Photographers Research- William Eggleston

When Eggleston was 18 years old, he acquired his very first camera, but was unsure what to capture because as he put it "everything around here is ugly". However it was then when he began to capture the "ugliness" of his town. With the growth of agribusiness- increase in shopping centres, cars and the raise in technology, Eggleston with presented with numerous aspects which he was able to capture. Using a candid style, Eggleston took inspiration from the photographer Henri Cartier- Bresson including the "Decisive Moment", capturing factors where not even one second later wouldn't be the same. Furthermore, Eggleston's style has also been influenced through the work of Walker Evans photograph series of "American photographs"- capturing the raw form of American Life. Even after travelling throughout his career, Eggleston still lives in the place he was born and grew up- Tennessee, this has been important in his photography work because it has meant he has be able to capture the transition which has occurred in his town through the progression of technology. Through a career spanning over 50 years, his everyday photography has lead to the production of 1000s of different photographs. Even though William Eggleston's photography is directly related to my project of the youth subcultures like other photographers such as Gavin Watson, there are still aspects of his work that have influenced my ideas- for example his perspective on everyday factors like people passing in the street.

This image was purposely framed in order to give the audience an insight to this subject- including the sign of "Drugs" implies this subject is very rebellious who takes drugs. I find it interesting the way Eggleston has framed this photo so the sign isn't dead straight and is a little bit cut out, this forms the suggestion in the audiences mind of the candid style of photography, there wasn't lots of thought involved when taking this photo, this is a very similar effect which links lots of Eggleston's work together. With the tilted camera framing, it suggests a symbolic thought- this subject here isn't "straight in the mind", perhaps on drugs. Furthermore, another aspect to this photo which I find really intriguing is the way Eggleston has included another subject (in the foreground on the right) but has only included half of them. This could be symbolic in looking at the representations of stereotypes of race, these subjects are both at a place associated to the audience of illegal drugs, yet it is the man who is shown in the frame, yet the stereotypical "white female middle class" subject has their identity hidden- suggesting the different status's. This image may influence my work because even though these subjects are not taking drugs, there is the implied suggestion of drugs- something I could use when capturing photos involving youth, showing the rebellion side of youth.

This is an example of pieces of Eggleston's work where he would stand on the corner somewhere and capture images of passers by. I find this photo really interesting because there is the suggestion of influence in human behaviour. This is because, Eggleston has been able to capture a business looking man on the streets at night passing a store with a mannequin in the window in a very similar pose as the subject. This is an interesting example of a factor which I could use in my work because it shows how people are influenced through the smallest parts, a way I could shape this into youth could be through looking at how the media shapes individuals or for example graffiti. Another aspect of this image which I find quite interesting is the use of focus and lighting, even though this image is an example of Eggleston's work before he had started to use colour, there is a classy effect to it- this is because the with the store being over exposed gives an effect that this is a high class/ expensive shop with a well- off looking subject standing outside. However the lighting and use of the "closed" sign in the window forms irony into looking at the subject- he appears well dressed yet is out late at night on the streets on his own, suggesting a secretive behaviour. A way this part of the photo may influence my work could be to include photos of friends at night only lit through street lights and the artificial lighting of my camera. 

This was during his first series of colour photography. Being a "serious" photographer meant drawing the eye of the audience and with an increase in the access of cameras, photographers aimed to create photos which are more similar to paintings- creating a new era of photography in colour. This made it much more "realistic" as if the audience were able to be in the place where that photo was taken without leaving their home. I find this image really interesting because even though the majority of Eggleston's work isn't related to youth exactly, this photo is, it shows the working class ideology of youth being economic assets, this subject appears to be a shop worker, earn a wage in order to help his family, this shows how youth can be experienced differently depending on the culture they are in. The candid style of photography links really well with the style of documentary which I hope to use in my project. Another aspect of this photo which I find really intriguing is the narrow depth of field, this is because there is a youth in the foreground in focus with an older person behind him in the background out of focus; This could be seen as symbolism because it shows how youth are working whilst always being in the shadow of the older generation- they have to impress their elders who are always looking down at them. 

This photo of Eggleston is massively symbolic when looking at different races. This image was taken  between 1969-1970 which is important when looking at the context of this photo because this was one year after after York became racily divided but is also around the same time as the York race riot, with the division of the races. The reason this photo symbolises the division of races because is shows a middle class business man well dressed in front, yet almost "in his shadow" there is a stereotypical working class black male, with his shirt untucked giving him a "messy" appearance, however his body language in very similar which shows how even though they look different in outfit, they are both similar in the way of body posture. I find this image really interesting when reason because even though it isn't youth, the symbolism could be very helpful to experiment with because youth is suggested to be shaped highly through peers, if I were to stage an image I could show a younger subject very similar to their peer in front of them.