DiGiammo

Annie DiGiammo

Ms. Burakowski

Photography Class B

25 April 2017

William Eggleston- Recreations

William Eggleston is a unique photographer who was able to capture the

everyday aspects of his southern life through his aspect of color in his photos!

Eggleston was always intrigued by the use of color in his photographs, and therefore

experimented with color transparency and other techniques to make color be the

main objective in most of his shots, which was often rare during his time period. He

shows simplicity in most of his photographs, and although the subjects are mostly

things from his everyday life, he is still able to transform basic objects into master

photography through the use of his angles, color schemes, retro style, and southern

culture along with many other composition techniques. Eggleston’s photography

influences me as a photography by allowing me to experiment with different color

schemes and filters, and also influences me to take pictures of simple things in my

life by adding my own unique twist on them with different composition techniques

like he did throughout his career (Editorial & Cain 2016). William Eggleston is a

photographer who uses different angles, colors, lines, and shapes to create unique

photography with a retro and southern theme that show his culture and everyday

life.

William Eggleston was born on July 27, 1939 and is still alive today. He was

born in Memphis Tennessee, and raised in Sumner Mississippi, where he spent most

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of his life as a child growing up on his family’s former cotton plantation. Eggleston

became a photographer by a close friend encouraging him to purchase a camera

after he recognized his artistic ability and fascination with mechanics. The first

camera Eggleston bought was a Canon Rangefinder in 1957. He was in influenced by

his friend to become a photographer, and for his earliest works he was influenced by

the vernacular style of Walker Evans, and the compositions of Henri Cartier-

Bresson. Eggleston influenced photographers such as Martin Parr, Nan Goldin, and

Jeff Wall to produce photographs that were similar in style to his own and differed

from other traditional photography techniques of the time, which transformed

American photography. Like many other photographers of his time, Eggleston

started out using black and white photography. However, what set him apart from

many other photographers of the time was his use of color emerging in the 1960s.

His signature bright hues were achieved through very expensive photographic

processes, and he used dye-transfer printing. He was well known for experimenting

and soon mastering the color transparency film and color negative film. Eggleston

was very much defined by his color photography. He is famous for his photographs

of his Southern lifestyle that captured everyday life objects and scenes. They were

not political or controversial, but rather just simple images made vibrant with color

photography. He used dye-transfer printing and color transparency and color

negative film to capture his famous works ("William Eggleston ").

The first image I critiqued by William Eggleston is an untitled image of a blue

Cadillac that was captured between the years 1969-1971. This image taken by

Eggleston is a transfer-dye print that captures an old, blue Cadillac car on the road.

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The picture, although simple, is very unique and original. It shows the

photographer’s style of the south and also creates a sense of linear composition,

while having the license plate of the car slighted tilted to create contrast. The use of

color film also adds significant effect to the image as well, giving the car a blue color,

which helps it stand out from the scenery. The angle from which the picture was

captured is also a very useful tactic used by Eggleston that adds to the picture.

Eggleston’s photography differed greatly from other photographers of the time due

to the fact that his photos did not have a very political emphasis and were not

accompanied by any commentary (Glover 2013). Rather his photos were a result of

the environmental feelings of suburban Memphis and Mississippi. His photos were

greatly influenced by his everyday life in southern states. Specifically in this photo of

the car, it shows the technological influences of

the Cadillac car during this time. The

photographer intends to send a nostalgic

message with this image, and also a feeling of

southern lifestyle through the scenery and tone

the car photo gives off. Eggleston is very

effective with his intended message. This photo does have a sense of nostalgia and

he does a good job at expressing the everyday life that could be captured during the

1960s-1970s where he lived ("William Eggleston "). This image influences my own

work in the sense that it allows me to gain a new perspective on the different angles

I can apply to my own photos, and how linear techniques can be used to help give off

a significant effect.

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The second photo I analyzed is another untitled photo taken by Eggleston

that was part of his portfolio titled, “The Democratic Forest”. This image was taken

between the years 1983-1986, and differs greatly from the first photograph I

critiqued. This image, although it still displays his use of colored film, uses

techniques of shapes and lines very differently than the first picture of the Cadillac.

The shapes of the tomatoes next to the sink add unique effects to the photo, as they

are all circular in some way, yet are of all different sizes. Also the squares created by

the sink and other objects in the photo contrast the circular shape of the fruit very

well. The lines on the walls in the background also create a linear effect on the

photo, as well as the vibrant colors that are very compatible although they do

contrast each other in shade, since the sink is blue and the tomatoes are orange and

red. The influences of Eggleston’s environment of his everyday life are captured

perfectly in this photo. It is a very simple image of normal things, such as a sink and

food, yet it holds great beauty and uniqueness. Eggleston is able to take everyday

objects where he lived and turn it into a great photo. With this image, Eggleston

intends to send a simple message of what life was like

in the south, and to show the culture he experienced

through his household objects. Although Eggleston did

receive a great amount of criticism for his photos at

first, he did do a very effective job at portraying the

intended message throughout all of his work. His

photos strayed away from the norm at the time, however this picture for example

shows a very simple scene and is able to convey that simplicity while also showing

Eggleston, William. Untitled from “The Democratic Forest”. c. 1983. Museum of Mod. Art. Eggleston Trust. Eggleston Artist Trust. Web. 25 Apr. 2017

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great art (Hale 1970). The shapes and color tones in this photo create a very

aesthetically pleasing photograph that help to show what Eggleston’s everyday life

in the south consisted of. This image influences my work in the sense that it shows

how I can create shapes throughout my photos that can contrast each other, yet

allow the contrast to provide aesthetically pleasing elements to the pictures. Also it

influences my work with the color scheming. The colors are different; however look

very nice when they are placed next to each other. Therefore it allows me to try

different coloring throughout my photographs to add effect.

Another photo of Eggleston’s I chose to critique is titled, “Tricycle in

Memphis”, taken in the year 1970. This image photographed by Eggleston is a

transfer-dye print that can be compared to the first image of the Cadillac, however

greatly differs from the second photo of a sink with tomatoes. This photo depicts a

tricycle in Memphis on a road. It is similar to Eggleston’s Cadillac picture in the

sense of color and technique. Eggleston uses lighter shades of dull colors in the first

picture and this picture, which creates a nostalgic tone. Also, in this photograph, the

use of angles creates a unique view and position, and the roof of the house in the

background shows the composition technique

of lines. Both unique angles and linearity is

displayed in the Eggleston’s first photo

critiqued. Eggleston’s southern environment

influenced this photo in the sense that it was

taken in Memphis. Also, the tricycle was a technological invention, which also

impacted Eggleston’s motive behind this image. Once again, Eggleston portrays a

Eggleston, William. Tricycle in Memphis. c. 1970. Museum of Mod. Art. Eggleston Trust. Eggleston Artist Trust. Web. 25 Apr. 2017

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light and simple message through this photo. It is not meant to bring up any political

themes, but rather a nostalgic tone of childhood in the south ("The big bikes"). He

uses lighter, yet duller colors in this image, which helps to create the wistful feeling.

Eggleston portrays the sentimental and evocative message in this photograph very

effectively. Through the color scheme and child’s tricycle in the picture, he is able to

greatly create the tone he intended to. This image influences my own work by

allowing me to explore the use of filters to put over my original film colors to create

different colored looks. Also, it influenced me to try new angles in my photography

to create different views.

The last photo I evaluated by Eggleston was an untitled image that showed a

boy pushing a shopping cart. This photograph was taken during the year 1965 and

is unlike any of three past images by Eggleston. In the previous photographs,

Eggleston captured objects in his everyday life, whereas in this image it is a portrait.

This portrait photograph is a transfer-dye print and it shows a young man pushing a

shopping cart. It still gives off Eggleston’s theme of simplicity in the south, however

now using an actual person as his subject. This photo is a very unique portrait and it

shows the man on a side profile view. In this photo, Eggleston was influenced more

by the social aspect of the time period in the south (Editorial & Cain 2016). Socially,

he shows how people were portrayed in his environment and how they interacted.

Eggleston intends to give off social message in this photo, since it is a picture of a

person in society. He uses the rule of space as one of his composition techniques to

create mystery and intrigue the viewer to imagine what the young man is looking at

off in the distance. Also, this photo displays the culture of the time through the man

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photographed and also through the women shown in the

background with a retro style that was popular during this

time in Eggleston’s life. A very cultural and personal

message was expressed through this image. The

photographer does a very good job at effectively portraying

the intended message because he is able to accomplish his

goal of portraying society and culture in a personal way

through the depiction of people in Eggleston’s everyday

settings, such as at a supermarket in the south. This image

influences my own work in the sense that it shows me how I can incorporate culture

and personality into my portraits.

William Eggleston is a very skilled photographer who is able to portray his

simple everyday life through techniques of color, shape, lines, and angles, which

help to form his southern theme in a very distinct fashion. Eggleston’s lifestyle of

being born and raised in the South are what truly influenced his images and formed

him into the photographer he is today. Without his culture and everyday life

experiences in Mississippi and Memphis, he would not have captured his most

famous photos. His culture is a staple in his work and a common theme among his

portfolios. His work gives off an overall nostalgic and sentimental tone, and portrays

the message of simplicity and everyday life ("William Eggleston "). He is able to give

off his own personal culture through his photographs. Eggleston’s photography

greatly influences my own work in the sense that it allows me to want to stray away

from societal norms and express myself in my own individual fashion. His photos

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express simplicity, yet great uniqueness that I was able to accomplish through new

angles, color schemes, emphasis on shapes, and new portrait techniques. William

Eggleston is the perfect example of a master photographer who did not follow the

norms of society, yet still established himself through his own unique and individual

way ("William Eggleston ").

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Works Cited

Hale Grace E. "Eggleston's South: "Always in Color"." Agpike. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web.

27 Apr. 2017.

Editorial, Artsy, and Abigail Cain. "What You Need to Know about William

Eggleston." Artsy. N.p., 22 July 2016. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

Glover, Michael. "Genius in colour: Why William Eggleston is the world's greatest

photographer." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 22 Apr.

2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

"The big bikes." ITCHY The Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

"William Eggleston ." WILLIAM EGGLESTON. Eggleston Artist Trust , n.d. Web. 27

Apr. 2017.

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