Gypsies

Exercise 27 - research and compare Koudelka's Gypsies and Eskildsen's The Roma Journeys. Discuss aspects to do with the photographers intention and the distinctive aesthetics and approach of each body of work.

Koudelka's Gypsies

All of Koudelka's images are black and white and quite often in a stark, high contrast style; in the same way his images contain a real mix of emotions - happiness, sadness, hope and regret. The images are taken in close proximity to the subject and whilst this might be because of space constraints for the internal photographs; the subjects in the images taken outside are equally as close. These images all have very strong compositions and are able to stand alone in terms of their story, that said, a number of his images have very specific stories but Koudelka prefers for his audience to interpret them in their own way.

In terms of intention, Koudelka is known for his individual style and his strong views, when an interviewer asked why he chose the project he did, he replied “I photograph only something that has to do with me, and I never did anything that I did not want to do. My freedom is something I do not give away easily." 

Review from Atget Photography: "They seem instead to aim at a visual distillation of a pattern of human values: a pattern that involves theatre, large gestures, brave style, precious camaraderie, and bitter loneliness. The pattern and texture of his pictures form the silent equivalent of an epic drama." 

Sean O’Hagan talks of Koudelka bringing the Romany way of life to life with "images that resonate with mystery and ritual, romance and hardship."

Eskildsen's The Roma Journeys

This body of work is completely different in terms of presentation to Koudelka's Gypsies and has a thoroughly modern feel.  First and foremost the photographs are predominantly in colour; and secondly, because the project visited 7 different countries the images are grouped by country into 'chapters'. In addition and to ensure the viewer does not loose the thread of the story/project, the photographs are presented in a very structured format - opening landscape; family groups; portraits, houses (caravans), landscapes.

Whilst these images are candid and show the daily life and the hardships of the Roma people, it is a very positive and upbeat portfolio.

The intentions here are clear as stated by Rinne in the interview - "We always tried to make it explicit that we were no helpers, but artists, and that we had no means to change their living conditions. The only thing we could do was to tell about them and thus make people aware of their situation." 

From Lens Culture: "We are able to soak up the visual richness of the Roma’s personal surroundings and unique ways of living while they adapt to (and resist) the influence of the dominant cultures of their adopted homelands." 

Reference websites: 
Magnum Photos - Koudelka's Gypsies; a comprehensive set of 61 photographs 
Atget Photography.com

Joakim Eskildsen       
Lens Culture