Roger Ballen by Shay Rainey

These are photographs by American artist Roger Ballen (b. 1950). Ballen spent many years photographing subjects who live in communities on the outskirts of South African towns Johannesburg and Pretoria. Ball exhibits the economic and social dispositions of people living in these small towns. I find these interesting because of the level inspiration and dedication Ballen shows to his subjects. Photographing the same subjects over many years, he began to collaborate with them often jointly composing photos. I am inspired by the use of flat space and the oddly playful placement of objects.