Response to Cameraperson by Kirsten Johnson
Cameraperson is a documentary of an individual, Kirsten Johnson, who creates documentaries and this film, Cameraperson, was directed by herself. That sentence twisted my mind into a pretzel when I first began watching Cameraperson because I had never heard of a documentary which was directed by the individual who the documentary was about. That sentence still makes my mind twist!
I chose this image of Kirsten Johnson from her own documentary because I think it encapsulates the essence of the film. There were many images that I debated choosing for my reflection that I could have written about their imagery, metaphor, etc., but this image is unique in it’s simplicity which is why I chose it.
This picture is a view behind the camera of what, or rather who, is providing these videos and insights into other’s lives. This really is the purpose of this film after watching it and is why I chose the image. The background of the farm is simple and real, her choice of clothing and expression is natural with no makeup or black tie apparel, and her expression is natural with no smile or expression. This uniquely encapsulates what the film is about, capturing the authentic and natural moments of people and their lives and cultures and putting it life in film.