Apperture Foundation: Prison Nation
The United States has the highest rate of incarcerated people per capita in the world. The exhibition Prison Nation, as the name implies explores the theme of prison and incarceration in the United States. The selection of photographs in the gallery shows many different sides to life in prison and the prisoner’s themselves. Prisoners and Ex-convicts are often stigmatized as being morally incapable or lesser humans, rather than being put there by a failed legal system. One of the photographs that I was most intrigued by was Troy Holding a Guinea Fowl Chick, GreenHouse Program, Rikers Island Jail Complex, New York by Lucas Foglia. I love this photo because it humanizes the prisoner. (Troy) The moment captured here shows that not all prisoners aren’t these hardened dangerous menaces to society because even they can appreciate the little things (literally)
Yossi Milo Gallery: Grand Tour – Facades
The current exhibition at the Yossi Milo Gallery explores the different facades of churches around the world. Regardless of one’s religion, I don’t think it’s up for debate that some of the greatest architecture in the world exists because of churches. The series of photographs are extremely crisp and detailed and highlight the complexity of the architecture. What makes these photos even more impressive is that they are each made up of thousands of close up images.
Benrubi Gallery: Leaning Out
The exhibition /Leaning Out/ on display at Ben Rubi Gallery shot by Jeffrey Millstein celebrates aerial photography. Personally, I’m not very impressed by aerial photography. I find it to be like a cheat code, of course, people are supposed to be wowed by aerial photography cause humans don’t fly and we never see that point of view. There was, however, one photo from the exhibition that I was fascinated with (pictured above.) The reason why I enjoyed this photo, in particular, is because it’s not your cliche aerial photo of NYC instead it shows a directly vertical perspective. The rooftops of some of the buildings in the photos are instantly recognizable (at least for someone who pays attention to architecture and trespassed on rooftops.) I thought it was very interesting to see the difference from rooftop to rooftop, it is a very uncommon way to appreciate the architecture of a building.
The photo you selected from the Prison Nation show really encapsulates the agenda of the entire exhibit. It humanizes its subject while at the same time using light and pattern to create a visually engaging photo.
I generally agree with you about aerial photography. The photo of 5th ave is interesting though and completely surprising in that what might be an ode to corporate power- a beautiful photo of skyscrapers shows the number of smaller buildings and even the larger buildings look small and subservient to the grid.