Period 5 -- Critical Analysis #11

1/30/2020

Today you will be writing about artist William Wegman, best known for his photographs of his Weimaraner dogs.

First, watch this short video interview with Wegman. You may use headphones to watch the video, or watch on your laptop/phone.

For your Critical Analysis, you will be answering the questions below in response to the video. Please answer in complete sentences and take time to think about you answer.

What kind of photographs does Wegman make? What camera/equipment is he known for using?
Consider your own experience as a photographer. What are some obstacles that might be associated with photographing animals?
What does Wegman say are some things that influence his work?
What does Wegman compare his video pieces to?
Do you like or dislike William Wegman's work? Why or why not?

Your analysis is due by midnight tonight.

Suly Welsh

1/30/2020 11:28:22 am

Blog #11 | 1/ 30/ 2020

1) William Wegman is an artist that is known for photographing dogs. He is known for using a Polaroid camera and an 8x10 camera.
2) I don't think I feel as passionate about animals to the point where I photograph them. I think that only someone with a profound love for photography or animals will go through taking pictures of them. It's just so difficult to take pictures of them because they jump around and are jittery and aren't as easy to control or direct.
3) To make them look like people because they're creepy and weird.
4) The videos were hard to resist and you could show them anywhere. They weren't exclusively to an art audience.
5) I respect his work process because it must be very time consuming and exhausting to photograph animals well and then be successful in selling or distributing the final pieces.

Andy Cubriel

1/30/2020 11:47:46 am

Wegman usually takes photos of his Weimaraner dogs. The photos are usually compositions, featuring multiple of them. William Wegman was known for using a polaroid 20x24-inch camera. This camera was 5 feet tall, and weighed 235 pounds.

One obstacle with photographing animals would be that they have the mind of an animal. This would mean that they are difficult to get to cooperate, and may accidently hit the camera equipment. The other problem with this would be that if you were taking a photo with a slow shutter speed, and the animal moved (as animals tend to do), then the photo would come out blurry. Also, if you have a shallow depth of field, and the animal moved, you would have lost your focus.

His influences were not actually photographers. They were comedians, Bob and Ray, and the writer Borges, because of his idea of circular time, and getting in and out.

He said it was like seeing yourself standing in a 3-way mirror when buying a suit with your mother. Also, he compares it to a sculpture with good structure.

I like William Wegman’s photography, however, I do not like his films. I like his photography because he takes really nice photos, and they have great focus. I also like his subjects, which are his dogs. I don't like his films because they just seem kind of weird and eerie, and they give me an uneasy feeling. Many of them also portray him without much of his clothing, which gives me a weird feeling.

Jacob Perez

1/30/2020 02:33:52 pm

William makes photos of weimaraner dogs if human conditions and odd situations. There are many images of his dog wearing human clothes. For example there is one where the dog is wearing a wig, another one is his dog wearing a jock jacket. He is known for using a polaroid camera, where he would make 11 by 14 black and white inch pictures. But he then started to use 20 by 24, “Refrigerator size” inch pictures.

Some obstacles that may come up with me photographing animals is keeping them still and not have them just wander off. Another obstacle would be getting them to look in the correct direction or type of way. Another obstacle would be getting them dressed up and not have them just try to tear up the attire. Another obstacle would be getting the animal to have the correct facial expression, for example getting there wide eyes open. A last obstacle would be to make sure you take the picture fast enough before the dog starts to get hungry or needs to go to the bathroom.

Some influences he had were from Bob and Ray the comedians to make his images somewhat light and funny. He had another influence from Borges, who is known for his circular time and how he can put that into his art. These people taught him how to design and make his photos into pictures with deeper meanings but originally look light and fun. Without these people he may of turned out very different. Or maybe not made pictures at all.

He compares his videos to sculptures. I think a reason he compares the videos to sculptures is because of how still and elegant the actors and animals were. I think this an accurate comparison. And what makes this even better is it is filmed in black and white giving them a more sculpture looking. This is an overall great comparison to his videos.

I like Williams work very much. One reason I like it it just how creative he is in dressing a dog in random attires. Another reason is how perfectly the dog does the role. Another reason is all the different time period clothing put on the dog. His images are very original and put a smile on my face

Gabby Beck

1/30/2020 06:24:42 pm

Wegman takes photographs of dogs, particularly of Weimaraners. His dogs are usually in costume or have a pose in the photos. He used a 2 ¼ camera and was always 8x10. He also uses a tripod to help make stiller photos of the animals. The photos were not wall size because he wanted them to get more attention.

Animals usually don’t know when to stop so they are always moving around. You have to be able to train a dog to be able to get a good photo of it. I would be hard to photograph animals because you can’t just tell them what you want; you have to teach them. The animals might also be too fast to be able to photograph. You also might be able to get too close to them because they could be dangerous.

His influencers weren’t other photographers; they were comedians. The Bob and Rey helped him with his video production and he was a huge fan of them. There was a writer named Borges that influenced him because of his idea of circular time and getting in and out of something. His other influencer were dogs because they broke his manifesto. HIs influencers were not what you would expect, I guess.

He liked his videos to have a beginning, middle, and end. He describes the setup as like buying a suit with your mom. It’s where you’re standing in a three way mirror and you see every angle of yourself. He says it distances you from yourself. It sounds kind of weird and disturbing but I think he just got used to it.

I like Wegman’s work mainly because I like dogs. I love the way he uses his own dogs as his subjects and dresses them up in a funny way. It also makes you see the dog in a new perspective. The photographs are also sometimes simple with just the dog and the background and it really makes the colors pop. I would think Wegman’s work is pretty well known because it’s creative and unique.

Alissa Welsh

2/21/2020 09:36:30 pm

William Wegman is a photographer, painter and filmmaker, and is best known around the world through his photographs of his Weimaraner dogs. He is most famous for his 11-by-14-inch black-and-white compositions that are done with a “refrigerator-size” 20-by-24-inch Polaroid camera, which he was invited to use by the company for free.
Over my experience in photographing my dog, bees, insects, or other animals is challenging for me because they move a lot and not like humans you can’t really tell them what to do.
“Looking at a 3 way mirror” I think he was comparing how it could be an illusion because he tried making the dog look like a human like some mirrors give you illusions that you are taller, shorter, etc.
He was comparing how they were not exclusive and not everyone will like it.
I like Wegmans work since I like the way he worked with the dog. I was stunned on how obedient and great model he was and would like to photograph a dog that’s like that since when my dog sees me pull out any kind of camera he runs away.

Ahmad Al-Hakeem

2/28/2020 12:17:08 am

Wegmen makes different photographs of his dog, using a 20 by 24 in camera, monitor, and probably a tripod or table to put the camera.
One main obstacle when taking photos of an animal is the constant moving and twitching. Another obstacle could be the fact that they don't listen to what you need from them.
He had some influences mainly with comedians, like Bob and Ray, or a writer, like bourgeois
He compares his work as if it is like a sculpture but he uses it like a TV, where it's just a 30 sec broadcast.
I, personally, like his artwork because the way he works with the dog is outstanding. The amount of patients is way too much for me.

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Period 5 -- Critical Analysis #11

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