Joel Sternfeld

This image is from the Stranger Passing series that was published in 2001. It is compiled of portraits that Joel Sternfeld took over the past 15 years while traveling. The images are united by the person being photographed at full body length, always having eye contact and generally outdoors at the same distance to the camera. Although most of his shots look like candid shots, that is not exactly what happened. Sternfeld does rearrange items and directs his subjects, but he possesses a finesse to still keep it from looking staged.

Of course the first thing that popped out to me was the color red since most other colors are muted. I now also believe that the red t-shirt was arranged by Sternfield. It helps to connect the carts with him as if they are a visual example of how chaotic his brain is rite now. I like the graphic repetition of shapes and their varying sizes as they go into the distance. Looks like a perfect overcast day.

 

On the other hand this photograph looks like he didn't direct her at all, although it is possible that he told her to angle her "power chair" that way to make a better composition. I think he cropped this image perfectly with the pattern of the floor going directly in to the right bottom corner and the cart touching the base as if it is resting. The top left corner ends with the roof and the right top corner with the top of the door. Repetition plays a big role here as well. Just like the carts in the image above the columns retreat in to the distance changing their size. I love the smile on her face, the wind in her hair and how her dress appears to have similar patterns as the food in her cart.

 

Now this picture not only has the repetition and variety of shape, but it also ads the element of juxtaposition. The newly wed young girl next to the old and obviesly used seats speak of virginity. Even the truck in the background is old.  I'm not sure if this image that I found is just a bad print or if the blown out sky and floor are supposed to give her the look of an angel on a cloud. The uncertenty of the whiteness is what makes it the least succssessfull of the tree.