Photography identity and age: Web source

Trent Parke

One of Australia's most famous contemporary photographers, Trent Parke toys with the idea of both identity and age in his compositions in a less obvious way than the longer term members of Magnum. Although his photographs are breath taking in form because of the high contrast monochrome prints which often feature backlit subjects, i think his images contain a hidden undertone. Do his compositions contain any people at all? or are they merely silhouetted outlines which want us to create an identity for them? Can we tell the age of these people? Does the playful dive of the swimmer mean this person is young? This raises the question - Can identity, age, and personality really be captured in a photograph? Personally, i think we donate and stereotype perceptual identities onto such subjects in images and in turn make them more interesting to experience, objectify and create meaning from for ourselves. Is this the trait of a successful photographer? These people are mere figures, we look at them knowing only half or even nothing of what they see, where they are going or what they feel - yet we are left contemplating and imagining these very things. I believe a good photograph has elements left behind, waiting for the viewer to fill in the gaps.

Images from: Magnum Photos