Photographer Research 5: Imogen Cunningham

I have chosen to write about Imogen Cunningham in my photographer research due to the fact that her work containing still life really catches my eye and interests me, and I think that some of her photographs can be specifically linked to the topic of 'evidence'. A first example of a photograph by Cunningham that I particularly enjoyed was this one:

I think the texture of this flower can be seen very clearly, allowing it to fall into the topic of 'evidence of texture'. Also, the angle at which this photograph was taken at allows specific details of the flower to be seen that would otherwise have been unnoticeable. I also like the lack of colour that features in the photograph for it allows the viewer of the photograph to focus solely on the textures and what the photographer is trying to portray, rather than being distracted by vibrant and bold primary colours, which could ruin the effect.

This photograph shows the evidence of contrast. The smooth, soft texture of bananas can be contrasted with the rough, sharp texture of a pineapple, so by putting them both together, Cunningham has managed to create something that includes one of the formal elements. Again, without the colour, the viewer is more focused on formal elements such as texture and contrast instead of colour, which usually dominates the eye. This is one of my favourite photographs by Imogen Cunningham due to these many formal elements.

This photograph is very different to the past two photos that I just analysed. I think that Imogen Cunningham intended to slightly scare the viewers of her work, due to the fact that the images that can be seen within her photograph are unsettling. The doll's head is the main feature of this photograph in my opinion, and it is immediately noticeable that this baby toy is missing eyes. Eyes tend to show emotion, especially in photography, so by getting rid of them, Cunningham has supplied a feeling of unease for the viewer.

This is the final photograph by Imogen Cunningham that I will be writing about. It can clearly be seen that this particular photograph can fit nicely into the topic of evidence due to the fact that it shows the evidence of alcohol/addiction. A half empty bottle of wine with a small glass full next to it shows that the drink is about to be consumed, setting the scene. I also really like this photograph by Cunningham due to the fact that although it is in black and white, the actual colours of the wine can be seen and interpreted, meaning she has incorporated form into some of her work, which I think has really worked for her.

Imogen Cunningham has influenced me due to the fact that all of her work is taken in black and white, yet it still manages to be eye catching, telling me that colour is not the only way to make a photograph noticeable. I will be basing any future work on her style in an attempt to recreate some of her photographs, such as the pineapple and banana one. I would do this in the studio so as to make sure the objects are the main focus of the image.

To summarise, Cunningham's photographs of still life are really interesting to me, due to the fact that she incorporates so many of the formal elements into individual photographs, such as texture, contrast, shape and form. Although she is not my favourite photographer that I have researched, she has certainly had an impact on how I view eye-catching photographs, and I will definitely be remembering her work in the future.