“Don’t try to capture a man in one synthetic portrait, but rather in lots of snapshots taken at different times and in different circumstances.” - Alexander Rodchenko
As one of the founders of ‘Russian Constructivism’ Rodchenko worked across sculpture, graphic design, and photography. At my time of discovering Rodchenko I was working on a photographic portrait assignment, and his statement (quoted above) was influential within my work.
I produced a series of black and white portrait images of my partner… Showing him in different expressions and activities that occur in his morning routine.
Rodchenko’s image of the trumpet player (below) is taken from an extremely intimate perspective, it has an ability to show the viewer something unseen… We are put into a moment entirely created by the photographer and their subject.
Rodchenko took images at different angles to shock the viewer and postpone recognition. I like the idea that an image can make us think differently about something. He was quoted as saying “In order to educate man to a new longing, everyday familiar objects must be shown to him with totally unexpected perspectives and in unexpected situations. New objects should be depicted from different sides in order to provide a complete impression of the object.”
There is also a fantastic image of a woman carrying a child up stairs… light, shadow, intrigue… Click here to see the Rodchenko image.
BP
