Re: Rules

[Don Roberts <droberts@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Just for the record, Randy, you and Jan don't seem to realize that this list is not just for hard working commercial photographers.  All of your criticisms seem to be from that view point.  We have many people who are students, art photographers and journeymen who just want to make a living.  I made a living shooting for a university for 35 years and have shot thousands of photos just like you.  I couldn't specialize but shot passports, portraits, check presentations, groups, banquets and lots of sports and scientific photos.  I realize I am still one of those journeymen who gain little from your advice from the "big leagues".  Let's try to proceed from that perspective and maybe a little civility and fewer whizzing contests will prevail.
Don

On 1/7/14 8:41 AM, Randy Little wrote:

You thought that what he said about Tina's work was harsh?   Wow you really don't deal with the real art world do you.   Curious jack how many permanent collections besides your walls that your work is in?     How many commissions have you done?   It's not anyone's problem that people don't like hearing the truth from people who day in a day out review working art and produce working art.  Not just being rich hobbyist who can't handle the reality of the quality of their work.   It's funny Tina probably gives a shit what Jan said other then to have the brief conversation.  If you can't handle people as mild as Jan maybe being an artist isn't for you.  Stick to collecting.   Even my wife who disagrees with me regularly on things like this or loves to point out its OK to have a differing point of view thinks you three should stfu.  Yeah think about that the VERY TRADITIONAL Japanese woman thinks the 3 of you don't have a clue.   The woman that thinks I'm a temperamental artist know wants to have lunch with Jan because he makes her laugh and thinks you 3 are jealous and angry and have no clue about working in the world of art.   The person who told me to my face.  You aren't really going to make me use this image right? For the first card I shot for my reps Xmas card thinks you 3 would last 5 minutes in her office. 

On Jan 7, 2014 8:13 AM, "John Palcewski" <palcewski@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Here's Jan Faul's modus operandi, as if by now it needs to be laid out.  

 

First he spews forth a barrage of dismissive, contemptuous, and  insulting comments on an image in the gallery, or a comment from another list-member, who invariably in Art Faul's view is "clueless."   Then he cites how long he has been a photographer, a photographer vastly superior to anyone on the list past, present or future, and hints, just hints, he might well be superior to, say, Ansel Adams, who back in the day promised him a box of paper, but never delivered. 

 

Well, in passing, one should note that Ansel Adams's word count in his Wikipedia entry is 8,000.   Jan Faul's is 1,000.  And if you're wondering, Randy Little has zero.  Zip.

 

Anyway, having delivered his cutting insults and disparagements, Art Faul moves on to the next object of his derision and contempt.  Meanwhile, the list-member Art Faul attacked earlier finally gets around to sending in an objection, a complaint, a response.  

 

Ah, this is precisely what Art Faul was hoping for.  

 

Ignoring HIS OWN incivility and contempt in the first place, he condemns the listmember for his complaint.  Look!  Look, everybody!  See how abrasive that person is who is criticizing me?   Doesn't that person realize what I know so far exceeds what HE knows that it's laughable?  Doesn't he realize that I've been taking tens of thousands of images before he was even born?

 

Art Faul likely will NEVER acknowledge the legitimacy of the complaints repeatedly directed at him here, going back at least ten years.   But it seems to me that we ought not just tolerate his incessant incivility in silence.   When he crosses the line, we ought to SAY so.

On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 12:57 AM, Klaus Knuth <klausknuth@xxxxxxx> wrote:

Did anyone ever notice that Jan's panorama shots were taken with a "Noblex" camera?

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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 00:49:18 -0500
From: ygelmanphoto@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Rules
To: photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Finally, Jan Faul has proven the "case" against him regarding his malicious behavior in this forum.  

I'll start with his parting comment.  He says "Noblex Oblige".  Ignoring his misspelling, the French phrase Noblesse Oblige literally means "nobility obliges". It is the concept that nobility extends beyond mere entitlements and requires the person with such status to fulfil social responsibilities, particularly in leadership roles.

I understand the concept, but apparently Jan Faul does not.  Perhaps he thinks it implies that nobility deserves obligations from others.  At least, his report of his many accomplishments that he continues to display implies that others are obliged to pay homage to him and to never criticize his work.  

So simply, the "case" is closed.  He has the motivation and the misunderstood concept to back him up, so he behaves accordingly.  The more compassionate among us might wonder from where this behavior derives, but that might be studied by others.   For me, my advice, when such outbursts occur, is to ignore the outbursts.  Let him throw insults at the slightest whim.  What does it really mean? -- what damage does it cause?  With a slight shift of the words of Ronald Reagan, "There he goes again."

On Mon, Jan 6, 2014 at 9:24 PM, Jan Faul <jan@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I have not understood what my detractors on this list are trying to accomplish in photography if it is not just enjoying the ability to make photographs. This is essentially why I shoot pictures. I really love making images and the negativity I get from some here is troubling. The very people who have accused me of bringing misery to their lives are bullying me for being different.

What I have noted about my life and imagery has fallen on deaf ears so here it is again:

I have been a professional photographer since July 27, 1970. I have made tens of thousands of exposures on film. If you were born after that date, you should not try to catch up as life is not a competition.

I have been making a living with my wits for almost 44 years. I didn’t draw a paycheck, get W-2’s, sit in an office, drive a cab, wait tables, or push papers around for a living. I only made photographs, and curators refer to me as “prolific.” I have 26+k contact sheets in my mostly complete scanned rolls folder. I’m neither bragging nor apologizing for making this quantity of work, but rather simply stating the facts.

Most if not all of you have not followed the same difficult path, and have not sought to have a varied professional photographer’s life. It feels like all of my detractors here have day jobs and my advice is to not give them up. 

Being a free-lance professional photographer means that you’re always ‘on’, you don’t tell clients you don’t feel like working, that they should come back another time, or that your favorite camera body is in the shop, so they should wait. In addition to all that, you also have to create good to great images day in and day out, but sick days are allowed. Although I have recently taken 1065 sick days in a row, few of you have shown any compassion. It’s like “So what?”

My wish for the Gorams, Trevors and Andrews of this list is that they grow up. We all make our own paths and some do it by following rules and others do it by breaking them and purposefully not following instructions. 

Noblex Oblige

  

Art Faul

The Artist Formerly Known as Prints

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Art for Cars: art4carz.com

Stills That Move: http://www.artfaul.com

Greens: http://www.inkjetprince.com

Camera Works - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/battlefieldparks/front_qt.htm

ArtNet: http://www.artnet.com/artists/jan+w.-faul/

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