Social Context Photography over Three Decades

I`ve been taking photographs of people in their environment for many years. As an exercise for my blog I thought I would analyze my style over three decades.

This was not an easy task because it was difficult to choose which galleries to compare over the this extended period. But after considerable thought I present the galleries with a short discussion about an image from each:

From the 1980s People of the Balkans, 1987

This image was taken on the main street of Mostar. I took the photo candidly and then engaged with him afterwards. He was trying to tell me something but I did not understand his language. He tried to get through to me in a gentle way. After a while I patted him on the shoulder and indicated I was moving on and he then took my right hand and kissed the back of it. I smiled and he look at me and we both moved along in different directions.

This trip to the Balkans (after the Sarajevo Olympics but before the civil war) is one of the first group of images I can identify, when looking back, where I can recognize the beginning of my social context style.

Please look at the rest of the gallery and see what you think.

Man on Street, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1987

From the 1990s People of Greece, 1995

This image is one of a woman carrying out her daily routine of walking to town. She seems unconcerned about the inherent dangers of busy traffic. She's carrying a stick perhaps for some level of protection.

Please look at the rest of the gallery and see what you think.

Woman on Side of Highway, Leaving Athens, 1995

From the 2000s People of Iowa, 2010

This image shows symmetry of the three sisters over to one side viewing what is happening in an innocent way. The older sister oversees the two younger sisters' outing that morning.

Please look at the rest of the gallery and see what you think.

Sisters at Produce Auction, Frytown, IA, 2010

I believe there is a consistency of style with perhaps a deeper appreciation of the purpose of my approach emerging in the later images. But examples from each of the three galleries shows context and involvement of the people captured in relationship to their particular environment.