Meghan Fischer
ART 332 – Photo II
Silver Print; 9.5″ x 14″
Ongoing Series
These images are from an ongoing series exploring amputees and wheelchair bound individuals. I am really interested in the environment and mechanics of each person in addition to the story behind each person’s journey to becoming an amputee or wheelchair bound.
Photography and Video Exchange 
Wow, these look fantastic. Very nice composition.
the first photo to me is very powerful because of the contrast between the human organic leg and the steel metal leg. To me the second image is not as strong because the prosthetic arm is not as metal looking and there for there is less contrast. Overall they are very nice compositions and are printed well assuming that these are silver prints.
Meghan-these are beautiful and disturbing at the same time. They really grab your attention. Amazing!!!
I really like both images. Something to think about though: your photographs are about amputees/amputations, and through your compositions you have amputated the prosthetic limbs from the person they are connected to.
I think both images are very strong but for different reasons. In the first image I like the contrast between the human leg and its mechanical counterpart. I also appreciate the lighting and contrast. In the second image I like how the lines of the deck lead to your subject and how the shirt mimics these lines. I also think it is interesting that hands are typically more realistic looking prosthetics
Thanks for the feedback.
I have photographed 6 individuals so far, but I have plans to re-shoot with medium format. I am still exploring and expanding the project.
I find the subject matter of these pictures extremely moving. The fact that you have not identified the individuals allows us to identify with the victims. There is an artistic quality to the mechanics of the artificial limbs as well. I believe the use black and white was an excellent choice.
To me the focus of these photographs is the general concept of a prosthetic limb. It is a grand achievement of the human animal to be able to replace a lost limb with a mechanical limb. The photo of the legs is about how the prosthetic limb fits in with the rest of the body. The photo of the detached arm gives a very different feeling. The prosthetic is separated from the body and the nub of flesh that would usually be concealed inside of the prosthetic is visible. This photo seems to be more about the lack of the human limb and the introduction of an inanimate object to the body.
The photos are very interesting in that there is a strange subtlety about the images. They seem to be simple compositions of the body at first, and then on closer inspection the viewer sees the prosthetic. The photo with the arm is great. The line of the arm continues to the prosthetic, but it almost becomes a refracted image.
I think the top image would be even more powerful if you shot him from the front, or while he is in motion.
The composition in both photos is excellent. I find the top image to be most intriguing because the image is right in your face. There’s nothing else to focus on other than the legs, on mechanical and one real. The bottom image is also very powerful. I like the vertical lines that lead your eye up to the focal point although showing a bit more of the arm and prosthetic might make the picture a little more grasping like the one above it.
The subject matter of this series is not something you see often so it’s able to keep the viewers attention. What I find most interesting is that we don’t actually get to see the person that the prosthetics belong to. It seems to be reflecting the reality that when we see someone with a fake limb we tend to just look at that rather than the person. Your statement is about how you want to learn their story but with these images we don’t really get a sense of an individual.
Not all people who have a limb amputated or use a wheelchair to get around would consider themselves “victims” as described by someone in an earlier comment. I think that immersing yourself in the culture/ language of physical disability will be important for describing your work. Also, stating why you do not show the subjects’ faces/ other defining characteristics seems important, as well. You have purposefully minimized a persons experience down to one portion of their body. This is a meaningful choice that needs some explanation. Why do we not see their faces? What does that do for/ to us as veiewers/ voyeurs? I think one thing that this approach does is situate us as outsiders (possibly assuming that the viewer is not an amputee or someone who uses a wheelchair for mobility).
I like the way you cropped these to images. There is a lot of tension in the top photo with the cane. You have done a great job in finding beauty in something that isn’t normally expressed in that way.
The concept of these images is easy to pick up and understand. Lighting in these photos is sensitive to the highlights, yet reveals detail in the shadows making it successful. Compositionally there are some things I would make minor adjustments to. In the top image I would bring the crutch further into the frame and make sure that it is parallel to the edge. Right know, the slight angle and tension between the edge throws me off a little. In the bottom photo, I wish I could see a little more of the person’s torso instead of all the wood area.
i really like your sujbect its so unique and therefore very interesting to see. The idea is clear and your lighting is very good. I would have liked to see them in color and would have loved to see the facial expressions of the people in the pictures. I like the position of the subjects, and like how the picture seems to be so open ended.
I definitely enjoyed your unique concept. I think I would have liked to see more of the body parts, to really connect the disability with someone real. I would like to see more, it’s clearly a moving concept and I think you could really push it!
I love this set of work. I was instantly shocked by it because of the raw documentation of the subject. Almost wish there was writing with it from the individuals. Nice concept for sure.
I really enjoy the composition of these photographs. It allows the viewer to view closely something that is usually kept quiet and avoided in conversation. It creates a very personal connection with the subject. I would have liked to see maybe facial components to show the subject as a whole and perhaps show a sense of how they feel about their condition. I do believe these images speak to how society tends to focus on this one component of amputee or wheelchair bound people instead of them as a whole.
I think your focus is very specific and therefore your photos are cohesive and powerful, because they were taken with a purpose. Both of these photos are crisp, clean, and relate directly to your statement. It would be interesting to show the faces of these people and show their emotions.
Hey Meghan, these two photos are very striking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen amputees captured in such an interesting, mysterious light. You did a very good job of utilizing light- in the first as you highlight the legs and in the second, the dappled light falling across the prosthetic arm.