A documentary which has had a strong impact on the way I approach portraiture and fashion photographer.
Darkness and Light reveals the thoughts, emotions and secrets of Avedon's photographic career. The devil style portrait of Charlie Chaplin for example gives you an alternative outlook towards the way Avedon photographs. In this instance, it was Chaplin that provided the photograph with such a memorable and distinctive attitude. Both Chaplin and time and given Avedon a gift during that studio session, this being the unpredictability of human nature and what is expected from a certain situation.
Although it is rather discrete, the influence time has had on this photograph, as well as many of portraits Avedon has taken, is phenomenal. This represented through both a physical and technical perspective. The slow exposure used by Avedon shows both the movement and life of Chaplin; he is revealing a great deal of himself to the camera. However, from a more theoretical perspective, without time, this photograph would not have been possible. Time has allowed Avedon to interact and bond with Charlie Chaplin. And therefore, time has allowed and caused Chaplin to feel empowered and passionate enough to characterise himself in such a way to Avedon.
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