Brezaja Hutcheson - Jack Garofalo - Post 14

1. Which of the artist's many technical choices are of interest to you and why?

I admire how Jack Garofalo captures life in the moment, specifically the lives of marginalized people.  Garofolo captures primarily urban life through the method of street photography. I admire the fact that all of the pictures he makes have a very raw approach to them - none of them seem posed or premeditated in any way, he just captures what he sees. He tends to capture the landscape that his subjects are in as well, which only adds to the potency of these photos. He aims to show parts of life that may not be talked about by others who do not live these lives - he is not afraid to capture areas that are more impoverished, as well as people who may not fit the mold of conventional beauty standards, or rather individuals who do not have Eurocentric features. His work is unapologetically Black; this aspect of his work stood out to me the moment that I came across his photography. 

I appreciate how Garofolo seems to integrate many colors in his photos, whether it be his subjects' clothing, the landscape background, or the pigment of his subject's skin. Garofalo does an excellent job of finding beauty in all places, even the ones that are deemed "ghetto" or unsightly by others who are removed from that environment and may look down upon the people who live in these communities. 

2. What do you believe are the artist's conceptual work and/or thematic intentions?

I believe that Garofolo is attempting to document life as it happens - what he sees, things that he notices that his subjects may not even be aware of. His photographic eye and sense of composition is nothing short of compelling to me. Due to the setup and subject matter of each of his individual photos, it clearly shows that Garofolo is unabashed in what he chooses to document from these urban neighborhoods, and is showing his viewers that beauty can be found in whatever he chooses to capture. 

With each photo being different from the rest, I have concluded that the only commonality amongst all of his photographs is that they are photographed in the streets of New York City. If one are to examine his photographic works further, they would discover that each individual photograph tells a story. Not only that, but it captures what is occurring in front of his lens in that exact moment in time. Although his photos were captured in the 1970s, I feel that they are timeless in a way, because the dynamics and interactions between his subjects can still be felt. I find that when looking at these images, I still feel that I can relate to the subjects. It felt strangely nostalgic to me; something that will remain tangible for many years to come. 

3. How do you personally respond to these choices and intents?

When looking at these photographs, I am inspired to create street photography. I feel that the process is not easy, and I have always commended anyone who is able to successfully document street photography. Something about the way Garofolo captures these subjects in their respective locations - as well as the portraits of some of these individuals - has me in a state of fascination and awe. His photos look as though they could be scenes from a film. 

I have always been interested in telling the stories of others, and learning about people and how they navigate through the world. I feel that Garofolo definitely accomplished this when he began to make pictures, specifically street photography. The colors, composition, as well as the aesthetic choices he has made for his photos is what helps them truly shine. I am to do the same with my photos, and hope to eventually delve into the world of street photography myself, simply because it is so compelling to me.