What is Conceptual Photography?
Photography is more than pointing and shooting a subject, conceptual photography takes this into account. It is a form of photography which demonstrates a photographer's concept/ idea hence the name. Photographers tend to prioritise the actual idea over the photograph as the idea is what the audience are encouraged to focus on. Conceptual art is everywhere, it's even commonly seen in advertisement and logos, for example the Olympic logo is meant to represent the unity of different nations through the interlinking rings which feature colours present on most flags.
Photography is more than pointing and shooting a subject, conceptual photography takes this into account. It is a form of photography which demonstrates a photographer's concept/ idea hence the name. Photographers tend to prioritise the actual idea over the photograph as the idea is what the audience are encouraged to focus on. Conceptual art is everywhere, it's even commonly seen in advertisement and logos, for example the Olympic logo is meant to represent the unity of different nations through the interlinking rings which feature colours present on most flags.
Dave NitscheDave Nitsche is a conceptual photographer whom has produced some of most known conceptual photographs, despite not shooting humans he is able to convey emotion through his work by using inanimate objects. All of his photos follow a theme of replacing where human body parts would be used with inanimate objects, in many of his photos he has used objects such as mechanical hands, ping pong balls and glass.
Each of Nitsche's photos are named after words or phrases, I feel this allows the viewer to interpret the photo how they wish to an extent. My favourite photos of his are 'Salvation' and 'chaos' as I feel they can both be seen differently depending on the audience's opinions. For me I see 'Salvation' as representing being saved by the blood of Christ which is repeated throughout the Bible, while for 'Chaos' I see it to represent how Chaos can be interpreted in different ways, despite only one marble being out of place in each bucket this could be seen as an extreme problem from the perspective of an individual with a condition such as OCD. |
Sophie Calle
Sophie Calle is a French conceptual photographer, writer and artist well known for her conceptual series (Suite Vénitienne) in which she followed a stranger. Using diary- like entries she was able to transport the viewer into her situation, following a stranger and documenting his movements while simultaneously creating an unusual bond.
Unlike reguar conceptual photography this series records Calle's phsycological and emotional response through text instead of challenging the audience, she also put herself in her subject's shoes by requesting a private investigator followed her and documented her movements as she had. I enjoy how you would think nothing of Calle's photos unless you knew the story behind them, to another person might just be a set of images documenting Venice's streets during the time period while to others it shows her dedication to follow a stranger as she refuses to give up even when she loses him. |