Painting vs. Photography

Look..Notice..See

 

Panorama

Family

 

 

Color

 

 

Light

 

Portraits

Sequence

Sebastiao Salgado "Genesis"

Sebastiao Salgado “Genesis”

            Sebastiao Salgado is an award-winning Brazilian photographer known for raising public awareness about the most talked issues today in society such as, the environment, and the sudden climate change. Salgado was born on February 8th, 1944, in Aimores Brazil. He first began his career as an economist; however, in the 1970s he soon became a photographer. At the age of 26, he began to interest himself in photography. He worked as a freelancer for the finest photographic agencies allowing him to travel around the world to document his research. His photographs soon appeared in newspapers and magazines in many countries.

            Salgado mainly focused his work on the repercussions of hardship, poverty, oppression, and the industrialization of the environment. Photographers such as, Lewis Hine, W. Eugene Smith, and Walker Evans inspired Salgado to look into subjects similar to social inequality and are represented in black and white.

            In 1977, Salgado began a new project of the rural peasants of Latin America. It was published in 1986 along with his new book called, Other Americas. He also worked with a humanitarian organization called the Doctors without Borders on a project dealing with famine in Africa. He was able to publish two pieces of work and donated the funds to Doctors without borders.

            In 1986 until 1992, he was able to travel to 23 different countries and visit manual laborers in agricultural sites for instance, oil fields, and commercial fisheries. This gave him the concept to write a new book called workers; it was mainly focused on large group of people who had immigrated under pressure.

            Salgado began a new project in 2004 and was published recently in 2013 called, Genesis. He decided to mainly focus on landscape and wildlife. Salgado was able to travel around the world and experience nature in a different perspective. He enjoyed the idea that nature was untouched by mankind and it had its own natural beauty. The International Center of Photography were able to put Sebastiao Salgado’s work on exhibit and many individuals were allowed to experience his sights through photographs printed in black and white.

            The work of Salgado stood out during the exhibit mainly because the photos weren’t in color but in black and white. Changing the photo in black and white can potentially bring out the depth of that image and the true meaning behind that particular photo. For instance, Salgado was able to travel to the Patagonian prairies and take images from the tip of the mountains. By looking at this photo for

a couple of minutes you can tell the distinction between the mountains and how the different shades of grey can enhance the photo. Light can make a contrast in the photo; in the center you can tell the discrete separation of the mountains by the water trail. As well as, the beam of light stroking the center of the mountains. This image brings out the inner beauty of nature that Americans don’t have the power to see everyday.

            Salgado was also able to travel to the Galapagos in Ecuador and experience the wildlife before his eyes. Just by glancing at the various works of Salgado, one can visually see how much work he has put into creating such beautiful photographs. Each photo has its own inner beauty and a hidden message Salgado is trying to portray to his viewers. As a student, viewing these photographs was a bit overwhelming but, at the same time was very inspirational. The exhibit allows people to open their eyes and mind to see that the world is actually filled with simplicity but very beautiful. He was able to take pictures of people in a certain environments and show their living situations. The picture shown on the left shows two

African American females. By looking at the photograph one can depict that this wasn’t taken somewhere in the United Status because of the environment and the clothing the individuals are wearing. Salgado allowed his mind to explore to different countries and take photographs of people that are unique and what we are not used to seeing in our everyday lives. The picture is very beautiful because of the different shades of light that has been pronounced. Such as the darks and lights around the individuals as well as, the background. The background is filled of light allowing the two females to pop with there distinct features. The females have white bands on their heads and white beads around their hands that shows their dark skin and alluring features.

Vik Muniz "The Wasteland"

Vik Muniz “The Wasteland”

            Vik Muniz was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1961. His family was part of the working class trying to make a living out of what they had. When he was a young man he was shot in the leg trying to break up a fight that had occurred before him. For his injuries he had received compensation, Muniz then decided to use that money he had received to fund a trip to New York City. Once he arrived to NYC he decided to start his life over again by finding a job and supporting himself. He first began his career as a sculptor but then he became more interested into photography. Vik Muniz is a creative photography because he is able to incorporate many different materials into the process of making a successful photo. He used materials such as, chocolate syrup, dirt, diamonds, sugar, string, and garbage. His work went viral when he exhibited his “Pictures of Garbage Series” in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

            As Vik Muniz went to Rio De Janeiro he filmed his journey and its now a documentary called the “Waste Land.” It took nearly three years to film because it shows his journey from New York City where he currently resides back to his hometown, Brazil. When he got to Brazil he took a trip to the world’s largest garbage dump called the Jardim Gramacho. The Jardim Gramacho is located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. When he got there he took photographs of the “pickers.” The pickers are the people who pick through the garbage to find anything that would come into use or are recyclable materials. Muniz first objective was to paint the “pickers” with the garbage. Although, the characters he worked with were very inspiring he decided to recreate the photographic images of them out of the garbage they picked. The recreation shows the pride and hopelessness they have for their jobs.

           

Vik Muniz was able to pick a few people that work at the Jardim Gramacho and allow them to take part of this entire project. He was able to transform their lives into a huge success. These people had a tough time by owning up the fact that they take part of this kind of job because it was embarrassing for them to tell their family members they “pick up” garbage everyday. These people didn't have much opportunity but Vik gave them hope. They recreated their photographs out of materials they find at the Jardim Gramacho. When the project was finished Vik had an exhibit in Brazil and allowed these wonderful individuals to take part and be proud of whom they are as people. They can proudly say Vik Muniz changed their life for the better because of this experience.

            As a viewer I can truly say this documentary was very inspirational and amazing to watch. Vik Muniz was able to transform the lives of ordinary people that didn’t think they were anything special. He was proud to take them under his wing and be apart of this huge project that was a hit

success around the whole world. Looking at these photographs it can make you wonder how he is able to transform these photographs and make them look like paintings. The amount of color and the shades of black and white that occur in the picture are unbelievably amazing. As you look at the picture with the pot on her head you can tell the pot is filled with all these amazing colors but still has the distinct shape. As you look down at the person you can tell every detail that is going on. You can tell the lighting on her face with the shades. You can tell the shades in her arm and the creases in her shirt. There’s a before and after picture of the process

Vik went through to get to his final piece. The first picture is the man sleeping as a regular photograph. As you look to the right of that, you can tell that is the remake of the original photograph.  The background has a lot of color that was made out of the unwanted materials however, that makes the man pop out of the tub and making your eyes zoom onto him. As you look at the man you can tell every detail Vik Muniz put into making these photographs amazing. The man in the tub has many shades of black and white, which allows the viewer to see the difference between the tub, the arm, and the cloth.

            “The Waste Land” was an inspirational documentary that allowed me to open my eyes. It shows that people don’t always have the easy life and have to work to survive. As well as, Vik Muniz allowing them to take part of this project and potentially changing their lives forever. He did an exceptional job of inspiring his viewers and showing them how he was able to change the life of others.