Alleged abstract photos are tiresome......wrong medium, too easy.

Eric Rose · Nov 14, 2018

This thread should be started in the Lounge or at the very least should be moved to the Lounge. Or given the hyperbole of the OP maybe to the Soapbox.

If someone is so craving interaction they need to start arguments I suggest they go down to the local old folks home and spend some time with people who really do need someone to talk to.

Just my 2 cents. And no I am not looking for an argument. And yes I already do volunteer lots of my time.

Eric

faberryman · Nov 14, 2018

OP alleged that he'd "like to precipitate change in the way certain terms (e.g. "abstract" e.g. "art") are used". I keep waiting for him to elaborate.

jtk · Nov 14, 2018

Vaughn said:
Perhaps abstract is also the natural realm of photography-based digital art.

For myself (and I believe, many artists), being an artist is not a competition to be first in creating something, nor to be better than everyone else.

Those are two interesting ideas.

fwiw I do think many "artists" want to be outstanding, if not necessarily "first." And yes, "photography-based digital art" often seems to me to be less interesting than more basic digital photographs.

BrianShaw · Nov 14, 2018

Eric Rose said:
If someone is so craving interaction they need to start arguments I suggest they go down to the local old folks home and spend some time with people who really do need someone to talk to.

... or Starbucks... where nobody knows your name except for the cup).

jtk · Nov 14, 2018

faberryman said:
With an abstract, it is not that the image does not have a referent, it is that the viewer brings the referent to the image. See, equivalent.

Interesting ideas.

In that context we might remember that Stieglitz's "equivalents" were photographs OF clouds, presumably rendered with photographic accuracy.

jtk · Nov 14, 2018

faberryman said:
OP alleged that he'd "like to precipitate change in the way certain terms (e.g. "abstract" e.g. "art") are used". I keep waiting for him to elaborate.

Perhaps some of the posts in this thread will continue to stimulate thinking.

silveror0 · Nov 14, 2018

Bill Burk said:
... You put it out there and the viewer tells you what they see.

Like ink blotch testing...

removed account4 · Nov 14, 2018

Eric Rose said:
Or given the hyperbole of the OP maybe to the Soapbox

probably a good place for it seeing this thread is kind of insulting and unkind. harsh threads like this do not make
photrio a very inviting place for people who don't color between the lines...

faberryman said:
OP alleged that he'd "like to precipitate change in the way certain terms (e.g. "abstract" e.g. "art") are used". I keep waiting for him to elaborate.

it seems you are going to be waiting a long time

jtk · Nov 14, 2018

silveror0 said:
Like ink blotch testing...

Yes, although ink blotch testing is useful only if both parties are willing.

removed account4 · Nov 14, 2018

jtk said:
Yes, although ink blotch testing is useful only if both parties are willing.

no one says you have to look and interpret photographs you don't want to look at and interpret
if they are in the photrio gallery just ignore them, put the maker on ignore and don't look ..
LOL

jtk · Nov 14, 2018

faberryman said:
OP alleged that he'd "like to precipitate change in the way certain terms (e.g. "abstract" e.g. "art") are used". I keep waiting for him to elaborate.

I'm happy to notice small shifts in your own thinking, as well as mine.

faberryman · Nov 14, 2018

jtk said:
I'm happy to notice small shifts in your own thinking, as well as mine.

I don't have an agenda "to precipitate change in the way certain terms (e.g. "abstract" e.g. "art") are used", so the ball is in your court.

jtk · Nov 14, 2018

faberryman said:
I don't have an agenda "to precipitate change in the way certain terms (e.g. "abstract" e.g. "art") are used", so the ball is in your court.

This doesn't have to be a win/lose game...it isn't that for me or for most of the participants (it doesn't even seem that way for you).

faberryman · Nov 14, 2018

jtk said:
This doesn't have to be a win/lose game...it isn't that for me or for most of the participants (it doesn't even seem that way for you).

It is not about win/lose; it is about you setting forth the changes to "abstract" and "art" you propose, which allegedly is why you started this thread. I gave you the benefit of the doubt with respect to your intention, and I am beginning to question the wisdom of that.

eddie · Nov 14, 2018

Arthurwg said:
Abstract? Try water colors, oils or acrylic. At any rate, William de Kooning and hundreds of others have done it already, and better.

You know you can combine photography with paint? This is from a series of photographs inspired by the abstract expressionists:

eddie · Nov 14, 2018

One of my favorite photographs ever posted in the Gallery is one of Vaughn's (hope you don't mind my mention of it). It's Branches, Trinidad State Park. I consider it an abstract although it is recognizable as branches against the sky. The way it was framed gives it the movement of a Jackson Pollock painting, and that's what initially had me connect with the piece.

eddie · Nov 14, 2018

jtk said:
"Abstract" has come to mean "accidental results, limited intentions" too commonly.

What do you think?

I have no problem with "accidental results". A lot of what I've been doing has been because of mistakes and accidents. I just try to make sure I'm not dismissive of the errors, and often use them as a springboard to something else which isn't accidental. Not exactly sure what you mean by "limited intentions", though.

wyofilm · Nov 14, 2018

faberryman said:
I don't have an agenda "to precipitate change in the way certain terms (e.g. "abstract" e.g. "art") are used", so the ball is in your court.

Don't hold your breath. It would be nice if he provided an example of what he is objecting to. It should be easy as he feels such examples are so prevalent. Indeed, with an agenda to change the way terms abstract and art are used, I would think such examples should come pouring forth.

wyofilm · Nov 14, 2018

Here is one of my favorite abstracts.

Vaughn · Nov 14, 2018

eddie said:
One of my favorite photographs ever posted in the Gallery is one of Vaughn's (hope you don't mind my mention of it). It's Branches, Trinidad State Park. I consider it an abstract although it is recognizable as branches against the sky. The way it was framed gives it the movement of a Jackson Pollock painting, and that's what initially had me connect with the piece.

Honored.

As I worked with the camera, the branches became woven dark lines over a textured background. I worked with the branches in their abstract, upside down as view cameras are want to do. As objects the branches did not matter...it was the repeating pattern of light and its absence, it was the stillness of the late afternoon, and it was the transitionary aspect of life and the tall young spruces above me. Through the trees behind me slipped the sounds of waves breaking rocks. Relentless energy patiently eating the coast. But even geologic history repeats itself and this terrace of spruces will be lifted up, and the ocean will be faced with new rocks to chew on. What others take from the image is up to them.

Here is a similar one. Branches, Dry Falls, WA, 4x10 Carbon Print

removed account4 · Nov 15, 2018

Thanks Vaughn for your words about the images. I hope you keep text
like that and if/when you publish a book or something with your work in it
you include the words... the words give images ( me at least ) a new reality
( if that makes sense ) to the images.
BTW nice spelunking!

removed account4 · Nov 15, 2018

eddie said:
You know you can combine photography with paint? This is from a series of photographs inspired by the abstract expressionists:

nice try eddie
but you know non light/emulsion/glass/paper/paint people
could have done it better. i can't believe you are posting this stuff.
you should know if it don't use no camera it ain't no photography ( or good photography )

wyofilm said:
Here is one of my favorite abstracts.

View attachment 211246

that's beautiful ! i can see why it is one of your favorites

jtk · Nov 15, 2018

wyofilm said:
Don't hold your breath. It would be nice if he provided an example of what he is objecting to. It should be easy as he feels such examples are so prevalent. Indeed, with an agenda to change the way terms abstract and art are used, I would think such examples should come pouring forth.

wyofilm, see Bill Burk's interesting links and related posts. We don't completely agree, but agreement isn't important.

As you've noticed, I've not said anything negative on this Forum about individual photographers. Why are you fishing for that?

TheFlyingCamera · Nov 15, 2018

wyofilm said:
Here is one of my favorite abstracts.

View attachment 211246

THAT was never intended to be an abstract - by virtue of close to two centuries of degradation, it can be interpreted as one (in case some readers are not aware, the image in question is widely considered the "first" photograph, made by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1829 at his house in Le Gras, outside Chalon-sur-Saone, France).

macfred · Nov 15, 2018

TheFlyingCamera said:
... the image in question is widely considered the "first" photograph, made by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1829 at his house in Le Gras, outside Chalon-sur-Saone, France).

Thought it is a 'Nanian' from his Blue Period ...

Alleged abstract photos are tiresome......wrong medium, too easy.

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