“The miracle of photography, of its so-called objective image, is that it reveals a radically non-objective world.” (pp1)
When reading the work of Baudrillard, it is clear to me that he believes that photography can both show reality and artificial reality. He believes that a photographer can “filter the impact of the subject” (pp 1) therefore suggesting that even though photography is the most realistic art form we can still construct how we want viewers to see the picture according to our own compositions and how we place our subjects and the backgrounds they are surrounded by.
“Photography affirms itself as both the purest and the most artificial exposition of the image.” (pp1)
This being said, he proposes that “the light of photography remains proper to the image. ” (pp1) suggesting that its neither natural or artificial. He suggests that the light has its own thought, explaining that it comes from multiple sources, the object and the gaze. This gives me the impression that the use of light in a photograph allows it to have dual meanings.
“The image stands at the junction of a light which comes from the object and another which comes from the gaze” (Plato). (pp1)
This links to the work of Edward Hopper, the artist I am currently studying for my project. When Baudrillard discussed him in his analysis, I found his opinions on his work rather interesting, as he talks about this idea of the light giving it two meanings.
“His light is raw, white, ocean-like, reminiscent of sea shores. Yet, at the same time, it is unreal, emptied out, without atmosphere, as if it came from another shore (venue d’un autre littoral). It is an irradiating light which preserves the power of black and white contrasts, even when colors are used. The characters, their faces, the landscapes are projected into a light that is not theirs. They are violently illuminated from outside, like strange objects, and by a light which announces the imminence of an unexpected event. They are isolated in an aura which is both extremely fluid and distinctly cruel.” (pp2)
I like the way that he describes such a clear juxtaposition between the light used in the photographs and the subject meanings behind them. The quote “they are violently illuminated from outside” suggests to me the theme of loneliness as people can be much darker within, even when surrounded by light. His use of such harsh lighting and the fact that the objects are “projected into a light that is not theirs.” proposes the idea that this dual sourcing of light works in this series of paintings and helps shape the theme of bleak and lonely lives, as the people painted are isolated in the light, suggesting that the source of light is not coming from them but surrounding them and suffocating them as they feel dark and lonely inside.
When gathering information from this piece overall, I am inspired to use more lighting techniques to try and single out my subjects. The use of something bright such as white light to enhance a person so lonely fascinates me, and I will be incorporating it into my future test shots.
References:
Rebecca Barnatt-Smith 