Maybe. I see your point, but at the same time, I'm also aware of the fact that what we consider 'strong' in an artistic sense is to a large extent culturally determined. I.e. it depends on context. Or, put simply - things go in and out of fashion. This poses certain questions about the implied objectivity behind what makes a 'strong' work of art.
Precisely - ask Johann Sebastian.
I had this problem with one or two of the photos that HCB selected for his touring retrospective. We had a (very) long thread about it here on Photrio.Btw I started applying the same principle (you once recommended) of just looking one more time to Atget. A lot of reconsiderations. Don't get me wrong both Atget and HCB are masters but we cannot approach each of their photographs as per facto masterpiece just because it is a HCB. It is not a painting where a lot of time and creativity was involved. It is just a poor photograph a quick trace of time tried to be immortalized. And sometimes this photo cannot be that significant. That is my problem of posting many photos here and there and praising them just because they lived in the context and myth of HCB or Eugene Atget
I suggest you should instead be asking, “Why is he showing me this? What did he see in this?”
To be a strong work of art means at the point of evaluation. Some art work is not seen as very good when it's made and only becomes significant later. Then it can go the other way. People want to hold onto the idea of some kind of immortality to a work of art but that's idealist fantasy. Art has its lifespan, just like everything else. Unlike other things, though, it can be resurrected periodically.
Btw I started applying the same principle (you once recommended) of just looking one more time to Atget. A lot of reconsiderations. Don't get me wrong both Atget and HCB are masters but we cannot approach each of their photographs as per facto masterpiece just because it is a HCB. It is not a painting where a lot of time and creativity was involved. It is just a poor photograph a quick trace of time tried to be immortalized. And sometimes this photo cannot be that significant. That is my problem of posting many photos here and there and praising them just because they lived in the context and myth of HCB or Eugene Atget
Btw I started applying the same principle (you once recommended) of just looking one more time to Atget. A lot of reconsiderations. Don't get me wrong both Atget and HCB are masters but we cannot approach each of their photographs as per facto masterpiece just because it is a HCB. It is not a painting where a lot of time and creativity was involved. It is just a poor photograph a quick trace of time tried to be immortalized. And sometimes this photo cannot be that significant. That is my problem of posting many photos here and there and praising them just because they lived in the context and myth of HCB or Eugene Atget
Nice shot. But I would have liked to see the steps at the bottom. They seem cut off. (I know, always a critic.
As you have no idea what the bottom step looked like and it would mean cutting out the view at the top of the frame, your comment is quite ridiculous.
I still come across HCB images I have never seen before and the other day found this one.
View attachment 160359
I still come across HCB images I have never seen before and the other day found this one.
View attachment 160359
I'm not so sure about that at all. And the latter part ('the same photo') would simply be incorrect. The subject matter would be the same, more or less. The photo would be different. I couldn't say whether it work as well as this version does without seeing the alternative.If the photo was framed a very slight bit lower, it would still be lauded as "perfect composition" - it would be the same photo.
I'm not so sure about that at all.
I you have the feeling that you can improve HCB photographs way not pickup your camera and go outside and do so ?
Exactly. But you learn to "love" and "appreciate" and "undestand" an artist with also his not so good works. Fellini made some masterpieces and some weaker movies too. But seeing them all you learn to appreciate the artist more with his failures and successes. They who don't risk they don't make great art too.I agree. Here's a quiz. Which HCB pictures come to mind? Quick. Oh, the puddle jumper and the boy with the bottle of wine and the bicycle/staircase and .... Hmmm. Isn't that true of most famous artists. There are only a few shots or paintings you think of, same with singers, musicians and other artists. Only a few stand out and remembered. The rest are meh.
I can only assume this is a joke, in which case it's rather funny. A bit like taking the Mona Lisa and then removing the silly face in the center.Which can be "solved" here:
A bit like taking the Mona Lisa and then removing the silly face in the center.
I can only assume this is a joke, in which case it's rather funny. A bit like taking the Mona Lisa and then removing the silly face in the center.
If you don't understand that HCB thought the frame was an essential part of the making of the photo, maybe you don’t understand his art.
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