Donald Qualls
Subscriber
Hmm. Someone's dog roast is about to taste a little soapy...
View attachment 267278 I’m revisiting a ton of prints. Signing, managing them, packing, moving, logistics.
Depressing exercise, really. The only thing I’m learning from this is that 20 years ago I was a better shooter and printer than today. LoL!
You have a fantastic work to edit, man.
I've been enjoying every single post you done. You should publish it has it looks really valuable for photography lovers.
Has for better shooter years ago, I'm not that long in photography but have a different feeling about my images. When I look at them today I feel them a bit trendy and sensationalist. Some years ago it felt like I knew where I was standing.
There is some truth in what you wrote. It’s all too easy to flick through photos on twitter and conclude that mediocrity is the standard to aim for. If you look at too much sh1t you’ll end up copying. Better by far to look at art (the stuff done with pencil, pen and brush) and understand the compositional techniques, use of line and form and how to use colour.Thanks!
We are standing on moving grounds. Time has this way of changing things.
My only advice for any artist is to close his world to any outside contamination which invariably means to copying instead of creating. Yes, this includes saying “who?” when you hear the mention of a known artist.
This is also why I mainly follow cute (well, earth shattering, head exploding) beautiful Women on instagram. I don’t follow other artists. Yes, a few, but that’s only out of politeness and support.
There is some truth in what you wrote. It’s all too easy to flick through photos on twitter and conclude that mediocrity is the standard to aim for. If you look at too much sh1t you’ll end up copying. Better by far to look at art (the stuff done with pencil, pen and brush) and understand the compositional techniques, use of line and form and how to use colour.
As for following cuteness, now that sounds good.
It’s interesting to me that musicians are taught to copy the greats in order to learn how to go about playing or composing. Then they are prepared to perform or write their own works. Photographers, however, condemn copying. Perhaps it’s because some photographers actually show their copies or derivatives, or they never advance their won style.
Thanks!
We are standing on moving grounds. Time has this way of changing things.
My only advice for any artist is to close his world to any outside contamination which invariably means to copying instead of creating. Yes, this includes saying “who?” when you hear the mention of a known artist.
This is also why I mainly follow cute (well, earth shattering, head exploding) beautiful Women on instagram. I don’t follow other artists. Yes, a few, but that’s only out of politeness and support.
I don't mean necessarily copying, but I admit I feel influenced by some photographers.
Often I ask "why?" when I have a composition in my viewfinder and often I realize that "I'm shooting this fence because it reminds me of Paul Strand" or "I'm shooting this flag in the window because it reminds me of Robert Frank", etc...and I don't think that is bad. I think that has to do with your education trough photography.
Copying for me would be "I'm gonna shoot this fence as if Paul Strand never did it before and make it mine"...
The only way I feel creating something genuine is when I'm taking photographs to my daughter or revisiting something very intimate or personal.
I mean I feel my old photos trendy and sensationalist because I didn't shoot it from the guts, they feel like elaborated to be good looking or to please certain viewers.
Copying can be a good technical exercise.
It can help you recognize how to accomplish what you may want to do.
Sort of like practicing music.
Run Ektar past a pre-war Tessar and it looks pretty close. My apologies that it isn't anything close to street photography - it's just the closest thing I have to the Kodachrome look:I wonder what might be the closest film to kodachrome available these days?
Run Ektar past a pre-war Tessar and it looks pretty close. My apologies that it isn't anything close to street photography - it's just the closest thing I have to the Kodachrome look:
View attachment 267532 View attachment 267533
But the color of the red rock is way off in the second photograph.
I cant avoid thinking of color film photography without being invaded by Harry Gruyaert, Saul Leiter, Ernst Haas images...
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here. |
PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY: ![]() |