Digital Portfolio

Analogue Photography Theory Assignment

Bella Hall 10A

W. Eugene Smith
William Eugene Smith was a photographer who specialised in photographic essays. Smith was born on the 30^th of December 1918 in Wichita, Kansas, United States. He lived to 60 years of age, dying from a stroke on the 15^th of October 1978 in Tuscan, Arizona, United States (Smith had previously suffered a massive stroke the year before).

Career
W. Eugene Smith first began his career as a photographer taking photos for two local newspapers (The Wichita Eagle and the Beacon). He later moved on to the ‘Newsweek’ in New York but was fired within only one year for refusing to use medium format cameras. In 1939, Smith began his work for ‘Life’ magazine.

During the war, Smith worked for ‘Life’ magazine and Ziff-Davis Publishing where he was often on the front lines in the Pacific theatre of WWII.

During the 1950’s, Smith left ‘Life’ magazine because of their use of his photographs of Albert Schweitzer (one of which had been heavily manipulated). After leaving life, Smith joined the Magnum Photography Agency in 1995, where he began a project documenting the city of Pittsburgh. This project, originally planned to last three weeks, lasted for three years and resulted in tens of thousands of negatives. These photographs were later turned into a book length series of photographic essays.

Between 1957 and 1965, Smith photographed and recorded jazz musicians playing at Manhattan loft. Over these 8 years, Smith took just under 40, 000 photographs, of musicians, the building, and those surrounding it.

In January 1972, Smith was attacked by Chisso Company employees, who were trying to prevent him from further publicising the effects of the Minamata disease. This attack caused Smith to partially lose his sight in one eye, and forced him to take a break from photography. In 1975, the photographic essay containing the information, was published.

Famous Quotes by W. Eugene Smith

- “I didn’t write the rules. Why should I follow them?”

- “I try to take what voice I have and I give it to those who don’t have one at all.”

“The world just does not fit conveniently into the format of a 35mm camera.”

William Eggleston

William Eggleston is a photographer born in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. on the 27^th of July, 1939. He grew up on his family’s cotton plantation, and then attended boarding school in Tennessee. Eggleston is most well known for his use of colour.

“I had this notion of what I called a democratic way of looking around, that nothing was more or less important.”

Elliot Erwitt

Elliot Erwitt was born in Paris, France in 1928. When he was 11, Erwitt and his family moved to the U.S. He later travelled to France and Italy where he used his Rolleiflex camera to take photos.

”I appreciate simplicity, true beauty that lasts over time, and a little wit and eclecticism that make life more fun.”

I really like this photograph because of the contrast in the tiny dog, elegant boots and skirt, and the large dog, who makes you wonder where the rest of his body is; making it appear as if he was standing on two legs, like a human. I love the dog’s beanie and coat, as it adds interest and quirkiness.

I like this photograph because of the relaxed and laid back feel that it has, and how it almost makes me feel as if I am Marilyn’s friend, with insight into her daily life, and have been invited into her home where she doesn’t need to impress anybody. I think this photo still manages to capture her natural beauty, and peaceful personality.

I really like this photograph because of all the different components. I like the way that you are not looking directly at the couple, and how it is almost like two separate photographs combined. I also really like the simplicity of happiness that is expressed.