WK 3 VANTAGE POINT RESEARCH

Andre Kertesz

André Kertész, original name Andor Kohn   (born July 2, 1894, Budapest [Hungary]—died September 28, 1985, New York, U.S.), Hungarian-born American photographer known for his lyrical and formally rigorous pictures of everyday life. One of the most-inventive photographers of the 20th century, Kertész set the standard for the use of the handheld camera, created a highly autobiographical body of work, and developed a distinctive visual language.His groundbreaking contributions to photographic composition and the photo essay.

Shadows of the Eiffel Tower, 1929

Gelatin silver print

16.5 x 21.9 cm

The Eiffel Tower, Paris 1929 Copyright:
© Andre Kertesz
The subject matter in this photo is the Eiffel Tower’s diffused shadow of the ironwork and the pedestrians at the base of the tower. This would be taken on a high vantage point.The photo would have been taken from afar therefore the human subjects are quite small. The shadow of the Eiffel Tower is very large and stretches across the ground. The way the sun is positioned creates the shadow underneath the Eiffel Tower. The background of the photo is the ground of the Eiffel tower with many tourists gathered looking around. In the foreground we see the structure of the Eiffel tower and how it is creating the shadow effect. The light in the photo is natural because it is on aerial angle from mid way on the Eiffel tower. The light is all evenly spread and gradually fades as if from the sun not from a man-made light. The work has not been framed. The purpose of this photograph is to capture the spontaneous moment of urban activity.

     Lost Cloud, New York

1937

Gelatin silver print

Printed in the 1970s

 The lost cloud Copyright
              © Andre Kertesz
As researched this image was a shot of Rockefeller Center in New York the building dominates the entire frame of this photograph, filling the lower and right sides of the image with its bold,hard, modern lines. The other third of the composition belongs to the sky, in which a lone puff of white cloud hangs isolated like a cotton ball, holding sway against the force of the skyscraper. The brilliant white form is "lost" in this scene maybe Andre Kertesz is describing it as an outsider in the busy,rich city.This would be taken on a low vantage point where Andre Kertesz is standing on the ground shooting upwards.


William Klein

William Klein (born April 19, 1928) is an American-born French photographer and filmmaker noted for his ironic approach to both media and his extensive use of unusual photographic techniques in the context of photojournalism and fashion photography.He was ranked 25th on Professional Photographer's list of 100 most influential photographers.

               
© William Klein

This is what Klein said about his approach in his book: “William Klein: Close Up“:
“I photograph what i see in front of me, I move in close to see better and use a wide-angle lens to get as much as possible in the frame.
This image also has the Fore, Mid, and Back contrast if you look directly down the middle. The lady as the foreground, the couple on the left we can only see the ladys jacket and head but the guy in clear view on the right the couple is the mid, and the woman i is in the back. This image was taken as a Wide Depth of Field but because he standing too close to the lady in the foreground she is blurred out because the other objects are seen clearly and with a slightly lowered angle.

© William Klein

“I don’t roam around with a camera and never did. I took pictures in spurts, for my books, for some assignments or on special occasions. Like people who take out their cameras for Christmas and birthdays. Each time, like them, probably, I feel it’s the first time and as if I would have to relearn the moves. Luckily, it comes pretty fast, like riding a bike.” – William Klein (1990)

This image i would say has fore,mid and back background.The gun would be the fore ground,the two boys and a dark figure on the left  is the mid and the man next to the building is the back.This is a very powerful image because the little boy holding the gun with his facial expression like he is ready to shoot someone somewhat very appalling because of his age but im sure it is just a toy gun,the other younger boy maybe his friend or brother have that slightly blank look which makes the image so powerful.

Reference:

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Andre-Kertesz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Klein_(photographer)
Book:
The Art of Vogue Photographic Covers Hardcover – Import, 1986
by Valerie Lloyd (Author)
William Klein 1957,pg 6
Andre Kertesz: Sixty Years of Photography Paperback – April 27, 1978
by Andre Kertesz (Author), Nicolas Ducrot (Editor)