Tangier Island,Virginia 1972 Fisherman and Wife
maybe photographers are not really the largest group of procrastinators in the world , and maybe i just sometimes think this because i am around so many photographers…but, some photographers do have a way of "explaining" the myriad of "good reasons" why they are not doing what they would really like to do…
many come to my home or my workshops to show their work hoping that i will be able to give them a "magic formula" for success, or just please please hand over my list of "important people" and their phone numbers and surely this will lead to double page spreads and heavy coffee table books…
so many photographers have the hardest time facing the fact that they simply must just "get out the door"…whether they go next door or around the world makes no difference at all….it does not matter where the "there" is, but you cannot be "there" if you are not THERE…..
i first heard the "f/8 and be there" phrase from W.E. "Bill" Garrett, swashbuckling Editor of Natgeo from the mid 70′s to the late 80′s and by far the most SUPERPOWER editor ever at "ole yeller"…he rode a large stallion and swung a long sword….some lived in fear, some in awe….during the Garrett era Natgeo circulation was "blowing up" and money was no object to sending a photographer anywhere anytime for any amount of time…i do not know if Bill actually coined the phrase, but i think he thinks he did…whatever…..but, this "f/8 and be there" as the obvious way to make meaningful photographs, was the mantra of photoland at Natgeo…
Bill liked me or my work or both…my first essay for Natgeo, "Tangier Island" (Nov.1973),a cover story, made it into print because Bill liked it….had Bill not liked it, my life would have gone in a completely different direction…..in American football parlance, Bill sent me into the end zone and threw me a "long pass"…..i caught it….of course, i had worked so so so hard on this project for so so so little money to feed my young family , so i had gambled everything ….i had given up a "real job" and a "real salary" to take this chance with Natgeo…
in the years to follow, Bill and Natgeo became my Medici…my support system….my resource…..and my extended family for sure….this , however, did not eliminate the fact that it was still "f/8 and be there"…no amount of social graces or friendships could ever eliminate the sometimes harsh reality that i had to actually "DO IT"…
i always implore the photographers i mentor, to please please minimize the "who can i get to know" list and maximize the "here is what i will do" list….one thing i do know for sure, if you have the work, really HAVE THE WORK, your Medici will materialize….it would have done me no good whatsoever to have made a "good impression" on Garrett, had i not had the work….
all of you are now in a position to show your work in a way i never had nor did anyone in my generation have..the net….right here…right now… this forum…if you go out and do the work, you will be seen my more potential Medici’s than i have seen in my entire career….yes, yes (i can hear the excuses already) there are more of you…true….but in the sea of photographers out there , i still see about the same number of "supertalents" as in years prior…more people taking pictures, but few doing it in a special way….but if you are "special" there are also way way more opportunities…and so so much room for invention….i swear, i have never seen so much room!!!
i do not give advice to anyone….i do sometimes make suggestions.. you do need to find someone who loves you….loves your work…just one person…no, not your significant other or family/friend… yes of course, you want their support for a different reason ..but, you need a significant mentor…..i am talking about one "gallerist", one editor, one book publisher…do not attempt to "win everybody over"…pick two or three book publishers or galleries or magazines where you think your work "fits"…then find the ONE who loves you the most…a relationship is a relationship…but do not even "go there" if you have not BEEN THERE!!!
so how do you feel?? like a photographer with an arm full of great work who just needs a "break" to move forward….or do you realize your best lays out there ahead and you just must "get to it" ??
New York City, 2008 Brooklyn Bridge
worth a listen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/johntusainterview/mccullin_transcript.shtml
Rafal, Katharina, ALL.
I will try my best for LIVE coverage…
but please , everone that will be in c/ville
try to help..
more angles mo better..
plus I promised for LIVE coverage..
not SOBER COVERAGE..
So.. I will start my coverage from the airport..
now ..
I guess everyone has my phone number by now..
please feel free to call Thursday..
give me updates, things I shouldn’t miss,
must see places , happy hour joints..
Mary jane outlets ..
or anything else you want..
we gonna burn this mother..
the roof is on fire..
I will repost my phone again on Thursday ,
but if you want email me at:
innerspacecowpanos@mac.com
And we will go from there..
going on brendan’s post above… since lightstalkers has a meeting place… perhaps we should all meet. i am sure david will agree… we have all been talking on this blog for quiet some time now and i think it would be great to meet everyone.
thoughts?
or maybe it is too late to plan something… either way i will be there… my contact information is on my website as well… i would love to meet all of you.
Hello! Just want to say thank you for the reminder. Right to the point, there is nothing else to do then to go out there. But one needs to be reminded of that from time to time, it is so easy to just focus on the difficulites and never get going. For sure there will be problems along the way, but usually the problems can be solved.
Tanks and I just must say your photographs inspires me to work harder on my own photographs.
- Lars-Göran
Mike,
I agree..
let’s create first meeting , THURSDAY NIGHT..
if anyone was there last year,
please choose a spot, whatever..
anywhere is fine as long as we dont need
to drive..
so whoever is familiar with c/ville,
please step up..
Bonjour Audrey, for me
1 8 11 14 19 21 32 36 37
I do see your essay more about pantomime than intimacy with the subject (I do not mean access, BTW thumb up on that). So many backs turned, expectedly I suppose, but it accentuates the staleness and anonymousness of it all, and at 15 minutes for a pop, hard to expect more ;-)….
This not a criticism, just my reading, I am not sure what to make of it. Nothing new, I felt the same about Katarina’s essay in BKK. Actually, I have one question. Does this woman have a child?
Off to Paris…
i was there last year. there are many places to meet. there is a strip of really great places and coffee houses we can grab a bite or a drink at. and you sit outside or inside if you like… lots of cool places…
lets try and put something together… either night works for me. depending on when everyone will be there lets try for thursday night… if for some reason no one can make it we have all weekend. i will be in virginia tomorrow afternoon and will check for places once i am there.
does anyone else have any suggestions at all?
also….
david really great post… great thinking for the week ahead i think. lots to think about with this and many conversations sparked by this i think.
i am a firm believer in always moving forward… everyone works differently yes. but for me i always have to keep moving forward… even if the work does not agree with me i keep going and i keep pushing. i never loose faith in what i am working on. as bob mentioned earlier in this post…
“if you yourself don’t believe in the breadth and depth, the blood and the breath, the sound and the bone of your work, no one ever will…”
i am a firm believer in this…
how do you feel with your work… does the tone change (go get to it/ arm full of work) with each body of work or assignment or is it all the same for you?
Mike and Panos…and anyone else…
Again, last thing I knew there was going to be a meet-up outside the Paramount after Mary Ellen Mark’s presentation, which is right after David’s, which should work out perfectly.
Mike, you were there before, it looks to me from Google Maps that the theater is right near the “mall” and all the cafes and bars and restaurants and such….yes?
MK’s got it—there’s plenty of places to get a drink on the mall right after Mary Ellen Mark. We’ll just meet in front of the theater, but I’m sure some of us will meet before, too.
“be there” in this case means also that you have to recognize what is around you. the important and meaningful “subjects” can be and quite usually are right in front of your eyes. the only problem with this kind of photography is that after you have started it you can’t escape it as the “subject” is all the time around you. in my own photography i have always “been there” as i have mostly taken pictures of my family and friends, and people around me and there are many images that i wish i wouldn’t have taken. still this kind of “being there” is the most meaningful photography that I can personally think of, but it is important to mention that i do not consider other photography to be meaningless as i try to understand all works that i see. good example is Goldin who has pretty much “been there” all of her life, documenting her own life and the life of her friends, or sally mann, or the early larry clark. so the great photography in my opinion doesn’t usually come from the exotic places, but from your own city, town, village, or home and about the people close to you as usually in these cases there are no boundaries between the people, and the person who has the camera. the problem is that it’s not easy to get money out of this kind of “work” (i do not consider myself working when i take my photos, more like writing a diary and documenting at the same time) and it takes alot of time to produce bodies of work out of the life around you without being repetitious.
peace
j
michael,
yes there are lots of places right along especially right by the theatre. many places to eat and grab coffee. the paramount is a great meeting place…
panos,
can you meet there??? its a really easy place to meet because everyone will be there to see the work.
and yes it is totally walkable
It’s refreshing to read your down-to-earth posts.
Best wishes from rainy Costa Rica.
A.
JUKKA,
You are right with your definition of ” Be there”. I too long time throught that I should be anywhere else than where I am for photograph. It is very frustating. And it is not productive. I still want to photograph the world, but I do not still wait the world to shoot each day what is around me.
As often happens, this post by David has come at an incredibly appropriate time. Yes, I do “f/8 and be there.” I’m out there ALL the time and when I’m not, I’m editing what I took while I was out there. I realize I’m fortunate because I have TIME–something so many of you don’t have–and I don’t have to support myself or a young family with my work as a photographer. Hey, I’m in the Medicare/Social Security age bracket which sucks in some ways but is a real plus in others. Yes, I’ve done some commissioned work but generally speaking I’m following my own Muse.
I have no illusions about becoming a “well known” photographer. All I want is to keep growing, keep pushing the envelope, keep thinking outside the box, keep honing my skills and listening to my Intuition, and working at becoming the very best that I can be. So it surprises me to hear from a respected editor of a respected photography mag that he loves my work. Not only loves it, but GETS it! That’s what I learned today during a lengthy telephone interview with Brooks Jensen of LensWork.
Having them accept my unsolicited Dualities portfolio for publication on Lenswork’s July/August Extended DVD was enough of a kick, but to hear what Brooks had to say about the work, the idea behind it, the execution…well, I’m left breathless.
It’s not that Brooks Jensen is going to be my Medici but just knowing how highly he respects my work is enough to give my confidence a much-needed boost.
So now I’m anxious to keep going, growing and learning. In connection with that I’ve signed up to take a weekend workshop with Mary Ellen Mark at The Center for Photography at Woodstock (NY) in early August. Now THAT should be an experience!!! One that I’m sure will give me much to ponder and to assimilate, as well as a great big kick in the pants!! But now I feel ready for whatever comes.
Mike B,MK, DavidMcG,
and ALL C/villians..
Ok.. Paramount it is the place to be..
I’m in the car right now..
but later I’m gonna email my number
to a couple of friends here ..
so I feel safer and not so lonely..
I already got Mike W. Number so
.. So far so good..
we are on the same page.
At last.. Our blog from a Radio show
turns into a tv show..
its funny coz so far I created my own
“faces” for all of you.. But now time to reveal
our real faces..
Phantom of the opera style..
I hope I won’t scare anyone by pulling
my mask ..
laughing..
but I already know that nobody expects
cuteness from me anyways..
driving
laughing
I had hoped to make it to LOOK3 but no go — an excess of life has intervened. I do wish everyone a grand time, and hope someone (several of you, at least!) keep the rest of us updated and jealous.
Joan
dont worry Joan..
I will do what David did with Allard and James..
they talk, I type..
My goal is to try to interview as much
bloggers I can..
I’ll try to keep my ideas and impressions
limited..
I will focus at our iconic famous bloggers
from this blog , their ideas, their views..
.. And everynight , late late ,
I will do the wrap up show..
with the highliights and the SHADOWS
of the day..
stay tuned..
in my return I will also
post a PHOTO REPORTAGE
so you get the PICTURE..
And finally TOTALLY INSPIRED
BY DAVID MC GOWAN’S VIDEO
FROM LAST YEAR’S LOOK..
I will shoot video and make things even
more “real”..
hopefully David McG will do the same
so we get it ALL COVERED..
Keep driving..
I was in C’ville last year and it was great. So I just want to wish you all who will be there this year to have a great time…
One warning though: you are all, naturally, very excited to meet… but this place (DAH blog) wont be the same for you upon your return. Reading Panos (or anyone else you meet), once you meet him in person, will be a totally different experience… ARE YOU READY for magic and mystery behind all of these names to disappear?
So, BE THERE, but be aware, there are consequences… Just kidding, enjoy it.
P.S. If interested here you can read (and see some photos) about my impressions from last year.
http://vebahood.blogspot.com/2007/06/look3-festival-of-photograph.html
I think it’s the nature of this crowd, no matter what we’ve achieved, to always think/know our best work is ahead of us. I’m sure it’s the Harvey model of pushing and reinventing!
Why am I not doing what I really want to be doing? I kind of am, I’m just not making any money. And that’s fine, for now—essentially I’ve exchanged money for time.
Good ideas sometimes get choked out by self doubt and a line of questioning I allow get the best of me, at least when shooting people.
My photo demons. Does this person understand my intent? Am I bothering them? Can I really own this shoot from start to finish? Is my camera too big? Is this the light I want? Am I over thinking? Why am I not talking? What is the first step?
I think the stuff I’m working on now offers the opportunity to start dismissing the wrong questions, and to just keep framing and popping the shutter. I could be a good case study making things happen RIGHT NOW! That makes me nervous—wait, that’s self doubt again.
So far editors haven’t called. So what do I do? Blame it on the economy, and shoot a story about it.
This group in particular seems to be on the cusp of great things, and here we have a home to share that hunger. It’s competitive and noncompetitive at the same time.
“but if you are “special” there are also way way more opportunities…and so so much room for invention….i swear, i have never seen so much room!!!”
I think that line is really exciting, because invention is going to sift out the pros from the prosumers, but beyond that it’s such a nice treat to witness invention first hand, and know something big is happening. This is truly an emerging crowd.
Three days until C’ville!
BOB … hmmm, yes, perhaps “muse” is wrong word, i doubt you have the legs for it, good point … and “sage” is too much, and implies too much age and advice, not that … certainly thought provoking, even inspirational on occassion, and that is too little. But why do i try to box you in, define you, when you are “Just Bob,” and i think you will understand how i mean this as a compliment. I have an idea inspired by you … and you will see it first just as Panos has inspired an idea as well … he will see his first … both very different, and not. Someday. Thanks Bob.
DAVID MCG SAID:
“…So far editors haven’t called. So what do I do? Blame it on the economy, and shoot a story about it…”
“…but if you are “special” there are also way way more opportunities…and so so much room for invention….i swear, i have never seen so much room!!!…”
DAMN RIGHT DAVID, DAMN RIGHT…
…VEBA SAID
“…ARE YOU READY for magic and mystery behind all of these names to disappear?
So, BE THERE, but be aware, there are consequences…”
VEBA DAMN RIGHT, although i dont think that the mystery will
disappear… it could actually get ignited…
ah , will see!
mystère gets “ignited”??..
I wonder what I’m trying to say here..
hmmm
you guys really wanna let me do
“live coverage” on this..?
I still wonder how the hell anyone
can ignite a mystery..!!!?
DAMN BOB …
I, WE , MISS YOU ALREADY..
HERVE, AKAKY and the rest of the really STRONG writers..
we need you…
but , hey , there must be a reason for everything in this world
hmmm… again..
( Reason for everything ??? : except from the things i choose to do, i guess )
Panos, I’m sure a joint effort will spark much inspiration. Could be the highlight of the fest. And so on.
Thank you David,
I just felt into the “self-doubt” zone for a sec…
plus my herb “doc” is outta town…
so, i feel very sensitive tonite!!!
Yeah my puns were pretty sloppy. I could have done much better. Sleep now.
You see!!??? What I mean?
everytime I start tripping..
everybody disappears except from
David and Young Tom..!
Ain’t this discouraging ??
and I love DavidMcG and I also love Tom H.
well ..
where the hell is everyone else????
David McGowan,
please post the video one LAST time
please..
I have a hard time finding it ,
god damn..
Bonjour,
I saw revised my selection which is much more reduced thanks to all, it helped me to see more clearly…
Herve,
I wanted that this person remains anonymous because first of all she asked to me for it (even if I have her written authorization, her 22-year-old daughter doen’tt know about her profession, I don’t moreover know how she managed to protect her). In France, the passive soliciting is reprehensible by the law, and I would not want that she(it) is annoyed by my fault…But I understand that you are not sensitive to my series, I take him(it) not bad whole, each has the preferences what me frightened…. it is to provoke the indifference…
Friendly,
audrey
AUDREY…
please ALWAYS respect the anonymity of your “INSIDERS”…
otherwise you are gonna be abducted just like me…
And not everybody is AS generous AS my boy Stephen…
‘nough said… moving away…
disappearing from Venice… faaaaaaast!
peace ya’ll
I am not sure to have understood(included) everything well also, I am sorry if I hurt(damaged) somebody, is not it especially my intention, I thank you for all your comments….
audrey
PANOS, PLEASE!!!!!!!
The SELF PORTRAIT with FRIENDS at CHARLOTTEVILLE…
“PANOS REVEALED”
‘eh?
okay… just finished editing… i am so empty… i need to sleep… wake up tomorrow morning for first light… for more imagemaking…
i promised more info… david has us go out to shoot every day… every next morning at 9 show the images… you HAVE to be there, only excuse is when you are shooting… my god panos, i’m beginning to sound like you :)))))
here are my first days… raw, unedited, and a bonus from this night! even before david sees it…
title: the process of making “DISLOCATE”
DAY ONE (no clue what i’m doing)
http://www.antonkusters.com/day1
DAY TWO (in a dark place, dislocated)
http://www.antonkusters.com/day2
DAY THREE (PART ONE… david no see yet… pretty intense… self portrait night to complement day two… also music)
http://www.antonkusters.com/day3
DAY THREE (PART TWO – portraits… david also no see yet…)
http://www.antonkusters.com/day3b
peace
sleep now
anton
LISA:
… if not else… i will try to take a picture of PANOS… then run like hell and post it before he catches me!!!!
PANOS:
i will not take any pictures of you when you are in charlottesville
LISA:
don’t believe the above, shhh don’t tell panos :)))))
anton
I love the work I’ve seen by photographers in this forum, and I hope to feature some of you at GlobalCompassion.com (click my name above for the link).
GlobalCompassion.com is not a commercial site, but it’s designed by a photographer (me) to give photographers exposure.
Please take a look. Your comments are welcome, too.
David, I just bought “Divided Soul” and it’s inspiring me with new ways to see.
Sorry, I should have said “click my name BELOW” for the link. Or just:
http://www.globalcompassion.com
Dear all,
Leaving in a couple of hours for the 18 hour road trip to Charlottesville. Over the Smokeys I go.
Looking forward to meeting all of you on Thursday and whenever throughout the weekend.
I’ll be the woman from Maui with the southern accent.
Lee
ALL:
Well, as to Veba’s (Velibor) description of the “disenchantment” of meeting folk in real life, i’d say that’s more a state of my beloved Sarajevo’s poet’s world view ;)), disenchantment Veba, you know, comes when folk “create” a more whole-some (so to speak) idea prior: I loved u even more in real life than as a blogger at LS or DAH :)))))….i trust it’s mutual ;)))))))))….
so, my mask has always been off (‘cept for the sunglasses), but there’ll be at least one of y’all who’ll be able to take my mask off for y’all: MIKE BERUBE, is real-life friend, and we’ve sat down and drunk together and chatted, and yes, he’s met the mysterious Mrs. Black (photo-babe extraordinaire) too, so Mike will have to pony up whether im the same or different, nice guy or motherfucker…next year, we’ll make our debut ;)))
ANTON:
wow, loved all the series…particularly given the dislocation and discomfort…really really loved the story about the car, ALOT!..:))…of course the self-portrait series is lovely and evocative and revealing of this experience, and the portrait of Bee is lovely…so much terrific terrific work there anton: what u need my words for, bro?…they aint shit, just keep goin’ on the doin’on you’ll for doin! gotta think david’s gonna be real happy and proud of yu!…and too, as an exercise it’s brilliant: specially car “portrait” :))..there’s a writing technique that i subscribe too and it’s the same way i shoot photographs (especially if i dont have an idea for something): just shoot what is in front and see if it interests you, see where it carries you, same is true with writing…these short clips remind me of that: david alan harvey’s a brilliant guy and it’s clear that he’s digging this exercise for y’all and what a difference! :))) good on you anton…david’s a magician-teacher and you’re physicality and emotional expession are so strong, congrats anton: lovely lovely inspired stuff :))
running
b
ANTON
Just beautiful lil’ bro, just beautiful…
Now I’m running too…
HERVE…
the photographers here who do have assignments have certainly already talked here about what they wanted to do and how they wanted to do it…and when the work is complete, we will publish it here in its entirety along with whatever text the photographer deems necessary…and all of them now have links with their work and their bios….
i am not quite sure what you mean by “ready”..we have photographers here who seem to be moving in the direction of securing magazine assignments and others who are more likely to pursue the world of print collectors….however, i do not think we have published enough work here from members of this forum for any editor to pick up the phone and call anyone for an assignment…seems unlikely….however,in the coming months when we have here perhaps 10 or so really strong essays online, i think you will see relationships start to develop…my goal, as always with the photogs i mentor, is to move photographers to their personal next step….that “next step” does not necessarily mean suddenly running off on a round the world assignment …. as i look carefully at the profession today, the world of exhibitions, gallery shows and book publishing with dominate the old world of financing projects through magazine assignments…
and since there is so little funding available from the traditional media, is the very reason why i have tried to raise funding right here for photographers to pursue their projects….
so, yes, if someone gets “discovered” here by a magazine editor , that would be terrific….but if you look at the stories being developed now, very few would fall into the category of being publishable by existing media….we are inventing something here….doing certain stories that would not “fit” in any magazine that i know…but, deserve to be published in any case…
please know that if i see a photographer here or anywhere that i think deserves a “shot” at a traditional media assignment, i will pick up the phone and call an appropriate editor…i have done exactly that many times with my students over the years….i have mentored 6 published books from former students and i think i have 4 or 5 out regularly doing magazine work….and many many others who have discovered their own voice and are either selling prints or maxing out their talents in a way that makes sense to them…..
will i see you in Paris at the end of the month????
LOOK 3 PARTICIPANTS…
thursday night sounds fine for a gathering of our “tribe”…but, you may be a bit shocked at how many of “us” there are….i was totally blown away when i found out that all three workshops going on now with Allard, Richards and moi, around 60 photographers total, are all members of this forum…and it is an international group to be sure….8 countries represented in my class…
anyway, i have a house which has been rented for me…you are welcomed here…
my little slice of the festival pie kicks in at 4pm on thursday with a showing of the student work from this week, followed by the Emerging Photographer slide show, followed by a few photographs i have made for my family project…..
Mary Ellen Mark is on at 7pm and will probably go to 9pm…we could drift over to my house after her show…make sense???
please see me after my presentation and we will firm up a PLAN!!!! although, as you will soon see, having a “plan” can be a bit of an oxymoron at any photo fest….
the bloggers who are here already have managed to clean me out of a couple of refrigerators full of beer etc…..thirsty crowd you folks!!!….please help me out a little by bringing some refreshments…cool??? many many thanks….
see you soonest…..
cheers et al, david
Panos request:
http://www.humanfiles.com/slideshows/look3_07/publish_to_web/look3_07.htm
DAVID,
It’s been 100 degrees in the urban shade here for 4 days, and I like many have been moving slowly..but your words above just quickened me..can’t wait.
Looking forward to finding some hummus/bread and fruit to bring along to keep the throngs satiated at your house. Thanks for having us..
ANTON,
your images really make me think about the mystery and magic of working digitally..there is something in light that is very compelling in this new work.
AUDREY,
il me semble que personne n’est fâché, et tu as été compris
david
i really like the way you remind us that one has to get out and take photographs to be a photographer, and i also like your practical advise how to go about looking for the ‘mentor’, somebody with whom one can have ‘the relationship going, somebody who loves his work the most. i quite see the point that it is better to try to impress some and actually impressing one or two rather than trying to impress everybody and ending up impressing none. it is an invaluable advise.
only one thing that i may share with you. may be some young photographers starting with big dreams probably face it at some point or the other. as a young photographer (without that mentor), you go out, do your jobs to the best of abilities sincerely and all the earnestness and hard work. though you first started photography without any big dream, but after you gather some experience, one fine morning it dawns upon you that you can do some real good job. so you put in more hard work disregarding all the odds and expectations that one faces from family and others. you realize you have improved quite a lot, and in spite of trying your best, you don’t find that ‘mentor’ that you have been looking for, may be because you don’t know how to do it, though everybody you meet ‘like’ your work. one day, standing on your own foot and not dreaming anymore, you realize that the pressure has mounted to a level where you cannot just ignore it anymore. so you have to make the choice, whether to continue trying to make a living out of photography and be happy ever after or just get the hell out of it and do something else, like selling potatoes or some other mentor-less jobs.
the experiences that you shared with us regarding Bill Garrett liking your story, of course it has changed the course of your life. the toughest part is just before that, when everything seems to be crumbling down, and you are pushed to the wall. one gets over it, the others don’t.
i also totally agree with you about the immense possibilities of the net for photographers of today.
but now, in stead of writing so much, i must get out and BE THERE! :)
thanks for reminding…
YOUNG TOM :)))…hey, i’ve got the legs bro, and the bod (im running, for real!) :))…but, not the overall beauty ;))))…give me what u got: i’d be a pleasure :))
cheers
running
b
DAVID and ALL,
About f8 and be there..I’ve been musing (tho my thoughts haven’t taken me too far, maybe someone else has some insight) on what this means for someone who shoots in the way I do, more subject driven than happening driven.
It seems I am getting more and more clear about the kind of images I want to make, and at the moment that feels like more specific, and therefore, perhaps more narrow in scope.
For example, I went out (inspired by David’s initial post) in our million degree weather to brave the masses of the Puerto Rico day parade. I’ve been twice before, so I had a sense of the working conditions.
I photographed one man all day..obviously, had I not been there (and I was at f8 :) ) there would be no chance of getting any image – and in no way I am suggesting that one doesn’t have to do the work to get the work – but what I am musing over has to do with working intentionally and recognizing the times when one is primed to make good work vs when you just aren’t connecting. And with me, my m.o. is all about connection and an inner drive to connect..so is it important to keep showing up when the urge to connect isn’t there, or is that just a waste of film? It takes a certain kind and amount of energy for me to shoot as I do, and sometimes that energy goes dormant.
Is it important to push even when one feels withdrawn, or will this just result in disconnected work? Or might that disconnect yield something greater that what comes from following a specific, known vision?
Erica:
:)))
I think (as i read David’s post and as i balance his experience and ideas with my own philosophy/work habit) that what David is suggesting and what the other f8/bethere means a bit different. I think that the only REAL way to do anything is to DO IT, and do it in the WAY YOU understand that. Being a photographer (in this blog’s example) means many different things to different people. Like my beloved Jukka wrote, i too tend to photograph those who are near, and those people: that includes family, friends, students…but also places that have impacted me…it’s also often “idea” driven: that is i never care about 1 good photo, but rather a story that im working on or inspired by…but this is very different from others…there are great photographers who are incessant about shooting (every day, every hour) like David for example: this keeps them limber and agile and “fresh” (to use a Harveyism), there are others you “stew”…i tend to stew…but im constantly thinking and working…constantly looking thinking “seeing”…and, at least for me, when photography finally bit me hard, i decided that sometimes i would deliberately NOT take my camera (i’ve written about that more poetically here before) as an act of discipline: could i ‘see’ without the camera, could i live with the “lost moments”, lost time, lost people, etc…it’s hard, but eventually it changed my entire relationship…by im not on assignment (sometimes i wish i were) for a newspaper or magazine, but im constantly thinking and constantly at work on projects…sometimes withdraw and confusion and frustration actually yield results and connectivity in ways that ar extraordinarily fresh…
and then there is the beloved accident…the magical accident: sometimes its re-appraising old work/negatives, sometimes it’s a new face, sometimes its a mistake in the work, and then viola…for me, it’s just like writing: a photographer needs to yield to the work and philosophy that works best for them, not based on what another prescribes, but what feels best most true for them…i live with a photographer whose work is brilliant and strange (and more will know her this year as she will submit for the new EPF when David opens the entries)…and her work method is also entirely different from mine…
sometimes, as i wrote to anton, the very act of shooting (even when you dont feel like) yields extraordinary things, sometimes it doesnt, just shit…sometimes doing nothing builds…it’s an impossible algebra to cultivate, only this: does someone field that photography is enough of the expressionof their life that it becomes an organic part of who they are?…all of us, all of us TALK more about being a photographer then shooting, that’s part of the trade i think, but i think that each person, as when dancing or listening to music, knows in their heart what feels write…
now, how does one become a good or interesting photographer?…well…im afraid that’s a question that most likely will never be answered: a combination of luck, will, hard work, luck, genes, mentorship, hard work, luck, thinking, doing, luck, accident, luck, hardwork, luck, etc ;))))…
in truth, the VALUE of david’s blog for me over the last 15 months as not been to “question” myself, but to re-affirm…what i mean is this: all the great advice and posts that David has given us, all the great ideas and comments that all of the people who’ve written here have given me can be boiled down to one simple thing:
while doubt is a part of our waking workingl ives, each person must dig deep to get at the heart of who they are and what kind of work they want to do, and finding that or listening to that voice is the hardest part…
i dont believe my photography or my writing is anything earth shaddering profound or significant but i know this:
I know it’s part of the life and blood of who i am and aint no one gonna tag the mule other than me, and it’s almost all i can give my wife and son, after the love and the living :))
hugs
running
b
b
p.s. AKAKY, PLEASE DONT JUMP ON MY ASS FOR MY SPELLING AND GRAMMAR ;)))))))…i know “shattering” not “shaddering”…im typing and running ;)))..my submission to pubs are usually more carefully edited ;)))
You know, it’s funny that you mention students come to you seeking the secrets to photojournalism, life. When I attended your workshop last year I had no illusions of grandeur. But deep down I must confess that I hoped you could some how illuminate my path. I felt so lost with my photography during that time.
I look back and laugh at that thought. You don’t know me, so how could you possibly know my best path? But that is what was so magnificent about your class. I came to that realization while wandering the streets of NYC for the first time. All too often I have had editors assign me a story, complete with contact info and even a time to photograph. I’ve basically had my hand held throughout my entire photographic career.
Your talk about authorship rang through on that first day of class. At that moment I knew that the class wasn’t going to be about what you could do for me, but what I could finally do for myself. I missed out on a few good beers and even better chats because I was sleeping on the door mats of homeless shelters for the first time to prove to myself I could truly document life the way I had always wanted.
My great work is out there some where, I believe that. And like you said, I just need to go out and take authorship.
Thanks David.
BOB– Call me if you and Marina can connect. I’m here in Toronto. +1.323.216.6460
David– Great post. BE THERE to meet FATE with F/8! Don’t you want to do an after party on Saturday for those of us who can’t make it until the tail end?! :))))