Presence
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Authors
Stolberg, Kajsa
Issue Date
2007
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
In describing her senior photography exhibit, the author writes “after adjusting to the fact that no images of humans would be taken during my visits with an Amish family in northern Michigan, I found that there is still evidence of a completely different society even without printed images of humans. As a result of redirecting the focus from human figures, I felt a need to document the art that I see in the simple things in life: straw hats and jars of musk melon. Consequently, I found a strong sense of tradition present in many of the images. The Amish have found a way to preserve their beliefs in the same way that the jars preserve food for the winter. Despite the lack of human subjects within the images, I have found that an overwhelming sense of existence still appears in their place. The viewer does not see the three bonneted girls who diligently backed up every time the camera came to my eye, but somebody had to bake a dozen pies for a barn-raising, and somebody had to paint the letters on a sign advertising brown egg sales. The photos record the life of a society while still respecting the community's belief that being photographed is contrary to Biblical teaching. Through this work I have proven to myself that a living society can be photographed without being seen and still convey a sense of their presence.”
Description
62 p.
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License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.