I have chosen three prints to look at by Arno Rafael Minkkinen there were all taken in the 1970s. I could not find out what kind of kind of camera Minkkinen used but I am assuming that it was a film camera considering that this was before digital cameras came into the picture. Considering that Minkkinen is an artist I think that he would have developed his own film and developed his own prints. Minkkinen’s work is mainly black and white self-portraits where he finds a way to incorporate his body into the scene he is shooting.
The first print that I am going to look at is a portrait of Sandy Pachaug in 1970. I am assuming because it was taking in 1970 that it was taken on film and developed by Minkkinen himself. This print is of a girl sitting in a canoe with her back facing us. In my opinion I find the print a little over exposed because there is very little detail in her back and the blacks are not as black as they could be. I find there to be an overall grey feel. Which makes the image seem like there is not much contrast as most of the image is in the medium grey range. In terms of the format I like the way the picture was created there is a simple feel to it and the shallow depth of field adds to the image. I find the image grainy but it could be from being scanned and it is hard to tell if there have been touch ups done on the computer. I think the way the image was cropped is perfect there is enough of the background to give meaning to the picture the focus is of the girl and the canoe, I like the softness of the picture and it adds to the subject.
The Second image I am going to look at is a self-portrait taken in Narragansett, Rhode Island in 1973. It is a picture of a dock and Minkkinen is lying on his back with his head to the dock. I think that this picture is exposed perfectly the lights are the right shade as are the blacks. The contrast is good and the picture is cropped very effectively it makes the image strong and bold and the lines on his body mimic the grain in the wood of the dock. The picture is dark at the bottom and lightens up as you follow the lines of the body to the sky. This picture is not as grainy as the first picture I looked at but again that could be attributed to the fact that this print was probably scanned and might have been touched up on the computer. I like this picture it reminds me of a cross by the way the body is perfectly balanced with the edge of the dock.
The third picture I chose to look at is a self-portrait with Daniel, called "The First Noël” it was taken in Andover in 1979. I think that this was again taken on film and developed by him. It is a picture of a baby sitting on the floor looking up; Minkkinen’s legs frame the baby, which creates a frame within a frame. I think that the picture is exposed correctly but in saying that there are some darker areas being the right upper corner. I think that the light is soft in this picture and the baby is exposed correctly as are the legs, which created good contrast between the shades of colour. The edges of the picture are a bit grainy and could be a little out of focus but it is hard to tell as again this picture has been scanned. I like the image it is simple and I like that it is centred because we follow the gaze of the baby up and we are able to imagine what is beyond the frame. I like this picture and the contrast between the soft baby skin and hairy legs adds to the texture.
In general I really like Minkkinen’s work. I have been fortunate enough to see his show when it was at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. As with all of the prints I think in real life they would be a bit grainy but because they have been scanned and have possible had the opportunity to be touched up using the computer. I like his subject matter and the way that he is able to find ways to fit his body into the landscape he is working with. The simplicity in the naked body is reflected in the nature environment. I like the feel of his pictures. I have always liked the look of film and rustic simple feel to all pictures taken with film. I think that because of this it adds to Minkkinen’s prints, as film just seems to enhance the look and feel to his body and nature.
All information and pictures were taken from the following website:
http://www.arnorafaelminkkinen.org/
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