The Getty Center: Song Yongping

From the J. Paul Getty exhibition,
Passage 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, My Parents Series, Song Yongping, 1998-2001,

After walking all around and studying various photos from this exhibition, I immediately knew which one was my least favorite. They were six different photos lined up, tucked away behind the left wall leaving this room. This series had some disturbing photos. They were graphic and harsh natured. The passage was explaining the loss of his parents. They portrayed a dark, but realistic outlook on life. They were so realistic, that it makes you appreciate your life and health. The one I didnt like was of his parents hooked up on medical equipment in their room, sickly looking, and his mother was not dressed. So it did give a funky take on it. This photo series was gloomy and depressing. It displayed a tragic series of events. The photos above were just two of the six there. His parents appear so unhappy and miserable, I felt depressed after I saw them.

The Getty Center: Jo Ann Callis

Strawberry Pie #2, Jo Ann Callis, 1993

This photo I enjoyed and it made me think of this class. This color pops out and this photography made these strawberries look like glimmering glass. It captures American life. The food looks fake and hence pertains to our plastic way of life. We strive to make everything look perfect all the time, and this pie does look perfect here. It looks glazed so much so, that I want to reach out and touch it. The pink background adds an extra presentation and softness to the photo.

The Getty Center: Josef Sudek

Late Roses, Josef Sudek, 1959

This photo is supposed to represent the changing of seasons. I feel like this photo leaves you with a calming effect. The black and white makes it classy. From the photo, it looks to be warm inside, but cold on the outside. The light and dark make what this photo is. It is also taken from a different side perspective so its not straight on and boring. The roses almost look set up in the middle, white black and white. I see a lot of groupings of three in this photo. Three roses, three main lines of the window, three trees, tree leaves. Im not sure if this repetition was set up or if that was the beauty this photo was taken in.

The Getty Center: Man Ray

Dead Leaf, Man Ray, 1942.
I loved this photo, it reminds me of the rose piece I did earlier this semester. I appreciate the simplicity of this photo, yet it is still intriguing. It was taken in 1942, so I know it has not gone through photoshop to be enhanced. I try so hard to catch these different textures, but here is has been accomplished so easily.

The Getty Center: Wang Qingsong

Wang Wingsong's Can I Cooperate With You?, 2000, was another one I loved. This was probably one of the largest photos in all of the Getty's photography exhibition. I think what first drew my attention to this was the sharpness and the color. The color was vibrant and clear. It was very pretty and fun to look at. You can tell that this has been photoshoped, or digitally manipulated. There are two small men standing right in the middle that are not the correct size. I cannot tell if the background is from a back drop, or if that too was from photoshop. I think this piece is comical because there is a big crowd of people that is mainstreaming two american companies, and there are a few little guys that do not want to go along with what the other majority is doing. Both groups of people look like they are wondering whats wrong with one another. All together, I think the composition is brilliant and that this photo was great to view.

The Getty Center: Family Tree

This was another enlarged photo that I feel does not do its justice until you see it in person. For one, it is quite large. It was printed on glossy paper, so when you look at the ink or paint on this mans face, it gives it quite a nice touch. There is a lot here that catches the eye and you dont really know to start at the beginning or the end. This photo like the other one, pays attention to a lot of detail. It is very sharp in the foreground, but the background is blurred out, which makes the story pop out at you more. The photos flow very nicely and is completely modern. Unlike the old brown box photos, this paper has no texture to to it at all. I can not tell if the mans face has been digitally enhanced or if it was just printed straight from the shot. This series of photos kind of urks me because of its harsh content, yet when I saw it in person, I really enjoyed it and it was worth my visit.

The Getty Center: Huang Yan

This is Chinese Landscape Tattoo by Huang Yan, 1999.

This one was also a favorite of mine. The photo was huge. The tattoo on the body looks like real snow. When you see these two photos in person, they are larger than life sized bodies. I think this was also one of my favorites because the color and textures really pop out and come alive. The tattoo looks like there is a crusty layer of paint on this guys body. The size is dominating and almost a bit overwhelming. When you walk up and look at it, you feel a sense of tranquility and calmness from the art of the landscape. The body art is amazing, I could look at for hours. The over powering size and sharpness of detail from this enlarged photo left me in aw.