Matt Silhouette Black

 


    My personal project was centered around the theme of silhouetted images. Whether the subject is a person or an object, I enjoy the aesthetic that the silhouette gives off. One photographer who played a huge role in sparking my interest in the silhouette theme was Matt Black, a Magnum photographer.  


Matt Black is an artist born in California's Central Valley area. Black has spent his time as an artist traveling hundreds of thousands of miles around the United States to capture photos. These photos made up his project American Geography. Through his work, Black often emphasizes social and societal issues that exist throughout the world. His work can be noted for its deeply personal approach, emotional engagement, and visual intensity. Like other magnum photographers, his personal projects have also been represented as short films to reach a larger audience.

Although Matt Black mainly focuses on representation through his work, I found myself mostly attracted to his silhouetted images. In my opinion, a good silhouette should not be the main focus of an image, yet still remain a key component. For example, in the photo on the right, the main focus of the image is the severe snowstorm occurring on a suburban street. However, the silhouette of what seems to be a woman navigating through the storm truly enhances the feel of the strong weather. Additionally, in the very first image on this page, the people in the photo seem to be marching or protesting and are shown on their path to justice. However, the fact the subjects are silhouetted takes the focus off of individuality and emphasizes the main common goal.


In my work, my goal was not to capture deep images like Matt Black did. I did not aim to bring representation to any injustice or anything of that nature. However, I did want to emphasize the background of my images rather than the silhouette itself. The process was tedious and a bit challenging but I feel I captured the images the way I wanted to for the most part. 

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