Photographer: Elsa Dorfman

ELSA DORFMAN

Elsa Dorfman (born April 26, 1937) is a portrait photographer who works in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is now known for her use of an instant Polaroid camera to take photographs.

Her principal published work, originally published in 1974, is Elsa's Housebook - A Woman's Photojournal, a photographic record of family and friends who visited her at in Cambridge when she lived there during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

I chose to look at Elsa Dorfman because her work is very real. It is original, grainy and down to earth, as it simply captures her life. The polaroid images create a homely effect, as, to me, they symbolise memories with family and friends. I feel that her handwriting really gives you an insight and welcome into her life as you look through her images. This is what home is all about; feeling welcome, and she portrays that well in her house book.

Objectively, this image is high in contrast. The main focus is the man in the centre of the photograph, who has been captured mid-conversation, as he has a surprised expression on his face in a candid way. The actual image is square, with a thin black border around it, placed onto a white rectangle, with another thicker black outline around the white space. It is a polaroid picture. The background of the shot includes a cabinet filled with pots and pans; the foreground shows the kitchen table, and on it is a newspaper and groceries. These things are captured to show the typical day-to-day home life that people live. The man is portrayed to look quite casual and relaxed in what is presumed as his own home. The homeliness in feel in the photograph comes from the whole setting of the image, as there is enough room between the man in the image and Elsa Dorfman to capture the background of where they are sitting.
Subjectively, this image makes me feel part of the family/friend relationship which is perceived. It is quite a personal image, which is taken very naturally. I feel comfortable in looking at the photo, and feel involved in what they are saying and doing. The high contrast aids this, as you see the facial expression and relate to it, and want to continue conversation with him.
In my project, I want the people looking at my photography to feel this way, that they are welcome into my life, and recognise different characteristics that my family and I may have, even though they may not have met us. I could do this through documenting my home life, like Elsa has done.

Objectively, this image shows Elsa Dorfman taking a self portrait with a shutter release cable, of which the wire is visible across the centre of the photograph. She is sat upright  on a classy, characterised sofa, in a polka dot dress, with her shoes also on. Above her, on the wall, there is a picture, and next to that, on the left hand side of the image is a doorway. The floor is wooden, adding to the vintage effect that the overall black and white polaroid picture gives. Her handwriting at the bottom of the image states: 'myself, the beginning of the year, from Elsas housebook.'
Subjectively, the image makes you sense as if she doesn't really belong there, as her awkward stance in the image, and the fact that she is wearing shoes in her own home suggests this. I also think that the photograph gives a vulnerability of Elsa, as she is usually on the other side of the camera, and therefore seems out her comfort zone. This image is a lot different to her others, as it is very posed, showing that it may relate to how you feel when you're in someone else's home. It makes you feel a bit awkward and unwelcome, which could relate to my project in the sense that this is a way in which I could suggest how homeless people may feel through their rejection.





Objectively, this image is black and white which brings out the grainy, retro appearance of the image. There is a topless man on the phone sitting down at the table in the centre of the photograph. This shows the idea of 'home' is where you can be yourself. In the foreground of the image are many standard household items, such as groceries, coffee, a piece of paper and a vase of flowers. Some of these aren't in focus, as the depth of field suggests the man is the main focus of the image, however, it still exaggerates the setting of where the photo was taken. The photo has a caption hand written underneath. 
Subjectively, I feel like I'm engaging in conversation with the man, due to the intimate surroundings and the casual setting of the photograph. I want this to show in my 'home' images, as it suggests people feel comfortable with me taking their photos, and that they're part of the family. To get this sense in my photography, I need to create intimate, natural settings where this can take place.
I think this would relate to my project well, as you can really portray different opinions of 'home'. 

MY RESPONSE

Objectively, this black and white polaroid image shows a motherly figure making dinner. In the foreground of the shot, there are pots and glasses on the draining board after being washed, and in the right side of the image is a woman preparing food in a plain white t-shirt with a downcast look on her face.
It suggests a stereotypical women / mother role, and also subjectively, that she may feel as if her life is going round in circles. This image gives this sense, due to the black and white effect, connoting a dull life of loneliness and sadness, as well as the simplicity of her clothing, combined with her facial expression.
The writing underneath the image states 'Mum preparing tea'. It is typed onto the photo in a posh font, which contrasts the portrayal of the image, as it opposes the intimacy and personal exposure into someone's life that the photographs aim is to do.

To improve my response, I decided to write the captions and Photoshop them onto the photo. Also, I tried to replicate Elsa Dorfman's images further by putting black borders around some of my photographs. 

Objectively, this image shows the windscreen from the backseat of the inside of the car. It is a landscape polaroid in black and white. There is rain on the windscreen, and there are two people sat in the front of the car; of which you can see the driver in the rear-view mirror. The handwriting underneath the photograph states "family road trip".

Subjectively, this image gives a sense of pathetic fallacy due to the rainy weather, which communicates the feelings of sadness, and being upset. The car is moving, so the image outside the windscreen is blurry, which adds a confusion and mystery to these feelings. The high contrasting of black and white effects also does this.
The handwriting makes this image more personal to the audience, which helps them relate to the image. The idea of a family road trip is fun and happiness, which contrasts this photograph.



Objectively, this black and white Polaroid image shows a family in the woods walking their dog in the autumn season, as there a leaves scattered along the ground. Each family member is looking and interacting with the dog.
Subjectively, this image is a very natural shot, and also has handwriting underneath which states 'walking the dog'. This makes it very personal to this family, therefore the photo indicated that they are letting you in to see what their life is like. It seems as if you are flicking through a family photo album in order to get to know them. The black and white effect contrasts the content in the photograph, as they come across as happy and enjoying themselves, but the dullness this effect brings to the image may be to remind the audience that there always sad times as well as happy, and that they are not a perfect family, no matter how the picture portrays them.



This has helped develop my ideas for my personal investigation because it has given me ideas of how to make my work not only look, but feel like home. I've been wanting to portray this idea of home through my work, and Elsa Dorfman has shown me how to do it well. I will use her ideas to develop my project and show reality of different homes. I would like to use polaroid's and negatives to bring this idea to life.