Reading: Nan Goldin

Initially before starting this reading section flipped through some of her photographs without reading the text below them or studying them too much.  I first asked the questions:

- Who is Goldin's intended audience?
- Are the scenes in her photographs real or set up?
- Does she even know these people?
- Do they have some kind of narrative or story behind them?

Here were some of my favorite quotes from the chapter:

"Her death completely changed my life.  I'm constantly looking for the intimacy I had with her, in my life and my work... That's why I photograph.  I miss so many people so badly."  - Goldin (201)

"The manic tone of the events obviate the need for artificial staging and posing, or contriving lighting and props."  - (201)

"What I'm interested in is capturing life as it's being lived, and the flavor and smell of it, and maintaining that in the pictures."  - Goldin (201)

She also made a statement concerning journalism that I found interesting which was that it is "too devoid of emotional involvement."  Describing snapshots as "the form of photography that is most defined by love."  "People take them out of love, and they take them to remember."  (201)

An indication of growing up... "Her new work, says Goldin, is comprised of "many landscapes, photos of maternity, of children, of my friends in nature. Yet they remain inspired by human relationships."  (203)

"Memory allows the endless flow of connections."  - Goldin (205)

Ending questions:

1.  What are some examples of her new work?
2.  Is she still taking tons of photos?
3.  Is she planning any new projects?