This is one of my first images for my Advanced Lighting final. Let me know what you think!
Love Kurt
15 comments:
Anonymous
said...
The lighting is really nice and the choice of colors works well. What is the project about?
Unfortunately, I find I'm not really drawn into the photograph at all. I've personally grown tired of portrait photography that just involves "stand here or sit here,and look disinterested". Unless I read a statement the image holds no meaning, not even something I can make up. It's very bland and overdone. I suggest reading this to know where I'm coming from a bit...just something to think about if you continue portraits.
I don't mean to jump on your image in particular, this just is something I've been thinking about. I could apply this to many contemporary portraits I see on various blog etc.
Dan: I agree to a certain extent what you are arguing, although I find John Wood's view on contemporary photography somewhat insulting. The following is a quote from John that I found slightly demeaning to many contemporary photographers as well as myself.
"I also refuse to believe “that people are genuinely interested in” banality unless they are driven there by boredom. And if they are, then they should look at some great photographs and be stimulated." -John Woods
I am not sure what "great photographs" he is referring to. I assume he has made this accusation without ever taking into account the work of William Eggleston, Stephen Shore, Robert Adams, Bernd and Hilla Becher, etc...(the list could go on)
Kurt: I agree with Dan in that I think you need to allow yourself to openly explore portraiture in whatever way you think fits. Do not restrict yourself to what you already know will work. I know I am preaching to the choir as I have done the exact same thing but I believe that as a student you should exploring whatever makes you excited. I am saying this because I know you can make a good photograph, but what I am unsure about is whether you are challenging yourself as the photographer. I am not saying that this is not your aesthetic or that you should change what you are doing. I am just trying to make you think harder about why you are doing what you are doing.
Well Mr Dan Ross Buettner, you will just have to read the artist statement and see the image that completes this dip tic. I however, am in complete disagreement with you on the so called "stand there an look disinterested" portrait style. You see, when asking a person to stand in front of a camera and do nothing but make eye contact, you are asking a person to do something very vulnerable. As opposed to telling them to smile or laugh or pretend like they love/hate life (or as I see it "act"). Here's the problem with telling a person what to do in front of the camera, they lose their honesty. I don't see this portrait as a disinterested person, I see it as an honest person. Now if you are saying you don't like portraiture where the person is aware of the camera, that is something completely different. Documentary portraiture is a whole other story. Now, granted we have very very different photographic interests, I still felt that I should let you know exactly what I think about so called "Boring Photography." This article claims that contemporary photography is boring and that may be true for many viewers. However, what I think the article fails to recognize is the amount of control involved in a minimalist/contemporary image. I believe that it takes much more talent to control every aspect of an image than it does to snap photos in a third world country. Anyway, I'm ranting and I have to get ready for my fucking Drawing Fundamentals class.
As I was writing my comment you posted yours. It was horrible timing. I hope you don't think I disregarded your input. Collin, I agree with you about John Woods. That guy is a douche. And once again, I would like to point out that this image is not meant to be interpreted by itself. It is only 50% of a dip tic. This project is something I have never done before and I am exploring what turns me on with photography very in depth this semester. I am trying very hard not to fall into a comfortable rut with my photos and I have taken very extreme measures to make sure of it. I do however really appreciate your concern for my photographic well being. I always knew you loved me Collin.
Post the diptych next time as well as a brief summary of your artist statement. It will keep us from having these kinds of conversations. As for my input, color is bomb, Shift is a bit distracting. Only in the top right corner with the lamp thing, by throwing it out of focus you are implying it is unimportant to the scene, but in a minimalist image such as this one, every element in it is important. Right now there is just a weird blob in the corner of the image. Lighting is nice though.
As for John Wood, here is a link to his "Art in Life" Portfolio complete with dogs, bugs, and flowers. Make sure your sound is up, There is music. . . . . .
HAHAHAHA I need to get mindblowingly high and re-watch that slideshow. And now I know who does the photography that you see in the poster bin at Barnes and Noble.
My favorite John Wood image is now "Saint Bernard driving pickup truck." Or "sunset you've seen a million times."
Ok, that could be the wrong John Wood. At least i hope so. There is another John Wood who does some amazing Alt stuff. I redact my last statement about John Wood, but will leave the link for people looking for a good laugh. Though, I don't think i like either John Woods
Haha, I'm going to assume that John posted a link to the correct John Wood and I am now going to disregard any and all advice he has on contemporary photography. I think I may have vomited while watching the slideshow you posted, John, but I can't be sure because I blacked out in a disgusted stupor right before I woke up with my lunch dripping down my chin. Anyway, I appreciate all the input on this photo (which is only half of a dip tic) but I am probably not going to change anything because I have an idea stuck in my head, and idea's are like ticks. They only come off if you burn the shit out of them or ignore them until they kill you.
Oh shit, by the way John, that blob above the chair was left there intentionally. I took it off the wall for one exposure but I felt like that big empty space was really lacking when it came down to it. Notice that I lined it up perfectly with the center of the char and with the eye level of the subject. I do however have a negative with a blank square of wall if that would better suit your taste. But i like the blob.
Now that you directed my attention to it lining up perfectly with the center of the chair and eye level with the subject, I still think it shouldn't be there. With the second image it might work, but I'll have to see when i see it
Was just voicing my opinion. It was presented as a lone image, so that's how I critiqued it as. I'm not attempting to insult, rather I had what Colin mentioned in mind; suggest for you explore a different direction. Not necessarily for this project, it's too far in the semester obviously. But if you were to expand on portraits in the future, I would suggest to be a little more adventurous to separate yourself from the crowd. I would like to see the diptyph as some point, that would make a large difference in how I view it, I reckon.
Also, I believe this is the real John Woods http://mfa.mcneese.edu/about-the-founder/ . I have not heard of him before either, I just came across his blog post.
15 comments:
The lighting is really nice and the choice of colors works well. What is the project about?
Unfortunately, I find I'm not really drawn into the photograph at all. I've personally grown tired of portrait photography that just involves "stand here or sit here,and look disinterested". Unless I read a statement the image holds no meaning, not even something I can make up. It's very bland and overdone. I suggest reading this to know where I'm coming from a bit...just something to think about if you continue portraits.
http://21steditions.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/john-wood-on-why-so-much-contemporary-photography-is-boring/
I don't mean to jump on your image in particular, this just is something I've been thinking about. I could apply this to many contemporary portraits I see on various blog etc.
Dan: I agree to a certain extent what you are arguing, although I find John Wood's view on contemporary photography somewhat insulting. The following is a quote from John that I found slightly demeaning to many contemporary photographers as well as myself.
"I also refuse to believe “that people are genuinely interested in” banality unless they are driven there by boredom. And if they are, then they should look at some great photographs and be stimulated."
-John Woods
I am not sure what "great photographs" he is referring to. I assume he has made this accusation without ever taking into account the work of William Eggleston, Stephen Shore, Robert Adams, Bernd and Hilla Becher, etc...(the list could go on)
Kurt: I agree with Dan in that I think you need to allow yourself to openly explore portraiture in whatever way you think fits. Do not restrict yourself to what you already know will work. I know I am preaching to the choir as I have done the exact same thing but I believe that as a student you should exploring whatever makes you excited. I am saying this because I know you can make a good photograph, but what I am unsure about is whether you are challenging yourself as the photographer. I am not saying that this is not your aesthetic or that you should change what you are doing. I am just trying to make you think harder about why you are doing what you are doing.
Well Mr Dan Ross Buettner, you will just have to read the artist statement and see the image that completes this dip tic. I however, am in complete disagreement with you on the so called "stand there an look disinterested" portrait style. You see, when asking a person to stand in front of a camera and do nothing but make eye contact, you are asking a person to do something very vulnerable. As opposed to telling them to smile or laugh or pretend like they love/hate life (or as I see it "act"). Here's the problem with telling a person what to do in front of the camera, they lose their honesty. I don't see this portrait as a disinterested person, I see it as an honest person. Now if you are saying you don't like portraiture where the person is aware of the camera, that is something completely different. Documentary portraiture is a whole other story. Now, granted we have very very different photographic interests, I still felt that I should let you know exactly what I think about so called "Boring Photography." This article claims that contemporary photography is boring and that may be true for many viewers. However, what I think the article fails to recognize is the amount of control involved in a minimalist/contemporary image. I believe that it takes much more talent to control every aspect of an image than it does to snap photos in a third world country. Anyway, I'm ranting and I have to get ready for my fucking Drawing Fundamentals class.
Kurt, did you even read my comment?
As I was writing my comment you posted yours. It was horrible timing. I hope you don't think I disregarded your input. Collin, I agree with you about John Woods. That guy is a douche. And once again, I would like to point out that this image is not meant to be interpreted by itself. It is only 50% of a dip tic. This project is something I have never done before and I am exploring what turns me on with photography very in depth this semester. I am trying very hard not to fall into a comfortable rut with my photos and I have taken very extreme measures to make sure of it. I do however really appreciate your concern for my photographic well being. I always knew you loved me Collin.
Post the diptych next time as well as a brief summary of your artist statement. It will keep us from having these kinds of conversations. As for my input, color is bomb, Shift is a bit distracting. Only in the top right corner with the lamp thing, by throwing it out of focus you are implying it is unimportant to the scene, but in a minimalist image such as this one, every element in it is important. Right now there is just a weird blob in the corner of the image. Lighting is nice though.
As for John Wood, here is a link to his "Art in Life" Portfolio complete with dogs, bugs, and flowers. Make sure your sound is up, There is music. . . . . .
http://www.johnwoodphotography.biz/#art-in-life
HAHAHAHA I need to get mindblowingly high and re-watch that slideshow. And now I know who does the photography that you see in the poster bin at Barnes and Noble.
My favorite John Wood image is now "Saint Bernard driving pickup truck." Or "sunset you've seen a million times."
Ok, that could be the wrong John Wood. At least i hope so. There is another John Wood who does some amazing Alt stuff. I redact my last statement about John Wood, but will leave the link for people looking for a good laugh. Though, I don't think i like either John Woods
Haha, I'm going to assume that John posted a link to the correct John Wood and I am now going to disregard any and all advice he has on contemporary photography. I think I may have vomited while watching the slideshow you posted, John, but I can't be sure because I blacked out in a disgusted stupor right before I woke up with my lunch dripping down my chin. Anyway, I appreciate all the input on this photo (which is only half of a dip tic) but I am probably not going to change anything because I have an idea stuck in my head, and idea's are like ticks. They only come off if you burn the shit out of them or ignore them until they kill you.
Oh shit, by the way John, that blob above the chair was left there intentionally. I took it off the wall for one exposure but I felt like that big empty space was really lacking when it came down to it. Notice that I lined it up perfectly with the center of the char and with the eye level of the subject. I do however have a negative with a blank square of wall if that would better suit your taste. But i like the blob.
Now that you directed my attention to it lining up perfectly with the center of the chair and eye level with the subject, I still think it shouldn't be there. With the second image it might work, but I'll have to see when i see it
Was just voicing my opinion. It was presented as a lone image, so that's how I critiqued it as. I'm not attempting to insult, rather I had what Colin mentioned in mind; suggest for you explore a different direction. Not necessarily for this project, it's too far in the semester obviously. But if you were to expand on portraits in the future, I would suggest to be a little more adventurous to separate yourself from the crowd. I would like to see the diptyph as some point, that would make a large difference in how I view it, I reckon.
Also, I believe this is the real John Woods http://mfa.mcneese.edu/about-the-founder/ . I have not heard of him before either, I just came across his blog post.
I also agree with John's first comment.
Crap...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t46/
Jimbomonkey/Whambulance3.jpg
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