Moriyama, Peterson and Sobol
In these different photographers there are similarities in terms of the tonal qualities and style of photo. I can see that there is a thread of influence between Moriyama and some of what Peterson has photographed, mainly in terms of the grit and grain of the subject. Sobol also clearly has been influenced I would say by Mariyoma. In some ways I find Sobol’s work more comprehensible, even though visually I think I prefer the work of Moriyama. Peterson comes up as a lesser figure for me, photographically.
Sobol’s images are characterised by close in portrait shots bringing forth the knotty characteristics of the faces and details of the people he photographs. We will see less of this in Moriyama’s work as many of the figures are simply blurred, or too distant in the frame to be significant.
Peterson’s works work seems to have more of a surrealist element in it as does much of Moriyama’s dream like vision of the world. On the whole Sobol’s work tends towards gritty portrait and documentary. I feel that the effect is similar looking at all of these photographers work. There is a sense of immediacy and even urgency that give rise to interest in looking at the picture. Some of Moriyama’s snap shots are very on the hoof, but even this has its appeal. I especially enjoyed the out of focus prints, maybe because it flies in the face of aesthetic modernist leanings.
