At first, a group of images that make up a work are disorienting. It is recognizable that the same scene is being captured in each image within a set, but because the views vary from image to image, there is a sense of spinning around the subject. Some differences from one image to the next within a work are drastic, and others are subtle. Probst’s process for making imagery is a new lesson in composition and frame. By seeing these compositional differences of one instance, seasoned photographers and viewers of photography are reminded how the meaning of subject matter can change by an adjustment to the camera’s direction.
There is perfection to the images that make up each work. The spontaneity that would be expected from multiple cameras being fired at the same time is present, yet the compositions of the images that make up a final piece are strangely satisfying and clean. This "perfection" can be found in the work of Sophie Calle. In Sophe Calle's work, she tells us a story, or presents us with a situation she has placed herself in. Her ideas are played out in images that describe her story or situation. The story and imagery are so perfectly composed, it can be difficult to determine whether or not the story is real or fake. There is an element of this in Probst's work as well. The images seem perfectly timed, and the compositions are so balanced that the expected spontaneity from her image making process could be questioned. The work is clearly planned, and this is visible through some of the images that are more complex in their construction, for example Exposure #36: studio Munich, 09.26.05, 2:34 p.m. (below)
The construction of the images is apparent, as well as final editing. The medium listed with Exposure #36 says "5 parts 55 x 36 inches each" explaining that these "parts" make up a whole, perhaps giving us the whole picture, or the whole story. Probst presents a puzzle that is on the surface, fun to put together, and conceptually interesting to build with respect to the traditions of "making" in photography.
See more work here:
http://www.gfineartdc.com/artists-detail.cfm?recordID=6
I would have never thought of an idea like this and now I'm just fascinated by it. I like the ones of the bicyclist--it must have taken a million photos to get these and they look so candid.
ReplyDeleteIs that our Danny Goodwin doing an exhibition and artist lecture at HVCC?--Feb 11 3pm is the lecture at Bulmer Telecommunication Center Auditorium followed by a reception. It's a photo/sculpture exhibit 'exploring the concept of the so-called national security system.'
I really love most of her work, especially the way she plays with our perception of how we view the image. The four images of a girl in one pose but in different scenes, such as standing on what looks like a book, which seems to be larger than her, are strange in the way she positions the girl within each of the images. I agree with Mindy in how she really does create a perfectly composed image or images that makes the viewer second guess themselves. For example there are many images where it seems that the subject moved for the image, but really Probst just set up two cameras and got two different angles of the subject. The work that I saw of hers at the Museum of Modern Art was a pair of images of a man and a woman. She once again used her method of capturing different angles of the two so that in each image it almost looks like they are different perspectives. I really feel that this is a great technique especially when she sets up a scene and finds obscure ways to crop the images within that one scene. Each image almost seems entirely different even though they were created from the same exact set up. Barbra Probst does an excellent job of creating the perfect composition so that the viewer will be able to see more than just what was in the image itself. I especially love the portraits and the way she captures the shadowing on the subjects face. I believe it makes for a beautiful image and really gives great subtle contrast, making the image that much more interesting than rather seeing just a portrait.
ReplyDeleteI always look for a photographer getting you to see something in a different way and I think she does that. I don't like that they look posed and so they look artificial...somehow the content looks like it should be more natural.
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