Hiroshi Sugimoto


 


The work of Hiroshi Sugimoto is one of the most recognizable and memorable. After looking at his photos in class, I would spend a lot of time thinking about his work and what they meant. When we went to the Photo Fair in NYC and saw his work in person, it felt different. There is something about the way Sugimoto captures time in his images that is beautiful. These images of movie theaters also illustrate how layers of light interact with each other over time. Knowing that these images are looking at the entire span of a movie but captured in one frame raises a lot of questions. I also like how this makes the surrounding movie theater appear very dark but still allows for a lot of shadow details. 
Hiroshi Sugimoto: Seascapes - StyleZeitgeist
Hiroshi Sugimoto: the World Trade Centre - Architectural Review
Hiroshi Sugimoto's 'Seascapes': Measuring Time in Repetition – AMERICAN SUBURB X
These three images above are all very interesting to me. The softness of these almost make them look like abstract paintings. The ones of the sea, specifically, look like there are brushstrokes painting the waves in the water. They are very beautiful and unique. After researching these photos, I found that they are created using an 8x10 inch camera and a long exposure. The long exposure is what creates the smooth look with extreme dreamlike effects. In the photo of the twin tower, the focus is intentionally off. Even though this photo was taken before the tragic event with different intentions, this picture captures a melancholy feeling that feels soothing in a way. The softness of this photo again gives a dream-like effect, and in this case it feels like going back to a memory of something that is gone and fading away. 

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