Susan Sontag + Photo response

The photograph of the three women posing in an open landscape with two animals is one that many people would have in any photo collection. The photograph shows the embodiment of a family or a close-knit group of women, posing with their pets, which let’s the viewer know that the three women want to be known as some type of relational group. Also the added effect of posing on an open landscape symbolizes that the photograph was possibly taken on a family ranch or landscape somewhere near home.


When looking at the photograph one can see that the camera doesn’t necessarily capture the reality but helps the viewer interpret that reality as a whole. The viewer can see that the photographer wanted to show the women together, as well as show a lot of the background landscape which they stand on, but didn’t give much attention or care to the women’s emotions. This can be sensed by the fact that only one child seems to be ready for the photo, while the other seems to have been waiting for the photograph to be over; and the mother who isn’t even looking at the camera. This, plus the fact that the animals look like they were just recently called over just for that one final shot shows the photographers willingness and carelessness to the actual photographed subjects. This is probably due to the fact that most photographers are always imposing standards on their subjects, making it somewhat harder for the subjects being photographed.


The photograph also still shows the sprocket holes and also a small section of the next frame, which means that the photographer probably took several frames of the same subjects. This was most likely for the photographers own personal aesthetic, just so they could get the right look on film. Also within the photograph, you can see the ware and distress to the negative, which let’s us know that this photograph is an object, something that can stand as evidence and a justifiable record. The photo is proof that this family or group of women was there, at that specific time, with their pets, posing on a beautiful sunny day. This almost makes it easier for that moment of “union” between the women unimportant; even after the event has passed, the photograph will still be there.


Photographs can loose their meaning and importance when placed in certain contexts, but they can also stand as collectable objects when placed in those situations. With this photograph, you can get a sense that the women are close-knit, together and content. What the viewer also gets to see is the background in which the three women are standing, which allows us to bring another context into the photograph. Why did they decide to pose in front of an open field of land and distant houses, and why did the photographer choose to include a generous amount of background into the photograph, instead of just the foreground subjects? The photo still would have shown three women with their pets if it was an up-close shot, but the photographer chose otherwise. This shows how through the photograph, the family almost creates a sense of portrait nostalgia; evidence that there was once this connectedness between the three subjects.


The five photographs that I found were mostly found on Google image search, where I just looked for images of groups of subjects that seemed to show a sense of personality and connection with the subject and its background. The photos can still be considered objects with the understanding that these photos were once taken in past time, which can be shown by the rawness and continued distress caused by the actual camera itself.