Non-classic shots with an M8

[giordano]

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How else can an artist render a concept? Or are you suggesting that they shouldn't render concepts at all? Or am I taking you too seriously?

www.urbanpaths.net

 

I'm saying that some concepts are more interesting if they are just left as concepts.

 

As an example, the idea of a series of photographs of the backs of people's legs as a way of revealing urban backgrounds or textures etc. is at least potentially more interesting than a long series of photographs embodying it. And the idea of passing off animals in formaldehyde as art is a great deal more interesting than the works themselves.

 

Not that there's anything wrong with legs.

 

[Fotomiguel]

non-classic shot with an M8? For me a picture must have something interesting, different and well capture. Classic or not classic... If you shoot many boring images, perhaps you are missing the one interesting.

Do you know Elliot Erwitt? Is this not wonderfull.

 

 

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[yanidel]

First, hats off to pnum to taking the waves of criticism that well.

Secondly, it seems pretty clear that his work/concept is not appreciated by most if not all in this community. So taking its concept, how can we help him to improve whether we subscribe / like it or not, so IMO :

- show what is different between walkers in these cities. Your series of shots all look too similar. I don't see what is are the difference between Seoul and London. It can be very subtle hints but you need to differentiate the shots

- use higher speeds, freeze the action so people can look at details and try to understand what is different.The blur makes them all look the same and I think viewers have a pretty good idea that walkers are in movement anyways.

- maybe introduce a counterpoint. For each picture ef feet on the ground, add one with only the heads and surrounding environments.

[Michael-IIIf]

 

If everyone had said "these are great photographs" would you have been berating them for not being analytical enough?

 

I think there is more to this project that the photographs. No offence to pmun but I get the feeling this is 'work in progress' and something interesting might yet grow out of it.

 

By way of example I cite a friend's work who for her MA in Fine Art final project took photographs of vomit on the pavement then painted abstract renditions of them. On the face of it most observers are inclined to say: yuck, that's not art. But her final work was enthralling.

 

It's an avenue of enquiry and I applaud pmun for it.

 

 

 

 

 

PS Interesting thread that should be moved out of 'M8' so others can see it.

[scaryink]

But how many posters here really want to understand? I mean, out of 47 posts how many questions are there about the project? I think apart from one technical one, there aren't any at all. This is not a criticism, but an observation, and yes there are some good points too. But you're right, perhaps I should've posted elsewhere. Having said that - things are improving as the thread progresses, and even people writing your work off is interesting.

 

I think any feedback that is constructive is positive - and there has been some of that here, so I'm not complaining at all. And in case you think I am, just read my posts again.

http://www.urbanpaths.net

 

Umm I specifically suggested you focus on composition as most all the shots are front and center with little variance.

[scaryink]

I'm saying that some concepts are more interesting if they are just left as concepts.

 

As an example, the idea of a series of photographs of the backs of people's legs as a way of revealing urban backgrounds or textures etc. is at least potentially more interesting than a long series of photographs embodying it. And the idea of passing off animals in formaldehyde as art is a great deal more interesting than the works themselves.

 

Not that there's anything wrong with legs.

 

 

This shot is precisely what I was suggesting pmun consider. It is interesting from a compositional point of view and who doesnt like a nice pair of legs??

 

Nice shot.

[graeme_hutton]

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This is indeed a topic with legs........

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[andybarton]

I have a feeling that this thread is going to run and run...

[pmun]

non-classic shot with an M8? For me a picture must have something interesting, different and well capture. Classic or not classic... If you shoot many boring images, perhaps you are missing the one interesting.

Do you know Elliot Erwitt? Is this not wonderfull.

It is wonderful yes and very cute. For me the formal elements of a photograph are more important than subject matter such as this with its sentimental associations. In fact that arrangement of human and canine legs is so ‘interesting’ and entertaining that it detracts from the formal elements of the photograph.

 

Perhaps people consider my photos boring because they can’t see beyond the subject matter to look at the actual photographs.

 

The subject matter in this photograph is severely compromised due to cropping (no face) and over-familiarity (you’ve already seen 20 pairs of legs in roughly the same place in 20 other photos of the series). What do you have left to look at? The actual photograph – its colours, shapes and tones.

 

http://www.urbanpaths.net

[andybarton]

For me the formal elements of a photograph are more important than subject matter such as this with its sentimental associations. In fact that arrangement of human and canine legs is so ‘interesting’ and entertaining that it detracts from the formal elements of the photograph.

 

I couldn't agree with you less. Sorry.

 

The shot with the dogs is in a completely different league to those of just random people walking down the street.

 

The only vaguely interesting thing about the one you have just shown, is the fact that some woman chooses to walk in the street with no shoes on.

 

Sorry, but your images of these legs leave me cold too.

[pmun]

The deeper issue behind all this, including the reactions that you are reading here, is whether art is elitist or whether it should be accessible and understandable to all.

I think it is one of the issues among others.

My feeling is that you're not reading here the type of discussion that you would like to read because people don't find the pictures interesting enough to want to think about the implications that your suggesting.

Forum discussions take on a life of their own, I've enjoyed being challenged from a range of viewpoints.

 

I really like this, especially that hand on the left hand side. I also like the space on the left and the tonality. I prefer this to your photographs featuring facial expressions because the comparative simplicity here helps me to appreciate its formal elements -thanks.

 

 

 

 

—Mitch/Chiang Mai

Wild Beasts of Botswana

[earleygallery]

What do you have left to look at? The actual photograph – its colours, shapes and tones.

 

But every photograph is made up of colours, shapes and tones (shapes and tones only if B&W of course). The content has to capture the viewers interest too IMO.

 

I'm not sure what you mean when you refer to the 'formal elements' of the Elliot Erwitt image, could you explain?

[elansprint72]

Any chance of moving this to the M8 forum, a place I only ever go to by accident.?

[pmun]

The content has to capture the viewers interest too IMO.

Fair point, and I think a lot of people here agree with you. It's a traditional and established idea that I'm challenging. I may be lucky to see a dog with a hat in the street, but will I ever get to see the stride of a person in motion and count the creases in the trousers behind the knee? With a photograph, I will.

I'm not sure what you mean when you refer to the 'formal elements' of the Elliot Erwitt image, could you explain?

Tones, shapes, lines, patterns.

http://www.urbanpaths.net

[dpattinson]

Just a thought, but your work would I think be well served by being printed lifesize and 'hung' by resting the bottom edge on the floor, so as to give the viewer the same pov as you had when taking the shot.

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with the idea, but I do think you probably have 20,000 more frames to shoot and edit.

 

[edit] I seem to recall seeing a proof-sheet of that Erwitt image, he took a fair number of shots of the dogs, it may even have been an outtake from a fashion assignment... I'll try to find out. [/edit]

[pmun]

Any chance of moving this to the M8 forum, a place I only ever go to by accident.?

 

It was there - I don't think they wanted it there either.

http://www.urbanpaths.net

[earleygallery]

I may be lucky to see a dog with a hat in the street, but will I ever get to see the stride of a person in motion and count the creases in the trousers behind the knee? With a photograph, I will.

 

Sounds like you have a fetish?

[pmun]

This shot is precisely what I was suggesting pmun consider. It is interesting from a compositional point of view and who doesnt like a nice pair of legs??

Nice shot.

 

This style is closer to how the project started out. I've refined it to give a stronger dynamic in terms of movement and a more empathetic relationship with the person (we are now both moving together).

http://www.urbanpaths.net

 

[pmun]

Sounds like you have a fetish?

 

I get pleasure from detail.

http://www.urbanpaths.net

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[Guest malland]

...I really like this, especially that hand on the left hand side. I also like the space on the left and the tonality. I prefer this to your photographs featuring facial expressions because the comparative simplicity here helps me to appreciate its formal elements...

Thanks. I like it too, but would not like to see twenty variations of it with different locations and people. And most people are not going to agree that it expresses morem or that it helps the viewer to appreciate its form more, than the following portrait (M6, DR Summicron, Tri-X):

 

 

 

 

You seem to want to isolate the "formal elements", that is, the underlying form of a picture. Certainly you could do that by turning to abstract photography, but lets consider abstract painting. Take Hans Hoffmann, if we see an exhibition of twenty of his abstract expressionist paintings we're not going to be bored because many, or at least several of them, will be compelling in their colour and their form and will stimulate emotions in us that will not make us feel bored. But now take Mark Rothko and consider his late, chapel paintings. These are more "difficult" in the sense that they are less easily understood than most of Hans Hoffmann's work, but their emotional impact and spiritual connotations, their immediacy and their intimacy are overwhelming, although to the "man in the street" they may be opaque and meaningless. The contrast here between Hoffmann and Rothkp, thus illustrate the fact that something difficult to grasp need not be

either opaque or tedious to the viewer.

 

It seems to me that to make your pavement and leg series more interesting you would have to move away from the narrowness of the concept and make much more visually compelling pictures: for example, one possibility among many, if you are interested in the crease in the trousers behind the knees then you may want to close in on this until these forms predominate and you're on the verge, or in, an abstract photograph. But to continue to shoot 20,000 more frames, as some one has suggested, is not the way to go — just too plain boring.

 

—Mitch/Bangkok

Bangkok Hysteria©: Book Project