Photograph Review

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NavyDave

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Dave
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Can some one help me with this please:

Select a historical or contemporary photographic image and briefly discuss the photographer, composition, lighting, style, post-production and image context.

The picture I have chosen is called “New York Construction Workers Lunching on a Crossbeam”

The photograph, which was taken in September 1932, shows 11 men having lunch whilst sitting on a girder from a great height overlooking New York. I believe its from the 69th floor of the Rockefeller Centre.

The photographer Charles Clyde Ebbets, was a well known photographer in his day, had been published in various newspapers including The New York Times. He was given the title photographic director for the building of the Rockefeller Centre which was in the centre of New York.
The image shows that no safety harnesses or any health and safety equipment was used and the men were quite happy to sit and have their lunch.
The image is in black and white and is taken over looking the city; it has good depth of field as you can make out fine detail in the image, although it looks quite foggy around the figures. The image remains popular today and is available to buy in poster format. The image has been re-enacted over the years but a famous image was published in the early 1990’s depicting the cast from “Friends” (a popular TV series) in a similar position having their lunch.

Thanks

Dave
 
Im asking what you guys think of my answer?

Do I need to add more or go into more detail?

Thanks

Dave
 
Well you've briefly discussed everything it asked you to do, yes, but was there a word count for the work? You've not written very much.
 
I read an article about it somewhere recently (Amateur Photographer?) and I seem to recall that it was a staged image (although representative of what went on), and there were a number of different versions taken. This was decided to be the best of the lot and was the one widely used in the publicity material, and has achieved virtual immortality since. In terms of lighting, I think it was natural lighting rather than flash, but I'd have to confirm that if I can remember where I read the article.
 
I ended up changing it to the Rhein II:

I have chosen the image Rhein II by Andreas Gursky; I chose this image as it was the most expensive photograph ever sold at auction (£2.7 million). The image was created in 1999.

Andreas Gursky was born in 1955 in Germany, his father and grandfather were both commercial photographers. He studied at Folkwang University from 1978-1981 where he studied Otto Steinert (a self-taught photographer).

Between 1981-1987 Andreas studied at the Kunstakaemie Arts Academy where he received strong training and influence from his teachers Hilla and Bernd Becher. Gursky demonstrates a methodical approach in his own larger-scale photography.

Another notable influence is the British landscape photographer John Davies, whose highly detailed high vantage point images had a strong effect on the street level photographs Gursky was then making.

The photograph was produced as the second (and largest) of a set of six depicting the River Rhine. In the image, the Rhine flows horizontally across the field of view, between green fields, under an overcast sky.

Before the 1990s, Gursky did not digitally manipulate his images. In recent years, Gursky has been open about his need for computers to edit and enhance his pictures.

The New Yorker magazine called his pictures "vast," "splashy," "entertaining," and "literally unbelievable.” In the same publication, critic Calvin Tomkins described Gursky as one of the "two masters" of the "Düsseldorf" school.

Dog walkers and a building were photo shopped out until it was bleak enough to satisfy him. Gursky said, "Paradoxically, this view of the Rhine cannot be obtained in situ, a fictitious construction was required to provide an accurate image of a modern river."

Gursky’s photographs are drawn from an elevated vantage point. This position enables the viewer to encounter scenes, encompassing both centre and periphery

In 2001, New York's Museum of Modern Art described the artist's work, "a sophisticated art of unembellished observation. It is thanks to the artfulness of Gursky's fictions that we recognize his world as our own." Gursky’s style is enigmatic and deadpan. There is little to no explanation or manipulation on the works.
 
I think a bit more context might help us to help you Dave.
I assume this is part of a coursework assignment, what exactly is the brief and how much are you expected to write?

There's a lot of factual information in what you've put above and it includes other people's views - but to be perfectly honest it reads like a copy and paste of bits that you found when googling the photo. I think I'd be looking to say more about why I liked this image and what made me choose it.
This is where you could bring in comments about the composition, lighting, style etc.
 
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