Steven Shore, Survey

Chas Kincaid Grocery Store (16 June, 1976), Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Stephen Shore is probably one of the best known contemporary photographers. Reading a text on Shore, it was pointed out that he was a self taught photographer. This raises the question, is having an instinctual photographic eye better than having a trained one when composing a shot or is it one and the same? An open ended question with pros and cons from both sides, but a necessary one from an Art Major's point of view. Much of Shore’s photographs capture the everyday life. But maybe it was easier back then to snap a photo and have it be interesting if you were friends with Andy Warhol? But is that bitter of me to say? I like the idea that Shore didn’t want to wait for a good moment to take a photo, but rather taking a photo at that moment. Shore’s candid snapshot photographic style can be seen in today’s casual photographer picture making style.

July 22-23, 1969

I found Shore’s July 22-23, 1969 photograph series to be interesting. The central subject in this series is Shore’s friend Michael Marsh. The photos aren’t particularly interesting and are quite deadpan in fact. But what draws me to these photos is how nonchalant they are. Marsh is quite photogenic and that might be the reason why Shore chose him as the subject. If these photos weren’t exhibited together, I would have a hard time liking them.

Lou Reed, 1965-67

At the age of 17 and without formal training, this photograph seems purposefully composed. I like the at ease posture of the subject and the off camera gaze. The use of diagonals in the photo also helps draw in the viewer.

Self-portrait, New York, New York, March 20, 1976

When someone thinks about creating a self-portrait, one would think to glam themselves up or portray themselves in a particular light. What I like about this photo is how “real” Shore is in portraying himself. He lies in his bed next to a pile of junk in his barren walled apartment. There’s a no shame sensibility about this photograph.