This guy is good

[Gentleman Villain]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I probably have a style but I'm not sure I do

 

Hi Peter, I considered your post to be a bit of a challenge and clicked on your gallery to see if there were any underlying themes present that I might be able to identify...

 

The main theme that I took from several examples of your work was a sense of "motion." This sense of motion is mostly present in the gallery entitled "life." Some of the motion is very obvious and easy to notice as in the shutter dragged photograph of the ballet dancers. However, there is also less apparent motion found elsewhere. For example, the photograph of the fisherman at sunset appears relatively calm at first glance, but there is an expanding ripple in the pond. The ripple is very subtle, but the element of motion is still present. The photograph of the people on the staircase contains a less obvious element of structural motion. All of the people in the foreground are descending as the building in the background appears to be reaching upwards. Some of your photographs contain repetitive examples of motion. I particularly liked the photographs that contain a sense or repetition along with motion as in the shot of the two skateboarders and the closeups of the feet of two individuals walking on a patterned walkway. There are many other examples of the camera catching people/animals while walking, running, or engaged in some other kind of movement. This photo in particular is very interesting click here for image The water from the hydrant is blasting upwards as the child in the foreground reaches high to touch it. The child is in motion along with the water, but there is the added element of repetition of form. The foreground child's arms are forming an upside-down triangle that perfectly mimics the form of the water as it shoots out of the hydrant in an upside-down triangle pattern.

 

These are just some quick observations so take them with a grain of salt There are probably many other themes present but the sense of motion was the one that struck me as the most important. A sense of motion was able to connect many of the photographs together (particularly in the life gallery) even if the subject matter itself was too diverse to appear to have much in common...

 

 

(I'd be curious what Gentleman Villain would make of my oddball approach which the best I can describe is to constantly try to find things in the world that have some inexplicable arrangement worth capturing).

 

When I read the term "oddball approach" and connected it with "inexplicable arrangement," the first thought that popped into my head was that you are possibly describing punctum. Forgive me for explaining if you're already familiar with this concept, but photographs with punctum often contain elements of irony, duality, dichotomy, opposition forces etc. It's possible that one of these elements might be present in this sample image from your gallery: click here for image We all know that the generally accepted purpose of an airplane is to transport passengers and cargo in flight. However, in your photograph, the airplane has become a shelter for people to escape the rain. Your photograph essentially altered the role of the airplane from being a method of transportation and turned it into a shelter. The alteration of the role of the airplane is an irony which could be interpreted as punctum.

 

For those that aren't already familiar, there's a more complete description of punctum available for free in this online book: Basic critical theory for photographers - Google Books

 

The challenge might be to learn better how to explain the oddball arrangements. As long as these arrangements remain "inexplicable" then they may also remain elusive. However, if these arrangements are more consciously understood and described then they might also be quicker to identify as they occur naturally in front of the camera.

[peterb]

G.V.,

 

I'm glad you took up the gauntlet. I was very impressed with your initial thoughts on the other two posters that I was curious (and hopeful) that you might shed some light on my own images if there was anything that might possibly connect them.

 

Not bad! I laud your sense of observation, organization and thought. One can always see it in others but often fails when the lens turns inward, which is why inviting an impartial observer is so helpful in helping to one discover their own vision, style or personality when, to throw out a phrase, one's own 'photographic punctum' gets in the way.

 

I think what I like most about your observation is that you absolutely nailed it with the idea of 'motion' . That is indeed what I thrill to most on this planet (even though you cannot get me on any insane thrill rides).

 

All my life I've loved the feeling and exhilaration of motion. Whether on bicycles , push scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, scooters, roller blades, planes, sailboats, powerboats ...anything that can take you from A to B either through the generous efforts of gravity or the wind or its own power...all to provide the experience I enjoy most of feeling a septillion air molecules colliding into my face provides as I breeze through them.

 

The irony you noticed is also cool. I'll probably look at my work a little more differently now, although I will continue to capture whatever I encounter when I'm out and about with my camera that I find totally engaging and see if its worth sharing.

 

And thanks for the book recommendation.

 

Glad you enjoyed some of what you saw on my site..

 

Best,

 

Peter

 

B.T.W. What is it that you do when you're not lurking on the LUF?

[stkorn]

In all the world of art, music, literature and any creative trade yours is certainly the minority view. What great artist in history ever claimed to have NEVER looked at or been influenced by the works of others?

 

Just because there is nothing new under the sun doesn't mean we all hang ourselves.

 

OK, let's not make this a pissing match. I didn't say NEVER look at photos, that would be inane. What I said was the source for an original vision has to come from within and looking at thousands of flickr photos won't lead one to produce original work. In fact I believe it would actually be counter-productive to that goal.

[Gentleman Villain]

All my life I've loved the feeling and exhilaration of motion. Whether on bicycles , push scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, scooters, roller blades, planes, sailboats, powerboats ...anything that can take you from A to B either through the generous efforts of gravity or the wind or its own power...all to provide the experience I enjoy most of feeling a septillion air molecules colliding into my face provides as I breeze through them.

 

That is really cool! Thanks a lot for the personal story because it really illustrates how a photographer's personality can shine through in images. (not to dive too deep into this in a forum, but identification of themes combined with an awareness of aesthetics can sometimes turn into a rough form of psychoanalysis)

 

 

B.T.W. What is it that you do when you're not lurking on the LUF?

 

Do you mean for a profession? If so, then I've only ever made a living with a camera and don't know how to do anything else lol BTW - Good luck with your photography! It was fun to get all the great feedback and personal story in regards to the post on themes. I learn so much from studying the motivations of photographers and it always helps me to try and see the world a little bit through another person's eyes.

[Gentleman Villain]

There's one thought I'd like to add for anybody that might get into the idea of searching for themes in his/her own work or in the work of others...

 

Most photographers are accustomed to having their work critiqued. However, most critiques are inneffective because they often break down into the seemingly random likes/dislikes of the viewer. The forums are filled with some of the worst critiques that could be possible and it destroys the confidence and personality of many aspiring photographers.

 

There's nothing wrong with a good critique of specific aspects of technique like sharpness, exposure, neutral color balance etc. These technical aspects of photography can have universal standards and it's often good to know the universal standards. Just make certain that the person doing the critique has a mastery of the technique and is therefore qualified to make a judgement. However, there are NOT universally accepted standards when it comes to aesthetics or ideology. Therefore, most critiques that attempt to judge the aesthetics or idea of a photograph will often break down into the seemingly random personal likes/dislikes of the viewer and will usually have no value at all to the photographer that produced the image.

 

I generally look for themes in work as opposed to doing critiques as a way to help photographers develop their own personality. It actually seems to help people regardless of whether or not they are a beginner or long established since it is more of an observation than a judgement. Critiques that don't involve universally accepted standards of technique often become avenues to inflicting personal judgements of aesthetics or ideology on others.

 

Just be careful out there...

[jsrockit]

Most photographers are accustomed to having their work critiqued. However, most critiques are inneffective because they often break down into the seemingly random likes/dislikes of the viewer. The forums are filled with some of the worst critiques that could be possible and it destroys the confidence and personality of many aspiring photographers....

 

I have to agree. When you are in a classroom setting, the teacher will moderate the direction of the critique and won't allow just "I like it" or "I don't like it." Constructive criticism is best, whether positive or negative. An empty positive reaction helps the ego, but does not necessarily help the person develop. However, it's never perfect because photos can be discussed on so many different angles and from so many different perspectives. I've been in critiques where the focus is on form (composition, technical stuff, etc) and others were the focus is on content and the works place within the world and what you are trying to say or what it says to someone else (personal politics, art, gender roles, ethnicity, etc). You don't come to a forum for a good critique.