I took a photography class in high school for two years so I
know a little about photography and how photographers think. I understand that
every photographer has their own preferences about which subjects they shoot. I
believe that Shelby Lee Adams is a documenter not an artist. I cannot look at
his work and think “this is a brilliant piece of art!” When I see it, thoughts
about the people, their lives and what is going on in the picture come to my
mind. I think Shelby is just promoting people and their culture and lifestyle
but I do not think he is creating artwork that should be sold or displayed in
art museums. If he has a passion to take portraits then he should become a paparazzi,
he already is like one. Art is typically abstract and evokes emotion but his
photos do not qualify. Just because he is taking pictures of people that are
not popular like celebrities does not make his work unique or abstract. There
are many other photographers who ‘document’ lives and situations but their work
is not referred to as art either. On the condition of emotion being provoked,
art stimulates emotion in your heart, personal feelings that are being exposed
by interpretations but his photos do not follow this because they evoke pity
and sadness for the subject. Personally I believe that he is taking advantage
of his subjects.
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