ImageArt Group - LOSS 22 February 7pm

20.02.23 01:28 PM By The Camera Club

Concepts in photography: LOSS 

The term "loss" can refer to several different concepts, including technical, artistic, and emotional aspects of the medium. Mourning the loss of a loved one, a town or city swept away by environmental disaster, the degradation of imagery through time or the decline in traditional lifestyles, “loss” has been a central theme in image-making since the first days of photography.

Artistically, "loss" can also refer to the intentional or unintentional absence of elements in a photo. For example, a photographer might choose to crop in order to exclude subjects, resulting in a sense of loss or emptiness in the final image. It can be used to evoke emotions such as nostalgia, sadness, or longing.


Emotional loss as a theme can evoke feelings of grief or longing for people or experiences that are no longer present. The work of photographers such as Sebastião Salgado who have documented the displacement of communities and the loss of traditional ways of life by depicting the loss of culture and heritage is often depicted through images of abandoned or decaying buildings, empty landscapes, and other signs of decline. These were central themes in other pioneering greats such as Diane Arbus and W Eugene Smith.

More technical and conceptual interpretations of "loss," can refer to the loss of physical images, such as through damage, decay, or the destruction of old photo albums and negatives. This type of loss is often depicted in the work of artists who incorporate found or discarded photographs into their art, such as Rachel Harrison, who has created installations and sculptures using discarded photo albums and other forms of ephemera.


Even the earliest photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Elliott Erwitt often reflected the theme of loss in their portraiture and reportage. Similarly, the work of contemporary photographers such as Nan Goldin and Wolfgang Tillmans often reflects the emotional and personal losses that they have experienced, while the work of architectural photographers such as Julius Shulman and Ezra Stoller often documents the loss of important buildings and landmarks that have been demolished or altered over time.


Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" (shown above) is one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century and it explores the theme of loss in several ways. This image was taken in 1936 during the Great Depression and depicts a mother and her children who were part of a family of migrant workers travelling in search of work. The photograph captures the mother's exhaustion, sadness, and desperation, as well as the poverty and hardship that her family has endured.


Considering the time it was take "Migrant Mother" shows loss primarily through the absence of the father. The fact that the mother is alone with her children implies that he is missing, this absence reinforces the sense of loss and hardship so prevalent at the time. The mother's weary expression and the children's tired faces suggest that they have lost hope and are struggling to survive.


The poverty and hardship that the family is experiencing captures the reality of life during the Great Depression, when millions of people were out of work and struggling to survive. This loss of stability and security is reflected in the mother's tired expression and the children's worn-out appearance. It became the poster for a generation who collectively experienced the loss of stability and security that held so many families together. 

The image art group will be exploring this concept through photos they've taken themselves or by other photographers that they wish to discuss on the same theme. Everyone is welcome to come, see you there at The Camera Club in Kennington @ 7pm.

The Camera Club

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