We Are Family

Diane Arbus

Short Biography:

Diane Arbus was an American Photographer that was born on March 14th 1923 in New York. She learned photography from her husband. It was only in the mid 1960's when Arbus became a well known photographer. She committed suicide in 1971.

What kind of photography did Diane Arbus do?

Arbus's photography was unique as it focused on "societies marginal characters." She fancied the theory of photographing different people in New York, specifically the minor and less important groups of society. For example in 1962 she photographed a "skinny seven year old boy" at Central Park, however this image was different to others as the boy had a fake grenade in his hand. This made the boy a curiosity to her and the only way to analysing him was by photographing him.

Larry Clark

Short Biography:

Lawrence Clark was born on January 19th 1943 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is an American film director, photographer, writer and film producer.

What is Larry Clarks Tulsa project about?

Clark has always been fascinated by the subject of young teenagers who use illegal drug substances and are engaged in underage sex and violence. Therefore in 1971, when he published his book (Tulsa), it was revolved and based on his own youth friends whom were drug users. This book was published in black and white.

Nan Goldin

 Short Biography:

Nan Goldin is an American photographer born on September 12th 1953 in Washington D.C. She escaped home when she was 13 years old and ever since joined a group of youth who were involved in drugs, sex and violence.

What is the title of Nan Goldin's most known work?

Having accompanied the same group of people for years, Goldin decided in the late 1970's that it was time to document her photographs on them. In 1981, Goldin published a slideshow and a book called ' The Ballad of Sexual Dependancy' and it solely focused on that ring of people she lived with and their daily unusual acts.

Nobuyoshi Araki

Biography

Nobuyoshi Araki is a Japanese photographer born on May 25th 1940 in Tokyo. He studied photography at Chiba University, Tokyo, where he met his wife Yoko Araki. During their honeymoon, Araki took photographs of his wife, and later published a book named ' Sentimental Journey'. His wife died in 1990.

What is Araki's photography and philosophy about now?

Araki's main topics in photography include 'Self and Life', 'Sex', 'Death' and 'Modern Tokyo Scene'. "I only shoot what I want to remember" is his inspirational philosophy. He debates that in order to remember a certain time period in life, one has to capture that moment. Therefore, it didn't matter whether the moment was of happiness or sadness. This is why for example, Araki produced a book on his wife's death and funeral, because to him this was a moment in life which had to be remembered.

Richard Billingham

Biography

Richard Billingham is an English photographer born on September 25th 1970 in Birmingham.

What is Richard Billingham's work about?

Billingham's photography varied, however his most crucial photo book which grabbed people's attention was called ' Rays A Laugh'. This photo book told the story of his parents through the use of photographs. It documented the life of his "alcoholic" father and his "obese" mother who was covered with tattoos.

Do you think photographers tend to prey on vulnerable people?

I personally believe that photographers do tend to target vulnerable people when capturing a photograph. This is because people who seem to be exposed to harm, whether physical or mental, can add uniqueness and depth of meaning to the photograph. This is exactly what photographers aim for, because the more vulnerable the person in the photograph is, the greater the importance of the image.