Rachel Barrett

July 18, 2008

The qualities of fidelity and authenticity in photography are associated with the documentary aspect of images when they represent the evidence of reality as it is. I find fascinating the dual role of photographs when they become both documents and objects of art. This is documentary fine art photography.

Documentary, "Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film".
Fine Art, "Art produced or intended primarily for beauty rather than utility".

I like very much this type of pictures [no wonder Stephen Shore is one of my favorites photographers] and therefore I was very glad to learn about the work of Rachel Barrett, a recent graduate from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

At her website you will find a number of interesting projects that are not only beautiful but also capture the intriguing reality of America. They are documents of this time and place.

Her most recent project, "Newsstands in New York City" is specially interesting to me, as it is a documentary that could have been shot in many places, including my hometown in Spain. I recall the times when I grew up that newsstands were so intertwined with our life that they were common components of the city landscape and part of my days. Sadly, I saw the newsstands disappear in my hometown. Now Rachel documents the loss of this tradition in New York City [see New York Times article on Rachel's project]. This is wonderful documentary fine art photography.