Living photographers you most admire

[nikos79]

Ah ok got it. Makes sense I guess. I normally try to stick to the unwritten rule "if you don't have anything nice to say about someone who is not present, don't say anything at all". But I don't mind alternative opinions on some of the people whose work I admire.

Well, artists are a curious cocktail of ego and insecurity, aren’t they? I only wish Raymond Depardon were here to “defend” himself — though something tells me that, deep down, he probably knows his own limits… like the fact that he’ll never be Kertész!

 

[Don_ih]

he probably knows his own limits… like the fact that he’ll never be Kertész!

No one other than Kertesz can be Kertesz. He existed in his time with his experience - that time is over and done, as is he. Depardon could just as easily be a camel as he could be Kertesz - it's not a limitation.

artists are a curious cocktail of ego and insecurity, aren’t they?

Caricatures of artists are, at least.

 

[nikos79]

No one other than Kertesz can be Kertesz. He existed in his time with his experience - that time is over and done, as is he. Depardon could just as easily be a camel as he could be Kertesz - it's not a limitation.

I don’t quite get the point. Are we saying we can’t use Kertész’s work as a comparison just because he’s gone? If his photos still move us, doesn’t that prove his art transcends time? We’re talking about photography here, right? It’s not like Kertész was using a telescope or something.

Caricatures of artists are, at least.

I’d argue that all artists need to be selfish to create — it kind of comes with the territory. And honestly… that’s perfectly fine.

"I am selfish, but that's an attribute that all artists possess."

Robert Mapplethorpe

 

[Don_ih]

Are we saying we can’t use Kertész’s work as a comparison just because he’s gone?

No. But not being able to be him is not a limitation. No one can be him. If you copy him, you are copying him - not being him. Of course his work is available for comparison with the work of other people - but notice that word "work". That's what can be compared. You don't know Depardon and you didn't know Kertesz.

I’d argue that all artists need to be selfish to create

You didn't mention selfishness. You mentioned ego and insecurity.