It is the sense of distance that I find most interesting about Soth's work; there seems to be an almost barrier between the subject and us the viewer, and it is hard to tell the subject's thoughts and emotions, which I find makes the images even more captivating. Soth includes certain details within his photographs that begin to suggest something about his subjects; they appear to seem comfortable and familiar in their environment, yet their blank, emotionless stare suggests nothing about the way they feel towards it, and perhaps begins to let the viewer's imagination roam free, and create a narrative as to what the situation may be for these people.
Charles, Vasa, Minnesota, 2002, Sleeping by the Mississippi
Florence, Paris/Minnesota
2007, Broken Manual
What I like most about these photographs and most of Soth's work, is the way in which the viewer can create their own narrative and story about these people and what they are doing, as a lot of the information hasn't been given to us in the image; this idea of narrative is something that I want to try and capture within my own photographs, by trying not to give away too much about the people, their environment or their lives.
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