NY Times Lens Blog - a new Avedon

[TheFlyingCamera]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/f...s-in-his-grandfathers-footsteps.html?src=recg

 

[MDR]

Thanks for the link, unfortunately after checking out his website (http://michaelavedon.com/) I have to say Richard Avedon he ain't on the other hand it must be difficult to be compared to Richard Avedon.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

You're right. He can't print worth bananas, if he's doing his own printing. If he's shopping it out to a lab, he desperately needs to fire his lab. But also bear in mind that he's still a 1st year student at ICP, which isn't exactly an MFA program or Brooks Institute.

 

[horacekenneth]

I like it

 

[SuzanneR]

You're right. He can't print worth bananas, if he's doing his own printing. If he's shopping it out to a lab, he desperately needs to fire his lab. But also bear in mind that he's still a 1st year student at ICP, which isn't exactly an MFA program or Brooks Institute.

Yes, he's a first year student with a number of underexposed and poorly composed images on his website, and he's landing gigs for fashion magazines? I guess it really does matter who you know, and not what you know.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Yes, he's a first year student with a number of underexposed and poorly composed images on his website, and he's landing gigs for fashion magazines? I guess it really does matter who you know, and not what you know.

Well, part of the trend in fashion lately is shooting poorly exposed, poorly composed holga-esque images and presenting them as 'edgy'. But what would us old dinosaurs know?

 

[MDR]

You're right. He can't print worth bananas, if he's doing his own printing. If he's shopping it out to a lab, he desperately needs to fire his lab. But also bear in mind that he's still a 1st year student at ICP, which isn't exactly an MFA program or Brooks Institute.

To be honest after reading the article in which he throws around some big names and that he has a magazine spread to his name I expected more. As I've stated before he is a poor slob because he will forever be compared to his grand daddy who had a very different style, maybe Michael Avedon will find his own unique style in the future sloppiness ain't one imo. Wouldn't want to be him to be honest the last name thing.

For the holga look that is in fashion. I excuse his framing and exposure what I do not forgive is the dirt (dust, etc..) on the prints, it doesn't fit the images, my opinion would be different if the images were supposed to be gritty streetshots or something similiar and not portraits of his grandma. They don't look edgy or holga but merely sloppy.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Well, perhaps holga-esque was inapt - more 'craftless' or 'artless'. The "snapshot" aesthetic taken to the nth degree. But I agree, it looks really sloppy and unprofessional, in part because there's no consistency to the artlessness/craftlessness. It just looks lazy. This could very well be a reason why the NYT never ran any of his photos along with the article, just the portrait their 'tog took of him.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Yeah...he needs to fire his scanner, too. And possibly his website designer for that AWFUL initial navigation.

 

[horacekenneth]

boohoo guys

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

boohoo guys

???? I don't quite understand your rather terse response. Agree, disagree, that's fine - just please articulate your position.

 

[Bob Carnie]

He is young , very good connections, I am sure he will figure it out and if he has the right stuff will survive.

 

[Pfiltz]

very good connections

Always a good thing..

 

[Klainmeister]

Always a good thing..

Often more important than any other quality....

 

[MaximusM3]

Wow..you people are harsh..no wonder I stay away from forums. Last time I checked, when it comes to "art", someone's turd is often someone else's gold. There are squeaky clean images and prints out there, (which often reads boring) from good artists and printers that don't sell, and crazy stuff that does. Passing judgement and ragging on someone who may not be making art to your taste is a wonderful exercise in futility. If the kid is good, and/or his last name helps his career, God bless.

 

[koja]

For me it is very positive and refreshing seeing people actually calling crap by it's name these days. Too much of everything being cool and "I really like it" causing that more remarkable stuff is lost in the noise.

 

[Eric Rose]

As a photographic student I feel he is coming along quite nicely. I have been teaching photography since the late 70's and for the most part beginning photographers "discover" the same subjects and themes year after year. His work is not unique for that matter. It will take him years to really develop into a style that may or may not be marketable beyond his last name. This early attention, totally undeserved in my estimation may in the long run hurt him if he isn't strong enough to forge on.

I wouldn't be so hard on him. Give him a chance and check back on his work in another 3 or 4 years.

Eric

 

[MDR]

Wow..you people are harsh..no wonder I stay away from forums. Last time I checked, when it comes to "art", someone's turd is often someone else's gold. There are squeaky clean images and prints out there, (which often reads boring) from good artists and printers that don't sell, and crazy stuff that does. Passing judgement and ragging on someone who may not be making art to your taste is a wonderful exercise in futility. If the kid is good, and/or his last name helps his career, God bless.

I agree with you as long the "kid" is good I don't care who his father, mother brother, sister, dog, etc.. is but if he only has the name but lacks quality then I have a problem with the kid being pushed and getting jobs. I also believe that nobody really complained about the photos as such but about the poor processing which I doubt was planed or was/is part of his art. Some of his images are not bad at all, but the poor processing dust etc kills them.

I also agree with Eric Rose "This early attention, totally undeserved in my estimation may in the long run hurt him if he isn't strong enough to forge on."

I wish him the best of luck and hope that he learns to either spot his prints and clean the scanner or that he creates images that fit the dust/processing.

Dominik

 

[Bob Carnie]

Eric says much better what I was trying to say. His last name helps him but he will certainly need to adjust and my money is on him doing that.

As a photographic student I feel he is coming along quite nicely. I have been teaching photography since the late 70's and for the most part beginning photographers "discover" the same subjects and themes year after year. His work is not unique for that matter. It will take him years to really develop into a style that may or may not be marketable beyond his last name. This early attention, totally undeserved in my estimation may in the long run hurt him if he isn't strong enough to forge on.

I wouldn't be so hard on him. Give him a chance and check back on his work in another 3 or 4 years.

Eric

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Wow..you people are harsh..no wonder I stay away from forums. Last time I checked, when it comes to "art", someone's turd is often someone else's gold. There are squeaky clean images and prints out there, (which often reads boring) from good artists and printers that don't sell, and crazy stuff that does. Passing judgement and ragging on someone who may not be making art to your taste is a wonderful exercise in futility. If the kid is good, and/or his last name helps his career, God bless.

If you're going to capitalize on the Avedon name, and get the NY Times to run an article about you, then you'd better be ready for the attention. Eric is right, he may just need maturing, and his work is no worse than any first year photography student. But it sure as shit doesn't say "Avedon" and it sure as shit doesn't say New York Times-worthy. One of the things his grandfather was noted for was immaculate printing. If you're going to claim his mantle, then start where he left off, and be a damned fine printer, or hire one. Or pull an Anderson Cooper and don't use the Avedon name - after all AC's REAL last name is Vanderbilt. As in Gloria. And Cornelius. But he went out and did his journalism thing without using the name that would have always had folks saying he got where he was because of strings, not because of talent.

 

[MaximusM3]

If you're going to capitalize on the Avedon name, and get the NY Times to run an article about you, then you'd better be ready for the attention. Eric is right, he may just need maturing, and his work is no worse than any first year photography student. But it sure as shit doesn't say "Avedon" and it sure as shit doesn't say New York Times-worthy. One of the things his grandfather was noted for was immaculate printing. If you're going to claim his mantle, then start where he left off, and be a damned fine printer, or hire one. Or pull an Anderson Cooper and don't use the Avedon name - after all AC's REAL last name is Vanderbilt. As in Gloria. And Cornelius. But he went out and did his journalism thing without using the name that would have always had folks saying he got where he was because of strings, not because of talent.

I get it, Scott, trust me. Unfortunately, this happens all the time, in every segment of the art world..music, acting, painting, etc. There are those who deserve attention and fame and never get it, and those who just always seem to get all the breaks, without merit. Getting revved up about, I see it as kind of pointless. First of all, news stories are about generating controversies, buzz, sensationalism, and for all we know, the NY Times article could have been totally unsolicited. Good or bad, if it gets people to talk, it's always good. This kid may suck, but's he's obviously getting some attention (hey, we're talking about him). It may be for all the wrong reasons, but it doesn't really matter. At the of the day, if he keeps on sucking, the Avedon name is only going to carry him so far and, on the other hand, if he gets to sell what someone, somewhere, sees as mediocre art, or his limited talents because of his last name, that's his choice and it certainly wouldn't be the first time it happens. I don't agree with it, and it is a slap in the face of those who are immensely more talented than him and will get nothing, but that's the way it goes, and I certainly won't lose any sleep over it