Alec Soth
April 5th, 2022
Alec Soth
By: Connor Albaugh
While we continue to take on the challenge of a long term project and find an style that motivates us and inspires us to create unique works of art on our own, it is important to settle down at certain points and look at the work o of the photographers. Taking the time to view photographs or artwork from a specific photographer or artist can only help us. It can give us certain ideas, touch up on some technical aspects, and give us a general idea of how some of the best photographers portray their work. With this in mind, it would certainly pose as a learning experience for me and many others because the aspects taken into account for each photo you view or on behalf of a certain photographer can not only improve our techniques, but provide another view or angle that one may not have noticed. With this in mind, the photographer we are taking a look at today is a very interesting one. His name is Alec Soth. He is an American photographer who was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN where his life began in 1969 (Article #1). His education took place at “Sarah Lawrence College” and this forced him to move to “Bronxville, NY” (Article #1). Soth wasn't exactly the social butterfly in his childhood, as “he was extremely shy” (Article #1). However, his work in photography and his love for photographer was inspired by a photographer named Diane Arbus. Soth was inspired by “Diane Arbus’s portrait photography” and this brought him out of his thick shell and encouraged him to “start photographing people” (Article #1). Thus turned into an addiction, something that Soth couldn’t put down and was destined to get more and more of, photos of people. But, this came at an expense. Soth “felt awkward approaching people and asking them for photographs,” which is why he was drawn to “loners, hermits, and travelers” as the people he would display in his work (Article #1). The first bit of success that Soth had received for his work was in the series “Sleeping by the Mississippi” (Article #1). After the popularity and success from this photography book, he would go on to publish multiple books. On top of his shy society he photographed, Soth is also widely known for “photographing the Midwestern United States” (Article #1). The book that gained him the most attention Sleeping by the Mississippi included “portrait and landscape photographers” where he “traveled along the Mississippi River” (Article #1). One thing that was visually captivating to people was the connection that each of the photos had portrayed in reference to Soth. Critics commented on his photographs and their ability to show “a strong sense of intimacy with the landscapes” which boosted his series as long as his photography to become well known and highly idolized.
Soth’s book of portrait and landscape photographs named Sleeping by the Mississippi was a series that he took a lot of pride and dedicated a lot of work to. In this series, he “traveled along the Mississippi River from his home state of Minnesota all the way to New Orleans” (Article #2). Soth was able to do this because he lived close to the “beginning of the Mississippi” and he always felt some type of connection with the location (Article #2). Having something significant such as the Mississippi River in your backyard is quite breathtaking because of how much history is behind it. It is also a popular area for something such as “Huckleberry Finn” and Soth has fond childhood memories where he would almost impersonate him as many of us all thought about running away from home. But, when he first got to the river, Soth “had the ability to go to the Minnesota side or the Wisconsin side” of them sipping which gave him plenty of time and a two way access to capture photography in any way that he liked. Soth was so confident in this spot that each time he went, Soth could always capture something incredible through extreme diligence and expertise and this made this particular series of his so entertaining. Soth was able to showcase his ability through the love of photography and having such a deep connection with his surroundings made the series more personal and relatable. At the top of this blog, there rests one of the photographs Soth took in his book series Sleeping on the Mississippi. The photo pictures a mountainous background with a lit gas station in the foreground. Overall, this photo is a bit off center, but that doesn’t prevent this from being compositionally exquisite. The photo focuses on a gas station that happens to be well lit from the lights shining down towards the gas pumps. There also seems to be a light off to the left side of the photo that does an excellent job illuminating the left side of the photograph. The snow in this photo is very important, as it helps to brighten the overall image and allow the features of the road and background objects. Something about the photo really makes it unique and visually enthralling. The fact that the gas tower with the pumps isn’t centered I think makes the photograph different. The colors such as the red roof, blue paint with white lettering, and a white sign with red lettering all blend in well with the various other internal elements within this photo. The mountain backdrop is beautiful, and this makes the gas station look much bigger than it actually is. The feeling from this background is dramatic and portrays such a powerful aspect of the photo. The blue sky fits in well from the film of blue over both the ground filled with the dust of snow, the trees on the mountain, and the environment around the gas station. The light from the blue sky highlights and allows for the viewer to view something like the trees on the mountain with more attention. The tress are lined up with in a horizontally straight fashion, which provides a boundary for any type of object to be stopped before making its way down to the loneliness of the gas station. This photo also gives off a feeling from the Midwest. Minnesota is typically very cold and more mountainous regions are apparent. The presence of the mountain to accompany such a small gas station may not be seen by others as something to be anything more than a regular photo. However, this isn’t the case. Something as simple as a place where one would refuel their car in order to get from place to place wouldn't be expected to have any more value than its current destination. But, with the precision and solid connection that Soth had with his environment, the photographer is strong and poignant to the area he calls home and felt so interconnected during this series.
In the end of it all, I really enjoyed analyzing this photograph pictured above. One thing that I really enjoyed about this photograph is the crisp lighting. The photo isn’t too bright nor too dark and that perfect in-between medium helps to showcase each and every little detail to the best of its ability. Another thing I liked about this photograph is the focus. The focus is centered toward the gas station and the area around the gas station before one’s eyes see the mountain top and the snow that accompanies it. This focus makes the photo seem clean and allows me and the viewer to see the photo and certain textures or things we may not have seen looking at it from a far distance. Lastly, I really enjoyed the background. The background is very fitting to accompanying the lonely and deserted gas station that doesn’t have much action at the moment in time. It allows for the gas station to be seen in a much more respective light because something so simple is given such attention and royalty from how the photo was taken. With all of this in mind, Soth would go on to publish multiple books and much of his work would be displayed in many museums across the United States. His passion and his dedication to photography is incredibly inspiring to me and many others who are either in the photography industry or some that are looking for a reason to be apart of such a great field of ingenuity and individual creativity. As someone who is shy, being able to go out, practice something, and become confident in oneself and one’s ability makes one feel good and makes you feel as you have gained progress and accomplishment. This was me for photography and in the general sense of life, and gaining a new perspective on life that I didn't care to see or invest my time in before is well worth the time and constant practice. In my photography, I really try to ensure keen focus, vivid detail, and smooth lighting so that my photos come out in the best way possible. Nothing is better than seeing how much work and time you put into something displayed and being complemented by peers or a random audience for certain technical qualities or details captured. This part of photography is so incredibly forgiving and worth it in the long run because not only do you see your strengths and develop somewhat of a style, but you can learn from your mistakes and make your work even better than the best work you may have been able to create with limited knowledge or certain techniques. Additionally, being able to see the work of another photographer, hear their story, and see their first works from their most recent, or best works, not only gave me the opportunity to learn about photography, but new approaches or lessons concerning their craft could potentially be implemented and kept in mind on behalf of photographic journey as I continue to improve in the future to come.
Sources:
Article 1: http://www.artnet.com/artists/alec-soth/
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