Shizuka Yokomizo

Shizuka Yokomizo "Stranger No. 1 1998"

     Yokomizo is examining the relationship between the observer and the observed, the “Strangers” within these photographs cannot see her so are less likely to change their body language as much as they would in a studio. When people know that they are being watched they tend to alter the way they stand and act, i am sure that these people have in some way but it appears that this man has not much. He looks completely normal, carrying out his normal evening routines not all that fussed that he is being photographed. 

     This image stands out as there are many frames within the frame, the black frame around the window, each frame of the window, the door frame and the frames hanging on the wall. This in a way forces you to look at each frame separately as well as then looking at the image as a whole. It breaks the image up more, as there is quite a lot in the background of this image there is a lot to take in. By the frame being there lets us look at the image in smaller sections first so we can take all the image in. 

     The composition is interesting too; the man is in the centre of the window frame, which draws your eyes to him straight away. he is not completely centred but enough for him to be our main point of focus, as Yokomizo took these images from outside without actually having spoken to the models would have made it hard for her to compose the image to how she wanted them. Yokomizo had to compose the images from what she saw, perhaps moving her camera around slightly in order to centre this man. 

     The image is very red and quite saturated, which gives off a warm feeling. There is a lot of light coming from inside the window as supposed to the real darkness on the outside creating a large contrast between the inside and outside, making the inside of the house look cosy and inviting.

     The man in this photograph does not look like he is posing, obviously he does not mind being watched as he is standing in front of the window in his underwear.  He is letting us see quite a lot into his personal life, but he is controlling it. If he did not want us to see he would not of turned up when Yokomizo asked.

     I really like this image and the entire series, I think Yokomizo's technique of how she got these images is very interesting and unique. It gives us a small glance into someone else's life for a second and also helps us to create narratives for these people in our imagination.