Response #5

Response #5

Joy Christiansen Erb’s “Portrait of a Mother” struck me immediately because she successfully captures these sensory reminders of child bearing, and parts of growing up that are often unspoken and un-photographed.  From small fingernail clippings on a windowsill to a close up of a tearstain on her baby’s chest she catches these fleeting and seemingly insignificant quiet moments.  Her work reminds me a lot of Sally Mann (my idol) in the way she photographs so honestly, not trying to candy-coat motherhood or raising children.  I admire this mother who offers new language into the field of photographing children with the way she translates childhood to textures and a sense of tangibility. 

I find myself instinctively drawn towards artists from Eastern Europe because I take such an interest in that particular culture and language.   As is true with photographer Nadia Sablin.  She spent the summer photographing her Aunt’s quiet lifestyles in a remote Russian village.   These photos touch on the notions of tradition, stillness, and simplicity.  There is a sense of isolation from the outside world but also a sense of content as the women saw wood for their wood burning stove, plant potatoes, and do crossword puzzles.  They don’t have a lot but seem happy just the same. 

Catherin Colaw’s “Original Sin” instantly reminded me of Brittany’s senior thesis with her photos of the nude female form imposed on different landscapes.  Catherin’s photos are kind of unsettling but beautiful in the way the figure is so distorted and twisted.  The woman’s head is never shown because it isn’t about a particular female’s identity but about how her body interacts with strange landscapes. Catherin considers each pose a performance almost, since each one requires a challenging stillness and trust.   

I think the images where the body seamlessly blends into the landscape are the most successful, especially the one pictured where her skin peaks through the tree’s empty spaces and you aren’t sure exactly what’s happening. I strive to explore sexuality, nakedness, and vulnerability in my own photography and never thought about the idea of photography as a performance before.