Sample Friday Paper

Cara Cole

Writing and Photography

William Eggelston’s guide

Friday paper 1

            To sum up the appearance of Eggleston’s work in one word, would be simple. He seeks to capture the simplicity of a southern life and knows where to look for it. Eggleston’s childhood in the south is represented in each photo as if he knows each person and has been to each place. There is a simplistic nature about these photos and that’s what Eggleston intends for the viewer to see, however they also seem to be a paradox of some sorts. Although the physical appearance shows what looks like a quiet life in the south, the actual meaning of these people and places are much more complex. For example, the bike pictured on pg. 80, to us is a simple, green bicycle, however it may not be an accident that that photo is also the front cover. That bike is complex in that it belonged to somebody, someone with a story, possibly Eggleston himself. These photos are no accident, they are simple, everyday, items but to Eggleston they have a meaning, and that’s why he chose them.

  

          The author of “William Eggleston’s Guide,” John Szarkowski, also finds simplicity in Eggleston’s work in which he talks about, however he also questions Eggleston on the southern meaning behind them and how Eggleston himself must relate to these photos. Szarkowski says how these pictures are taken seem to him as though they are of Eggleston’s home, place and his identity. What Szarkowski sees in Eggleston’s identity is what is intended for the viewer to see, as Szarkowski describes in this quote: “One can say then that in these photographs form and content are indistinguishable which is to say that the pictures mean precisely what they appear to mean.” In a first glance this comment is true; the photos are to appear simple. In a second glance of these photos one might start to piece together that these so simple photos are almost too simple to not have meaning to them. In this quote “The simplicity of these pictures is (as the reader will have guessed) not so simple.” Szarkowski realizes that Eggleston’s identity is indeed a part of these photos. When going through Eggleston’s guide you see the intention of Eggleston’s photographs and when you sit down and analyze why this book of his work is called a “guide” you stop and think that these photos are of things that are important and familiar to someone.

            Eggleston’s work sheds light on parts of his identity. His identity is clearly a part of the south and it appears he takes pride in his southern upbringing as well as the familiar faces, places and objects he photographs. I took Eggelston’s pride in his identity as an inspiration for my own photos.  I took photos that could be considered as a part of an “American” upbringing as many people in the south also take pride in. My photos also show items that appear simple but behind the photo are parts of me.