Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Having a background in Zen, the art is passively conveyed throughout most of his work.  He began as an optometrist/camera salesperson.  When the eye clinic that he was employed at began selling cameras, he bought one to photograph his family.  He began by hanging his work in the entrance to the optometrist office that he was employed at.  He eventually graduated to more prestigious showings.  I like his images because they are risky with caution.  He seems to use mockery and provocative metaphors in his photographs.  In Romance, he pictured four subjects wearing masks, and though I am not sure as to the subject matter he is attempting to relay, the content is right on.  He was educated in Philosophy and I think that he was attempting to convey his disgust with the "clone" like structure of society.

I feel that this photo conveys a metaphoric mockery of high society, with the subject positioned closest to the number one appearing to be the most normal looking, while the one at the top, closest to the number five is the most abstract.