Alec Soth is an American photographer, most notable for featuring the Midwestern United States in his work. His photography has a cinematic feel with elements of folklore—each image has a distinct story. He is inspired by the work of Diane Arbus, as he tends to gravitate towards off-beat subjects, much like her own subjects. Soth has had gallery exhibitions all over the world, from New York, to Moscow, to Milan, and currently has collections residing in dozens of galleries.
Like Arbus, Soth’s work has a quirky, awkward feel, and for
good reason. He has said that his own awkwardness comforts people. It’s part of
the photographic exchange. He tries to find a "narrative arc and true
storytelling" and pictures in which each picture will lead to the next one.
This philosophy really caught my eye, as I tend to feel extremely awkward while
photographing someone (especially if he or she is a stranger), but I suppose it can be part of the process since Soth's own discomfort
produces such successful photos.
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