Tina Barney is a photographer, who is well known for creating images that focus on family life. As a viewer, we may just see work that has been created under strict direction from Barney herself, even if her portraits seem unforced, natural and on occasions, candid. But, there has been a lot influences in her life, both educational and personal, that has resulted in the images we see from her today.
Barney admits she struggles with the concept of visual perspective, specifically relating to how to create space within an image and how to draw the viewer in, so to speak. I too find this particularly difficult, so it was very interesting and potentially beneficial, to get a better understanding on how she achieves this, and with great success. Her main inspiration comes from historical art, and more specifically, Italian renaissance and 17th century Dutch paintings. Barney believes that paintings from this era, on the most part, show visual perception at its finest, and when I saw examples of this for myself, I would certainly agree. The first painting below, depicts the use of strong visual lines, which draws the viewers’ eye into the areas of the painting the artist wants them to go. The second, uses depth of field exquisitely, which makes the scene look bigger and longer than perhaps it actually is. Both of these examples can be seen in Barney’s work.
She also learnt about visual perspective from her own mother, who was an interior designer. By placing objects within the scene at different heights, whilst also using the techniques above, the viewer will be forced to investigate the whole scene, rather than a specific area. This allows the viewer to gain more information, and ultimately, help with their interpretation behind the photograph. Reflecting on my own work, I feel I’ve created some images using similar methods, to achieve visual perception – though perhaps not to the same standards as Barney. However, I am so pleased that I have discovered her work and have been inspired to look further into historical art, which I’m hoping will help with my photography in the future.
References
Interview Magazine. (2017). ‘Photographer Tina Barney captures the lives of the upper crust’ [Online] Available from: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/art/photographer-tina-barney-captures-lives-upper-crust
The National Gallery. (2012). ‘Artist’s insight: Tina Barney | Seduced by Art: Photography Past and Present | The National Gallery‘ [Online] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3epp0imxkgg
Checkerboard Films. (2013). ‘Tina Barney: Speaking of Art – Trailer’ [Online] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr9QJvbWitI
JP Morgan. (2016). ‘Tina Barney Discusses ‘The Reception’ | Paris Photo Fair 2016 | J.P. Morgan’ [Online] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7QJamfJWWI
The Masterpiece Cards. (2010). ‘Famous Paintings: The Battle of San Romano’ [Online] Available from: https://www.themasterpiececards.com/famous-paintings-reviewed/famous-paintings-the-battle-of-san-romano/
Wikipedia. (2017). ‘Woman Lacing Her Bodice Beside a Cradle’ [Online] Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_Lacing_Her_Bodice_Beside_a_Cradle
The Brooklyn Rail. (2018). ‘Tina Barney with Phong But’ [Online] Available from: https://brooklynrail.org/2018/02/art/TINA-BARNEY-with-Phong-Bui
Pelican Bomb. (2016). ‘Taking Direction: An Interview with Tina Barney’ [Online] Available from: http://pelicanbomb.com/art-review/2016/taking-direction-an-interview-with-tina-barney
Iain Barbour - BA (Hons) Photography 