Period 3 -- Critical Analysis #11

1/13/2017

For your first critical analysis of 2017, you are going to read this New York Times article about artist Nicholas Nixon and his project titled The Brown Sisters. For 40 years, Nixon photographed his wife and her 3 sisters, always in the same order.

WIthin the article, you can viwq all 40 years worth of images of the Brown sisters.

Read the text, study the images, and write a 4 paragraph (5 sentences minimum) response to the series of photographs and text. This response should be your opinion—describe what you think about the entire series of images.

Also, bear in mind that even though you are responding to a photographic series (more than just 1 single image), you may still treat this in the same way that you would analyze a single photograph:

Describe what you see.
Describe the formal qualities of the work (composition, line, light, etc). Do these stay the same with each image, or do they change from year to year?
Describe the content (what themes do you see in this series as a whole?).
Evaluate the series. Do you think it is successful? Why or why not?

Here are some things to consider as you respond:

Why would Nixon choose to photograph his wife and her sisters for 40 years?
What can the artist show or say through a series of photographs of the same subject over time that they could not say in a single photograph?
How is photography a useful medium to depict the passage of time, as opposed to another medium such as painting?
If Nixon continues to make photographs of his wife and her sisters, what will inevitably happen in the work?

Your analysis will be graded on:

depth/organization of writing
evaluation of the content

grammar/punctuation

Good luck!

Eddie Garcia

1/13/2017 06:55:28 am

The photograph we are reviewing today is not a singular picture but rather a collection of pictures. The photographs include the photographers wife and her 3 sisters. All of the these pictures are in black in white, partially because color was not invented in the time the first picture was taken. I believe that the photographer kept using black and white to keep the photographs consistent.

All of these photos are taken in good lighting and are nicely exposed. There is no pixelation in these photographs. The resolution seems to be adequate since the images do not appear to be stretched at all. The pictures are also crisp and clear. This means they are in focus since they are not blurred in any way.

The rule of thirds is not really used in this photograph since all the of women are centered in the frame. The POV of the photograph is from a human POV. None of the exposures were made looking up or down on the people in them. In most of these images there is not a lot of positive space. All of the frame is used up and there is barely extra space.

These series of pictures portray the theme that time humbles people. In the early pictures you can see that all of the sisters are not really smiling and they are young. As time progresses you can tell that that they become closer as siblings than they were in their youth. Most of them smile more often, and when they are getting their picture taken they are closer together rather than somewhat apart as you can see in the early picture. I like this project because it shows how the sisters over time become more connected and closer to each other. It is also interesting to see them age throughout the years. I also believe its successful since it catches your attention and also is very interesting to look at.

Nick Perez

1/13/2017 07:04:21 am

As young kids in high school, we see the passing of time as being inherently good. We can't wait for the school day, week, and year to be over. We can't wait for our next birthday so that we can be one year older. We just want to be older and ready to take on the world. This series of photos, by Nicholas Nixon, presents the other side of the nature of the passing of time. The side that doesn't get you excited when you are 40 years old. The side that leads to aging and unwanted problems. In this series of images, we see the passing of time and its effects on the lives of these four women. We see moods change but throughout the entire series it is apparent that although we may age, we may get old, and we may change, the one thing that will always remain with us is our family and the love that we have for them as Nixon so brilliantly illustrates in this series of photos. In all of the photos, the subjects are in the same order so that the viewer can pick one and follow them through the years to watch them change. Furthermore, the pictures are in black and white so that there is no distraction from whats important in the pictures; the bond between four sisters.

Year after year after year, the composition of these images manages to stay relatively the same. Each year, the photographer uses minimal distractions in order to focus on the subjects. The shots are close up, and the backgrounds are bland. The photographs are always perfectly exposed, and always in black and white. The lighting is always natural in order to not distract the viewers from the true subject, and to keep the shots natural and low key. There are no distinct leading lines the the photos.

Throughout the series, there are a two consistent themes. First, the artist uses the medieval theme of the transient nature of life. Throughout these images he is able to show that although looks may fade and we may get old, some things do endure. The love that you have for others will endure. This theme of the transient nature of life is pervasive throughout medieval literature such as Beowulf. The use of this theme is helped along by the minimalist composition that is used. A second theme that is evident is the highlight on the importance of one's family. It is important that the women are photographed together every year, and it is shown by their body language and facial expressions that the love they have for one another is pervasive throughout all of their interactions.

This series of images is not only successful, but also groundbreaking. Nixon took on an unprecedented project, he decided to shoot the same thing for forty years, and the results are exceptional. Nixon made this choice in order to convey the themes of the transient nature of life and show the love that people have for one another. This would have been impossible with only one photograph as passage of time would not have been depicted. Eventually, it could be assumed that members of the group will begin to pass away. This will lead to an interesting shift in the dynamic of the group. The pictures will change or maybe even be discontinued. Nixon created a highly successful series of pictures.

Kyle Nevitt link

1/13/2017 07:05:01 am

These images are of 4 sisters standing together. It started out as a random picture, then a graduation picture, and finally became a tradition. These photos use only black and white. The sisters are posing but not smiling in any of the photos. Each image looks to be correctly exposed.

Each image is in focus with the focal point being the sisters. There is no apparent pixelation. The only light used is natural light. The lighting differs in each photo because they are not taken at the same time of day each year. The sisters take up almost the entire frame, so there are no pictures using the rule of thirds.

Nixon took these pictures for 40 years to show how time affects us. He showed that time may change how we look and how we dress. However, he showed that time will not change our personalities. He is able to show this by having the sisters not smile in any of the photos but just stare instead. Because the sisters fill up the entire frame the pictures are not symmetrical and they are not the same because the sisters take different poses each time.

There are multiple themes in these images, one of which being time and how it affects us but also doesn't affect us. Another theme that can be drawn from the series is about people and their need to retreat into nature. In almost every picture in the series, there is a nature background. Nixon shows us that no matter where they are or how old they are, people truly need to retreat into nature to get away from their busy lives. I like these photos because they make me want to retreat into nature and take a break from the nonstop commotion of my busy life.

Sarah Marshall

1/13/2017 07:07:39 am

Critical Analysis #11

In this series of photos I see 4 women of the same family. Most of the photos are taken outside in natural light. The composition changes from year to year. Early on when the photos were taken, they showed full body pictures. As the years went by, The photos became closer so it could show the detail of how they have changed.
In the whole series, I see the effects of time. Time changes how the people look, but it doesn’t change their personality. I believe that this series is successful. It’s successful because it shows change, which is what the photographer wanted. It is also successful because it shows personality in the photos.
Nixon might have chosen to photograph his wife and sister for 40 years to show the effects of time. He also could have made the photographs to make a point that people change on the outside but they are still the same person on the inside. The artist shows time which he wouldn’t have been able to get the same effect if he used a single photograph. Photography is a useful medium to depict time rather than a painting.
The photos are more intimate because it is the actual person that you are seeing. If he had used a painting, It wouldn’t have been as real too the people who view it. If Nixon continues to make the photographs, It is inevitable that the sisters would slowly die. If he continued, the effect on the viewers wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t be the same because it doesn’t leave anything to the imagination.

Harrison Fentress

1/13/2017 07:10:29 am

This is a collage of images of Nicholas Nixon's wife and her sisters all in the same order for 25 photos. The lighting varies in the photos, it goes from lots of shadows and dark to all bright. Besides that, the only other thing that changes is the age of the women. A constant theme is age and the eternal bond of sisterhood. This collage captures those themes well by showing how as they change, their relationship doesn't.

Nixon chose to photograph his wife and her sisters for so long to make a point. His point could not be made well by only one photo. He made a series to effectively show time. Photos are the best medium for this because they have no bias and they have no mercy on the effects of age. If the photos keep being taken, then inevitable either one of the sisters will die or Nixon will.

In the article, the author writes about the powerfulness of the collage together. Viewers in the gallery were said to have openly wept. The bond between the sisters is shown to grow more through the years. But also, the bond between the photographer and the women grows. A constant theme is also how the women only show their faces, and nothing about their personality. This shows how the bond if sisters cannot be changed, even by each other.

In the final years, the posture can be noted. They get closer together and, arguable, more codependent. They have arms around each other's waists and leaning on each other. I think this collage was successful. Because, the meaning is conveyed subtlely yet extremely effectively.

Stow Neilson

1/13/2017 07:11:40 am

The images are of the 4 sisters every year. The colors are black and white to show the darkness of growing older. Some of the photos are studio light while others are in natural lighting. The sisters appear in the same order throughout every picture. As time goes on you see them grow older and change over time.
The images are exposed just fine using the right amount of lighting. All the images are perfectly in focus. The coloration is fine because it is in black and white. There is no pixelation throughout the series of images.
The photos are pleasing to look at because the lighting is not to harsh. The photographer took the photos from eye level. The focal point of the images are the girls in the center of the photo. The image is balanced because there is an even number of girls on each half of the photos.
The theme of the photo is the change the girls go through throughout the series. It shows that eventually they will die but the photos will remain showing the future the images of the girls. The artist made these images to show a personal level with the girls. As the years increase you can see the girls becoming more comfortable with the camera and being photographed.

Mouna Al-Hakeem

1/13/2017 07:16:47 am

These are a bunch of photographs taken over a course of years. Every Photograph has four sisters lined in a row horizontally. He uses natural lighting and every photo is in black and white. Every image changes throughout the years.
Nixon probably photographed his wife and her sisters to see the changes of appearance. He most likely wanted to see how people change over a course of time. He can show the process of aging in these images that he couldn't show in a single photograph. Photographs can show a more realistic point of view compared to a painting. If Nixon continues his photos you will notice some of the sisters being absent from the photos because of death of old age.
I think Nixon has done something that other photographers haven't done. These photos are really cool. I like how the sisters dress casual and not try so hard to model. Some standards are set for women to look sexy or cool. These photos show how women don't have to appeal to that standard.
This idea gives me inspiration to do some photos just like it. These also let the sisters see how their style changes over time. I think that these images are very successful. He should continue his series. I look forward to seeing more of his work.

Daniel Herrera

1/13/2017 07:17:56 am

In all of these pictures you see the sister as they age to their last few days. In all of these pictures there is very little over exposed light, to show more details and have a brighter image. In this collage of images, all the sister are posing in the exact same spot each time. I believe that this series is successful because its point is made clear, and the photographer succeeded with what he wanted.
He photographed his wife and sister for 40 years to show how time goes by and how you begin to get old, in photography you get to see a much clearer version of how life really is rather than in a painting which is not always sending a direct message to the audience. If Nixon was to finish the photographs the work would begin to fall apart because as they grow old one of the sisters might have passed away. This changes the whole message of family and instead of this being a happy little collage, it becomes a tragedy in which you see how quickly time flies to your death.
In the collage the rule of thirds is not being used, the sisters and the wife are centred in order to show they clear expressions. These images remind me of reality. And that there really isn't anything you can do in order to remain young. These photos relate to everyone I know because I see everyone get older and everyone will look how the sisters look in their last photo at some point. I find these images pleasing to look at, simply because you can see the changes which occur over time.
I like the photo collage, because of the idea which the photographer expresses and the idea which is brought out through the pictures. I also find these photographs successful because the photographer got to express the idea he wanted and he managed to commit to his project of the pictures and the sisters.

Bo Yin

1/13/2017 07:24:09 am

As we can see, this is a series of picture. There are four women in the photos. They are Nixon's wife and her three sisters. They always stand at the same spot in the image. The forty images have the same subject, but they appears to be difference.

In many of these images, the background is simply just ground. However, these grounds can form a interesting line that led our eyes to the main subject, who are the four sisters. The rule of third is not used. However, since the photos are portraits, it is ok to no to use the rule of third. The composition is good because the photographer make these images look coordinate.

The reason why he chose his wife and her sister is that he can contact them easily. Also, they have many similarities, so it is easier to show the pass of time and the changes in these pictures. The pictures show the passing of time in forty years. We can see that the people get older and older in the images. The interesting thing is that the images doesn't change much if we look at them one by one, but if we put them together, we can clearly see the changes.

Also, photography itself is a represent of time. Because the shutter speed is measured in second. The camera can capture one moment or a complete movement. This gives a better relate to the meaning of the series.If the photographer continue to photograph the series, the persons in the image might gone because they might pass away. The series is a great work and it gives me a deeper understanding of life and time

roman ruiz

1/13/2017 07:27:47 am

Critical Analysis #11
Roman Ruiz

These series of photographs are photos that Nixon took of his wife and her sisters every year. In this series i see how much can change in just one year. The photographs shows that each girl individually changes throughout the course of one year. I think that was what the photographer was going for in these photographs. Not only do they get older, but start to show how mature each one gets throughout the course of one year. I think Nixon would photograph these women because he wanted to see how one gets mature each year, or how much they change.

Nixon is using natural light in these series of photographs, and he is usually alway indoors. The focus of the photographs changes throughout each year. In the beginning it went from from the sisters being a bit farther than the camera, to getting up real close in focus. I really think this series is successful because if the message it is giving. One message can be to never give up (This would come from the photographer's side). And the other is that you never know where you’re going to wound up in the end.

Photography is very different to painting, painting take a long well spent time to capture a breathtaking moment in the world's atmosphere.Where as photography take the moment in a meer second. Photography is a art for people who want to capture a special moment in the snap of a finger. So it would be a lot more different if the sisters were drawn. Not only would it take longer, or some of the sister won't look the same.

If Nixon keeps working on this series either one sister will be gone, all of them, or even Nixon will die. This series is very successful, and will always be. This series is always going to be remembered

Karina Samuel

1/13/2017 07:29:18 am

This is one of the most fascinating and interesting series of images I have ever seen. I truly admire the photographer’s commitment and vision for this project. The theme of time is clearly shown through the images. These images show us the beauty of the girls undergoing of what the article stated as “life’s most humbling experiences” which is aging. In especially western society, getting older is seen as such a negative thing. The media has instilled on such a phobia for showing any signs of aging such a wrinkles and loosened skin. However through these images, Nixon shows that not only their is beauty and grace in old age but throughout the course of their lives.

These series consist of images of 4 women sitting and standing next to each other and looking straight into the lens of the camera. The eye contact with the camera creates an intimacy with the viewer and the girls. It makes the viewer feel like they personally know them. Just like the article said, Nixon made privacy the subject of the image. This is what makes this series so personal and captivating and possibly moving people to tears like in the exhibit on Granada, Spain.

The artist used natural and diffused lighting for these high quality portraits. This bright lighting can show the best result in details such as the lines on their face from aging and their captivating eyes staring at you. Also in the article, it stated that the women never planned their outfits. They simply wore what they felt like wearing. That is a key element that adds the raw authenticity of these compositions. The women are not trying too hard or even smiling in a majority of the images.

Every year the women obviously are physically changing due to aging. However, their spirit of the girls seems unchanged and their sisterhood seems to grow stronger as the years go by. The first image shows some space between each girl and crossed arms which highlights their individualality. However, by the last image, the girls are hugging and very intimate with each other. I also find another quality of these series interesting. As the years go by, the girls develop more lines and aging marks on their faces, but their distinct freckles remain unchanged from their youth in 1975. This this blew my mind and really intrigued. This was a very successful series because it shows a clear message and can touch the world.

Will Thompson

1/13/2017 07:33:11 am

This series of photograph has a few things that tay constant throughout all of them. The four sisters are always in the same order. This makes it her to tell how time has passed. The lighting is kept close to the same. This helps confirm the relationship between each photo. one of them is always wearing a white shirt. Im not sure if this is intentional, but it kind of highlights that sister.
The theme of these photos is time. each photo shows how time has affected these four sisters. The gradual changes are noticeable and insightful. in the opposite way of thinking it shows youth to maturity. These sisters are probably adults in every photo but it shows how they grow.
The background shows the world they live in changing. They never took two pictures in the same place.This shows how the world around them is changing long with them. In other words, the progression of time cannot be stopped. It gets to the point the you realize that one day there might only be sisters in the picture.
i don't believe that the photographer knew he would be taking a similar picture every year for forty year when he started out. But he did it again the next year and the year after that and I believe it dawned on him the potential of tis idea. He seized this opportunity and now he will be remembered for it.

Peyton Nebens

1/16/2017 07:45:36 pm

This is not just one image this is multiple images. There are 40 images of 4 sisters. Nicholas Nixon is an amazing photographer. These images are all very different that is what I love about them. All of the images are in black and white and I love the lighting.

The colors in the images are very pleasing to look at. The lighting is natural lighting from the sun. The objects in the images are the 4 women. All of the women are not smiling which is very natural. I would say the image is just right.

The images are in focus and are focused on their faces. There is no pixelation in these pictures. The pictures are very high quality. The positive space in the images are the 4 women. The negative spaces is the landscape in the back of the images and the sky in most of the images.

Yes these images tell a story about the 4 women's lives and how everyone gets older. Nixon portrayed that in his photographs and it is beautiful. I love what Nixon did it is so interesting and different. I love these photographs they are very beautiful. Nicholas Nixon is an amazing photographer.

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Period 3 -- Critical Analysis #11

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