Lee Friedlander

This influential photographer’s world carries within it hidden magic and strangeness

- Oliver Atwell

Where does the true power of photography lie? It’s a question that has plagued photographers since the medium’s inception. There is no definitive answer, but much of the time, it exists within the context of the photographer under discussion. Here’s one such example. Lee Friedlander’s work demonstrates that there is magic to be found in the mundane. He’s not alone in that. William Eggleston, Fred Herzog, Stephen Shore and Joel Meyerowitz all realised that the simple act of composing and framing an everyday scene can draw out the inherent beauty that would ordinarily lie dormant.