Walker Evans

Walker Evans

After researching into the work of Gary Wingogrand, I found out that Walker Evans was one of Winogrands biggest influences. This therefore has led me to researching into the work of Walker Evans as a street photographer.

Here is a short video about the work of Walker Evans and the book of his work, "American Photographs" published in 1938;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23497137



http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/evan/hd_evan.htm


[Lunchroom Window, New York], 1929 Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975)



[Subway Passengers], 1938 Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975)


What I like most about the work of Walker Evans is his ability to see and capture normality in his photographs. The natural feel of these images of people going about their day to day life unaware of their photo being taken shows where Gary Winogrand got his influence from this photographer. Looking back at these images and realising what normality actually looks like really makes the viewer stop and think in my opinion as i believe so many people and photographers tend to look beyond that concept of normality and everyday behavior.



New Orleans House, 1935 Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975)

What I find most interesting this photo and what I have found is a repeated style throughout Walker Evans images of buildings is the straight on view point in which the image is taken from. The angel is unique as it is so simplistic, this simplistic way of taking the image seems to produce a very different outcome, as i feel personally it creates a much more dramatic feel to the image. The contrast of light and dark tones along with the very straight lines of the structure of each building throughout the image again adds to this dramatic effect. Because each building is so similar, I find that the eye is drawn all across the image rather than just toward particular area such as the center.






License Photo Studio, New York, 1934 Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975)

—Walker Evans, "Primitive Churches," Architectural Forum (December 1961

Couple at Coney Island, New York, 1928 Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975)

Even the images just taken of buildings rather than people still really portray street photography for me. I think documenting the actual buildings upon the streets as appose to actual people on the streets still makes a really interesting image, especially for the future. For example looking at these images taken by Walker Evans are so intriguing to look at today as it is interesting to see what streets and buildings looked at during that era. 

[Street Scene, Vicksburg, Mississippi], 1936 Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975)