Actually, since I was one of the first to dismiss this page of "inspiration", I myself would like to thank you for pointing it out, because it *did* spark a very intelligent exchange. I am impressed by the caliber of the folks on this list; I subscribe to other mailing lists where civility is apparently a rather passe' concept. My favorite photographers are varied, but some of Adams' work, particularly his early, non-Yosemite work, is exceptional. I like some of Edward Weston's work (nudes, shells, and of course, peppers). Steichen's later work. Some of Atget. Some of Cartier-Bresson ... Ok, I lied. I don't really have favorite photographers, it just seems that some images from a whole lot of photographers stay with me. Andrew On 02/04/2010 07:54 PM, Guy Glorieux wrote: > Well, many thanks Marilyn, > > There is for a brief moment - perhaps more than just that - a > reminescence of the discussions this group had in the old times of the > turn of the century. I'm glad if my post contributed to stirring up > strong views on what inspires us as photographers. > > The red on my face is now gone and perhaps I should say that a number of > the photographs on the site reminded me of William Mortensen, a > photographer whose style enchanted me when I was a kid trying to > self-teach photography. Unfortunately, despite his talent, Mortensen > never really got the recognition he deserved. > > I agree with much of what Emily has to say about the site, at least from > a semantic point of view. But I think that it is not entirely fair to > compare the site with any of HCB, AA, or any of the great master. We > never compare any of our gallery postings with these masters and some of > the images on the site could have stood respectfully with many of our > gallery postings. > > What I enjoy about this exchange - and this is completely missing from > the "inspiring" site - is the emergence of a discussion about what it > is that drives the members of this group from the point of view of the > aesthetics of their photography. > > Personnally, i have great admiration for the work of HCB and AA, but > they do little to inspire my own work. I will turn to Atget or Sudek as > a prime source of inspiration behind my work but I will sell my sould > for an original print from Ishimoto, Frank, Callahan or Brandt and the > list expands quickly - because their work has influenced my vision. > > Some members of this group are so fortunate that they can speak with > authority of their own vision and how their work hangs around one or > another distinct style. I have no such luck and I'm going through a > very difficult exercise of preparing work for review at the Houston > Foto-Fest next month. Not that my work is sub-standard (I have received > enough feedback from highly diverse sources that I can feel confident) > but I seem to lack this ability to bring it together into an integrated > creative work. Such is life... -:) > > Enough said. Thanks Mario for setting up the Flickr group hoping that > it does not lead Andy to conclude that we do not sorely miss him and the > gallery.. I will indeed join. And thanks to those that have joined in > this impromptu discussion. > > Guy. > > > > 2010/2/4 Marilyn <marilyn160@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:marilyn160@xxxxxxxxxxx>> > > hello Guy, > > I appreciate you pointing out the Flickr site. I enjoyed the > photography, and it was inspiring - look at the activity it prompted > on this list. Thank you for passing the information along. > > Some have mentioned their favorite photographer(s); mine is Yousuf > Karsh. I like the way he used his subject's hands in his portraits. > Hands can be so expressive and say so much about the person in the > photograph. > > Marilyn > ----- Original Message ----- From: <lookaround360@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:lookaround360@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> > > To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" > <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> > Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:03 AM > Subject: Re: The inspiring photograph - Flickr > > > > Mario, > > I don't know what you mean by "formulas" but if it is to say that the > truly Great Masters were widely imitated I agree. The AA style continues > to grind on its dreary Modernist way. HCB even got bored with himself > and returned to painting. We have to thank Klein, Frank, and TX for > giving everyone permission to do edgy, gritty. I have a PS TX plug-in > that is great for Kleins. > > > LOOKAROUND - Since 1978 > Build a 120/35mm Lookaround! > The Lookaround E-Book > FREE COPY > http://www.panoramacamera.us > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [SPAM] Re: The inspiring photograph - Flickr > From: Mario Pires <retorta@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:retorta@xxxxxxxxx>> > Date: Thu, February 04, 2010 8:41 am > To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students > <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> > > > Let me ad my 2 cents to this discussion. > > Paintings by the great masters where made out of formulas to > begin with, but > then there was the master's touch and execution to separate it > from the > "merely good" painters. > > HCB, AA and many others are from a tradition in image making, > let's not > forget that there are may others, take for instance Japanese > photography > from the 60/70's. > > I would take William Klein and Robert Frank over AA and HCB > every day, > there is more to a picture than geometry and "perfectness". > > > > On Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 13:25, <lookaround360@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:lookaround360@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: > > > > > > > Howard, > > > > Fair enough, but do you not like HBC and AA's pictures or > their fawning > > admirers? I find it disappointing that so many art museums > show mostly > > these "usual suspects" over and over. I have to say, however, that > > poking my nose right up close to a Weston, Strand or a Kertesz > is always > > a thrill for me. AA and HBC fail me in that respect. > > > > Who do you like? > > > > AZ > > > > LOOKAROUND - Since 1978 > > Build a 120/35mm Lookaround! > > The Lookaround E-Book > > FREE COPY > > http://www.panoramacamera.us > > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > > Subject: [SPAM] Re: The inspiring photograph - Flickr > > > From: Howard <howard.leigh111@xxxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:howard.leigh111@xxxxxxxxxxxx>> > > > Date: Thu, February 04, 2010 3:38 am > > > To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students > > > <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> > > > > > > > > > Which all goes to show that opinions about photographs are > all very > > > personal. What one person likes.... > > > > > > I don't like Cartier-Bresson, nor Ansel Adams! Am I alone? > > > > > > Howard > > > > > > Sorry, I've been lurking for months. Retirement into photography > > > paradise beckons this summer.... > > > > > > > -- > Mário Pires > > Curso de Estética Fotográfica -http://esteticafotografica.org > > retorta@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:retorta@xxxxxxxxx> > http://www.retorta.net > http://twitter.com/retorta > > > > > > -- > “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” > (Lao-Tzeu) -- http://andrewsharpe.com
