3 Jan 2011

Looking at Artists

Bill Henson is a contemporary art photographer whose work reflects an interest in ambiguity and transition. The use of strong contrasts between light and dark (chiaroscuro) is common throughout his work, such as this. The two figures appear to be side-lighted using a small source, creating hard shadows and strong contrast. This has given presence to the form of the subjects in order to create atmosphere rather than submitting to the details and textures of the models. There is a strong battle for attention between the shadows and the subject, giving way to the mood of the photograph.

Henson's intention is to use photography for creative expression and often uses juxtaposed relationships between male and female; youth and adulthood; day and night; light and dark; nature and civilisation.

Some of Henson's work and behavior has come under much controversy and police investigation given the subject and nature of particular photographs. More can be read about it here.

Thomas Joshua Cooper is one of the most celebrated and distinctive landscape photographers working anywhere in the present day. The locations are found on a map, tracked down and then photographed, each place the subject of a single negative taken with a weighty antique field camera. They are meditative, almost philosophical images, exquisitely printed by the artist in the 19th century manner with layers of silver and gold chloride.

Here is a high contrast photograph with lots of depth clues created by the strong shadows of the rock formation. The monochrone and chiaroscuro nature of the photograph is extreamly atmospheric and produces a solumn and hauntingly lonely tone to the frame.

More of Cooper's work here.

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