Alex Soth
“Everyone can take great pictures. What’s hard is taking a collection of great pictures and making them work together. It’s like language: everyone can speak, but putting the words together is the real challenge.” — Alex Soth
Alex Soth is widely regarded as one of the leading contemporary American photographers. In preparation for Assignment 5 of Expressing Your Vision, my tutor suggested that I explore his work. Soth’s retrospective exhibition Gathered Leaves at the Science Museum in London, UK, was a significant opportunity for insight into his creative journey. Although I was unable to attend in person, I’ve researched his work extensively online, which has proven to be a valuable resource in understanding the evolution of his projects.
Soth’s photography is often compared to that of Robert Frank and Walker Evans due to his focus on large-scale projects that explore particular elements of American life. For example, his 2006 project Broken Manual documents individuals who have chosen to live “off the grid.” His work often captures a sense of deep reflection on American society, and it is clear that Soth’s projects are not just about the subjects he photographs, but also about himself. In an interview with ASX on YouTube, Soth mentions that “no one disappears,” an idea he had clearly thought about long before embarking on the Broken Manual series. This introspective approach is key to understanding the depth of his work.
What stands out in Soth’s practice is the cohesion between concept and the resulting images. His work feels meticulously pre-visualized, with each photograph contributing to a larger narrative. This is something I strive for in my own work, as I sometimes struggle to achieve the same level of unity in my images. Soth’s process involves not just capturing the subject matter, but also engaging with it in such a way that the subject is “taken apart” and reassembled through the lens. This approach provides great context for understanding the work, especially in Broken Manual, where Soth’s own introspective state during that period becomes part of the narrative.
Soth is an exceptional photographer, and his work continues to be a significant source of study for me as I strive to improve my own approach to photography.
Bibliography
AMERICAN SUBURB X (2015) ASX interview with Alec Soth (2015). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w91iWM_57RU (Accessed: 6 March 2016).
Gathered leaves: Photographs by Alec Soth (2015) Available at: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/alec-soth (Accessed: 6 March 2016).
Kim, E. (2014) 14 lessons Alec Soth has taught me about street photography. Available at: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2014/02/25/14-lessons-alec-soth-has-taught-me-about-street-photography/ (Accessed: 6 March 2016).
Soth, A. (2013) Alec Soth. Available at: http://alecsoth.com/photography/ (Accessed: 6 March 2016).
Written and James, D. (2015) ‘Photography is a language.’ Alec Soth on his first UK exhibition gathered leaves. Available at: http://www.bjp-online.com/2015/10/photography-is-a-language-alec-soth-on-his-first-uk-exhibition-gathered-leaves/ (Accessed: 6 March 2016).
