"I just don’t know how long I can take it down here anymore. Too much traffic nowadays, too many tourists. They have overbuilt the beach. When I came down here, things were different.The place is goin’ to hell"
the look on Michael Halminski’s face when he says this, reflects both pain and confusion…..the old days were better….i guess maybe they always are….or, so we "remember"….
i have known Mike and his wife Denise for about 20 years…we met on a fall day when i was down here in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (OBX) shooting fishermen pulling in their seine nets…we were both jockeying for position…we were the only two photographers shooting this classic fishermans reward…a full net, right up on the beach and the light early and warm….long shadows of the fisherman and Mike and of me…
local photographers often give me a "look" when they first see me in "their territory"….i mean this was Mike’s beach , not mine…he could tell i was from "out of town" and the local folks down here suffer no fools….meeting the "local photographers" is something i always do right away…make friends and they will help, make enemies and they will..well, i do not know, because i have always enjoyed the companionship of photographers who reside in the places where i am just passing through…
Mike keeps up with what is going on in the "biz"…he shows up in New York every now and then for a trade show or in D.C. for the Natgeo seminar, but mostly Mike sticks around OBX and photographs whatever the hell he wants…Mike sells prints….to tourists and passersby and folks who just know his work..Mike’s work is of old boats, seagrass, summer storms and nesting birds…he has worked with 4×5 (made his own prints in his darkroom) , but now chooses digi and makes his own inkjets and frames them and hangs them with his own two hands in the gallery that he built with his own two hands…
you must note that Mike started out doing what so many of us strive for…he left a cosmopolitan upbringing , and at age 22 picked a place to live that he loved…surfs up….he took pictures of things that interested him and hoped that somebody would buy them….they did……end of lifestyle and commercial business strategy story….
now on this forum and in "real life" too, i have introduced you to mostly to my photoworld friends from New York, Paris or wherever…Mike chooses another life….he does not seek for one single second any aspect of my world….he appreciates it, but he does not covet it….
when my whole family shows up down here for two weeks in August, Mike
and Denise will be sitting on the back deck for the "required" sunset
happy hour chatting with my whole family…they have become , in fact,
part of our family…of course, Mike and Denise "get in" by showing up
with a bushel of crabs and a steamer!!
so, i introduce you to Mike…a man who lives his own "photographic life"…so so valid and surely to be treasured …if you are ever down OBX way, stop in and say howdy to my friends Mike and Denise…
i guess "grumbling" is what people do who live "out there"…away from the crowds….things could be better…summertime traffic is pretty bad….but, what do you think?
is everything "goin’ to hell" down here, or is Mike living in paradise????
ASHER…
yes, you are correct….one of the reasons everyone really wants the full frame digi is so that the backgrounds can be soft, out of focus…certainly that is one of the reasons i like MF…
what a heroic and extraordinary journey and evolution this blog has made, hug David? ;))))….it’s virtually skipper-less, in the sense that now there is so much wonderful energy and community (always was like that here, only know larger, more spread, little circles, like small galaxies, of discussions and work and friendships), that its wonderful to just drink it all up :))))…
what a community which has been built in such a remarkably short time :)))
ok, so, since there are so many comments and so much i’d wanted to write to each, i’ll cut to quick and make it much simpler:
LISA :))..just today looked at the updated Beautiful Music…still love love much of it…some of the new pics seem, to use dah word, repetitive, and i’ll write u privately tonight (no time now), but there is inside this story an incredibly important theme, and some of the pics carry that theme visually (how to transform oneself from isolation to community through the transformation of one’s self)…i’ll tell u tonight, for me, which pics carry that sense, of loss and of gain…please remember them and this journey amid your own frustration…:)))…and yes, marina dreamed on thursday night that we had moved to Sydney…
ANTON: :))))…i think it’s a brilliant idea, from one nomadic person to another, and a grandchild of a seacaptain (my grandfather was a sea ship oil tanker captain for Sun oil for 35 years), i can tell u how great this story would be for you…AND FOR US TO SEE…for me, i’d stay, fuck yea!
ASHER/ERICA/DAVID: gonna show some med-format pin-hole pics as part of Bones…hows that for med format? ;))))))))))
MARCIN; :)))…I HAVE LOVED JACOB since the month after i got married (when i discovered him): that would be almost 5 years ago…in 2005 there was an exhibition of the work from Sabine (one of my favorite books), and he has always felt like a soul brother to me…and i agree…the best photography comes from a place of transformation…be it about love or the loss of love…and love is life, and dealing with that tranfiguration, to me at least, is the only count of the heart of my own work and the work that matters to me (other’s work); that love may be of the kind “being in love with a person” or “loving a person” or loving all that disappears (people, place, time)….jacob’s work matters….alot…
ALL: marina and i chat about this alot (digi vs. film) since we only shoot film, 35mm, med format, toy cameras, etc…it’s tough, cause it’s incredibly expensive (and we wrestle with the ideas about chemicals and environmental shit and all), but for me film has done alot for me, not only because the texture of my own work, the mistakes, the imperfections, the grain, the loss, can only work with film, but also film has taught me patience and perspective…i cant shoot 1000 frames in a month…for Bones i shot 8 rolls…and 1 more next week…that’s it for 4 weeks of shooting…+ 1 roll in NC (the beginning of the work)…+ 1 picture from October of Dima…that’s it…that like 300 frames…with the way i shoot, i dont know yet how many good pics (i know what i got in NC cause i’ve developed the negs), but the truth is it as told me to see, to look always, to deal with the loss of “not being there with a camera” for understanding that 1 pic is an accumulation of a river of images, that i cannot always shoot, it’s impossible, and it’s made me also realize that lots of work doesnt count, hurts, fails…and i cant get that back…and this transformation has made me the photographer i am: what is more important: the picture or the act of photogrpahing…for me, it’s a simple answer now…
lastly:
DAVID: you wrote about “missing the shot”…i would just say there is never a time, never a time when anyone missed the shot, unless they made the picture…because that moment will stay inside you for the entirety of your life, that reflection, the connection with this man experiencing pain, and that “missed” pic will turn up inside your othe rwork, your heart, your character…there are never any missed photographs…only photographs taken or not…
like all those remarkable solitary children in your work (the young david alan), there will again appear the pain and the intimacy and the love and connection you felt for this father….
i know….i know…
hugs
gone for the weekend…
running
bob
DAVID,
hmmmm… yes, and no I suppose…
For me to be “in love” as an artist is best way to good work. But I’m crazy, my my mind is float in ocean of chaos. My wife, my love keeps me on top. She helps me, gives or lends money, good word. She protect me by myself. She show me how I should look at world. She show me the world! Maybe I’m photographer because of she only?
As a photographer I don’t know other life. She was first.
But what could happen If I could be not “in love”?
Some freedom? Some vagabond? Some trouble? Some adventure? Some traveling?
or some too much alkochol? Too much work? Too much tv? Some other famili, kids, work, sallary, work?
The truth is that I don’t know how to be a photographer and not be “in love”.
hmmm… yes… be or not to be…
It is the same right now.
but in other life?
I think we all need catalyst.
Love, passion, curiosity… or sadness, lonley, sorrow…
Bob,
Yes I knew and I loved Jacob’s works before he was nominee for magnum group. I read about him and saw his work when he had exhibition in “yours gallery” in poland in 2006. I was very happy when he was nominee one year later.
This is pure photography.
Say hello to Marina from me :)
peace
MARCIN,
Again and again you amaze me with your eloquence in English.
The words are very simple, but the ideas are deep. And your heart can be felt so clearly through your words.
I hope that when I write or speak in languages that are not my mother tongue, I can be as eloquent as you!
ROSS…
ok, here are my favorites….
1, 6, 10, 12,15,16,19,27
but even with these favorites, almost every picture here is relatively the same..by same, i mean editorially the same….sort of either/or in any kind of magazine or book layout..you have almost no “behavior” photographs…almost no interaction or street “moments” and it just looks like one of those situations where there would be at least some …you have mostly portraits…..and these are quite good portraits, but is that all you are trying to do in Timor???
cheers, david
JEAN,
I second what David said, I kept going back to the image of the girl sleeping. There is something magical about that image, I cant put my finger on it. Its refined, classic.
Maybe try writing out your thoughts, and trying to come to something specific, it seems your story is so broad its hard to focus on it and dig into it.
ANTON…
sounds good to me…..at least, the way you describe it….but you, my friend, must be very aware of the boredom syndrome…surely, the most interesting part will be the interaction with the families and/or the shore time in the small towns…the skippers on the boats themselves will probably not give you too much..that part is maybe a two or three picture story…you will have mucho “down time”..going to sea always sounds good, but having spent lots of hours on lots of boats with lots of skippers, the sea time gets pretty tedious after the first few hours since, in this case, they are hauling goods and not people and not actually working on board as a fisherman would do..hours at sea when the light is bad and nothing is happening, is much worse than hours on shore when you can divert your attention in so many ways…the best thing to do here is obvious..give it a go…spend a few days on one of these boats and see how it feels…see if the vagabond metaphor can be illustrated..see if you can stay “fired up” at sea….
cheers, david
Erica–
Your advice about the “no’s” came in handy today. My streak has been broken. I got my first “no.” The wind was taken out of my sails momentarily, and I remembered what you had said. Thank you…
sl
Erica,
I like your color works. You are great in B&W portraits, you know that, but in color, hmmmm something really nice you have in color for me.
DAVID
I hope you feel ready for this. The community favorites gallery holds together pretty well with only 24 images. That URL is
http://www.pbase.com/windchimewalker/for_review7
PASSWORD patricia
But the gallery from which those were chosen is like going through an over-stuffed closet. It has 76 images. And believe it or not, I’ve deleted a bunch! I’ve done my best to lay them out in a somewhat organized fashion, but it’s still overwhelming. Ah well, here it is:
http://www.pbase.com/windchimewalker/for_review5
PASSWORD patricia
David, I so appreciate your tackling this rather onerous task. I sure could use some direction right about now. I feel like I’m floundering…
Patricia
PATRICIA….
i think the community edit holds up pretty well…i went back through the whole 76 and did not see anything i would add to the 24 edit…and you know me by now, i would take the 24 down a bit!!! but, not yet…
this is not an onerous task….you have organized the material well…it is easy to see and visualize where you are….now, i only have a question…why do you think you are floundering???
if i look at the 24 tight edit, you seem to be right on it…but, let’s say we took that group down to the very strongest pictures, which we should do with prints i think..so we can play with sequencing etc…just for the sake of argument, let’s say we got it down to 20 pictures…what is the problem??? i mean 20 pictures is quite a few considering how long you have been working on this…which is just a few weeks ..right??
i think if you keep doing pictures of you and your husband, you will be on to a good book…yes, the next ones (and you will need about 40-50) will come slower than these first ones…but, that is just the way it is…for you, and for all of us…you actually have a much tighter subject than most…and with such a sense of purpose and value beyond most…
for heavens sake do not stop now!!!
working on a long term project goes something like this:
(a)initial burst of energy and enthusiasm..first pictures…this is the easiest part
(b) a slow down….second guessing, tortured thinking…wondering if it will work out…this is the hardest part
(c) second wind….another burst of energy from out of nowhere..more good work comes…you start to see something really developing
(d) another slowdown…but not as bad as the first….because by this time you will have a pretty good body of work…and this time you must tell yourself you cannot quit..too much at stake by now!!!
(e) your final burst!!! like a runner at the end of a race…last kick!!!! squeeze squeeze squeeze…
(f) knowing you are done…just absolutely done….
(g) time to edit….and then that whole process all over again with editing!!
(h) time to pursue a layout…time to study typography, design, paper, binding…which publishers will work best??
(i) time to “make it happen”…do it..find the publisher, organize an exhibition, seek gallery space…
(j) stay on top of the printing and distribution..make sure it comes off the press as you intended….
(k) opening night….all your friends and family are there…pop a bottle of champaigne!!! make a speech..sign books..enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!
you MUST believe this is all worth it..and i can tell you that it is….but, you must know that this process is totally agonizing as well…you will suffer…you will be elated…you will suffer again and again…you must be happy with the percentages of pain/pleasure….90% pain, 10% pleasure…but that 10% is rare air…a place where very few go…
YOU should go there!!!!
fondly, david
DAVID
Thank you for looking, responding, encouraging, believing in me & my work. Knowing your selective eye, I’m surprised that you even see 20-24 out of the 76 total that would make your cut. At the same time I’m wondering where in the world I can find 40-50 more!!! The 76 I showed you are a very small % of all the photos I’ve taken since starting this project on June 11. But I trust the alchemy of my creative spirit plus a bulldog determination will open my eyes, mind & heart to ever-new ideas & photo opportunities. I’ve seen it happen before and I trust it will happen in the months (years?) that I pursue this project.
Regarding your comment, I had to laugh out loud when I got to “(k) opening night….all your friends and family are there…pop a bottle of champaigne!!! make a speech..sign books..enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!” It all seems rather impossible, or at least terribly unlikely, but life is full of surprises–that much I know from experience–so why not??? The fact that you believe this is possible helps me believe in it myself.
I guess what surprises me the most about where this project is taking me is its focus on Ed’s & my life together. Yes, we’re close. Yes, we’ve been together for 42 years. But the truth is I’ve always gone off & “done my thing” while Eddie’s been the “stay at home” member of this marriage. When I started this project a month ago I saw it as centered on my relationship with my disability not my relationship with my husband. But the photos that most touch folks have been ones of Eddie or the two of us together. Shows how much I know about where creativity is going to take me!
So I’ll keep chronicling our life together, my life as a disabled woman & my unique world view. I suspect this project has its OWN idea about where it wants to go. My job is to stay open to its nudges and “live [my] life with [my] camera attached to [me],” as so wisely Asher said.
Regarding writing text for a book, I’ve written all my life, but, like Akaky, I prefer image-making. But now that I have 24 core images to set the tone, I’ll get my words working too. And I just bought a digital audio recorder to use in my project with the African American elders, so I guess I could use it with Eddie & me too.
David, thank you seems too small a phrase to say what I want to say to you, but I have no other. You are an unusually generous-spirited man and give back way more than you could ever have received. You, my friend, are building up exceptionally good KARMA this time around!!!
in peace & gratitude
Patricia
Thanks for that breakdown David. I think I’m about right at C. Been through all the doubt, fun stuff coming up—Michigan’s biggest garage sale in August, from Niles to Detroit. Also trying to get into shooting storage facility auctions. Apparently if you can’t keep up with your storage lease, they can break the locks and auction your stuff.
Also, if I’m lucky enough to have an exhibit, I’ve been buying 10 cent picture frames from the garage sales—I’m envisioning an eclectic wall of small images—maybe exclusively of kitchy items?
DAVID McGOWAN…
yes, yes..of course..make your exhibit look like a garage sale..so obvious…
cheers,david
DAVID
thanks for the feedback… you are right, and i have thought about the boredom factor as well… actually, i’m hoping this will be different as it are skippers on ‘tiny’ ships on the canals inland (they don’t actually go to sea at all)… there should be “frequent” stops, little towns, lots of locks, bars and the like…
i’m hoping of course, maybe this is not the case… but there’s only one way to find out…
and then i told a friend this evening, and she said the most surprising thing… her grandmother, now 85, used to PULL these boats as a kid… with a rope… back when people didn’t have money for a horse or a real diesel engine… imagine, 7 brothers and sisters pulling the boat of their parents from town to town… hard hard world… she’s the last survivor of her siblings… i’m sensing a story with this brave woman alone already… she’s been brought up in the ‘school for skipper’s children’ in Ghent… the school is actually called like this, and apparently still exists today…
so i’m definitely not planning just to go out with skippers… although it is an essential part of course, but you are absolutely right… not more than 3-4 images tops…
we’ll see… i’m getting excited… i see opportunities opening up around me…
love
anton
MR HARVEY,
Apropos absolutely nothing at all, how did Susan Meiselas hurt her hand? Just curious
DAH ***
If it’s not too late… I just heard from my friend Allison. She heard back from one family she knows in Santa Fe who might be interested. The father is Native American, the mother is half Mexican half Jewish. She grew up on the east coast, him out there. They have a son who is 6 or 7 or so. They’re teachers and artists. Are you interested? How should I get you they’re info if you are?
sl
DAVID G
That sounds like a fun exhibition! I love shows like that!
‘LIL BRO
I wanted to do something similar in Bangers last year but with the big canal boats I just couldn’t organize access and it would have been a bit difficult in the time we had so that’s fro me a to do in the future …
But you go for it, you got access just do it!!!
ROSS
I have been meaning to write you an email, I have been writing to go with my stories, I’m a bit like AKAKY (but not so funny and I reckon possibly blonder!) I just think writing is hard work sometimes (the worst of it though is definitely writing funding apps though)
The prejudice here in newspapers and mags that I have traditionally worked in is that photographers aren’t literate enough to be able to put a story together. Which is of course complete crap ‘cos my writing has been published since I was 19, in fact I was writing way before I was shooting.
Just if I go in to the people I know with words they tend to be a little ‘there, there thats nice Lisa’ type thing. Mind you most of the time the journo’s do it better ‘cos it is their speciality.
I think my greatest problem is that I am REALLY bad at marketing myself AND approaching people that I am intimidated by.
Does anyone else know what I mean, I just get literally PARALYZED by having to approach lots of different outlets with my work. There is a bit of psychology behind that (lets not get into the ‘mother’ thing) and I realize that I have to just get over it and most of the time thats what I do but sometimes I can’t and thats where I fail.
The internet is my savior in lots of ways, I often don’t have to deal with people until I am face to face with them and by that stage if I have got that far I know I am IN anyway so I rely on my natural ‘good-looks and charm’ (hehehehehe….just really joking) to seal the job.
I can face just about anything that the world throws at me in terms of physical stuff BUT dealing with the BIG INTIMIDATING PHOTO WORLD is not my forte. I am just so not cool enough…
Bob knows what I mean, I think he experienced it when he was running the slideshows. Its my inner dagginess that always outs, I just am not up for sitting around in corners looking like I know what I am doing, I just try and feel it….
PATRICIA
42 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God I am inviting myself to your 50th OK?
Most of my relationships don’t even last 42 days…
ANTON….
cool…sounds like you are thinking on the right track..go to it…
AKAKY….
a car hit Susan outside our Paris meeting ..and that was right before Alex Webb fell out of bed (a bunkbed) and broke his face and right after Dennis Stock tripped and smashed his forehead..most of us came out of the meeting ok, but some obviously fared better than others…
SPENCER…
call or text my cell 202 413-1137 … i will be flying all morning tomorrow (sunday)…many thanks in advance…
cheers, david
LISA…
42 days???
well, remember when we were in BKK and we all decided that maybe we should have a relationship workshop instead of a photo workshop?? only problem was, who in the world was going to teach it!!
peace, david
LISA…
42 days???
well, remember when we were in BKK and we all decided that maybe we should have a relationship workshop instead of a photo workshop?? only problem was, who in the world was going to teach it!!
peace, david
DAVID
May I ask one more question?
The weekend of August 2-3 I’ll be taking a workshop with Mary Ellen Mark at a photography center in the Catskills. We’re to bring 10-20 prints for a portfolio review on Saturday.
I am currently working on two long-term projects: 1) the self portraits; and 2) a photo essay of African American elders at a senior learning center in Detroit. I would have enough images from either project to show Mary Ellen.
Since you are so kindly mentoring me on the self portrait project, would it be confusing the issue to show Mary Ellen that portfolio? I’m comfortable showing her the elders project if that seems best. What do you think?
Patricia
Patricia–
Do you know where I can find info on the Mary Ellen Mark workshop? I looked on her website and there’s no mention of it. I think if I can work it out, I might like to attend.
Thanks,
Spencer
SPENCER
It would be great if we could meet! The URL is
http://www.cpw.org/WPW/2008/pages/wpw2008.html
When I registered in June, the workshop was full. But maybe there’s been a cancellation. Hope so!
Patricia
DAH
Laughing very hard at that one!
Cheers!
David,
Missed out on the mishaps happening to a few of you after Magnum meetings. It seems like a lot happened betwwen 9 and 5!
BTW, It is simply impossible to follow with the blog in situtaions where one can’t leisurely stay in front of the screen, as happens to me now in France.
There has been a lot of people presenting new galleries of photos and essays, and subsequent posts about it all, and I wonder if now, for those who are not always following the blog post by post, or are limited in doing that for any reason, we could not make a new point of asking new essay and work submissions to be added to the “post your link here” entry in the WS/student section. Or even divide it now in 2, keep the first one for links and create a new entry one for work happening now, ie. being commented in the general road trip section.
Nevertheless, I will catch up with it all, when back next week in California. For now, enjoying the remnants of my stay in France. Tonight, le bal du 14 Juillet…
what do you guys think about this?
I was looking to see what sort of prices people are selling their film camera gear on e-bay, ‘cos as much as I don’t like it I am going have to sell something. I have a lot of 35mm gear well loved Canon F-1’s if any one is interested (gonna keep the Mamiya 6X7 you just never know do ya)
Anyway you can buy a genuine invitation to a James Natchwey exhibition and some piece of paper that accompanies it for $9.86 (at the time I posted this)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-James-Nachtwey-Ground-Level-Photography-Exhibit_W0QQitemZ230268773368QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3347QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Is James the new ‘Elvis’?
Man! how much would you love to see Nachtwey with an Elvis do! Sweet!
Just put up a new post on my blog. Its a short piece on the Khmer Rouge’s Security prison (S-21) during the genocide in Cambodia. Please drop by if you have the time.
http://www.jameschance.com/multimedia/jcimageblog/imageblog.php
Cheers!
James
DAVID, ERICA, SPENCER, ERIC….
Just want to add a few words after reading your discussion about me and my images. First of all, thanks for all your words. I got a lot out of what was said, believe me…
DAVID you are totally correct. I can take whatever is being dished out and only desire to learn and grow. I would rather be “farther along” whatever that means but I only became interested in documentary photography recently, so whatever it takes for me to improve…bring it on!!! Of course I prefer compliments when I can get them :))
ERICA I may want to use the “lipstick and dirt” someday if that’s okay with you. I like that alot but I am also surprised by your getting what you described out of image #5…I agree with David…Are you SURE that’s the image you are talking about, not #4??? There is not even any dirt in that shot and not much lipstick either…
This just shows me it’s totally MY FAULT…
I AM AN IDIOT for posting these shots in the first place because there is very narrow depth of field…which I prefer.. My mantra is “closeup and complicated”…the more stories I can tell in one image the better…but I should have posted shots here that are “simpler” to see and quicker to assess in 2-3 seconds. For whatever reason the color space on LS is much “flatter” than my laptop so it all mishmashed together and in a small image like these it’s very hard to see what’s going on. Image #5 is not really about the girls at all…it’s the glance of the man (a preacher) looking at the girls…to me it’s much more about him than them. SPENCER I AGREE. He’s in focus, the rest is not.
Again, I should not have to be verbally explaining what you should see in the images. I should have posted images that are clear enough for you to see what was intended. MY BAD.
#9 is the same thing…Only the guy looking up at the Rodeo Princess is in focus but it’s hard to see this here.
I’ll just have to do better next time. Until then I do appreciate your taking the time to help me learn.
ERIC….”Be nice to Cathy?” Now I’m nervous…I’ve never met
David…you know him. Do I need you here to defend me? :))
I will do my best “Panos impersonation” and try to get a few shots out.
ASHER
I want to commend you for having such a sharp editor’s eye! Did you notice that the “group edit” of my photos that DAH liked so much was made up of 24 images, 19 of which were YOUR choices???
Now will you PULEEZE stop referring to yourself as a “crappy amateur”!!!! Thanks so much for your timely help, my friend.
Patricia
Do you folks know about the Eugene Smith Grant? The deadline for 2008 is July 15. Check it out at
http://www.lightstalkers.org/eugene-smith-submission-deadline
Patricia
PATRICIA
Thanks…!!! I will rid myself of self-deprecation. But to be honest, I think your observation just reflects that I am a student of DAH for many years even though I’ve never met him: I have his books, among others, and study them repeatedly, since long before this blog started. So I guess I just know what I like when I see it.
You’re really off to something special. I am sure your one-on-one session with David will be a fantastic learning experience. Savor it, take notes, ask questions, enjoy it! I had some one-on-one sessions with Steve McCurry last May and his advice helped me a lot and got me all fired up all over again- no small feat given that I’ve been a frustrated/jaded amateur for about 30 years.
Thanks,
asher
LET’S SEE…
DAH
managed to shoot a very little by myself yesterday, tho the light was crap and had no one to help with a reflector, but I tried..and shot a lot today with the generous amazing help of Sana..this is a person you want to have your back for you..and Rachel came briefly and did some audio. Am completely tuckered out but hopefully we managed to make something good. It’s sort of surprising how much doing it takes to get to the moment..but I am hopeful and am grateful and excited that you are looking forward to seeing the pics. Hopefully will have some scanning time on tuesday, so at least I will know where I stand..
BOB
bring on the MF bones!
SPENCER
it was inevitable that someone would say no, and I am glad you took it in stride. at this point I don’t even give it a second thought..it’s not about the photographer in most cases, so onward..the tricky part comes when you are trying to read a ‘no’..some noes are actually I would like to, but am shy/feel unattractive/whatever. In that case, there opens an opportunity to become closer to someone emotionally and see if they are actually willing but need to know they are in respectful, well intentioned hands..
MARCIN
I love to shoot color, but there most always seems to be a stronger reason to shoot BW. Sometimes when I am out street shooting for a period of time I will throw color in and forget about it on purpose. (Not hard to do, my thoughts are always elsewhere) I find for myself it is best to shoot color as if it is BW..I don’t mean to pretend, but just to shoot as I shoot, and the color is a bonus…that way a strong image is a strong image, and not just something I saw and framed up because the color was working.
CATHY
The lipstick and the dirt is all yours..and yes, image 5!! The whole thing for me happens in the left hand part of the frame, Miss Frontier’s essence at that moment..as i tried to say, the rest I pieced from info from all the images in the series..an inspiration from what you presented..
ASHER
but i want a Hass :)
MR HARVEY,
thanks. it’s not everyday that I find myself in the same room with someone from Magnum and I was just wondering what happened there. there was a panel discussion going on and just after she left I was almost blinded by the collected lights going on over the panel’s collective heads.
While I am being curious, would newcomers to Magnum be mag tyros?
Re: Sobol
I had never seen his work before a couple of weeks ago when i was told about him. Im very impressed by “Sabine” so much, especially by the editing of that story…very loose not only in shooting but also in the edit and sequencing. Im very impressed by the cloeseness. I love the aesthetics of the high contrast, harsh use of flash which definitely seem to be his photographic language. I do like how he is sticking to that aesthetic no matter the subject. Im sort of all over the board a bit, Ive been using that sort of approach in my Home Sweet Home series for months now but Im also exploring color in a couple of side projects. It perhaps does dilute the “language” of my photography although Im really in love with the possibilities of color for small side projects. I know that Bob for example seems to be sticking to his own aesthetic, Marcin, too. For sure most of the Magnum guys have a very clear cut, set aesthetic to their work so you know always if you are looking at a Harvey, Pinkhassov, Sobol or Parr.
I suppose my question to David, but also others, is this: How do you view changing style, from harsh BW intimates with strong flash to polaroidish colored landscapes by a single photographer?
Does variety hurt?
Does variety hurt? Only if you’re into that sort of thing…
ERICA
Life’s too short… go for it!
BOB
I second the vote: your fans are clamoring to see your Bones! I will send you an email soon to firm up our plans to meet in Toronto next month.
Hi EVERYONE
I posted a little current work from a long-term personal project on Asian cultures transplanted to the Pacific Northwest. There are two preliminary edits up of what may become smaller essays within that larger project… mostly I put it up because I’m in a classic editing bind where I have three or four pictures that are good of the same thing and even after going back and forth over which one to use, I still can’t decide… so, I thought maybe one or more of you might kindly give me some feedback. The photos start here:
http://www.telcomplus.net/satkins/photo2.html
First I put up some from the preliminary edit to give a feel for the overall look of the group… and then, in ‘Cherry Blossom Festival’ there are three pix of two boys portraying fishermen from a folk tale… the photos are almost identical, but subtly different, and I like each one for different reasons… Decisions, decisons! And then on the next page in ‘Chinatown Night Market’ down at the bottom are four cooking stall scenes. These are not the same view… but are what DAH would probably say are ‘all editorially the same picture’. So a tight edit would probably use only one… the question is, which one? Anyway, feedback will be appreciated!
“I will rid myself of self-deprecation.”
A great mantra from ASHER.
Asher, I have that in my blood as well. Maybe not the greatest quality but I think it gives me that push to always do better.
In fact ERICA that reminds me…You must be familiar with Krishna Das, the king of self-deprecation and the darling of the kirtan world. I used to be his manager and helped get his career going.
I finally had the chance to read your yoga pose analogy. Loved it. So true….Okay Erica, image # 5 it is! :))
Patricia–
I would love to meet you at the Mary Ellen Mark workshop. I’ll look into it tomorrow. But I imagine if it was full in June there’s probably a waiting list now. I’m also not positive I could swing it financially. I was looking into car rentals and inns in Woodstock. It’s insane how much it costs to rent a car in NYC these days. You’re looking at over a hundred smackers a day. And then the cost of the workshop and film and so on…
Erica–
I got another “no” today. The first one yesterday was a man who I tried to talk to a little, but he really obviously just wanted to be left alone. Today it was a woman in central park. She was actually working and a little sweaty and disheveled. So I think it was a bit of a vanity thing. It’s funny though… most of the people I’ve photographed have started conversations after the photos were taken. I think what I need to do, is shoot a few frames, have the conversation, then shoot some more. And here’s another question for…
Erica and anyone else that has two cents to spare–
An issue I’m having… often I see someone that I think would make a great portrait, but there are mobs of people around. I’m really nervous about asking because a) I think being shot down in front of that many people would just be too humiliating, or b) the person in question might just be too embarrassed to be photographed in front of a large audience. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
sl
Oh, and P.S. Erica and Asher–
I love my Hasselblad! Asher, in an earlier post, I forget how you referred to the Hasselblad, but it was something negative and I’m sticking my tongue out at you…
sl
SPENCER
Take a look at this Bruce Gilden video- it might help you get over your potential “embarrassment”…
I’m not saying that Bruce’s approach is ideal… but just to show you that many people in public either won’t notice or just won’t care. Whether that’s the style of photography you wish to pursue is a different issue.
The last time I was street shooting in NYC, I got rejected 95% of the time when I asked, and the 5% that said “yes” threw me off so much that I flubbed the photos, I was so surprised that they said “yes”! I think a genuine smile and sense of comfort with yourself goes a long way. Keep at it, shoot lots, fail lots, and eventually something will happen (and you probably won’t know how or why, but it will feel really good!)
I am a disciple in the temple of DAH, so David and others here can advise you more appropriately.
SPENCER
I have nothing “against” Hassy’s! I just think Erica’s eye is a much greater asset than any camera upgrade!
SPENCER
I really hope it works out for you to take the MEM workshop. It would be great to meet you! Yes, the whole thing is quite pricey. I’d pick you up if I weren’t coming from the west. In terms of places to stay, the prices were outrageous, but I called around and found a Super 8 motel in Kingston, just 20 minutes away. Instead of $180, it was $85 a night. The URL is
http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=03707
Call if I can help. My cell is 313-410-0454.
Patricia
Hey Asher,
I saw that Bruce Gildon video a few weeks ago. Oh that poor old woman at the beginning! It is an interesting video. I actually tried that style of street photography for a while (minus the flash), but it’s not really my thing. And I really don’t have the balls for it. I did most of my shooting from the hip, hoping my subjects were in the frame. And so often I noticed even with the camera at my side, people seemed to be staring suspiciously at it! Those types of shots can be very interesting when they’re done right, but I really prefer for my self willing interaction with my camera from my subjects. And so far it’s been a really great experience. I’m very slowly starting to get over my shyness and I’ve only had two people say no so far. I think it’s a combination of making photographs and therapy for me.
And I was kidding about the Hasselblad. You called them “over-priced collectors items.” Obviously, a beautiful photograph can come from any camera (in school we made pinhole cameras from oatmeal boxes). It just happened that all of the photographers I worked for during and after photography school used Hasselblads, so that’s the camera that I was familiar with. I got mine used at a photography store in Philly in the mid-80’s for 800 bucks, with an 80mm lens and a film back. And I do think it’s a wonderful camera.
Spencer,
often I think we project our fears onto others. perhaps you saw them staring suspiciously because thats what you expected them to be doing. I think that often the key to shooting on the street isnt external but internal: to get past your own hangups ad fears and simply go out and shoot people. Remember, its only a camera, its only a picture, theres nothing wrong with what you are doing.
In terms of asking to take portraits of strangers, here’s where I definitely think being a woman–especially a white-haired scooter-riding woman like me–is an advantage. Not that it’s impossible for a man, ie., look at DAH for one! I’ve only recently gotten comfortable going up to strangers and asking if they’d be OK with my taking their picture. I figure the worst that can happen is they’ll say no.
Now it could be that things are different in NYC. It probably is. But Erica should be a good resource on that. Just don’t let it get you down. If they say no, it’s THEIR issue not yours.
Patricia
Patricia–
You’re the sweetest! Thanks so much. I looked at the cpw website. The workshop looks wonderful. I also looked at their travel and accomodations page. They list some Inns that are in the $125 a night range that are right in the town. But maybe they’re all booked? A super 8 nearby could work just fine though. I don’t know the area at all. I’m going to call tomorrow and see if I can squeeze in. Begging and pleading my work. And I’d love to meet you. Not to mention, I could seriously use a weekend out of the city!
sl
Rafal–
I think you couldn’t be more right! When I was attempting the candid street photography thing, I totally felt like a criminal… like I was stealing from or molesting these people in some way. There’s a good chance I was sending out that energy.
Patricia–
I was wondering if it might be easier to do these things being a woman. And maybe more so in NYC. You know, men have that macho thing happening, so being approached by a man who wants to photograph them could make them uncomfortable. And women get harassed so much on the street that being approached by a man who wants to photograph them could make them uncomfortable. So I’m actually really surprised and elated about the experience so far.
And Erica has already been very supportive and a good resource. I’m just afraid that before this is over, she’s going to curse the day my mother met my father!
:)
Oh and totally off subject, I just wanted to share two entertaining t-shirts I recently saw walking down the street. One said something like “Go back and (heart) you’re own city” and the other said “I am the man from Nantucket.”
Spencer,
I think that theres a lot to be said about sending out negative energy. People pick up on it. But I dint think its really energy…I think its more body language. if you feel you are doing something bad, you tend to look like you are doing something bad and people will think you are doing something bad.Its mostkly a mental thing, psychology…photography itelf is neutral.
Here’s a video (split into parts) I found interesting, showing Jeff Mermelstein at work on the streets of NYC…a little more subtle than the Gilden approach…
part 1a:
Part 1b:
Part 2:
Best wishes to you Panson. Only the best, all of my love………understand.
Best wishes to you Panson too……. :)
ERICA/ASHER ;))))
you’ll just have to be patient…film requires digestion…and (ummmm $$), so, …i’ll post a “tease” in 2 weeks, but u’ll have to wait…
PANOS :)))))))…aint Panson on the run, now? ;))…a la Desperado ;))…give my love to that gun slinger ;)))…
running
b
BOB
Why whatever do you mean :) ? I haven’t been able to bring myself to scan this second batch of negs..I figure they’ll ‘ripen to perfection’ if I let them sit a week, but tomorrow is the day.. You pay for processing with actual money and not plastic? That’s admirable..
SPENCER
(and Patricia) Way back when I was a TA for MEM..she offers a lot of insight and is full of genuine interest and passionate energy. Go if you can, but if you can’t, there is always another workshop, or one with DAH! If you want a break, check out the Maine Photo Workshops as well.
About isolating an individual in a crowd that you feel you actually want/need to gain verbal consent from/want active collaboration with..I find the hardest is with some groups of teens..there is peer pressure and self consciousness, but even with a yes, then you have this group of kids trying to make the one who is being photographed laugh. In that case, I go into parent mode, and do my best to sober them up, and have them understand that I am serious and they need to be respectful if they are going to watch..tall order if you get that far.
But sometimes they can be wonderful, and I involve them..make sure no one walks between us, take a light reading for me, or whatever..
About you not wanting to be crushed in front of a group, again, same thing as with any no, you have to let go of that when you can. Sometimes in a group situation, I will ask if I can talk to the individual for a second, and have them step away just a couple of feet from the others if i feel they might be embarrassed, but it would work to your benefit as well. You can say, with the camera in perfect view, ‘hi, excuse me, I am a photographer, and I have a question for you, can I speak to you for a moment…(yes)…is it ok if we just step over here to talk..”
About the man/woman photographer thing, it is so hard to know who has the advantage in any situation. I know I have an advantage across the board because of who I am as a human as people seem comfortable getting close quickly with me. You couldn’t tame me if you tried, I am often naturally hugging, laughing, smiling, playing with people in seconds of meeting them. But one of the ‘secrets’ I guess is to let them know (not so much in words as in feeling) your motives are pure and that you care about what you are doing. They are giving you something, and they need a reason to want to do that.
One thing I have noticed is that if for some reason I assume a particular person will say no, there is a greater likelihood that they will, and i believe that is all on me and the way I fail to connect with them from the start. Finding people to work with shouldn’t be like gambling, and playing the odds in a sea of people in my view, but rather about making the images you as an individual are meant to make with another specific individual.
ABOUT THE HASS
You can change lenses! A luxury and a freedom unknown to Rollei.
ERICA :)))))
yea, the plastic is severely limited….gotta pay for cash, or cant buy the film,…we’re on a major family budget (go figure, 2 artists)…and cant live on plastic or we cant live…so…and with all the $$ this year…this bones has been a major splurge, $$ for film…so gotta wait…but, im hoping it will be worth it…but you never know…
ok,
running
hugs
b
Patricia–
I’m on the waiting list… let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Erica–
Such good advice, but the thought of approaching a group and asking to talk to one, is giving me anxiety right now! I just have to get over that. And I love that you involve the other kids. That’s great. When I was a teen, I totally would have been one of those kids trying to make the other kid laugh.
I think people feel pretty comfortable with me too. I’m not very threatening, and I guess that’s why I’ve been successful so far at least getting people to let me photograph them. Now it’s really a matter of being able to calm the nerves enough so that I can really concentrate on making a decent photo. I’m anxious to show the few that I have so far and get some feedback, but I feel like I should wait until I have more of a body of work.
And yeah, it’s always nice to be able to change lenses. Another thing that was great about the hasselblad, which I don’t believe was an option with the Rollei, was the polaroid back.
all…
thanks for posting those video’s
i remember i took a workshop with david once at his loft in ny and he was telling the class that gilden works fast. he runs around fast and makes a picture and leaves. he is very very quick.
i did not know this was how fast he did work until i saw this. i think it is really cool. even with a flash as well to make it even more in your face.
gilden was in toronto a few months ago for contact in may. i sw him speak and someone asked “do you ever get scared that someone will punch you or yell at you for getting too close”
and gilden replied… well no… because i am comfortable with my self as a photographer.
really cool.
ALL
I posted some new pictures… apparently, I am now stealing from Matthew Brady (with a pinch of Lee Friedlander) in addition to Bruce Gilden, haha! I was hoping they would have turned out a little weirder…
ANDREW B
Thanks for the links to the Jeff Mermelstein videos… what a genius he is, and totally underappreciated. I could relate to what he said about the smell of film and fixer, and about Zabar’s.
ERIC
I noticed Larry Fink is doing a weekend workshop at Woodstock in September… maybe he would have some insights regarding your boxing project?
BOB
Finally made it to the show at the Met you mentioned a few posts back, Framing a Century. Basically, it was an overview of the Gilman Paper collection, which the museum acquired a couple of years ago… very impressive collection of early photography. Highlights for me were the big Carleton Watkins prints… beautiful otherworld landscapes, Nadar portraits, Atget, Evans, and Cartier-Bresson. Oh, and Julia Margaret Cameron in al her pre-Raphaelite splendor… Walking through was like flipping through chapters in a history of photography textbook.
One picture reminded me of another point… do you know the “Series of Disappointments” work by Stephen Gill? Looks like Brassai beat him to that idea long ago… the history of photography gives us all a rich field to mine…
I was also reminded, as always, that there is just no substitute for experiencing actual photographic prints, In comparison, reproductions in books are flat, lifeless, and small… and jpegs on the internet are silly caricatures, photographs robbed of their electricity, and scale, and depth…
I certainly love film… but even more, I love a well-crafted, traditional, “monochrome”, silver print. There is nothing else like it… I haven’t seen a digital print that even comes close. Am I wrong? I don’t really follow the digital revolution very closely… have they perfected “black and white” printing yet? If they have, then maybe I can rethink things…
DAVID
“going over film contact sheets and editing when there is absolutely nothing else to do but edit, is such an ethereal pleasure and totally different than editing off of a computer screen…”
I’m saving this pleasure for the winter… I’ve shot about 300 rolls since last November, so I do have some editing work to do. I’m not printing half of what I should, but I am moving forward at a trot… Winogrand, I read somewhere, shot 2000 rolls a year… I figure if I only shoot a quarter of that, I’m not doing anything too kooky…
To your earlier comment about depth of field and the digital crop factor… what I find strange about most digital photos is that something shot with a 35mm lens equivalent is actually like 24mm… while the field of view may be the same, the relation of foreground to background is very wide… I have not been able to get used to this, so most digital photos look odd to me…
I have been looking at William Eggleston lately… I wonder what you think about how he edits and groups his images… any lessons to note there?
SPENCER
Am crossing fingers & toes that you get into MEM’s workshop.
Only please don’t let it be to take MY place! I’m still holding my breath that my sweetie won’t have a health crisis in the next few weeks. Not only do I want him to continue getting on the mend, but I SO want to take this workshop. I’m still moaning (to myself) over having had to cancel out of DAH’s in C’ville.
Hope to see you–as David says–soonest!!!
ERICA
How cool that you were a TA with Mary Ellen Mark! Your words about her being insightful and full of “genuine interest and passionate energy” makes me more excited than ever. To be honest, I’m feeling a bit intimidated. After all, her work is so extraordinary and she’s been doing this for such a long time. Besides it will be my first-ever photographic workshop. Lots to learn!!!
Patricia
Patricia,
You are light years ahead of me, and I have had many workshops including ones with David and Mary Ellen. Workshops are amazing and wonderful, and I have learned so much. However, the magic of transferring spirit into images and words–somehow taking the “leap” of transferring your energy–your heart–into your work–being open to tap into “that” whatever “that” is–I don’t think it can be taught. It is interesting to me–some of my favorite writers on this site are also some of my favorite photographers. They certainly don’t always correspond–but in your case and in several of the others, they do for me. It is not only heart but an intellect that comes across. By the way, I very much liked your images of the elderly African Americans–if that is the proper term. They were beautiful. Good luck. I hope it works for you to go to the workshop. In C-ville, James Nachtway said that he taught himself photography by going to bookstores and studying the works of the greats. He was a graduate Dartmouth–so very smart–but had not majored in photography.
My hope is that I can transfer my love of photography into work that I feel is relevant and good.
David and Community: I am in the planning stages of moving to the east coast for the winter. My idea is to explore the place in which i live and it’s surrounding territories. Does anyone know of specific towns or places In Mass, Maine, Vermont, Maryland, or Virginia that would be interesting to document. I love the picture David of fisherman and wife in Virginia. My desire is to photograph people living alternative lives- people who may be on the fringe of society. the key operative word here is Alternative to the status quo. For me Davids Fisherman and Wife really fits into the alternative slot as the fishing industry is threatened and the lifestyle seems to be from a bygone era. I have worked in S.California for two years straight now as a waiter and saved up a
nice little nest egg to travel and document- any ideas ??
Hi David, tomorrow I will leave my house to start my essay in the women’s recovery house, in siciliy. I finally have the authorizzation to get inside the place.
I will stay there, eating and sleeping and try to sharing with them.
Answer:
I will post the picture after a day work or maybe all the essay at the end of my experience?
Thank you
kisses
Cristina
p.s. question:
I will post the picture after a day work or maybe all the essay at the end of my experience?
Thank you
kisses
Cristina
ROBERT
In Mass: check out Gloucester for fisherman, and in and around Topsfield for farmers, among many many other coastal towns. I think Rockport, MA might be OK, although it might be a bit touristy now- I haven’t been there in about 10 years. For way out there “on the fringe”, check out Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod!
In New Hampshire: Portsmouth (another fishing town right next to Kittery, Maine).
ROSEMARY
I can’t let your comment pass by without expressing my deep gratitude for your words and the heartfelt message they communicate. It’s next to impossible to see what others find in your work, either your images or words. So that’s where a forum like this is invaluable.
For me personally, your feedback could not have come at a better time. Today I started writing snippets–that’s all they are–for my self portrait project. By the way, I’m tentatively calling it, “3 Wheels & a Camera.”
Patricia
ERICA
That is indeed cool that you were a TA for MEM, and (as is my usual daily routine) I stuck my keyboard in my mouth when I quoted her in a comment to you!! DOH!!
asher: thank you- What about Northampton, Mass or Amherst, Mass for a base at least ? Looking at these areas because there seems to be Universities close by and many libraries which i love to while away my hours. Also rent in these areas seems to be feasible. Anyone have any experience with Vermont ?
ASHER
I have no recollection of a MEM comment, so no foot in mouth possible! But Patricia/Asher, to make an understatement, being with her at that time in my life (I was a kid) had a huge effect on me. In fact, not that this is a negative, it made me stop photographing until a few years ago. She was nothing but helpful and positive and supportive, but I wasn’t ready..she has no idea of course of having had such an impact, but it’s a tricky thing how each of us handles being around our ‘heroes’, especially if young and open to influence. Sometimes I look back and wish I had never stopped shooting, thinking i would actually have a proper career now, but what does it matter in the end? I am doing my ‘work’, and I never stopped watching and taking mental photos in the time that I was digesting my exposure to MEM. I wonder about hearing her feedback/guidance for me now, she has offered..but god knows I can’t afford to stop shooting for another decade!! But Patricia, you’ll be fine, you are wisened enough to not swoon..
ROBERT/ASHER
I grew up in Rockport, MA..I was going to suggest Gloucester as well, more for the heroin usage and the underage teen moms (heavily in the news now, a group has had their babies fathered bythe same older guy) than anything else. Rockport/Gloucester have always been dichotomies..Also lived in Maine (just pick anywhere without wealth), and have spent a lot of time in Virginia at the Yogaville Ashram..that may be a place to explore people living outside the norm..let me know if you are curious about it..
ROBERT
Wow! Universities in Massachusetts??? No effen WAY!! Sorry for the sarcasm- I couldn’t resist… You can’t throw a box of British tea around her without hitting a college kid.
I think Amherst is way too far inland for what you seem to be looking for. Northampton should be good. I live in a suburb about 10 mile southwest of Boston and the drive to Portsmouth is only about 90 minutes, so just about anywhere along the coast north of Boston should be fine.
ROBERT
I second (or is it third?) the recommendations for Gloucester and Portsmouth. Some great scenic background areas and intersting stories…
Robert- sorry- Northampton is also in western MA- way too far from the coast. I don’t know what I was thinking of. Portsmouth, NH is probably a good base.
Patricia and all–
I so identify with your comment “It’s next to impossible to see what others find in your work…” DAH commented on some of my photographs, and Erica seconded his thoughts (I’m not sure if Erica was just agreeing with his advice or if she looked and saw the same). David said “… your obvious strength…your personal “seeing” of the ordinary turned into something that makes us do a double take….” I love the comment and am flattered by it, but I’ve been a little embarrassed to admit that I don’t really know what he’s seeing. And a little afraid that it was just an accident and I won’t be able to do it again. Or is it something that I just do naturally without being aware of? I’m hoping DAH and whoever feels inclined will maybe be a little more specific.
running out now but spencer, to give an obvious example of the double take..in street..wish you were here..and less obvious, carpeted wall..both moments easily missed by others if you hadn’t seen them
Spencer,
thats a good point. I think, and this is maybe only me, that there probably is something instinctual at first. Where does it come from? Who knows….but its like a kernal…however I think that to be consistent it has to go beyond that. The kernal has to be honed by looking at work of others and your own, and by a deeper internalization, and then you maybe get to a point where you arent relying on instincts but instead consciously adding bricks to a wall to build a house. This is the sense I get from looking at work by photographers from the very top, for example Martin Parr. With Parr I think every shot he takes comes out of a preconceived concept, the thinking is done first, the shooting is merely done to make the concept come alive. Ofcourse Im sure there are those kinds who thrive on instinct, but even with them Im sure there HAS to be a clear thought process about content, style, aesthetics for there to be a solid, focused, tight product at the end.
SPENCER
I think it is an eye-gut connection… i.e. Does the image go right to my gut, and stop me in my tracks (i.e. do a “double take”)? If it doesn’t, it’s not a compelling image *for me*. I think that (a) our individual eye-gut connections are unique, (b) the connections are, in part, the result of studying the works of photographers whose work stimulates our personal connections (kinda circular, but there it is…), and (c) the connections are, in part, the result of our moods and life circumstances at the time that the connections are formed.
thanks,
asher
HI ALL
I need you guys to be completely honest.
Am I a really, really crap photographer? I really mean that.
I just got my 60th rejection for the day and this one was for a 21 hour a week job with the Salvation Army- the irony is they are going to be picking me up off the street soon.
Is my work that bad?
Patricia–
Let’s hope there is not a health crisis! But we always do what we have to do for those we love.
Mike came up with the brilliant idea of making the trip to woodstock and the county fair regardless of making it into the workshop or not. I’m thinking that I kind of like that Idea. I would miss out on MEM’s valuable lessons, but it’s still a weekend out of town and could be a great time and great photo op. Not to mention saving the cost of the workshop. So we still might get to meet! Are workshop people allowed to associate with non-workshop people???
Erica–
That’s funny that you mentioned the “wish you were here” photo. Maybe I’m wrong, but that seems like the kind of thing everyone should notice. It was really luck. I happened to be walking by at the right time of day to catch the shadow in the perfect place. And that was also during my short lived attempt at street photography. It was much fun, but not at all what I want to concentrate on. You know, what I really want to do is the MEM, Diane Arbus, Erica McDonald kind of thing.
Rafal and Asher–
Thanks. You’re thoughts are so deep. I don’t really put these things together. I don’t put that much thought into my photos… I don’t think. I see something that looks interesting to me, look through the viewfinder and push the shutter release if it looks good… and sometimes even when it doesn’t. But I don’t really pay attention to why it looks good to me, or how I feel. Or maybe it’s a subconscious thing?
Lisa;
Obviously I’ll never get as job as a weatherman cos your black cloud’s silver linings haven’t appeared yet….
I had another look at your site a few days ago; I love your graphic B&W work, especially the greyhound images. I’ve been meaning to do some work on greyhounds here, but have put it on the backburner at the moment.
I’m in the middle of writing some articles, nothing exciting, but will hopefully pay the bills… got the power and phone covered for this month, just not sure bout next months mortgage payment, so I know where you’re coming from!
I’ve put another two pics up on the Timor page (soldier with daughter & 3 boys). A second page will be up later this week, another rough edit for critique…
Reaching a big consoling hand across the Tasman Sea to you Lisa…..
Cheers
LISA
I have just looked at every photo in every story on your web site. I did this after reading your question because I wanted to answer in terms of the reality rather than my emotions.
Lisa, you are a documenter of life as it really is rather than as the world might want to see itself. This kind of truth-telling is rarely popular; in fact it is often reviled. You have chosen to point your camera towards life’s suffering, its inequities, the marginalized and “invisible” members of society. The work you are doing is essential to the whole; they just don’t know it.
In terms of the quality of your photographs, I find them compelling. There are several images that will stay with me forever. You are adding your name and vision to the history of photojournalists. In my opinion, you are making your mark.
You, Lisa, are a storyteller in image and word. Your voice is authentic, original and needed more now than ever. Please do not allow any outside “authorities” to silence you. Stay strong, stay focused and keep doing what you’re doing. May the world wake up to your gifts and offer you the opportunities and financial support you deserve.
To answer your question: No, your work is not crap.
Patricia
HEY ROSS
I wrote a really long entry here for you a while ago but something happened and it got wiped out. I write, my first published piece was when I was nineteen. I have been writing way longer than shooting, but its a tough market here and I have lost all my corporate gigs that used to keep me going.
Thanks for yours words and of course your photos do cheer me up no end!
SPENCER
What a cool idea! And the thought that I could meet and spend time with you and Mike fills me with even more anticipation than I had before. You know, MEM is giving a lecture at the Center at 8 p.m. Saturday night. I’m sure that’s open to the public. And I’ll share anything with you about her workshop nuggets of wisdom that I can. I’m arriving on Friday. Any chance we could meet for dinner or a drink?
Patricia
Lisa–
I couldn’t say it any better than Patricia just did. So I’ll just say, I think you’re photos are very interesting. And I don’t think you can judge your worth as a photographer by the amount of work you get. Flip thought some magazines… you’ll see an awful lot of crappy photography. And most of the photographers that I’ve known got work because they knew the right people. In fact, most of the work that I got was because of people I knew! And not only in photography, but all of the arts, there are loads of talented people having all kinds of trouble getting noticed. Not getting a job doesn’t mean you’re a crap photographer… it just means that the bills are going to be late…
Cheer up Charlie!
Patricia–
Nothing is definite yet. It’s still just an Idea, but hell yeah! If I make it happen, I definitely would love to spend time with you. And if they’ll let me into the lecture, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Oh! I didn’t realize until this very second how close we are to the date!!!! Just a couple of weeks away! Ok, I’ll have it figured out with in the next couple of days. I’ll let you know.
Hi Lisa
Many times I said about myslef “I am worst photographer at the world”….
mostly when rejected me every agency in poland… even this most crap…
mostly when rejected me every gallery in poland…. even this most crap…
mostly when I screw up some assigments…
and some projects like “trans poject”….
mostly when I look at my pictures….
mostly when I look at oters pictures….
But then I take my camera to my eye and I try to be most magnificent high genius and best photographer at the world. And I love this feeling. even if result is how it is.
I always repete; photography is very simple thing, and it’s hard as every simple thing (like love for example). There will be always some rejection, there will be always better photographers as we, there will be always displeasure.
But you always should feel selfconfidence.
High level selfconfidence.
And Lisa… You have many reason to feel selfconfidence!!!!
Marcin–
That was beautiful. Often when people whose first language is not english, write in english, it’s like poetry. I hope that doesn’t come off as sarcastic. I mean it sincerely…
Hi all
what is wrong with lightstalkers?
Last night I try delate one pictures and add one pictures and talk a little, but nothing work at this website. The same this morning. I spend 45 minutes to delate photo and nothing. Shit.
And fter log in I can’t find post not written by “my network” persons.
Do you have the same problem with lightstalkers?
Shit.
Spencer,
maybe this is the way how poetry was discovered? I always try write something big with this few words I know. And this is funny there is always something I forget to say!
But i try…. I try….
no time to learn completely… and I hant to start learning spanish… but first english!
Marcin,
LS is working for me just fine….I was editing a bit of my galleries there and had no problem…but LS sometimes has problems so Im not surprised you may hav had some.
Actually looks like LS is having problems now…very frustrating as I wanted to do a bit of an edit.
AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Fu.k the lightstalkers!
I change browser I have switched off firewall and spend one hour to try delate and upload or even see some photos. Nothing… zero… kaput…
who need lightstalkers?
LS is in major screw-up mode. It took me about 24 tries before it finally deleted a pic. Not the time to edit, I’m afraid!
Patricia
PATRICIA:
Lisa, you are a documenter of life as it really is rather than as the world might want to see itselfThis kind of truth-telling is rarely popular
———–
But neither are pictures of happy shiny people, of the worl as it is not really, Patricia, no? I do not think that the difficulty of getting noticed has to do with any of this. The ways to recognition (or making a living with craft) are funny ones. A lot comes into play, not all of it fair, but IMO, every subject implying the drama of being alive on earth has rarely escaped the public eye, at one time or another. Difficulties might be more conjectural, even personal, than “structural” to what people, or the profession, wants to see.
Hey Everyone,
I have not had the chance to introduce myself since the self-portrait contest, my name is Les (aka Lester) and I am originally from Toronto, however currently residing and working in Singapore (corporate finance). I hope to participate in this forum a little more then just lurking around and I thought this might be a good start.
DAH
You may have missed a couple of my messages from your previous post re: the self-portrait contest, but Erica was kind enough to deliver some of my messages to you. If you don’t mind sending the print to me in Singapore, instead of my Canadian address, as I’ll be here for the next one year or so, the address is
56 Stirling Rd #01-366, Singapore 142056
thank you
Warm regards
Les
LISA
I also just checked out your website. You’ve definitely got game. Did your putative employers offer any reasons why you were not what they’re looking for? Maybe you’re looking in the “wrong” places?
RE: LS
I’ve ALWAYS found it painfully slow vs. other sites.
LISA:
ok my dear, this is gonna be some tough love from your brother but i know you can take it: you were fit for it!
Enough is enough!
Now let me tell you something simple: you are fucking fortunate Lisa. You’ve been published by fucking TIME magazine. You’ve had exhibitions. You’ve done a workshop with Harvey and Nachtwey. You were chosen to have your work shown in a projection by one of the best galleries in Toronto ( ;) ), and most importantly you have real, contestably importants friends in your life. You have had more good fortune than 90% of the photographers, let alone people, that I know, period! You have also suffered profoundly in the last year and have had to struggle with real and profound issues, issues of lost love and death, have had to struggle with grief and identity, friends dying and jailed. This is real and no amount of commiseration on the DAH blog part will amerliorate that, except through your own heart-swelling. And now, recently, someone who seems to be filled with love and generosity enters your life and anchors your life and direction to something that often seemed adrift. You have suffered, through loss and death, and divorce and discomfort and now, yes, you’re struggling with $$. But lisa, stop this shit about “is my photography crap or what?”…You know as well as I do that that is total bollocks. You are strong person, you’re committed toyour work and you are driven by a determination that feeds the pulpy blood and viscous spirit of why you choose to photograph: to tell stories about those much less fortunate that most of us. I wouldn’t have shown your work if i just liked you as a person.
Now, let me remind you that most of world of photography is struggling, most of the photographers, including brilliant, passionate thoughtful unique ones, struggle daily to make ends meet. Ok, so you’re frustrated with not selling, with having no $$, rent threats, etc. Lisa, the moment we condemn ourselves to self-pity (and i Know you are NOT THAT KIND of person or photographer), the moment all that we have done is lost.
Which photographer has never grappled with doubt. do we not all believe, at some point or another, we’re mearly charlatans? Which photographer has not struggled with money and selling and bills. …how about dealing with the bureaucracy of russia and what we have to now deal with, which will set our own family back a pretty petty…meaning fucking brakes slammed on photography, in order to deal with russia, once again…
Listen, you are a talented and fierce photographer. You have great stories and a committment to that the underlies the necessity of their telling. I feel your sadness and your mad frustration, but 60 rejections…sister, make it 100 before you even begin to doubt…if you can fucking sell the stories, to this: CREATE A WORKSHOP! do a workshop for like $100/person to show them, show amateurs for 1 day how to do photographer. There is an entire world (look at this blog) that dreams of doing what you do, use that and your passion to make $$ to sustain your life. I am sure you could put together 10 people, $50/person, to do a day workshop for amateurs in Sydney…$500 for 1 days work….
come on Lisa. I know you are sad and frustrated but you know as well as i your work is not crap, nor should your need for us to tell you otherwise lift you: you have that inside you.
As Herve wrote, much of what is discovered often has little to do even with the connection of people or the scope of the work. the connectivity is stranger, more elusive than that: some is luck, some is knowinng folk, some is just plain mystery. All, eventually, is seen…
there are ways to make $$, and maybe, at least for now, you have to consider alternatives in order to sustain your work, ’cause if you dont sustain your life, how the hell is the work gonna get sustained….
it aint about doubt….that should always be a part of the algebra of making things, but…you have a richness of talent and intelligence and strength that far far fewer people have….that is a fortune, and you should see it as such…
i hope u understand this is enouragement, straight from the back words….
hugs
bob
sorry, typo: that shouldbe “incontestably important friends” ;)))
Might be time for you to get rid of the Darwin bolthole and get thineself a van!Take the cats see the country , I think Bob should be an honorary Aussie for his no bullshit attitude.
I’ve only made the cover of the bulliten ( Once ) and you don’t hear me whingeing.
BTW BOB – Can you write my next grant proposal?
HELLO ALL…
it is hard to imagine that i could be in Santa Fe, New Mexico and be “disconnected” from the net, but it is true…the house where i am staying has a malfunctioning modem, so i am 3 days behind in your comments…i must do a heavy editing session this morning, but should be back here this afternoon to get back in the “mix”…you have all learned how to get along quite well without me being around everyday and i am totally fascinated with the banter that goes on between all of you..ok, running now, but back to read everything and make a new post soonest…
CATHY SCHOLL….
where are you??
i was expecting you for last night’s show in the auditorium…..anyway, please call me 202 413-1137…show again tonight 8pm and fiesta my casita after….
maybe i missed a post of yours or something…anyway, let’s try to meet tonight….and please bring your husband Richard(?)…this is one guy i just have to meet!!!
hugs, david
SIS LISA…
BOB BRO put it really beautifully and honest… i couldn’t do it better… he’s so right…
what i wanted to say is just a tad more, uhmm, stemmed from personal experience (“not that good with words, i am…”):
never ever measure your talent by your popularity…
you are STRONG my sis (as far as i know you… and as far as aussie girls go, they’re fuckin’ indestructible…), and i’ve never had anywhere near as much “success” as you’ve had… but…
love your photographs will all your heart sista, whatever the world says… pamper, indulge and spoil your photography every chance you get, be true to your images and show them to anyone you think deserves to lay eyes upon them… because they’re your kids, they’re YOU in the purest form in every possible way…
with you…
anton
BRUZ BOB
I wrote a long reply and deleted it.
I am sorry I was wallowing.
Plus one has disappeared and my Aunty Barbara’s brother was killed on the ‘Block’ on Friday night. I spent yesterday with her discussing ‘sorry’ business. Its agonizing.
I apologize everyone for being so self-pitying. It is temporary I know and I appreciate what everyone has said. Sometimes everyone gets to saturation point and I guess I have just hit it.
I’ll take some time out now.
Cheers
LISA,
Are you a crap photographer? Well, I don’t want to criticize your career choices, Lisa, but maybe if you varied your subject matter a little more you would have more success. When you give the matter some thought, who is really interested in pictures of crap except farmers, gastroenterologists, and extreme sexual degenerates? You can do it, too. I saw that pic of yours in Time here in this our Great Republic and there wasn’t a manure pile anywhere in sight. So if Time is willing to publish your stuff without visible ordure, other people will, too. Just keep shoveling and all will come right in the end. 8-)
LISA,
Once again I come late to the party, and so many have already answered you…and it seems you have already spoken to banish to the sunlight the self-doubt that at some point darkens all of us….
But having expereinced those types of times, and learning that they are not so easily dismissed, I’m offering you a few quotes I have discovered, that I always write on the front page when I start a new note-book….
“Re-examine all you have been told. Dismiss what insults your Soul.” (Walt Whitman)
“That painter who has no doubts will achieve little.” (Leonardo da Vinci)
..and the one that, at least in regards to photography, has been my own mantra of late…
“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.” (William Shakespeare)
No, Lisa, your work is most certainly not crap.
Lisa,
Have you considered making prints available for sale on your site? I’m about as poor as they come with my head still above water, but I’ve been wondering—what am I doing this for, if not to make collectible prints available? I just posted a print gallery on my site:
http://www.humanfiles.com/pages/prints.htm
Of course I can’t decide if my prices are too high or too low, but I’ll work that one out.
LISA:
sent you an email……
hugs
bob
p.s. remember what dima said about the work, by the way ;)
Mr. Black,
Thanks for the recommendation on “Scribbling the Cat.” I had to order it and it came in yesterday. I can barely put it down. Even read it during happy hour yesterday which I never do.
The bachelor essay has changed so much; I just completed another edit on one of them. The fourth bachelor never materialize. Then the whole thing took another turn and another essay has come out: “Personal demons and bachelors.” That one has been evolving as many questions have been answered during this quest. When it feels right I will post.
I am finally going home at the end of the month. Feel like it is time.
Lee
Marcin,
Yes, I’d had a look on Sobol’s Tokyo and Bangkok works. I was really waiting for what would come after Sabine… and I find his new work really amazing !! Amazing how he was able to build such a body of work in so little time.
Reminiscent of Elsken or Petersen, even Stromholm. I woud really like to know how he works… I mean, his subjects almost always look frightened, a bit like Gilden’s at times.
Could anybody tell me more about his working methods ? Have you found good articles about him ?
Thanks and thanks
from SEAN GALLAGHER..
New story… “where’s the new Beijing?
http://www.gallagher-photo.com
Portfolio- http://www.gallagher-photo.com
Archive- http://archive.gallagher-photo.com
Multimeda- http://www.gallagher-photo.com/content/popup/airpollution/index.html
SEAN
Love the perspective you’ve brought to your new work. I realize you were probably looking for a consistent POV but wonder if the series might benefit from some close-ups as well. For instance, I’d love to peer over the shoulders of some of these folks and see what they’re seeing.
Patricia
DAVID McG
Beautiful presentation of your prints, and such a good idea! The images you chose are striking, especially with those vibrant colors. Wish I could give you suggestions on pricing but I am totally clueless about such things. I’m sure others will here will know about such things.
May you receive an enthusiastic response from potential buyers!
Patricia
To All–
Seems I spoke too soon when bragging about how well my film cameras were working after 20 some years. It seems the shutter on my F3 is having an issue. Luckily it has just been on a few frames on each roll. Does anyone know a good camera repair shop in Manhattan? I used a place called Nippon once in the 80’s. They were great, but have to see if they’re still around.
Thanks,
sl
Patricia,
I certainly hope so! For now it’s the only source of income I have on the horizon.
Maybe I’ll touch base with you in August. I’m covering “Michigan Longest Garage Sale” along Hwy 12 from Niles to Detroit.
On rummaging through my photo-a-day archives, I found a blog entry I’d written last January. It made me think of Lisa and the doubts some of us suffer in our creative lives. I warn you, it is long. But you can just skip on to the next comment if your time is short. I call it “Free-falling into creativity”:
Creativity is a window into another world. Even if our intent is to show exactly what we see around us, the act of choosing our subject, point of view, area upon which to focus, ISO/WB/aperture/shutter speed, the moment to release the shutter button all combine to move our photo beyond the objective into the realm of originality. And everyone knows that originality is fraught with mystery. It is the place where all the “why’s” crowd around the “who’s”, “how’s”, “where’s” and “when’s”, hoping to be noticed. But all too often they aren’t. Our minds get in the way, keeping us focused on everything but the essential question: Why did we take this photo exactly as we did? So often we don’t hear the quiet voice asking this question because we don’t want to. Its question makes us uncomfortable. It brings up “stuff” we’d rather keep hidden…even from ourselves. Especially from ourselves.
I know a photographer, a superb artist, who says he is giving it up. His photos are no longer what he wants or expects. He feels dry as a desert creek bed in the middle of summer. So he is saying thank you and goodbye. And why not? Isn’t photography supposed to satisfy the photographer? I say not.
Creativity is not about satisfaction or inspiration or success or even expressing what you think you want to say: it is about mystery. It is about jumping off the cliff of knowing and free-falling into the unknown. It is about having not the slightest idea what you are doing, saying or becoming. True creativity is a mess that you don’t want to look at, much less clean up. It is all about trust. Blind, unthinking trust. It’s about forging ahead even when you think your work stinks. It can also be about taking time out. But not giving up or giving in to the feelings of despair and worthlessness that may assail you day after day, night after night. Once an artist, always an artist.
And who is an artist? Every single human being on the planet. We are ALL artists. We are all creative. We are all unique. Our choice of media is what sets us apart from others. And it may take a lifetime to find our particular niche, to find the artistic medium that fits our eye, ear, hands, voice and body. Or we may have different chapters of life, each of which is expressed through its own artistic means.
When people say to me, “You are so creative”, of course I’m pleased. But I want to hold up a mirror so they can see themselves reflected in it, so they can see who and what I see–that they are artists too! You, who are reading these words, are an artist. No one in today’s world or in the past or future has your vision, your creative gifts, your unique ways of working with the tools you choose. That’s why it is so important that we encourage our sisters and brothers in their search for excellence. And that we keep them from beating themselves up when they feel they’ve fallen short. My most significant creative breakthroughs have often come out of what I saw as a mistake, a failure, a bust. That’s when the real Muse can get in. She slips in through the cracks of our failed expectations.
Patricia
“PARENTAL ADVISORY”…. do not open in front of children…
http://web.mac.com/innerspacecowpanos/Site/LOVE_CONNECTIONS.html
LS not working for me.. trying to upload small jpegs and nowt appearing..
all above..
if 1% of the effort we make pays off in reproduction, paying work, exhibition or any other kind of public showing then we are winning.
concentrate on what you are doing in your own practice and competition, rejections, other photographers style all falls out of view and becomes as irrelevant as what cameras they are using to shoot.
i’d say that by virtue of being here you all have the balls to do your own thing.. regardless of who cares about what you are doing.
work for your piers and you will always produce good work.
work for the market and the ‘suits’ may always try to make you feel less important than them.
chin-up all.. if you’re here you know you have talent.
everyone here is as fragile as each other .. as easy to crush creatively in one way or another.. and maybe that is why we are here for each others support.
full rez.. slideshow here…
” i got lost into her… i was thirsty,
she let me in, she let me drink…”
http://gallery.me.com/innerspacecowpanos#100104&view=mosaic&sel=0
peace
Hi Panos,
Open sea I see….
I’m curoius where do you come to going that way?
we’ll see…
You are big book for me. Neverending story…
Keep going… keep going!!
You have good direction!
peace
ps. hmmm nice girl :)
PATRICIA
Thanks for re-posting your older comments. I will show that to my 10-year old son, a budding and often frustrated graphic novelist and film-maker. I think it will help him when he’s discouraged.
i don’t know Marcin, i don’t know, man.
i’m trying to go “gonzo”… as far as i can go…
plus it’s easier for me with all my memory shortages…
its better stick with the truth instead of creating “new”,
ones all the time…
i stick to the truth…
therefore i can always remember , be on top of my
errants and balance through relationships…!
the “truth” of reportage i mean, not the “absolute” truth…
but thank you though!,
i can always rely on you!
peace
Panos,
A few less gratuitous fanny shots and you’ll really have something nice and mysterious here. Good stuff though!!
PANOS
I’m going out on a limb here but I need to say why these photos don’t really work for me. I find myself comparing them to Rafal’s portraits of his wife, and to Alfred Steiglitz’s nude portraits of Georgia O’Keeffe, even to some of the amazing galleries we’ve seen here of sex workers with their clients. In all of these cases there was a depth of feeling between the photographer and the subject. It’s palpable. We feel it when we look at the images.
But, dear Panos, I don’t feel that with this series. Not yet anyway. Maybe when you and this lovely lady have developed more of a connection then your shots of her will touch something in me. To be honest, now they just make me feel like a voyeur and that isn’t who I want to be.
Patricia
ALL…
I have internet at this house for the first time in two years. Yeah!!!
The BIG meeting between David and Cathy is tonight.
Will keep you posted.
MS. GUTHRIE! :)))))..
very happy you are enjoying…just wait ;)))…will be happy to see if the book has an impact, especially on your essay :)))…
PATRICIA :))…words to live by, indeed :))
CATHY/DAVID: cant wait to hear and see pics of the Rumble-in-the-Jungle of Sante Fe :))))))…im sure it will be devine :))
PANOS: :))…will write you…on the computer im using the images are too dark (even for me to see #445 ;)) )…(im at a library computer (guy next to me things im a perv!)…more later…
ALL: :))..just to let you know (in case you thought i was too harsh or not compassionate with sister Lisa), she and i are together chatting/supporting via emails…i’ve been with Lisa long before the DAH blog, so my love and concern are with her…it’s been a hugely difficult week(s), and she gathers strength from the light that is here at the blog….but for those of you who know her personally (james, katharina, etc), know do she doesn’t go weakly…her strengths a keeper :))
DAVID: writing u know…can wait to here ur report too about santa fe :))
gotta run….
b
SEAN G! :)))…got your email…looking at the pics now :)))…will write in a few minutes…
b
SEAN! :)))))
LOVE THE NEW SERIES…such a delerium…i love the motif of the single (or pair) viewer, viewed from behind, gazing…yes, they’re not looking but rather GAZING off into space…in fact, they’re completely dislocated, alienated and confused…as if they were some strange lost time travelers who’ve landed in Beijing…a la La Jetee …..it’s both humorous and very sad, for the people do not even recognize their own homes, city…and by photographing only their backs, and often in isolation (only 1 person), the sense of disorientation is heightend…we can only guess what they see, what they imagine, what they feel as they re-=act to the new building…thus the metaphor becomes real for us as viewers….
we become dislocated as well, through their own dislocation….the fact that you’ve chosen NOT to show their faces or reactions is a brilliant photographic choice….and i love this strange shadow ersatz painting the i guess shows what the new construction is to be…all strange, delerium…
great stuff…
cheers
bob
Arles was good. It was great to meet up with Audrey Bardou from around here, she’s lovely!
I’ve scanned very little of what I shot there, but you can find some polaroids of my improvised exhib, shots from the last night fashion show (by Lacroix) and some reviews in my blog: http://jkaranka.blogspot.com
I managed to shoot this one guy being thrown out of stage in the show, I don’t think anybody else was around that corner with a flash…
SEAN
YES!!!
ALL:
A pre-meeting David quickie…
David is giving a slide show presentation of his work tonight for all students of Santa Fe Workshops. Also open to the public!
Jealous Eric? :)) Just kidding and I really hope NOT…
This is exciting news because the NG photographers and their workshops usually don’t “mix” with the regular workshops. I’m sure they changed the rules because it’s David…I’m stoked to be able to be there and somewhere in the midst of it all to meet him.
He wants to meet my husband because he figures for anyone to be married to me they must be a saint! :)) Probably true but all my husbands friends say the same about me! So I guess we’re a good pair. :))
I’ll try to get a few photos for all of you.
Later.
Erica,
is DAH’s workshop a NatGeo workshop, Magnum or simply a DAH workshop?
Also, LS seems to have totally crapped out, I cant edit my galleries at all. I do realize its a free service but cmon, this is pathetic.
that should have been to Cathy, not Erica
Since people are plugging some of their latest work, I thought Id do the same. Im still shooting my Home Sweet Home project but Im not at a deliberate slowdown, being much more careful about the photos I shoot, situations and how they fit into a larger whole.
But I wanted to explore color and so because its summer I decided to get back on the street and to do some shooting. I have 2 projects running at this time
One is called Riverside and its basically going to be about the Han river that runs through Seoul and how people use its banks as a recreational space
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinju/sets/72157606002172259/show/
The 2nd one is called Park Life and is simply shot in parks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinju/sets/72157604860509161/show/
Pierre Yves,
re:Sobol
I really like his Tokyo work, too. But not as much as Sabine. Maybe because Sabine was about Sobol spilling his guts to us, his most intimate memories, and reading his words after he broke up with Sabine he says he still loves her and that it pains him…and I can see that clearly in “Sabine”…his unabashed intimacy, almost too intimate….
His Tokyo work is great but Im missing THAT depth. Perhaps Sabine is a project that only happens once in a life time for any photographer and then its difficult to reproduce or simply impossible because of non-photographic reasons. And its not a critique of Tokyo because Tokyo is a completely different beast from Sabine…while Sabine was intimate Tokyo is almost the opposite…understandably as they are strangers on the street while Sabine was a lover.
I must say I do love Sobol’s aesthetics..the harshness of that b/w…its so great at getting past all the pleasantrie and taking us in, right in…be that menstrual blood, nudes or simply ugliness caught on the street. very distinctive, as much aso as d’Agata who for me are the most interesting recent nominees along with Sanguinetti.
Agaian, Pierre yves
I read a bit about how he worked on Sabine, and it was truly interesting how his project changed, unintentionally, organicay from what it was at first where he went as a photographer and failed. He went a second time and gave up on being a photographer and instead became one of the community and through that he developed a relationship with them, with Sabine. He said he shot Sabine with a simple little compact more as an extension of himself rather than as a deliberate way of shooting a story…and it seems the story created itself once he was back from Greenland and editing…Sabine emerged from many different situations. I love that way of working because it simply looks and feels unforced…t has such a natural flow to it. Its really fantastic work.
Id like to know from David which story caught the attention of Magnum upon review, was it Sabine or was it the one he got the WPP award for from the village in South America. or both? Or was it aesthetics? And what is the ratonale for Magnum going the way of Sobol, d’Agata, Parr, Sanguinetti, Soth and lately Olivia. I really like this new side of Magnum.
Dear Panos,
I agree with Patricia. All of what she said.
Lee
CRISTINA FARAMO,
KATHARINA HESSE… Thank you both
for your encouraging words regarding my
very recent work ( sensuality vs voyeurism )…
Its really amazing how more laid back,
Relaxed and Secure you UNIVERSAL ladies
feel like comparing your freshness with
the PURITANS and RELIGIOUS freaks
here at home….
Thank you ladies..
I appreciate Marcin’s words… His eyes are
“free”, not “tired”… but from you ladies..
I appreciated it even more…
Exactly as I thought it’s gonna be…
You guys travelled , explored… even your own
Sexuality..
Unlike most of my “fellow Americans “…
That got trapped in their
Own island of perfection, AND SAFETY…
Again , universal ladies thank you for understanding
and viewing my work with NO FEAR.. and openmindness.
Art has nothing to do with TABOO’s
FEARS, AMERICAN IDEOLOGIES,
EVANGELLICAL
PRIESTS… In my country
That 30% believes that Obama is a Muslim
( like that makes any difference anyways ),
In my country that 99% of the population
Believes that Jesus was white…
In my country that most believe that Miley
Cyrus is Not a slut but Annie Leibowitz is..!!!
Sad when you hear all those discouraging
stuff especially from the female population..
But ask 2PAC !!!!
The man that wrote :
“Brenda’s got a baby”.. in jail for
Molestation charges…
ONLY IN AMERICA THE ONES YOU TRY
TO DEFEND ARE THE ONES THAT TURNING
AGAINST YOU..!
Classic stories history repeats.
Again,
My European – Asian – African –
Rest of the world ( north America home
excluded of course ) … friends
thank you for your support..
Now for my white America compadres what
Can I say???? I know how AMERICA
THINKS!!!:
” if it ain’t CHURCH it’s PORN…”
Sad… sad . sad.
Patricia,
Of course I understand that Panos’s photos not imperess you, But I don’t understand your objection; “there was a depth of feeling between the photographer and the subject” (in others photographers)
I am sorry but what the hell is that mean?
depth of feeling beetwen photographer and nude girl?
who need that in this case?
If I snapshot a prostitute I should show “something beetwen us”?
Of course sometimes it is indispensible, but there is no rule, how naked girl showing should be.
Relationship is only a part of image the same as lack of relationship.
I think the problem is with editing but Panos show us his body of work not finished exhibition.
As I say I understand but I am opposite.
Panos,
No kissing ass…
You are on the way of your own style, your own language, your own vision.
Like David said, print your photos on small paper. Put on the floor. Try to see something beetwen all of this pictures.
your own story.
This photos should not be nice but could…
this is only your choice.
this is your photography.
feel it.
You don’t have to be gorgeous photographer. You have to be a photographer. Self-confident. With vision.
This vision could be simple or difficoult.
It is depend how you feel that.
your photos can be dark or light.
Look at works others and think what you can give your own. But witout obssesion! First shot for yourself, second try surprise the world.
We always see the best works of photogarphers, in the albums, or net, or exhibition.
But their work…
real work…
looks as yours, many shots of one situation, many photos with nothing, and maybe one with this “something”….
There is only one rule!
You must work!
best results is always after years of hard work.
Think about technique!
You should know everything about photography.
Look at Araki, Friedlander but don’t try to be Araki and friedlander. Look at photographers who have nothing common with you… la chapelle?
and many time don’t look, don’t think, be yourself.
so where is your camera?
Panos,
I like your stuff….
There doesnt need to be a strong connection, there doesnt even need to be a connection and besides, connections develop over time and we may see that in Panos’ work, or not, but even if we dont, it says something. I think Panos is trying many things, saying a lot, or trying to say a lot and thats great! Ofcourse as always an edit has to be done, but thats true for anyone’s work, especially work like this which is about your life, its always changing, evolving so the photography will change too.
Panos, my friend, I am disappointed that my sharing my honest response to your recent work should result in such an unwarranted attack. That kind of thing could make one reluctant to post anything but compliments here. Please reconsider what you have said. I truly do not believe I deserve it. Nor is it true.
I myself have worked in depth with the nude figure, including self portraits, all of which I posted online. My opinion about your series had nothing to do with its sexual content, merely with how that content was expressed. And how it made me feel as viewer. I am entitled to my opinion, am I not? Just as you are entitled to yours. Please don’t turn this into something negative between us. I do not want that to happen.
Panos, feel free to email me at croneart@comcast.net so we can work this out privately.
Patricia
Rafal said:
“… Of course as always an edit has to be done, but thats true for anyone’s work, especially work like this which is about your life, …”
yes, Rafal, exactly…
too many photos, repetition, but, like you said , that’s not an
exhibition or a book or anything… just a “gonzo” moment…
i also included “myself ” in it , otherwise it wouldnt be fair… i think…
i didnt want to offend the “female” population ( especially the northern american part of it )… either!
its funny coz someone
compared my latest shit with your work…. Rafal…
( your work which i totally admire by the way )..
… that i supposedly “disrespected” my subject comparing to how you did your “family work”…
hmmm , i don’t know…man , i dont know…
i hope i didnt disrespect anyone with my photos…
Marcin, yes , yes and yes
THERE IS ONLY ONE RULE: YOU MUST WORK…
SAME FOR YOU… BROTHER.. SAME FOR YOU TOO…
Katharina,
thank you, thank you , thank you,
exactly… no need to bow….;)))
Audrey,
thank you for your private comments…
you make sense…
peace
Joni, I crossed a great day in your company, I hope to see again you very soon, maybe Perpignan in September ??!!
All, Joni made a remarkable series that he exposed(explained) and threw(planned) in Arles, I hope that very soon he will show him(it) to you,
insist please !!
Kind regards,
audrey
Today tv have announced lowest price for us dollar.
this is funny thing… in US nikon coolscan 9000 cost 2200$ in poland the same scanner cost 4655$ or even 4959.57$ (we have eu prizes)…
Bad time has come…
pocket empty as usual…
Time to think like businessman…
No art shit…
only sallary shit…
remember!!!
we all have to be a businessmans…
I will start shooting food….
But first I have to earn some money…
My wife is angry…
we spend too much money….
I was spend too much money for photography….
digital is cheep….
Time to focus.
peace
must run earn some money.
david mc.
good work for sale there.
i think your pricing is about right..
my ‘shop’ is here..
only ever sold one print..
also – it’s easy enough to set up a paypal link for direct credit card sales.. makes things simpler for buyers and no paypal acount is needed to purchase, as i understand it. i know there are probs with paypal.. just a suggestion.
on money.. photoshelter collection is a good place to put work as you are shooting it.. makes sence and i have made a modest sale through them.. money for old rope, as it were.
my photoshelter page is here
http://psc.photoshelter.com/user/bophoto
and my ‘shop’ is here
http://www.bophoto.co.uk/shop/prints.htm
panos..
looking forward to seeing all of the venice mumblings edited and collected. i think as a whole it will be an interesting and evocative piece of work.. the latest phots are certainly shot without the fear and paranoia of a self conscious photographer.
i’ll not comment on the nudes, since i don’t think they are intended to be shown as a collected, final whole.. what i would say is that the contribution of one or two of the photos into the venice project would lend a valuable personal perspective to the body as a whole, which can only make it more interesting for others to read.
onandon
:o)
PANOS :))
ok, i’ll chime in, and add what i wrote to you via email/iphone (your iphone) :))….
i actually see the work totally as Panos, a continuation, in many sense, of the strange, deranged, mad-joyeous trip that Venice represents. It’s totally HIM…totally REAL. not staged, not aesthetized (except for black cat in white environment which i loved), i really like this insane collision of the pics of your friend with your dick with the baby cat…it’s totally real life: like a bunch of folks fucking around with a camera,not taking themselves too seriously, but capturing what is there…im a major fan of Araki and anyone who knows his work well knows that part of his genius is that he collides, doesnt separate between his overly aesthetized gorgeous color work (and the b/w work) and his simple digital snapshots of his life, life of girls, friends…for him, it’s about the whistle of shooing, colliding all of that…
when i look at photos, i think only 2 things: 1) are they interesting/challenging/hit me (sometimes yes, sometimes now and/or 2) do they show me something about this passing life/someone’ else’s passing life/ideas….’cause for me, for good and bad, imagery is a way for me to enter life, drown suck chew gnaw upon life…the pics are not “beautiful” but they are totally 100% of the moment…and for me, that draws me in…i expect nothing less from Panos…only this, what i told him privately: if he shows “skin” (his and his friend) then it seems even that much more of a tease/a game to not photograph where this all leads…censoring uncensored pics is still censoring ;))))…
now Panos, brother, i hope u’re not bothered by those who dont “feel” your work…they’ve given you their opinions, their reactions, but there i not need to worry or judge them…shit, the entire world doesnt understand each other or like each other, this doesnt mean we aint all connected …go meditate on that one: rise, brother, rise…not from condemnation, but from connection :)))
RAFAL:
2 things quick, ’cause i am running
A. 1) the work is great. i really love the park pics, alot! lovely shadow mirror to the intimate b/w series: humourous, surreal, absurd and quarky: just like our silly lives and 2) much of riverside pics are strong too…lovely continuation of what you are doing :)
B. Have you ever donated to LS?? I WILL defend LS as a member there for more than 3 years, a friend of Teru, and a strong proponent of the place. I’ve persoally donated, about $500, and so my simple response is this: that site is one of the greatest photographic resources on the web and there are very few of us who have given November 11th money and i personally thing that until members donate they have little right to bitch about the performance…especially considering the traffic/membership is garganuan and thess than .5% of the membership donates….sorry, but im a believer in action/community…shinji and teru are totally approachable…but maybe if it upsets you enough, you might donate and then talk to shinji…that place cannot operate on fumes alone….
all the best
bob
PANOS
I agree with Patricia, especially about your response to her insightful critique. I thought her comments were quite constructive and right on the mark. You’re off to a good start, and like everyone else here, you need to keep at it, always trying to improve and push your visual exploration of your subject even further. I think Patricia’s comments challenge you to push further IN, not retreat out.
Why turn her critique into a general tirade against your American colleagues? USA has its faults, as does every other country on this planet, but shit! It’s just one critique on one photographic essay! Do you really think your work is the sole and ultimate challenge to what you perceive as widespread American character flaws? Are you really that delusional that you think you have the grand view to sum up this most diverse of nations into one big uber-stereotype???
Get over it, take it like man and not like a ranting whiny teenage boy, so sure that you’ve got it all figured out into black and white, right and wrong! And no, I don’t believe your response to her was just a joke. Feel free to lash into me- I know how to take criticism.
asher
“…looking forward to seeing all of the venice mumblings edited and collected. i think as a whole it will be an interesting and evocative piece of work.. the latest phots are certainly shot without the fear and paranoia of a self conscious photographer…”
David Bowen, EXACTLY..i will totally have to agree with you…
thank you…
……………………….
I wrote the below email to Patricia last night ,
but she kindly asked me to make it publc, so
here it is:
On Jul 16, 2008, at 3:06 AM, Panayiotis Skoulida wrote:
PATRICIA , i love you , i love you and i love you… no really, nothing to work out…. no attacks… please lets keep creating conversations and controversy if we have to… its healthy and fun to some extend…. with your comments you forced me “think”, say smart things, say wrong things, get angry, cool- uncool, alive things, …. we are photographers , but also writers at this blog… you are helping a lot building “this”… all my respect… peace,
no offense,
only love
Bob, you are right …
time for medidation….
and now, to answer the FINAL QUESTION ????
someone asked:
“… Do you really think your work is the sole and ultimate challenge to what you perceive as widespread American character flaws? …”
ANSWER: ” Yes, i do believe this my friend. YES I DO ”
peace
bowen – thanks – I do work through PayPal, but I prefer they contact me with a request, then I’ll send them a PayPal invoice. At that point they can either mail me a check or pay the invoice online.
OK Panos- that’s cool. If you do really believe that “your work is the sole and ultimate challenge to what you perceive as widespread American character flaws”, that’s great. BUT!!!! you have a shitload more work to do to even BEGIN to challenge American character flaws through your photography!!! America-bashing is a popular pastime of late- you have much competition to become the SOLE visual critic. I look forward to seeing your work- it’s always a fun adventure!
cheers,
asher
Hi,
I am thinking about a new presentation of my site, also your opinions are the welcome:
http://web.mac.com/audreybardou/Site/actu.html
there is only one page at the moment, only do you think of the design?
thank you,
audrey
Audrey.
Your new site page looks très professionelle. I also like the fact that it downloads very quickly without a lot of complex animation and waiting time.
Bon chance,
Sidney
Audrey,
The top and left navigation bars seem redundant (duplication) and the left hand one particularly so as it is stuck low on the page (displayed on firefox 3).
Is this the index page (the entrance page?) if so I’d be tempted to slap a big old favourite photo right there to get a hook in rather than a list of awards. The photography should sell you, the awards are icing on the cake.
Do you need both the details in the yellow border at the bottom of the screen AND a contact page?
Just some thoughts…
thank you Sidney, thank you Neil,
yes, I had thought of a picture by arriving on my site, or directly on actuality, I do not know, yes, the menu down to the left has no usefulness if it is only I liked brought forward idea…
for my coordinates, it was either in one page contact, or down and when they clicked, they had the message which opened, I do not know what is the best…
LISA,
I think you know you’re not a crap photographer and I don’t think so either.
But “GOOD” is not enough today especially not if you want to do the photographic work most of us here aspire to do (documentary, pj:ing, art etc.). For myself I think that I don’t want to make a living out of photography at any price. It’s not fun shooting products all day or shooting weddings at the weekends. At least that’s what I think. I rather make a living out of something else, because that kind of work would probably just put me off what I love about photography.
That was the advice I got from a commercial photographer I assisted and today I really think he’s right. This is just for me and I don’t speak about other commercial photographers, because they are needed.
Cheers
DAVID and ALL
I think my initial posting of the link to my current work maybe got lost in the subsequent intense dialogue between Spencer, Patricia, Rafal, and Panos a while back. In the meantime I changed the second essay a little:
Cherry blossom festival, Seattle:
http://www.telcomplus.net/satkins/photo2.html
Still can’t decide on which of the 3 ‘Fisher Boys’ shots to use, I like them all, but none is claerly better (to me, anyway).
Chinatown night market, Vancouver:
http://www.telcomplus.net/satkins/photo3.html
Too many fairly similar shots in this one, I know. Which to discard, which to keep?
Cheers,
Sidney
PANOS…
The state of American art:
http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/i_dont_have_time_for
Hi Sidney,
I went through your galleries after your first post, but refrained from saying anything simply because all I can tell you is what I like; what strikes me, makes me want to look more deeply. I can’t and won’t try to provide any critique further than this…I’m certainly no expert and don’t want to come across as an internet know-it-all….
So I offer you my simple layman’s opinion in case it is of any value for you…plus, since it seems I am first to comment, you can forget all my observations once those with a better eye have chimed in! ;)
As to which of the “fisher boy” images, I like the first one out of the three…it is between this one and the last one, the look on the boy on the right sides face in the last is intriguing, but there is something not quite there for me with that one.
For the Cherry Blossum Festival, I would cut images 3, 4, 5 (this one is a maybe), 7, and maybe 13.
Of all the images, I like the Korean Socks shot the most. You might want to look at the ordering, for me the image following it takes away from it’s impact, since it has a similar color scheme…maybe put the knife booth in that spot. And maybe end on the night scene overall….
That’s my completely not-qualified-to-critique-photography layman’s view, anyway…I hope it’s of some value for you. :)
best,
Andrew
Hi Sidney :))
Ok, so andrew jumped first :))))…Terrific for Andrew :))…i was going to write too, but got sidetracked (phone call)…anyway, for what it’s worth, here goes :))
Ok, as a photographer, I would ask you a very simple question: think about depth of field. In most of the photographs, the subject and it’s emotional power is lost for me because of what appears to be a very flat visual field. In other words, many of the photographs capture moments that are loaded with potential emotional and experiential leverage: what was it about those moments that inspired your and tweeked you enough to stop and point and click? Often, I don’t feel that here. It is NOT because the images don’t possess inherent drama but it has do to with the “technique”….in other words, there doesn’t seem to be an emotional or aesthetic relationship between the pictorial elements: subject vs. background/environment; the relationship between people in the pics (except n the fishermen pic, there is a lot of emotion there and I think those 3 are also my favorite).
Much of this can be changed through the use of your fstop setting, by trying either “isolate” your subjects or collide them with the other visual elements in the pics. Otherwise, the pics look just like snap shots, without alot of visual or emotional mechanics….
for example: the Okinawa dancers…all 5 have the same visual relationship to one another AND to the background/foreground…this makes the image visually and emotionally flat…that’s true with all the portraits in the cherry blossom series..the boys (fisherman) improves this tremendously: boys isolated, we are focused on them, the play between their faces and the fishing rod…actually, i want the background people to be even more abstract (again, this is a choice of depth of field) so that the tension between the 2 is intensified…(by the way, my favorite is 1 & 3 as well….
same is true with Chinatown series…again, the “technical” photographic aspects seem to be missing here….i may be wrong, but are you shooting using and automatic or manual setting…it seems that the camera is making the choices for you…for me, the last pic, #13/cooking stall, is the most successful, along with KoreanSocks…because in both, the visual elements of photography work to enhance the feeling and drama (the composition, the lighting, the sort of depth of field etc)….
the problem with flattened images, is that as a viewer it is much harder to “feel” for the place, for the moment, for the people…in other words, i dont feel connected…i love the place (festival, chinatown) but i dont connect…and chinatown here is one of my favorite places to shoot….
i hope that makes sense Sidney….Also, i trust that you do not think that I am being overly harsh or critical. The odd mystery about photography is that strong pictures work because the viewer (or at least me) doesnt think about the technical limitations, but feels: damn, that’s an exciting/interesting/passionate pic/moment/person etc….
it’s a cliche, but i want to “smell” chinatown, smell the excitement of walking around with you, the lights, the voices, the colors…how is that conveyed?….
u got lots of comfort for this tradition and lots of photographic tools (they’re endless, our photographic repertoire), and i think with your intelligence and background and experience, can really light this place (chinatown) for us….
imagine how you feel there: clausterphobic? (all those people, colors sound)…show me that, visually :)))
le mystere mon ami, le mystere ;)))
hugs
running
bob
OH, and one last thing to consider.
there is NOT enough “silence” or “emptiness” in your pictures, for me as a viewer. In other words, there ARE SO MANY VISUAL ELEMENTS in your pictures that i dont always know what to cling to, what to eat, what to focus on…THEY ALL COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER…and drown each other out…know what i mean?…almost like there is so much in the scenery (people, environment, light, artifacts, faces) that it becomes impossible for me to focus on 1 thing, or the relationship between elements in the frame….except in Socks, CookingStall and boys/fishermen….maybe study those pics, and think: why are those 3 pics cool? :)))
ok, gotta run, literally…
hugs
b
Good God Mr. Black,
This book is screwing with me.
Lee
Lee :))))))…
that’s what I’d hoped for :))))))…
what else are friends, even blog friends, good for if not to get each other screwed and renewed? ;)))))
running
b
It seems to me that this is the perfect time for me to unload yet another screed that adds nothing to the theme of this thread (it does have a theme, right?) upon the unsuspecting members of our little troupe, and I think we can all agree that we are all up for a diversion at this point. However, as I have nothing to say either about the theme of this thread, whatever it may be, or about anything else, for that matter, then we will all have to do without. On the brighter side, I have gotten a copy of Mr. Harvey’s Divided Soul. I did not actually buy the book; I wandered down to my local public library and asked them to get it for me. As they didn’t want to pay for the book either, they got for me through the wonders of interlibrary loan. In any case, the book is now at home and awaiting my further perusal.
Without going into the book itself; I make it a point of never discussing books I have not actually read; let me just say that Divided Soul is very yellow. In fact, it is yellow to an almost blinding extreme. Now, I have no prejudices towards yellow books in and of themselves, but let’s face reality, shall we, and mention the unmentionable: all yellow books run the risk of comparison to that unrivalled champion of yellow books, the Yellow Pages. Just as all Russian writers must work in the shadow of Pushkin, just as all musicians must find their own way through a universe dominated by Beethoven, just as all automobile mechanics kneel in homage to Lennie, the lying thieving skunk whose kids my car is sending to college, so must all yellow books acknowledge the power of the Yellow Pages. The Manhattan Yellow Pages alone dwarf Divided Soul by a factor of at least ten and I am sure that unless you live in an area so small that you can yell out the window for your local otolarynologist, then your local Yellow Pages, which will never have the Manhattan book’s pretensions to literary quality, will still outweigh Divided Soul on the weight scales (just as an aside here, did you know that in the Manhattan Yellow Pages there are more pages devoted to Escort Services than there are to Libraries of all kinds? Just another example of what is really important to Manhattanites these days).
In fact, after years of constant exposure, the public today expects that any yellow book they come upon will be the Yellow Pages, and I shudder to think what will happen to Divided Soul when some desperate soul opens the book looking for Moldovan kumquat importers on the Upper West Side and finds, to their horror, not poorly printed black and white ads for kumquat importers offering the best deals on kumquats to wholesalers and retailers in the cutthroat world of bulk kumquat importation, but color photographs of foreigners doing whatever it is foreigners do in their spare time instead. Even without my opening Divided Soul, I believe it possible to say that no one pictured inside is a Moldovan, lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, or is in any way involved in the importing of kumquats into the United States. In such a situation, Divided Soul will not be a record of the journey from Iberia, but rather will itself make the journey from our desperate kumquat hunter’s hand to the nearest wall in what may be record time for a book of photographs.
And then there is the question of shape. We live in a postmodern, postindustrial information age—I’m sure we can all agree on that—and yet given the resources that such an age makes available to even the most puerile minded pornographer, the publishers of Divided Soul have chosen to print…a rectangle. That’s right, a rectangle: not a rhombus, not a torus, not a hexagonal bipyramid not a circle, not even a rhombo-hexagonal dodecahedron, but a rectangle. Some of the brightest minds in American publishing, armed with all the tools made possible by decades, if not centuries, of printing ingenuity and research, have produced…what—a book that Johannes Gutenberg could have produced on his olive press in between Malachi and Matthew. Rectangles are so out of date it’s not even funny, and yet someone convinced Mr. Harvey that publishing in this outmoded shape was a good idea. I almost hesitate to open the book now, what with its misguided cover and its retro shape. Didn’t anyone try to warn Mr. Harvey that these were not good ideas? Didn’t anyone at the publisher’s think to say, hold the rectangle and the mayo there, buddy, this is the 21st century? What we have here, I think, is a terrible lack of imagination on the publisher’s part. I mean, really, a rectangle? Why not use a square and let the whole world know just how out of touch they really are?
(PAUSE BEFORE THE RUN):
AKAKY! :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))!!!!!!!!
…just as all DAH blog members must somehow scribble their way in the world after an Akaky post….
between Malachi and Matthew….and St. John…..
good god, you’re good!….
hugs
(END OF PAUSE)
sprinting away…
bob
p.s. YOU WILL LOVE THAT FUCKING BEAUTIFUL HARVEY YELLOW PAGES….and i think there’s a pic of a child passing by a stand of kumquats….magisterial (THE BOOK)…
RAFAL,
The workshop DAH is currently teaching in Santa Fe is a NG Workshop that he was not originally scheduled to teach. David is filling in for Joe McNally. It worked out for him to come since he is on his way to Colorado.
I finally met David for the first time last night. More about that to come…
Bob! Thank you! You put your finger smack on what I couldn’t quite put my finger on in Sidney’s images…well played, sir. :)
All:
So here is my question…I went out yesterday to try and capture some images at an event here, and just couldn’t quite get the feeling that I was “into” it…I trust you all know what I mean, I just felt like I was almost on the edge of capturing some interesting images, but not quite finding them…I did, however, consciously refrain from simply pointing and merrily clicking away, so that aspect was good…
Anyway, a return and quick review of what I had somewhat confirmed my feeling. Now, I look at the resulting 20 or so shots that aren’t bad, but really aren’t good, either…and am questioning whether to put them up here for everyone to review. Part of me says I should; I think a critique of a “bad” session can be as helpful, if not more helpful, that a good one, even if I already *know* it wasn’t really good.
But part of me doesn’t want to waste everyone’s time looking at what I think/know to be mediocre shots.
I guess I’ll post them…back soon.
cheers,
Andrew
HELLO ALL….
please forgive…i just had the modem fixed in my little casita here in Santa Fe, but now i am so so busy…i will post just as soon i have even a half hour to myself…running running , but many thanks for your patience….
peace et al, david
ALL
I figured I should enter the Blurb book competition, so I just made one with images of New Yorkers, called bits of silver..
If anyone is interested, it can be seen / purchased here:
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/296963
Andrew B and Bob B
Thanks to both of you gentlemen for your comments. Bob, I agree with much of what you say… problem is I’m shooting digital 2/3 frame which tends to give too much depth of field, and this is compounded by not having a really fast prime lens, like an f/1.7 or bigger, that I could open up to get more selective focus. (Oh, I’d buy one if I could!) Sometimes, often, I like that ‘flatness’ but I agree it works against the images here, almost all of which would be better with more selective focus.
As for the ‘busyness’ and clutter… it’s not that I’m not aware that more ‘opened up’ images or images with more negative space or simpler content would have more impact… it’s that clutter and visual chaos are very much part of the ambience. I probably like more cluttered and more complex images than most people would, and I print a lot at sizes like 10″x 14″ or 13′ x 19″, much larger than these appear on the web, and they generally look better that way. Still, there may be a more effective way to show clutter and claustrophobia without being so ‘literal’… something to try for.
In general I think all the pictures are too ‘literal’ with a pretty static POV, with the exception of the Fisher Boys. Now, I’m a very literal guy… but there may be a better balance between ‘literal’ and ‘evocative’.
Anyway, I appreciate both your comments… putting these up and getting responses helps me to think about how better to portray what I am aiming for. In the past I was primarily a landscape photographer, so this is very new stuff for me and I can see that it is much more complicated than it appears at first and will take a lot of development and trial and error. But if I didn’t post them and invite feedback, I wouldn’t have learned as much.
Cheers,
Sidney
SIDNEY
My reaction to your photos is very similar to Bob’s. He is much more eloquent than I…
All I will suggest is: simplify your compositions significantly. If there’s a pole or a car or anything else that you don’t want in your photo, then move in, re-position, change your angle, move in more, do whatever you need to do to optimize the use of every millimeter of real estate in your frame.
asher
SIDNEY
My reaction to your photos is very similar to Bob’s. He is much more eloquent than I…
All I will suggest is: simplify your compositions significantly. If there’s a pole or a car or anything else that you don’t want in your photo, then move in, re-position, change your angle, move in more, do whatever you need to do to optimize the use of every millimeter of real estate in your frame.
asher
SIDNEY
My reaction to your photos is very similar to Bob’s. He is much more eloquent than I…
All I will suggest is: simplify your compositions significantly. If there’s a pole or a car or anything else that you don’t want in your photo, then move in, re-position, change your angle, move in more, do whatever you need to do to optimize the use of every millimeter of real estate in your frame.
asher
ALL…
I must be brief. When I return I will try to post a few photos I took of the screen last night when David previewed his new book project, Off For A Family Drive, as part of his slideshow. (Hope I’m correct that this is the new title as well as the old albumn he made.) Haven’t downloaded the photos yet but these snapshots look decent enough to show and David said it was okay to share them….I know some of you have been asking…ASHER and others…
It’s going to be a wonderful book and exhibition, that’s for sure.
MEETING DAVID: Many of you have already experienced this but for those who haven’t…the bottom line…As great as he is here on his blog and in his books, he’s even greater in person. The BEST.
His public presentation was amazing…excerpts from Tell it Like it Is, Off for a Family Drive, You Made Me Leave, Living Proof, Divided Soul…One masterpiece after another…He has so many great shots one would think it was easy to get shots like these!
Then afterwards a great time was had by all at his place. Enjoyed watching him shoot a lovely girl in a doorway (with Chris Bickford in the background) rain pouring down behind them. Seeing him work is amazing.
I’ll try to get those images up asap.
DAVID…
If you’re still online…If it isn’t rained out the Cuban band (cuban music but local musicians) is playing on the Plaza at 6pm.
Music is from 6-8. Dancing too.
If I’m lucky maybe I’ll get a shot of David dancing!
Hi all,
A few snaps from yesterday. As I said earlier, I’m not terribly pleased with any of these – this is the best dozen of the bunch (at least, I think they are).
I think I know some of the things I missed with these, but would appreciate any comments or suggestions…sometimes it’s as (or more) valuable to dissect a bad performance as opposed to a good one…
http://home.insightbb.com/~andrew.brinkhorst/review/
Cathy:
What an awesome opportunity and circumstance you are in….post pictures!
best to all,
Andrew
ANDREW B.,
9843… WINNER…!!!
peace
ERICA,
your book looks good… really good !
you just gave me an idea… thanks !
peace
BOB,
I understand LS is free thats why I wont bitch too much about hiccups.
Thanks for the comments on the new color work. Its still not even summer vacation so most of my shooting has been sporadic, between work and home, 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there. I tried to establish a style that I will follow both with the framing and the color and Im not sure if Ill combine the park and River stuff into one thing later (Id have to re-edit one or the other to get a more even looking color look to the whole thing If I was to do that). Ill have more time to shoot with more determination come August though as Ill have a few weeks off work and time to myself.
Panos,
keep shooting. It takes time and its a constant edit with shis sort of work as you always develop new trains of thought and new threads within it, so photos are alays moving in and out depending on the mood you want to estrablish, be it serious or playful, secrative or open, etc. For me its been a bit of a struggle to dcide what I want from my Home Sweet Home series although Ive recently made up my mind as to how I want it to proceed and Im trying to shoot in that direction. But its always fluid, never static so things can change tomorrow. But I do think yhis intimate stuff would really be a great piece of the Venice puzzle if youd ecided not to pursue it intensely or it could be a great piece of an Arakiesque puzzle (maybe within a Venice Puzzle or a larger Panos puzzle) depending on, well, how your life goes. And that can never be planned.
One thing I dont want is comparisons to other people but thats inevitable. And Im sure you are the same. Im sure you dont want to be compared to me, I dont want to be compared to other work, nobody really wants those comparisons but they are inevitable, just take them as they come but be confident in your uniqueness. And you are unique. Comparisons place outside constraints on work not meant to have those constraints.
One thing I had to deal with at the beginning of shoting Home Sweet Home was criticisms about it being safe and unchallenging. I remember you were the one:) But that sort of ctiticism sent me off to really get deeper into the subject matter, the nudes and racier photos resulted from this criticism. I was also recently was attacked elsewhere for it as being egotistic and self centered. By someone I once thought was a friend. One criticism was positive and one was negative and unhelpful. Anyway, you have to stick yo your guns and probably have atleast an idea of where ts going, how it will get there and what it will say. Take the good constructive criticism and even the negative but stick yo your guns. The key is also knowing which kind of a criticism you are getting. I think patricia’s was not a negative criticism, probably just a push from what she perceives as the weaknesses in your story. All storis have weaknesses, all stories will be looked at differently by different people, I see so many weaknesses in my work that Im working to correct and change into strengths. Only the input of others can show us what we dont see. Ofcourse David is the one we look to most for that sort of criticism but there are plenty of people here who can be just as helpful.
Erica,
tell me more about blurb..whats the cost of publishing yourself? Im thinking of doing that in the medium to long fiture (within 3 or 4 years). Whats the quality like?
PANOS..thnks!
RAFAL
I actually did it because someone wrote me and encouraged me to participate in the contest..but anyone can make a book and sell it through them, it is completely free for you to make and you can set your per book profit yourself. It’s just up to you to design it..does that make sense?
RAFAL
sorry..what I should say is that you don’t actually have to do an edition or anything, so there is no cost to you. They are a print on demand service..if someone orders, they get most of the money, they ship it directly, and you gat a little money (or whatever you decided per book).
ALL
Scanning scanning scanning.. shot just 3 hours today and yesterday, but that seems to be all I can hold up for..maybe 4 or 5 people a day..then wiped out..not sure why but this seems to require a lot of communication and connection with the people being photographed.
Erica,
it sounds great. I think Ill wait one year and enter the contest once I have enough material for a book. Id want to hold off putting any book together where I wouldnt be totally satisfied with the result. And the top prize sounds good so Id also like to give that a shot.
Marcin,
we must have twin wives LOL. I can tell you this, when I shot on film it was a constant struggle with my wife. Now I shoot digital she loves it. Shoot digital, save yourself money and stress.
Shoot Me Down – Lil’ Wayne
Open up your hearts people
Page 1 chapter 1 verse muthaf**kin 1
Yeah uh huh im drinkin hot tea bitch feel me
Verse 1
Yeah now if you let me you wont regret me
Shit if you let me you wont forget me. remember
And if you dont then mind tha. hold up bahh bahh
There’s a reminder
I aint kind hot i’m sauna
I sweat money and the bank is my shower
Haha and that pistol is my towel
Ha so stop sweatin me coward
And I would die for ours ride for ours supply the flowers
This is history in the making now shut the f**k up and let me make it
Chorus
Please dont shoot me down cause im flyyin im flyin
Im highup
Please dont me down cause im flyin im high up
(this tea is at a real good temperature right now. so am i)
Verse 2
I spit alcatraz bars I know
And d-boys is the only alphabet boys I know
Gotta 3-80 on my waist and rambo at home
No more bandana round my dome bandana in my right pocket
Bitch im grown f**k what you on
Now watch me stand on the world as I sit in a throne
And if I jump ima fly and look into the eagles eye
And see I am nothin like you. why?
Bitch see. it gets me how nothing gets me or get to me
And if you shootin for the star than just shoot me
But your bullets dont reach mars
Pause. clause. because ima a beast ima dog ill getcha
My picture should be in the dictionary next to the definition of definition
Because repetition is the father of learnin
And son I know your barrel burnin but
Chorus
Please dont shoot me down cause im flyyin im flyin
Im highup
Please dont shoot me down cause im flyin im high up
(hey talk to my daddy)
Verse 3
Pappa I did it to em. ima bastard
And ima do it again like nigga backwards
These niggas backwards but they behind us
Now watch me get high like times up
Now D bring the drums back
And watch me hitt em where there lungs sat like dat
I get respect cause if I dont ima take it
I see your boys hatin and I see your girls naked
Drum sound like a naked gun switch clips with my thumb
Then I pop another clip in and aim at his vision
Cause wayne is his vison cause wayne is the mission
Im aimin at a mirror
Chorus
Please dont shoot me down cause im flyyin im flyin (and ive done it before. please dont make me do it no more)
Im highup
Please dont me down cause im flyin im high up (watch me soar. where the f**k is my guitar. now roar)
© All lyrics are copyright of their owners.
ok.. let me explain… friday noon i shoot ” THE GAME “…
somewhere in cali… so i’m trying to get into the mood…
although its the new ” LIL WAYNE “… that “does it ” for me!!
Bob, ask DIMA… !!!
I’m telling you !!!
“…Baby understand me now
If sometimes you see that I’m mad
Don’t you know no one alive can always be an angel
When everything goes wrong, you see some bad
But I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
O lord please don’t let me be misunderstood
Misunderstood ain’t gotta be explained
But you don’t understand me so let me explain
Stood in the heat, the flames, the snow
Please slow down hurricane
The wind blow, my dreads swang
He had hair like wool, like wayne
Dropping ashes in the bible
I shake em out and they fall on the rifle
Scary, hail mary no tale fairy
All real very, extraordinary
Perry mason facing, the barrel if he tattle
My God is my judge, no gown no gavel
I’m a rebel, down to battle
Now or never, I would never?
F**king fantastic, f**k if you agree
But I don’t give a f**k if you see me
I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
O lord please don’t let me be misunderstood
What’s understood ain’t gotta be explained
So for those who understand meet Dwayne
For 8 and a half months I gave ms. cit da pain
Now it’s young money baby, keep the change
My mama say f**k em and we the same
So hello mothaf**ka you got some sheets to change
And ain’t it funny how people change like easter sunday
You know church fit then outfit,
Bright pink and green chest look house lit
Bright pinky rings but that ain’t about this
What you bout bitch
Excuse my french emotion in my passion
But I wear my heart on my sleeve like it’s the new fashion
What are you asking, if I don’t have the answer
It’s probably on the web, like I’m a damn tarantula
But I know you don’t understand, cause you thought lil wayne is weezy
But weezy is dwayne
I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
O lord please don’t let me be misunderstood
I was watching t.v. the other day right
Got this white guy up there talking about black guys
Talking about how young black guys are targeted
Targeted by who? america
You see one in every 100 americans are locked up
One in every 9 black americans are locked up
And see what the white guy was trying to stress was that
The money we spend on sending a mothaf**ka to jail
A young mothaf**ka to jail
Would be less to send his or her young ass to college
See, and another thing the white guy was stressing was that
Our jails are populated with drug dealers, you know crack/cocaine stuff like that
Meaning due to the laws we have on crack/cocaine and regular cocaine
Police are only, I don’t want to say only right, but shit
Only logic by riding around in the hood all day
And not in the suburbs
Because crack cocaine is mostly found in the hood
And you know the other thing is mostly found in you know where I’m going
But why bring a mothaf**ka to jail if it’s not gon stand up in court
Cause this drug ain’t that drug, you know level 3, level 4 drug, shit like that
I guess it’s all a misunderstanding
I sit back and think, you know us young mothaf**kas you know that 1 in 9
We probably only selling the crack cocaine because we in the hood
And it’s not like in the suburbs, we don’t have what you have
Why? I really don’t wanna know the answer
I guess we just misunderstood hunh
You know we don’t have room in the jail now for the real mothaf**kas, the real criminals
Sex offenders, rapists serial killers
Don’t get scared, don’t get scared …”
“Playing With Fire” …
….by Lil Wayne
Mama always told me I was crazy
And my hoes say I’m amazing but I don’t listen to a lady
But the bitch say I’m hot and I say “No bitch I’m blazin”
Like what the f**k you expect? I’m a motherf**kin Cajun
I feel caged in my mind, it’s like my flow doin time
I goes crazy inside but when it comes out it’s fine
Like lying…wait – watch, see I get better with time like a watch
Oshbegosh Posh Spice husband couldn’t kick it like I kick it bitch
I kicks it no serial like a landing I sticks it
Whatever she asks me after she licks it
That’s too explicit – but why you listening?
I smell smoke, and something sizzling
That’s her pussy so hey pussy play with pussy or play pussy
They say you’re nobody til somebody kills you
But where I’m from you’re nobody til you kill somebody
And you know what they say, when you great it’s not murder it’s assassinate
So assassinate me bitch cuz I’m doing the same shit that Martin Luther King did
Checkin in the same hotel, in the same suite bitch
Same balcony like “Assassinate me bitch!”
It’s Lil Tune ??, I don’t rap, I fill movies with my rap
You can call me Mr. Director’s Chair, yeah and that’s a wrap
Cut onto the next, not the next scene – bitch the next check
Some say the x makes the sex spec, so play with the pussy or play pussy
Straight off the corner of Apple and Eagle
Pray for a bitch like the times are Medieval
Married to the block, divorced the cathedral
Standin on the corner selling porcelain to people
Forced into evil, it’s all in ya head
It’s all so cerebral call me Knievel
You follow when I leave you,
straight to the needle
The bottle, the battle, the beetles’ll eat you
Momma name Cita, I love you Cita
Member when your pussy second husband use to beat ya
Member when I went into the kitchen got the cleaver
He ain’t give a f**k I ain’t give a f**k either
He could see the devil, see the devil in my features
You can smell the ether, you can see Cita
You can see the Cita see the Cita in my features
And she don’t play neither
ERICA
What a great book!!! It’s going to be a collectors item… if I get one, will you sign it for me?
ANDREW B
I do have an observation and some suggestions about the photos you posted from the yearling sale…
I was struck by the fact that most of the photos put the subject squarely in the bulls-eye middle of the frame with lots of space around it… 9861, 9817, 9849, 9840, etc.
A lot of photographers put their subjects in a box… Sander, Arbus, Parr, Avedon come to mind… a perfectly valid and wonderful way to work if the entire frame, somehow, is energized and alive…
The other end of the spectrum is the frame as an energy field… think Friedlander or Cartier-Bresson.
So, for my suggestion: As an exercise: zoom out, get physically closer, and try thinking of the frame as a field that needs to be energized from the edges… do important, unexpected things there, for instance, put interacting people at opposite edges and see if that energizes the space between… put the important part of the picture at the edge and nothing in the center…. use the edges like a knife to unexpectedly truncate the picture, cut off your subject head, have something intrude unexpectedly into the frame… think about edges for a while, then go back to the box if you like.
Not trying to be pedantic, just trying to help… my two cents, take it for what it’s worth!
RAFAL,
About books, there is also lulu.com, they can even make your book available to merchants (Amazon, etc…), The website seems to be in French, cannot find the English tab though… There was also an interesting article in a French magazine a few weeks ago about self publishing, I will try to summarize it if I can get my hand on it (lost somewhere in the toilets under tons of other magazines)…
AUDREY,
Your website looks great, I have however 2 remarks:
– Why do you repeat the menu at the top and on the left ?
– Do you plan to have an English version as well ? French is fine (for me) but people might not go through all the pages if they don’t pick a bit of understanding…
Thank you Yan,
I took away the menu of left, and I kept only the menu of the top, I settle some more questions (is what to the left, I put a submenu, or I thought put my reports?? directly approachable?) and I shall have a version in English ( Pierre-Yves offers to translate me my texts, still thank you) for galleries, I still do not know…
AUDREY,
I also think that it is better to keep the one on the top, on the left side it could stay blank in order to give some breath in the page, too many elements might disturb a bit. For me, your reports and news are well settled like it is…
For the submenu, you could make it while clicking on Gallery/Portfolio at the top, to summarize I think that the goal is KISS (Keep it simple and stupid), it has to be intuitive… “Actu” could become “Home”, what will be “Ateliers” and “Médias” ?
Yan,
actu, It is my current events
ateliers, I would like to put the workshops where I made with teenagers (their realizations and I am going to animate aout workshops photos with children, thus I would like to put their works, Medias, it would be my publications “papers” and internet,
thank you for your comments…
New essay,
http://web.mac.com/audreybardou/Site/intro.html
( I know we see my masking on the leg of my cat, I am going to rectify my photo in the lab!)
AUDREY,
What about something simplier (moins pétant poru les yeux): http://www.yanseiler.com/i/audrey.jpg
Yan,
I have just sent you a private e-mail, I would not like to annoy everybody with my site…
Audrey,
I like Yan’s wee vision just tidied up. There seems something….unbalanced about the thick line in a bright colour competing with B&W photo.. I like the thin yellow lines tho.
Web design and layout is pretty interesting stuff, so I for one don’t mind seeing the process. I have the attention span of an ADD hummingbird on the web and confusing websites get ignored or yelled at, so I always welcome the KISS strategy. That said, this blog/forum is tricky to find stuff on. Can you get this via RSS or something?
Monkey go work now.
Ok everyone here goes everything ,or nothing I can’t decide. I didn’t want my first Blog post to be centered on feuding but I was offended and needed to do this.
For starters I was rather disheartened at the way constructive critiquing was dismissed by Panos, even hurt by the way I seem to have been generalized as the classic “stupid American” for my views on current work (I had the same view as Cathy). I think your reaction to less than harsh criticism shows that you’ve put yourself on a rather high pedestal, rather you get your own work and those of us that do are enlightened thinkers and those that don’t are just, backwoods Christians tearing down the “Statue of David”.
You make a statement that art isn’t American ideologies ,or Evangelical priests, but in the 15th century art was catholic ideologies and based heavily on scripture.
“Ghent’s Altarpiece” was a homage to the throne of God and the Lamb. Martin Schongauer’s “Saint Anthony Tormented by Demons” was influenced by stories of St Anthony, and Hans Memling specialized in images of the Madonna (these are just a few in a sea of plenty). The point of this is that the work of the 15th century was laden with nudity and still acceptable in the church’s eyes. (It’s about context)
When someone doesn’t get something you’ve done, the praise they’ve given you isn’t thrown out the window, in turn they also don’t deserve to be deammed some sort of religous zealot.
I take photo’s of my girlfriend (of almost 2 years) naked all the time but not every picture would qualify to be hung in a gallery. Over time you may end up with a nice series of this girl. Question “where does it fit in with the Venice stuff you’ve been working on”?
I credit you with a lot of good captures and commend you for being so consistent with posting, but you need to get past insecurities and take the bad with the good. I didn’t “love” the photo’s, but after some time I started picking out ones I liked, When I first saw them it was hard for me to get past the fact that they were underexposed that I couldn’t even get a feel for what was happening. After a few glances though I developed a appreciation for more than a few, but still lighten up (literally).
To Lisa Hobgen, do you know what I get when I google my name?
A lot of photographers that aren’t me. Even though you are struggling right now, you still have a lot of prestige behind your name and though it may not pay the bills, using it does.
Life is a struggle to make ends meet, I’ve lived in the streets with my girlfriend Heidi and it’ hasn’t been a fun time. Unfortunately what brought us to the streets was a struggle with addiction. I was making nothing of my life, constantly looking for the ways I could score in a day without hurting anyone around me.
Now I have a new addiction and I’m completely devoted to it. I have found this marvelous thing called photography, and it’s done more for me than a bible or NA ever could.
I think that photography for most of us is exactly that, something that consumes time, money, (soul?). I’m still not sure how I’ll make my money doing photography when schools done. I do know one thing though, whatever I have to do to survive: will be done; and photography will always be a mainstay in my life.
Lisa I personally think the photography you’ve done is amazing but the real point is; Do you think your photography is crap?
To DAH I would just like to say thank you, I really appreciate this site, and your words of hope and wisdom.
Just the fact that a internationally renowned artist would take his time to help the little guy along the way is staggering.
I’ve been reading your postings at the advice of my brother and it is well taken.
In the future I look forward to many a harsh critique from everyone here, and good luck to all.
P.S. Panos, I love the Snoop stuff, Venice says Hello as well. If you talk to Game ask him why he got the butterfly changed (it was so cute).
David,
I have just been contacted by the agency Millennuim Images :
http://www.milim.com/
they saw my work on Rose in the Meetings of Arles and they would be interested in my work. I would not like to make of error, it is attractive, I admit it, but that do you think of this agency ?
Kind regards,
audrey
DAVID/ALL slightly off-topic….
maybe an easy way of unobtrusively organising all great discussions that are gong on here: what about a RSS feed for the comments? there is one for posts, but not for the comments…
that way, you don’t need to refresh all the time, look for the last page all the time, everything comes neatly organised into your own newsreader (or firefox or safari)
what do you think? it should be easy to add to the typepad-thingy (i think), i’m thinking it’s just a setting for david to switch on or off…
(of course this all stems from my inablility to keep up with everything when i come back from finally having managed to pull myself away from here for a couple of days :-)
but i’m sure i’m not the only one :))))
peace
anton
AUDREY,
I’m actually represented by Millenium Images. Feel free to contact if you have any questions. To me they seem very serious about what they do and are very friendly. But I’ll rather discuss them outside this blog.
Cheers
audrey bardou
i have known a couple of people who worked with millenium in the past..
i am no longer in touch with the people, although i can say that at the time they worked with the company they were happy with the service and the general dealings.. so on..
a young-ish company with a good list of advertizine and editorial clients..
sounds good to be..
MIKE
“zoom out, get physically closer, and try thinking of the frame as a field that needs to be energized from the edges… do important, unexpected things there, … think about edges for a while, then go back to the box if you like. ”
Thanks for looking and commenting, and I didn’t take any of your message as being pedantic….I know I’m at a remedial level compared to everyone here…but I also know I can grow, and having suggestions such as this are really helpful for me. Thanks much…
I will focus on energizing the frame, getting closer…something interesting!
Thank you, too, Erica for your emailed suggestions that pretty much to the same effect…all very right on as one would expect…
“I know I’m at a remedial level compared to everyone here…”
then you’re one up on me, guy. I still wonder if I’m loading the film correctly
ALL…
David and I were talking about who has been around this blog since the beginning and for those interested in trivia I just looked thru the archives and discovered that….
In the beginning of the blog there were only a few comments and those were from longtime students such as Lance and Lee along with a couple others who don’t seem to be around anymore.
From what I can tell the first comments from people “new” to the blog (now oldtimers) was on March 19, 2007. It was a post entitled “A Question” where David asked the first question of us.
There were three of us who answered that question and are still around. In adition to Lance, Lee and the other original students.
1) Michael Kircher
2) Cathy Scholl
3) Akaky
I’m sure Michael and Akaky will be thrilled to know this. :)
should be…first comments WERE
“then you’re one up on me, guy. I still wonder if I’m loading the film correctly”
Akaky, I wouldn’t even dare to move to film yet, based on the number of images I throw away, Lexington would quickly be awash in a sea of film negatives…..and I hate it when my feet get tangled up in negatives….
CATHY
That’s an amusing “archive” observation. It made me curious about when I first posted on this blog (April 13, 2007)
The very first post on the Road Trips blog was Glenn Campbell. Interestingly, David started the post on January 11, 2007, and Glenn’s first post was not until February 9, 2007. Maybe some other posts were removed, but almost an entire month until the first post! Now it’s more like seconds!
Use Kodachrome instead. that way you’ll be up to your feet in positives; everyone loves a positive attitude; and if all else fails, you can skip the slides across the surface of a pond and see how far they go. The last time I checked Kodachrome went further then Velvia or Ektachrome, but that may have something to do with its archival properties.
You bet I’m thrilled, Cathy. I’m tickeled positively pink. I’m coming up on birthday #50 and being reminded that I am an old timer at anything is just what I want to hear these days.
“…If you talk to Game ask him why he got the butterfly changed (it was so cute)….”
((( cute ))) ???
i definitely can’t use that word around “the Game”
tomorrow in Long Beach…
laughing…
but i will try to ask him why he changed that tattoo…
thank you Michael McG…
We definitely have some fundamental differences , theories and philosophies… my friend but its all good !!!
peace , love and hugs
panos
CATHY:
Cathy, i first read DAH blog on February 28th, 2007….when told by Bruno Stevens at Ls..
http://www.lightstalkers.org/this_one_is_great__david_alan_harvey_blog
but, cant remember when i first wrote a comment (later), as i was a lurker for the first few months ;)))…maybe around late march/april?….
HEY, I’VE BEEN HERE from virtually the beginning…but at that time i was writing so much at LS, and shooting alot, didnt comment her until March/april…but, i was here!
:))
hugs
running
bob
BOB…
No doubt you were here! It would not have been a blog without you! :) I’m sure there are several others who this is also true for.
I also was around from the beginning and did not post for a while…I was certain that the blog was not meant for “outsiders” such as myself, only for friends and longtime students. Only when David asked a question of us did I have the nerve to respond.
Maybe Michael and Akaky felt the same way?
The other night David told me that some new people reading the blog now have the same feeling…that they sometimes contact “regulars” to ask if it’s okay to participate. :)
Didn’t mean to exclude anyone…just looking to see who was posting in the early days, which by the way seem a lot longer ago than a year and a half.
hugs back.
Cathy :)))
no worries, i was just joking with you :))))…it’s funny now for me, ’cause i was a “ghost” for first couple months, even though david’s blog was like 1st thing i read…cause i used to think it was only for his students….
funny, now how much of a motor-mouth i became ;)))))….
but believe me, i didnt feel left out by your triumvirate :))))…i aint that kinda of guy…
i think lance and Rafal (aka Jinju) were like the real OLD TIMERS :))))
ok, running away for a few ays…
hugs
bob
I have no clue when I even posted the first time……
Thanks to you all….
pleasure audrey.
thanks for the emails and good luck.
my first post is easy for me to remember.
i showed a group of strangers my arse.
i’ve yet to put the self portrait in my website ‘news’ section..