Post on 28-Mar-2015
Photography
Posed/Unposed
MoMA Photography Theme
Questions
MoMA Photography Theme
Why would a photographer pose a person or a group of people?
Why would a photographer try to capture a person or group of people when they were not aware they were being photographed?
MoMA Photography Theme
William J. Shew. Untitled (Mother and Daughter). c. 1850
Do you think this image is posed? Why or why not?
What do you notice about the facial expression and body language of the subjects?
How is this different or similar from a family portrait you might have taken?
Take a close look at Untitled (Mother and Daughter) by William J. Shew
MoMA Photography Theme
Frances Benjamin Johnston. Stairway of the Treasurer's Residence: Students at Work from the Hampton Album. 1899-1900.
Frances Benjamin Johnston. Geography: Studying the Seasons from the Hampton Album. 1899-1900.
Are these people posing?
What do you think the context is?
Take a close look at Frances Benjamin Johnston’s The Hampton Album
MoMA Photography Theme
Do you think Evans’ subjects knew they are having their photos taken?
Walker Evans. Subway Portrait. 1938-41. Walker Evans. Subway Portrait. 1938-41.
MoMA Photography Theme
Philip-Lorca diCorcia. Head # 10. 2002.
Do you think this man is aware his photo is being taken?
MoMA Photography Theme
•How are these photographs different?
•How are they similar?
Let’s compare diCorcia’s and Evans’ photo portraits of strangers
Philip-Lorca diCorcia. Head # 10. 2002 Walker Evans. Subway Portrait. 1938-41