There are very Interesting and contrasting points made by these three photographers, If we start with dealing with the flood as a actual physical, tangible representation of one of many photo sharing websites, it makes it difficult to see past the Mass of the vernacular.
The other two artists represent differing ways of deciphering the flood of images (old and new) that we consume on a daily, hourly, minute by minute basis. Schmid seems to revel in the flood almost obsessively drowning in it, via digital and analogue means, meticulously searching archives of 1000’s of images, hunting the patterns the eb and flow of the flood.
In contrast Williamson’s ‘Advertising’ examines minutely one single image, giving it the same critical observation normally reserved for high end art, not adverts in a Sunday Paper. Like Schmidt, Williamson is also observing ever moving patterns and themes.
Both artists raise valid question, Schmidt’s why do we take the same pictures throughout time? Williamson’s highlighting the plight of child workers for one of the worlds biggest companies.
I would have to agree with Schmidt that the reasons we keep taking the same photograph’s is that they work, people will keep getting married, having kids, going on holiday and eating pretty food.
As upsetting as it is to say, while the economic gap between countries still exists the type of exploitation Williamson refers to will still keep happening. As she quotes “Today the hypocrisy is reversed, we look back in nostalgic terror at the working lives of British people 200 years ago, while buying products produced under not too dis similar circumstances in East Asia.”
Each artist have their views, I enjoyed Schmidt’s no nonsense view of his own work, as I have in mine, not trying to read too much into his collection of imagery. In stark contrast Williamson wants you too read almost painful level of depth into that single image in which she makes some hard hitting points. Both articles are good, if I lean towards one style it would be Schmidt’s but I would like to get to the level of critical observation shown by Williamson.
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