Photography in Context: Family and Photography

It might seem a simple task for somebody to take photographs of their family, capturing the memories to store in an album, documenting what will eventually become history. But Richard Billingham differs greatly from the traditional portraiture shot; he raises formal awareness into the life of an alcoholic by capturing his father highly under the influence of alcohol.

His photographs show what goes on inside his family home. As expected, the décor isn’t too up market and the cleanliness is despicable. Odd contrasts run throughout Billingham’s book “Ray’s a Laugh”; he often depicts his father in his half-conscious alcoholic state whilst his mother goes about normal daily activities. His photographs appear as a simple snapshot yet document a social subject matter that is very serious. To an extent each photograph is an auto biography which breaks the tradition of silent surrounding private secrets of his family.

Despite the serious matter of the photographs, they do appear quite humorous thus reinforced by the title of the book. His facial expression throughout add commercial elements and the sexism and traditional womanly chores are visible. A sense of heartache comes with the pictures; the poverty and deprivation in which Billingham grew up in is capture on film, despite being taken in the care at the age of eleven, we can guess at the upbringing he had through these photographs.

There is such integrity in this work which creates a sense of beauty. Capturing them in their own home shows the innocence; the naturalness and lack of print quality compels a desire of happiness.