Nancy “Nan” Goldin is an American photographer. She is known for her work, which usually features LGBT-related themes, images or public figures. Goldin’s work is most often presented in the form of a slideshow, and has been shown at film festivals; her most famous being a 45-minute show in which 800 pictures are displayed. The main themes of her early pictures are love, gender, domesticity, and sexuality; these frames are usually shot with available light. She has affectionately documented women looking in mirrors, girls in bathrooms and barrooms, drag queens, sexual acts, and the culture of obsession and dependency.
This photographer is interesting, and intriguing. The quality of photos vary, depending on location and time of day. Sometimes the composition has been thought about, and in other cases in hasn’t, sometimes there are even purpose styled poses. A variation of different techniques can be a bit messy and sloppy, however the quality of the image seems to be consistent. Goldin’s use of fast camera snapping gives off a good sense of energy and movement in the picture (unless posed for), this works well for her public journal approach. Nancy’s photographs give the viewer a different side to the world that might not be seen by many people up close. This creates a great area for storytelling through imagery very quickly, jumping to assumptions and questioning everything. Some of the images seen are quite dark and moody, atmospheric and maybe some haunting. It begs the question if the people or places in this are happy and content, or tired and weary.
James Notarianni 