The Week in Review #6

Last week Ray wrote a post titled “Do You See Stories?“. It was a call to think beyond the definition of photojournalism when thinking of stories. As photographers there is a tendency to stay within the lines, lines drawn by others, by overriding trends and fads, and in some ways, our lack of imagination. Ray invited you to step outside of those lines and tell your own stories whether they be real or imaginary or somewhere in between. We found a great example of this in the work of Bill Finger, the Seattle artist who created images that explored the “thin line between fiction, reality and photography”. Based on personal memories mixed with spaces he worked on as a motion picture assistant cameraman, he constructed miniature dioramas which were part of an exhibit hosted by Contact Toronto. Over the next few weeks, we will have a couple of examples from contributors right here on Rear Curtain.

There was another beautifully executed story by Jonathan Blaustein entitled “The Value of a Dollar“. Here the artist makes images that balance aesthetics and ideas that allow viewers to focus on the objects and think about issues like “class, poverty, globalization, and America’s obesity epidemic”. When asked what advice he has for aspiring photographers, Blaustein said “Take risks. Don’t try to make photographs that look exactly like all the photographs you’ve seen before. Dig deep into your own personal narrative, your vision, your community, your culture.” To paraphrase, tell your own stories.

Speaking of food, Matt found an amusing photo essay “What’s in Your Fridge” that had us photographing our own refrigerators and seeing what stories they told about each of us. Try this with your friends and you may be surprised what stories others see.

We ended the week with the photo series “Memorial Day al Fresco” from Magnum Photos. For our friends in the United States, as you spend time with your family and friends this long weekend, think about the stories around you whether they be true or fictional, funny or serious, or some combination of all of these. For the rest, look into the refrigerator, make a picture, and send a postcard. We’d love to see the stories!