Lee Miller’s exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art seemed to be a documentary in and of itself. It documented her life and growth as a photographer. Her photographs range from self-portrait to portraits of the famous, war shots for British Vogue, landscapes, still life and nudes. There seemed to be several themes running throughout the exhibit, accompanied by a plaque on the wall in each section that gave a little background on the genre and places of the different sets. This was a thematic display of an individual artist’s show.
Lee Miller was a model turned photographer and war correspondent. The diversity of her work is exquisite and inspiring. Her ability to capture and construct a frame is remarkable. The exhibit displayed her works from New York to Paris to Egypt and London and beyond. The work relates directly to our discussions in class about documentary photography, because each section seemed to document a specific theme and era.
I believe most of the photos were 8x10, black and white and definitely not digital in that time. A photograph entitled “David E. Scherman, dressed for war, London, 1942,” captured me aesthetically. It is the one at the top of my post. I think it's the stark contrast that caught my eye, at first. Then the signifigance captivated me, as well. Obviously, this is a photograph of a photographer during war time. He is dressed in protective gear and armed with his most powerful weapon...the camera. He is ready to wage war with it and capture his subjects, so that they can't be forgotten. As far as composition, the lines from the umbrella seem to encompass the photographer and his camera, like it's cradling them. The black and white of the umbrella make it a very dramatic and surreal, as well as the gas mask. Without the mask, this photograph would tell a completely different story.
Lee Miller was a model turned photographer and war correspondent. The diversity of her work is exquisite and inspiring. Her ability to capture and construct a frame is remarkable. The exhibit displayed her works from New York to Paris to Egypt and London and beyond. The work relates directly to our discussions in class about documentary photography, because each section seemed to document a specific theme and era.
I believe most of the photos were 8x10, black and white and definitely not digital in that time. A photograph entitled “David E. Scherman, dressed for war, London, 1942,” captured me aesthetically. It is the one at the top of my post. I think it's the stark contrast that caught my eye, at first. Then the signifigance captivated me, as well. Obviously, this is a photograph of a photographer during war time. He is dressed in protective gear and armed with his most powerful weapon...the camera. He is ready to wage war with it and capture his subjects, so that they can't be forgotten. As far as composition, the lines from the umbrella seem to encompass the photographer and his camera, like it's cradling them. The black and white of the umbrella make it a very dramatic and surreal, as well as the gas mask. Without the mask, this photograph would tell a completely different story.
Lee Miller was a very distinguished photographer. Her images are captivating and rich with meaning. I am glad I got a chance to visit her exhibit. She definitely left her mark on the world.
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