Photography Against the Grain

Having re-read Allan Sekula’s  Photography against the grain,  I spent some time reflecting upon the salient points whilst also observing his major projects.

When I received a copy of essays over a year ago I observed Allan Sekula’s understanding to documentary photography  to feed into the relevant points within my Literature review, although found the complexity of some of the arguments rather difficult to appreciate. On second viewing with fresh eyes, I discovered a level of importance and significance to my own understanding.

The essay ‘on the invention of photographic meaning really homes in on the construction of a narrative within the frame whilst always referring to the socio-political angle as to why a photographer chose to select a characteristic, an environment or particular class of subject. Little is left to chance and Sekula decodes and disseminates the many aspects that make up a construction and leads it back to the photographers motivation.

Sekula has a ever present difficulty with modernism and tradition. It appears to me that this is  a substantial element within the heart of his position as to how documentary photography should be undertaken if it is to be considered a serious visual force within the everyday existence of reality.

It certainly suggests an opinion that is not afraid to look left, when all others are following a desire to go right. It challenges power, tradition and what has gone before. Sekula feels this is part of the role of photography, to brush against the grain.

Documentary photography is seen as a compelling visual instrument to document the facts of social relations while opening a more metaphoric space to allow viewers the idea that things could be different. This can be achieved without exploitation through the beauty of the ordinary everyday reflections and observations.

Sekula has a self determination to portray the truth of reality which feed into areas of social injustice and exploitation. It appears that a significant aspect of Sekulas work and theory requires something or someone to rally against to make relevant. This is the area I am most fascinated with as since my focus has been predominantly towards documentary photography, I am constantly drawn to focusing on presenting a constructive reason to represent a situation.

I will be looking to obtain a copy of ‘Fish Stories’ to see how Sekula forms meaning within political consumption and how functional the accompaniment of text is within the overall meaning.