In this presentation, I chose to look into the photography of William Eggleston. Born in Tennessee, he specialized in photographing everyday scenes, and developing them using the dye transfer process. This process was used by photographers and filmmakers, where they would layer magenta, cyan, and yellow dyes to create images with bright colors. Much of his work is interpretive and aesthetically evaluative, and he takes advantage of common sets around Mississippi and Tennessee, such as diners and gas stations, and composes unique shots that bring a nostalgic feeling to the viewer. The images I chose to interpret present scenes such as these.
Reviewing this photographer’s work changed my perception of photography because I was able to understand the extensive time and work it took to develop photos like these. The layering in the dye transfer process must be so precise for it to work, and all of the photographs I interpreted in this assignment were beautifully done. I also read an interview of Eggleston published in the NY Times, where he said that he does not have a favorite photograph, as he composes them so purposefully and meticulously. Every photo he took was on purpose, and meant for an artistic purpose. This gave me a greater point of view of how artists like Eggleston have a trained eye, and how the simplest of scenes can create beautiful, colorful, and interpretive photographs.
Comments