Everybody has influences in their lives Photographers have visual influences that contribute to their aesthetic Today, John lead a discussion on what influences we (individually) have had shaping our visual aesthetic. The discussion produced some surprising and powerful narratives about our lives as artists. As usual, it's difficult to sue a documentarimmarize a 90 minute discussion and I'll probably mis-state the actual verbal exchanges. But we all agreed the subject of visual influence will be discussed again later this year. Jim...discussed the influence of his grandparents "photo albums" and lead him to pick up a camera and focus on documentary photography. He discussed the role of the magazines of the times eg LIFE and finally the influence of photography books. His photographer influences included Bruce Davidson. Angelo...picked up a camera only 10 years ago...shortly before becoming one of the founding fathers of f8. He feels that his science background and his love of nature lead him to focus on developing his aesthetic in nature photography. He could not identify a specific photographer influence but felt his time at f8 has helped shape his photographic interests. Paul....rambled through his life history...touching on his attempts as an art teacher since he was an art major. During his art schooling he took a photography course. After college he eventually landed at Kodak where the short version is he fell for the "chemistry" of photography. Lucky us today for his choice. John...noted time at PCC esp his class in experimental photography with Vicki Martin. From this class he experimented with emulsion transfer to watercolor paper. He showed some of these images. We encouraged him to do more of this technique. Steve...described his early days with a camera in Jamaica and his finding of how photography gave him a different perception of reality. Later in his life and career his involvement with architecture developed his composition aesthetic in his photography. Bill ....noted the influence of Bill Claxton in jazz photography, Burrows in conflict photography. He pointed out his need to create order from chaos in his wall photography. He noted how Hockney took order created chaos then re-ordered the image to it's final form. He also felt the question of influence was one of the hardest assignments we've had in f8. All agreed to re-visit the issue of "influence" under the leadership of John at some future meetings. Other things we chatted about...
Catherine Opie the conceptual photographer who has three, yes three, exhibits running at the same time here in LA...MOCA, Hammer & LACMA. Nice article in LA Times (January 24, 2016) http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-cathy-opie-moca-hammer-20160124-story.html
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“If you can smell the street by looking at the photo, it’s a street photograph.” – Bruce Gilden Bill Wishner's exhibit "Art of the City Wall: Mixed Message" managed to get front page and lead article in the Pasadena Weekly this week. The exhibit will be on display until March 5th. If you get a moment click on the link below to read the full article Pasadena Weekly Curatorial Assistance Gallery 113 E Union St Pasadena CA 91103 Monday - Friday / 8am to 5pm / Ring Bell for Entry We were lucky to have Joe Loudermilk as a guest at f8 today. Joe is an architect with Disney working on the Disney Stores. His talents re also in the creative world of photography...esp in the B&W genre. Joe showed his B&W prints from his time in Shanghai and his travels here in the US. The pictures above are just a few of those he showed at he meeting. The three pictures above (L to R): Amtrak Union Station / NYC Gas Domes / Shanghai Baker Here is a link to Joe's website; http://www.loudermilkphoto.com Hopefully Joe will join us occasionally when he spends a weekend in Pasadena...his home is in the Bay area but he works here in Pasadena Other things we discussed...
We spent a share of the meeting reflecting on the current diversity issue in the movie industry. We also noted the difficulty in having diverse representation in the arts...esp photography. if / then All arts are subject to manipulation Photogaphers are artists Photographers manipulate their art Today's discussion focused on manipulation, enhancing or otherwise changing photography we create as artists. The use of digital tools is accepted whether it be in camera or in post production and with these tools so as to change the reality of what we capture. We explored many of the questions below and others relating to this issue...
Is capturing a scene with an analog B&W camera manipulation of reality? Is capturing a scene with a DSLR and converting to B&W manipulation of reality? Is there a difference in putting a filter on a lens or using a digital filter? Is there an issue in using different films in an analog camera vs digitally using film filters What about using “color balancing” or “saturation” or “clarity / sharpening”…or changing ISO / Aperture / Shutter / exposure time…all of which may change the “reality” Are the same standards apply to the painter who uses paint and brushes to interpret the reality? Is artistic interpretation in any art form the very nature of art? Does over-interpretation of a photograph make the creator a “digital artist”? Does not using the creative digital tools stymie creativity in photography? What about digital manipulation “standards” in journalism and competitions? Is photography being singled out as an art form with regard to manipulation? Is the de facto standard no digital manipulation? Is the reality of our art form what looks good or sells the product or image? Everybody contributed comments to the questions...too many for me to document...so here are just some of the comments that you (as reader can apply to the questions above: "If you want reality...look to science to describe: art is the conscious decision to interpret reality" "B&W photographs may incur the least amount of visual manipulation? (Ansel Adams?) "The reality of color is subjective" "Artistic reality is the counterpoint in literature to historical fiction" "Artists need to be free to interpret reality as they see fit for their medium(s)" "Manipulation has occurred in painting for eons and in photography since its invention" "We don't ask the painter what was changed...why do we ask the photographer"? "Artists of any sorts "see" what is possible for reality" "Art is freedom of expression? "The invention of the camera actually forced changes in the artistic interpretation of other arts" "There are no rules in the creation of art including photography" The discussion was lively and took us to the 10 o'clock hour with lots more to discuss. Great meeting “Quit trying to find beautiful objects to photograph. Find the ordinary objects so you can transform it by photographing it.” – Morley Baer The first blog of the new year find f8 Pasadena in a new spot at Jones...their coffee tasting room. The space has some pluses...a bit quieter, no gym noise; and a few minuses...a bit small, no dedicated screen, light pollution from windows. The discussion today explored some potential options going forward. More research will be done and will discuss again next week Art Center South space = Steve Senior Center space = ? Armory = Richard Nature Center = Charley We also discussed our meeting schedule for 2016. The general feeling was to again assign leadership weeks to each f8 participants...it would mean each of us would have 2-3 meetings to lead this year. Every other meeting would be deemed an "open session" and open for field trips. Bill showed a series of pictures taken during his recent trip to Chile and Argentina...the pictures were the last of his 3 year adventure capturing the "Art of the City Wall." The pictures were from Valparaiso, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina. There was discussion revolving around the final pictures printed on Canson Aquarelle Rag 310 paper making each look almost like a painting not a photograph. Bill talked about the composition of his pictures as well as his sojourn in finding his own aesthetic. He set the stage for his upcoming exhibit at Curatorial Assistance Gallery (113 E Union St, Pasadena CA 91103). The exhibit "Art of the City Wall: Mixed Message" opens on January 21th with the Opening Reception on January 28th. We chatted briefly about the pending retirement of Elsa Dorfman one of the last photographers using the large format (20x24) Polaroid Camera. She has captured 1000's of portraits using this rare camera. Here is the link to the article in the NYT.
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2016/01/05/arts/design/elsa-dorfman-a-polaroid-portraitist-is-retiring-at-78/s/20160105POLAROID-slide-WWV4.html?_r=0 Also , a reminder of the ongoing New York Times columnist Teju Cole who writes a weekly piece in the Sunday Magazine section called "On Photography." Below is a link to a column he wrote in December on Instagram. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/magazine/serious-play.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fon-photography&action=click&contentCollection=magazine®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=search&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection |
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