Lee Friedlander

In everything I'm reading at the minute I seem to keep stumbling upon and being drawn to the work of Lee Friedlander (1934 - present). I already referenced his "America by Car" work in Better Landscape, however I thought it was worth looking at his work in a bit more depth.

His longevity is particularly impressive as is his range of subject matter (jazz musicians, the street, landscape, nudes, self portrait). However all the subject have a similarity of treatment which point to the "social landscape" which is at the heart and origins of all his work. Equally, his passion for Jazz is apparent in the way he provides structure to his work (I find it difficult to articulate how the jazz influence makes itself apparent, but theres something about the jumbling layers which can appear at odds with each other but ultimately fit into a harmonious whole which is very jazz-like).

One of the key aspects of his approach which has intrigued me is how he frequently makes himself part of the scene as a shadow or window or mirror reflection or just  points the camera back at himself and shows his surroundings as the background. He also uses these windows, mirrors, signs and posts in order to reconstrucut the frame of the photograph. Creating strucutres within strucutreus, references witihn reference, commenting directly on the presence of the photographer within the photograph, but never saying anything dishonest or falsely construcuted.  

His photographs also have a great intelligence and wit which makes them highly entertaining and a joy to look through.

A few examples of some of my favourites of his shots which I've found:

http://www.artnet.com/awc/lee-friedlander.html - with the camera pointed at his face and over his shoulder. There is still a great balance to this shot even though )or perhaps because), his face is out of focus and the eye is drawn to the woman in the background. How did he manage to fram this shot?

http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_workdetail.asp?aid=424415352&gid=424415352&cid=84105&wid=424427412&page=11 - there is a complex structure to thsi shot which I can't decipher, but enjoy nonetheless. The pole which splits the dog in 2, makes the shot for me.

http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_workdetail.asp?aid=424415352&gid=424415352&cid=84105&wid=426200411&page=19 - one of his landscapes which somehow still has the same complex structures at play.

http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_workdetail.asp?aid=424415352&gid=424415352&cid=84105&wid=424456295&page=21 & http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_workdetail.asp?aid=424415352&gid=424415352&cid=84105&wid=424478656&page=25 - which again show the same structures at their heart. I can't say that I like these as much as the street work, but I'm inspired by his ability to adapt his approach to these subjects which he was forced to do when ill.

http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_workdetail.asp?aid=424415352&gid=424415352&cid=84105&wid=424427386&page=9 - excellent example of his ability to combine various reflections, signs, structures, perspectives and himself in a single shot which still maintains a composure and structure.

http://www.fraenkelgallery.com/#s=1&mi=222&pt=1&pi=10000&p=0&a=9&at=1 - I laugh outloud every time I look at this shot. Wonderful use of a his own shadow.

http://www.fraenkelgallery.com/#s=6&mi=222&pt=1&pi=10000&p=0&a=9&at=1 - A self portatrit but one in which the subject is reflected and positioned wihtin a frame and surrounded by other framed photographed, all of which is balanced and poised.

http://www.fraenkelgallery.com/#s=11&mi=222&pt=1&pi=10000&p=0&a=9&at=1 - another interesting play with reflections and the act of photographing also playing with the relative importance of typical photogrpahy subject matter and what is deemed worthy of photographing.

http://www.fraenkelgallery.com/#s=15&mi=222&pt=1&pi=10000&p=0&a=9&at=1 - another one which makes me laugh out loud.

http://www.fraenkelgallery.com/#s=22&mi=222&pt=1&pi=10000&p=0&a=9&at=1 - the frame within the frame