.

To call Tom Hanson the epitome of Canadian photojournalism may be an understatement. To some he is viewed as one of the greatest photojournalists to grace the world with his presence. Graeme Roy, director of news photography for the Canadian Press, claimed "Not everybody has that gift, has that eye to make something magical out of what a bystander might see as a pretty routine-looking situation." Hanson's attention to detail, and miraculous ability to capture the essence of the moment was certainly a driving force in his rise to be one of the greatest Photojournalists of our time.

In an abrupt, unfortunate turn of events, Hanson passed away March 10th, 2009. While playing hockey with coworkers in the media industry, Hanson suddenly collapsed around 10:00 p.m. after taking a shot on net. In an address to the House of Commons the following day, Stephen Harper stated "Tom was a talented photojournalist who distinguished himself both by the quality of his work and his character...Through his photos, Tom helped to chronicle our story as Canadians."

I chose to include Tom Hanson in my blog not only because of his legendary status in the photojournalism community, but also as a tribute and method of paying respect to the man and his legacy.

Hanson helps children open bags containing soap bubble toy kits, at an orphanage in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Jan. 18, 2009
Image © THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alexander Panetta

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Untitled. "A rocker sits down on a street in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday Jan 20, 2005" Image © THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Hanson

Effectively employing a shallow depth of field with his shift focus lens, Hanson draws the eye of the viewer directly to his primary point of attention in the photo. A young adult rests upon a street-side bench, amid the blurred hustle and bustle of this busy Japanese street. The man, dressed completely in black, sports a heavy leather coat with metal studs and buttons - a classic symbol of rock and roll culture. The notorious reputation of a photograph to be worth a thousand words is evident in this gripping, story telling image. The blurred figures in the background symbolize the rocker's disposition toward the busy atmosphere. His neutral expression, combined with his undisturbed gaze, suggest a pensive state of mind. Perhaps our artist is combing through the structure of his latest hit song, or contemplating the apparent meaning of his next lyrical masterpiece. Resting by his side sits an idle bicycle, free from the shackles which are so prevalent in North American society. The evidence presented begs the viewer to question the two-wheeler's status; does it belong to the rocker, or a citizen confident in its unchained presence? This subtlety lends further evidence of Hanson's sensational ability to whisper words of wisdom and insight into the world expressed through his photographs.

Introducing: Jeff Parsons

Greetings and welcome to The Jeff Parsons Place!

Alright, let me stop you there. I already know what you're thinking. "The Jeff Parsons Place? Come on, that's a little boring and unoriginal don't you think?" Well, I have a short and sweet answer for you: Keep it simple!

It is a personal belief of mine that simplicity is a necessary component of everyday life. When all of nature operates on the path of least resistance, why should we attempt to travel on a road in conflict with this law? This idea simply fails to meld with me.

Allow me to shed some light on who I am and what I will be exploring here.

My name is Jeff Parsons. But you noticed that already, didn't you?
I am currently 19 years old, living in Barrie, Ontario. I am a student enrolled in Georgian College's Digital Photography and Imaging program. Before my time here in Barrie came to exist, I spent (almost) 12 years of my life residing on Manitoulin Island.
I discovered in my early teenage years that I had a particular passion for photography. Initially I had no clue what I was doing. All that mattered to me was the fact that I had my camera. Together with my heartbeat and two legs, nothing could stand in the way of my next image. Over time, and with the constructive criticism and support of my friends and family, I began entering photographs into local competitions while bugging my local newspaper for work.
The result: I landed a few small awards in local art shows, including a Best of Show in my high school's annual art show, Artastic Fusion. I also began shooting simple events and features for my local newspaper.

As my time in high school roared to a close, I applied to numerous colleges in Ontario for photography. Before I knew it, I became a full time student at Georgian College!

This blog - my place - is part of a project for one of my classes: Aesthetics & Criticism. I'll be applying what I have learned throughout the course to publications on this blog about photographers and photographs. I will be showcasing photographers, and featuring my very own criticism on a particular shot.

So this is my place. An outlet to express some portion of myself to you, the reader. I view this as an opportunity to develop my writing, and share my thoughts and opinions with anyone interested.