In todays world, the idea of using photography as a medium of documentation has been diluted by social media and the easy access to cameras that we all now have. However the sheer power and emotion that can be captured through this style of photography should not be underestimated.
During a recent visit to South East London’s Tate Modern, I stumbled upon a series of photo books that convey a candid, raw and unfiltered view into the lives of those living in sub cultures within our society. My personal favourite books out of the collection are Larry Clark’s “Tulsa” (1971) and Ryan McGinley’s “The Kids were alright” (1999).
In 1971, controversial film maker, artist and photographer Larry Clark released his first photo book “Tulsa”. Through his photography, Clark was able to document the lives of a group of young people in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The unfiltered, black and white images deal with issues of drug addiction, domestic violence and death in a way that had never been seen so intimately through photography. Upon its release the book was meant with both critical acclaim and controversy.To me, the beauty within the photographs can be felt through the sheer honesty shown in each image.
The exploration and documentation of youthful rebellion through photography within Clark’s “Tulsa” is almost entirely contrasted by Ryan McGinley’s 1999 book “The kids were alright”. During the early to mid 1990’s, New Jersey born photographer Ryan McGinley began to photograph the joy that came with being young artists living in New York City.
Visually, it is very clear to see the difference in McGinley’s photography compared to Clark’s. The photographs are full of colour and depict a different interpretation of alternative lifestyles amongst youth. The copy of the book that can be found in the Tate is one of the original 100 copies that were handmade by McGinley and given to friends and collaborators.
Luis-Ray Martin's F&T blog 