Andreas Gursky

Through research for the Data Collection and Information brief I have come across the work of German photographer Andreas Gursky; known for his truely large scale prints - some of which measure 6x10ft and more!

The sheer scale of such works is impressive yet this only works if the content is there. With Gursky's work this seems to be the case. By standing back, and observing a given scene/scenario as an external observer looking in, Gursky's captures appear somewhat distant and emotionless. Where works such as David Bailey employed techniques such as cropping to the point of removing a subject's limbs in order to achieve a resonating emotional connection between the image and the audience; Andreas Gursky has a somewhat reverse approach. His recording of the scene allows the audience/viewer to step back and detach themselves from the image and to an extent perhaps limiting or at least reasoning the audience's interpretation by removing the emotional connection.

I suppose the magical element to Gursky's work does lie in the scale, as the images presented are photographs they retain the innate habit of photographs which is their high level of detail.