Betty Gowans - Weekly Artist Post 1

Paul Walsh

Paul Walsh appears to me to be using digital photography. Where he places focus in the photographs changes (center, thirds lines, asymmetrical, etc.). He is shooting at a high depth of field and tends to be focusing on the architecture/environment as his subjects. Walsh seems to be rather far away from his subjects for the most part, maybe at least 15 or 20 feet. 

Walsh is interested in the connection between walking and photography. His images appear to really focus on the environment he is walking through and he just happens to capture other pedestrians in his photographs. These images seem to me to capture what anyone could really capture on a stroll through their city, on commute, etc. He possibly could be bringing attention to the normal rituals that we as humans by default tend to just glaze over and passively ignore because it is simply environmental stimuli that doesn't catch even our short term attention. Though I feel environment is a huge component in his work, it could also raise questions of his fellow pedestrians in his images. Why is this young girl in the first image scootering alone in what appears to be an alley? There are many questions that could be asked that pertain to the lives or intentions of the others in his photos. Maybe the little girl is a daughter of a local shop owner nearby, playing while her parents take care of the business. Maybe the pedestrians of the second image are on their way to work or run errands. Maybe the man in the last photo is just going for a walk or even picking up groceries for the week. There are many average or even extraordinary rituals that many of these people could be partaking in. Taking emphasis away from the individual and capturing the environment possibly urges us to be more attentive of our surroundings as opposed to focusing on our point b destination and our own intentions.

I enjoy these photos because I can relate to being aware of the things other people may typically pass by. I come to love cities more by really taking in the places I walk by. To me, it's nice to see a photographer that isn't trying to make a beautiful landscape or lovely portrait and it's a different approach to things I've seen previously. I like how these photos kind of place the viewer in the viewpoint of the pedestrian taking the pictures.