"I just don’t know how long I can take it down here anymore. Too much traffic nowadays, too many tourists. They have overbuilt the beach. When I came down here, things were different.The place is goin’ to hell"
the look on Michael Halminski’s face when he says this, reflects both pain and confusion…..the old days were better….i guess maybe they always are….or, so we "remember"….
i have known Mike and his wife Denise for about 20 years…we met on a fall day when i was down here in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (OBX) shooting fishermen pulling in their seine nets…we were both jockeying for position…we were the only two photographers shooting this classic fishermans reward…a full net, right up on the beach and the light early and warm….long shadows of the fisherman and Mike and of me…
local photographers often give me a "look" when they first see me in "their territory"….i mean this was Mike’s beach , not mine…he could tell i was from "out of town" and the local folks down here suffer no fools….meeting the "local photographers" is something i always do right away…make friends and they will help, make enemies and they will..well, i do not know, because i have always enjoyed the companionship of photographers who reside in the places where i am just passing through…
Mike keeps up with what is going on in the "biz"…he shows up in New York every now and then for a trade show or in D.C. for the Natgeo seminar, but mostly Mike sticks around OBX and photographs whatever the hell he wants…Mike sells prints….to tourists and passersby and folks who just know his work..Mike’s work is of old boats, seagrass, summer storms and nesting birds…he has worked with 4×5 (made his own prints in his darkroom) , but now chooses digi and makes his own inkjets and frames them and hangs them with his own two hands in the gallery that he built with his own two hands…
you must note that Mike started out doing what so many of us strive for…he left a cosmopolitan upbringing , and at age 22 picked a place to live that he loved…surfs up….he took pictures of things that interested him and hoped that somebody would buy them….they did……end of lifestyle and commercial business strategy story….
now on this forum and in "real life" too, i have introduced you to mostly to my photoworld friends from New York, Paris or wherever…Mike chooses another life….he does not seek for one single second any aspect of my world….he appreciates it, but he does not covet it….
when my whole family shows up down here for two weeks in August, Mike
and Denise will be sitting on the back deck for the "required" sunset
happy hour chatting with my whole family…they have become , in fact,
part of our family…of course, Mike and Denise "get in" by showing up
with a bushel of crabs and a steamer!!
so, i introduce you to Mike…a man who lives his own "photographic life"…so so valid and surely to be treasured …if you are ever down OBX way, stop in and say howdy to my friends Mike and Denise…
i guess "grumbling" is what people do who live "out there"…away from the crowds….things could be better…summertime traffic is pretty bad….but, what do you think?
is everything "goin’ to hell" down here, or is Mike living in paradise????
ASHER…
yes, you are correct….one of the reasons everyone really wants the full frame digi is so that the backgrounds can be soft, out of focus…certainly that is one of the reasons i like MF…
what a heroic and extraordinary journey and evolution this blog has made, hug David? ;))))….it’s virtually skipper-less, in the sense that now there is so much wonderful energy and community (always was like that here, only know larger, more spread, little circles, like small galaxies, of discussions and work and friendships), that its wonderful to just drink it all up :))))…
what a community which has been built in such a remarkably short time :)))
ok, so, since there are so many comments and so much i’d wanted to write to each, i’ll cut to quick and make it much simpler:
LISA :))..just today looked at the updated Beautiful Music…still love love much of it…some of the new pics seem, to use dah word, repetitive, and i’ll write u privately tonight (no time now), but there is inside this story an incredibly important theme, and some of the pics carry that theme visually (how to transform oneself from isolation to community through the transformation of one’s self)…i’ll tell u tonight, for me, which pics carry that sense, of loss and of gain…please remember them and this journey amid your own frustration…:)))…and yes, marina dreamed on thursday night that we had moved to Sydney…
ANTON: :))))…i think it’s a brilliant idea, from one nomadic person to another, and a grandchild of a seacaptain (my grandfather was a sea ship oil tanker captain for Sun oil for 35 years), i can tell u how great this story would be for you…AND FOR US TO SEE…for me, i’d stay, fuck yea!
ASHER/ERICA/DAVID: gonna show some med-format pin-hole pics as part of Bones…hows that for med format? ;))))))))))
MARCIN; :)))…I HAVE LOVED JACOB since the month after i got married (when i discovered him): that would be almost 5 years ago…in 2005 there was an exhibition of the work from Sabine (one of my favorite books), and he has always felt like a soul brother to me…and i agree…the best photography comes from a place of transformation…be it about love or the loss of love…and love is life, and dealing with that tranfiguration, to me at least, is the only count of the heart of my own work and the work that matters to me (other’s work); that love may be of the kind “being in love with a person” or “loving a person” or loving all that disappears (people, place, time)….jacob’s work matters….alot…
ALL: marina and i chat about this alot (digi vs. film) since we only shoot film, 35mm, med format, toy cameras, etc…it’s tough, cause it’s incredibly expensive (and we wrestle with the ideas about chemicals and environmental shit and all), but for me film has done alot for me, not only because the texture of my own work, the mistakes, the imperfections, the grain, the loss, can only work with film, but also film has taught me patience and perspective…i cant shoot 1000 frames in a month…for Bones i shot 8 rolls…and 1 more next week…that’s it for 4 weeks of shooting…+ 1 roll in NC (the beginning of the work)…+ 1 picture from October of Dima…that’s it…that like 300 frames…with the way i shoot, i dont know yet how many good pics (i know what i got in NC cause i’ve developed the negs), but the truth is it as told me to see, to look always, to deal with the loss of “not being there with a camera” for understanding that 1 pic is an accumulation of a river of images, that i cannot always shoot, it’s impossible, and it’s made me also realize that lots of work doesnt count, hurts, fails…and i cant get that back…and this transformation has made me the photographer i am: what is more important: the picture or the act of photogrpahing…for me, it’s a simple answer now…
lastly:
DAVID: you wrote about “missing the shot”…i would just say there is never a time, never a time when anyone missed the shot, unless they made the picture…because that moment will stay inside you for the entirety of your life, that reflection, the connection with this man experiencing pain, and that “missed” pic will turn up inside your othe rwork, your heart, your character…there are never any missed photographs…only photographs taken or not…
like all those remarkable solitary children in your work (the young david alan), there will again appear the pain and the intimacy and the love and connection you felt for this father….
i know….i know…
hugs
gone for the weekend…
running
bob
DAVID,
hmmmm… yes, and no I suppose…
For me to be “in love” as an artist is best way to good work. But I’m crazy, my my mind is float in ocean of chaos. My wife, my love keeps me on top. She helps me, gives or lends money, good word. She protect me by myself. She show me how I should look at world. She show me the world! Maybe I’m photographer because of she only?
As a photographer I don’t know other life. She was first.
But what could happen If I could be not “in love”?
Some freedom? Some vagabond? Some trouble? Some adventure? Some traveling?
or some too much alkochol? Too much work? Too much tv? Some other famili, kids, work, sallary, work?
The truth is that I don’t know how to be a photographer and not be “in love”.
hmmm… yes… be or not to be…
It is the same right now.
but in other life?
I think we all need catalyst.
Love, passion, curiosity… or sadness, lonley, sorrow…
Bob,
Yes I knew and I loved Jacob’s works before he was nominee for magnum group. I read about him and saw his work when he had exhibition in “yours gallery” in poland in 2006. I was very happy when he was nominee one year later.
This is pure photography.
Say hello to Marina from me :)
peace
MARCIN,
Again and again you amaze me with your eloquence in English.
The words are very simple, but the ideas are deep. And your heart can be felt so clearly through your words.
I hope that when I write or speak in languages that are not my mother tongue, I can be as eloquent as you!
ROSS…
ok, here are my favorites….
1, 6, 10, 12,15,16,19,27
but even with these favorites, almost every picture here is relatively the same..by same, i mean editorially the same….sort of either/or in any kind of magazine or book layout..you have almost no “behavior” photographs…almost no interaction or street “moments” and it just looks like one of those situations where there would be at least some …you have mostly portraits…..and these are quite good portraits, but is that all you are trying to do in Timor???
cheers, david
JEAN,
I second what David said, I kept going back to the image of the girl sleeping. There is something magical about that image, I cant put my finger on it. Its refined, classic.
Maybe try writing out your thoughts, and trying to come to something specific, it seems your story is so broad its hard to focus on it and dig into it.
ANTON…
sounds good to me…..at least, the way you describe it….but you, my friend, must be very aware of the boredom syndrome…surely, the most interesting part will be the interaction with the families and/or the shore time in the small towns…the skippers on the boats themselves will probably not give you too much..that part is maybe a two or three picture story…you will have mucho “down time”..going to sea always sounds good, but having spent lots of hours on lots of boats with lots of skippers, the sea time gets pretty tedious after the first few hours since, in this case, they are hauling goods and not people and not actually working on board as a fisherman would do..hours at sea when the light is bad and nothing is happening, is much worse than hours on shore when you can divert your attention in so many ways…the best thing to do here is obvious..give it a go…spend a few days on one of these boats and see how it feels…see if the vagabond metaphor can be illustrated..see if you can stay “fired up” at sea….
cheers, david
Erica–
Your advice about the “no’s” came in handy today. My streak has been broken. I got my first “no.” The wind was taken out of my sails momentarily, and I remembered what you had said. Thank you…
sl
Erica,
I like your color works. You are great in B&W portraits, you know that, but in color, hmmmm something really nice you have in color for me.
DAVID
I hope you feel ready for this. The community favorites gallery holds together pretty well with only 24 images. That URL is
http://www.pbase.com/windchimewalker/for_review7
PASSWORD patricia
But the gallery from which those were chosen is like going through an over-stuffed closet. It has 76 images. And believe it or not, I’ve deleted a bunch! I’ve done my best to lay them out in a somewhat organized fashion, but it’s still overwhelming. Ah well, here it is:
http://www.pbase.com/windchimewalker/for_review5
PASSWORD patricia
David, I so appreciate your tackling this rather onerous task. I sure could use some direction right about now. I feel like I’m floundering…
Patricia
PATRICIA….
i think the community edit holds up pretty well…i went back through the whole 76 and did not see anything i would add to the 24 edit…and you know me by now, i would take the 24 down a bit!!! but, not yet…
this is not an onerous task….you have organized the material well…it is easy to see and visualize where you are….now, i only have a question…why do you think you are floundering???
if i look at the 24 tight edit, you seem to be right on it…but, let’s say we took that group down to the very strongest pictures, which we should do with prints i think..so we can play with sequencing etc…just for the sake of argument, let’s say we got it down to 20 pictures…what is the problem??? i mean 20 pictures is quite a few considering how long you have been working on this…which is just a few weeks ..right??
i think if you keep doing pictures of you and your husband, you will be on to a good book…yes, the next ones (and you will need about 40-50) will come slower than these first ones…but, that is just the way it is…for you, and for all of us…you actually have a much tighter subject than most…and with such a sense of purpose and value beyond most…
for heavens sake do not stop now!!!
working on a long term project goes something like this:
(a)initial burst of energy and enthusiasm..first pictures…this is the easiest part
(b) a slow down….second guessing, tortured thinking…wondering if it will work out…this is the hardest part
(c) second wind….another burst of energy from out of nowhere..more good work comes…you start to see something really developing
(d) another slowdown…but not as bad as the first….because by this time you will have a pretty good body of work…and this time you must tell yourself you cannot quit..too much at stake by now!!!
(e) your final burst!!! like a runner at the end of a race…last kick!!!! squeeze squeeze squeeze…
(f) knowing you are done…just absolutely done….
(g) time to edit….and then that whole process all over again with editing!!
(h) time to pursue a layout…time to study typography, design, paper, binding…which publishers will work best??
(i) time to “make it happen”…do it..find the publisher, organize an exhibition, seek gallery space…
(j) stay on top of the printing and distribution..make sure it comes off the press as you intended….
(k) opening night….all your friends and family are there…pop a bottle of champaigne!!! make a speech..sign books..enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!
you MUST believe this is all worth it..and i can tell you that it is….but, you must know that this process is totally agonizing as well…you will suffer…you will be elated…you will suffer again and again…you must be happy with the percentages of pain/pleasure….90% pain, 10% pleasure…but that 10% is rare air…a place where very few go…
YOU should go there!!!!
fondly, david
DAVID
Thank you for looking, responding, encouraging, believing in me & my work. Knowing your selective eye, I’m surprised that you even see 20-24 out of the 76 total that would make your cut. At the same time I’m wondering where in the world I can find 40-50 more!!! The 76 I showed you are a very small % of all the photos I’ve taken since starting this project on June 11. But I trust the alchemy of my creative spirit plus a bulldog determination will open my eyes, mind & heart to ever-new ideas & photo opportunities. I’ve seen it happen before and I trust it will happen in the months (years?) that I pursue this project.
Regarding your comment, I had to laugh out loud when I got to “(k) opening night….all your friends and family are there…pop a bottle of champaigne!!! make a speech..sign books..enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!” It all seems rather impossible, or at least terribly unlikely, but life is full of surprises–that much I know from experience–so why not??? The fact that you believe this is possible helps me believe in it myself.
I guess what surprises me the most about where this project is taking me is its focus on Ed’s & my life together. Yes, we’re close. Yes, we’ve been together for 42 years. But the truth is I’ve always gone off & “done my thing” while Eddie’s been the “stay at home” member of this marriage. When I started this project a month ago I saw it as centered on my relationship with my disability not my relationship with my husband. But the photos that most touch folks have been ones of Eddie or the two of us together. Shows how much I know about where creativity is going to take me!
So I’ll keep chronicling our life together, my life as a disabled woman & my unique world view. I suspect this project has its OWN idea about where it wants to go. My job is to stay open to its nudges and “live [my] life with [my] camera attached to [me],” as so wisely Asher said.
Regarding writing text for a book, I’ve written all my life, but, like Akaky, I prefer image-making. But now that I have 24 core images to set the tone, I’ll get my words working too. And I just bought a digital audio recorder to use in my project with the African American elders, so I guess I could use it with Eddie & me too.
David, thank you seems too small a phrase to say what I want to say to you, but I have no other. You are an unusually generous-spirited man and give back way more than you could ever have received. You, my friend, are building up exceptionally good KARMA this time around!!!
in peace & gratitude
Patricia
Thanks for that breakdown David. I think I’m about right at C. Been through all the doubt, fun stuff coming up—Michigan’s biggest garage sale in August, from Niles to Detroit. Also trying to get into shooting storage facility auctions. Apparently if you can’t keep up with your storage lease, they can break the locks and auction your stuff.
Also, if I’m lucky enough to have an exhibit, I’ve been buying 10 cent picture frames from the garage sales—I’m envisioning an eclectic wall of small images—maybe exclusively of kitchy items?
DAVID McGOWAN…
yes, yes..of course..make your exhibit look like a garage sale..so obvious…
cheers,david
DAVID
thanks for the feedback… you are right, and i have thought about the boredom factor as well… actually, i’m hoping this will be different as it are skippers on ‘tiny’ ships on the canals inland (they don’t actually go to sea at all)… there should be “frequent” stops, little towns, lots of locks, bars and the like…
i’m hoping of course, maybe this is not the case… but there’s only one way to find out…
and then i told a friend this evening, and she said the most surprising thing… her grandmother, now 85, used to PULL these boats as a kid… with a rope… back when people didn’t have money for a horse or a real diesel engine… imagine, 7 brothers and sisters pulling the boat of their parents from town to town… hard hard world… she’s the last survivor of her siblings… i’m sensing a story with this brave woman alone already… she’s been brought up in the ‘school for skipper’s children’ in Ghent… the school is actually called like this, and apparently still exists today…
so i’m definitely not planning just to go out with skippers… although it is an essential part of course, but you are absolutely right… not more than 3-4 images tops…
we’ll see… i’m getting excited… i see opportunities opening up around me…
love
anton
MR HARVEY,
Apropos absolutely nothing at all, how did Susan Meiselas hurt her hand? Just curious
DAH ***
If it’s not too late… I just heard from my friend Allison. She heard back from one family she knows in Santa Fe who might be interested. The father is Native American, the mother is half Mexican half Jewish. She grew up on the east coast, him out there. They have a son who is 6 or 7 or so. They’re teachers and artists. Are you interested? How should I get you they’re info if you are?
sl
DAVID G
That sounds like a fun exhibition! I love shows like that!
‘LIL BRO
I wanted to do something similar in Bangers last year but with the big canal boats I just couldn’t organize access and it would have been a bit difficult in the time we had so that’s fro me a to do in the future …
But you go for it, you got access just do it!!!
ROSS
I have been meaning to write you an email, I have been writing to go with my stories, I’m a bit like AKAKY (but not so funny and I reckon possibly blonder!) I just think writing is hard work sometimes (the worst of it though is definitely writing funding apps though)
The prejudice here in newspapers and mags that I have traditionally worked in is that photographers aren’t literate enough to be able to put a story together. Which is of course complete crap ‘cos my writing has been published since I was 19, in fact I was writing way before I was shooting.
Just if I go in to the people I know with words they tend to be a little ‘there, there thats nice Lisa’ type thing. Mind you most of the time the journo’s do it better ‘cos it is their speciality.
I think my greatest problem is that I am REALLY bad at marketing myself AND approaching people that I am intimidated by.
Does anyone else know what I mean, I just get literally PARALYZED by having to approach lots of different outlets with my work. There is a bit of psychology behind that (lets not get into the ‘mother’ thing) and I realize that I have to just get over it and most of the time thats what I do but sometimes I can’t and thats where I fail.
The internet is my savior in lots of ways, I often don’t have to deal with people until I am face to face with them and by that stage if I have got that far I know I am IN anyway so I rely on my natural ‘good-looks and charm’ (hehehehehe….just really joking) to seal the job.
I can face just about anything that the world throws at me in terms of physical stuff BUT dealing with the BIG INTIMIDATING PHOTO WORLD is not my forte. I am just so not cool enough…
Bob knows what I mean, I think he experienced it when he was running the slideshows. Its my inner dagginess that always outs, I just am not up for sitting around in corners looking like I know what I am doing, I just try and feel it….
PATRICIA
42 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God I am inviting myself to your 50th OK?
Most of my relationships don’t even last 42 days…
ANTON….
cool…sounds like you are thinking on the right track..go to it…
AKAKY….
a car hit Susan outside our Paris meeting ..and that was right before Alex Webb fell out of bed (a bunkbed) and broke his face and right after Dennis Stock tripped and smashed his forehead..most of us came out of the meeting ok, but some obviously fared better than others…
SPENCER…
call or text my cell 202 413-1137 … i will be flying all morning tomorrow (sunday)…many thanks in advance…
cheers, david
LISA…
42 days???
well, remember when we were in BKK and we all decided that maybe we should have a relationship workshop instead of a photo workshop?? only problem was, who in the world was going to teach it!!
peace, david
LISA…
42 days???
well, remember when we were in BKK and we all decided that maybe we should have a relationship workshop instead of a photo workshop?? only problem was, who in the world was going to teach it!!
peace, david
DAVID
May I ask one more question?
The weekend of August 2-3 I’ll be taking a workshop with Mary Ellen Mark at a photography center in the Catskills. We’re to bring 10-20 prints for a portfolio review on Saturday.
I am currently working on two long-term projects: 1) the self portraits; and 2) a photo essay of African American elders at a senior learning center in Detroit. I would have enough images from either project to show Mary Ellen.
Since you are so kindly mentoring me on the self portrait project, would it be confusing the issue to show Mary Ellen that portfolio? I’m comfortable showing her the elders project if that seems best. What do you think?
Patricia
Patricia–
Do you know where I can find info on the Mary Ellen Mark workshop? I looked on her website and there’s no mention of it. I think if I can work it out, I might like to attend.
Thanks,
Spencer
SPENCER
It would be great if we could meet! The URL is
http://www.cpw.org/WPW/2008/pages/wpw2008.html
When I registered in June, the workshop was full. But maybe there’s been a cancellation. Hope so!
Patricia
DAH
Laughing very hard at that one!
Cheers!
David,
Missed out on the mishaps happening to a few of you after Magnum meetings. It seems like a lot happened betwwen 9 and 5!
BTW, It is simply impossible to follow with the blog in situtaions where one can’t leisurely stay in front of the screen, as happens to me now in France.
There has been a lot of people presenting new galleries of photos and essays, and subsequent posts about it all, and I wonder if now, for those who are not always following the blog post by post, or are limited in doing that for any reason, we could not make a new point of asking new essay and work submissions to be added to the “post your link here” entry in the WS/student section. Or even divide it now in 2, keep the first one for links and create a new entry one for work happening now, ie. being commented in the general road trip section.
Nevertheless, I will catch up with it all, when back next week in California. For now, enjoying the remnants of my stay in France. Tonight, le bal du 14 Juillet…
what do you guys think about this?
I was looking to see what sort of prices people are selling their film camera gear on e-bay, ‘cos as much as I don’t like it I am going have to sell something. I have a lot of 35mm gear well loved Canon F-1′s if any one is interested (gonna keep the Mamiya 6X7 you just never know do ya)
Anyway you can buy a genuine invitation to a James Natchwey exhibition and some piece of paper that accompanies it for $9.86 (at the time I posted this)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-James-Nachtwey-Ground-Level-Photography-Exhibit_W0QQitemZ230268773368QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3347QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Is James the new ‘Elvis’?
Man! how much would you love to see Nachtwey with an Elvis do! Sweet!
Just put up a new post on my blog. Its a short piece on the Khmer Rouge’s Security prison (S-21) during the genocide in Cambodia. Please drop by if you have the time.
http://www.jameschance.com/multimedia/jcimageblog/imageblog.php
Cheers!
James
DAVID, ERICA, SPENCER, ERIC….
Just want to add a few words after reading your discussion about me and my images. First of all, thanks for all your words. I got a lot out of what was said, believe me…
DAVID you are totally correct. I can take whatever is being dished out and only desire to learn and grow. I would rather be “farther along” whatever that means but I only became interested in documentary photography recently, so whatever it takes for me to improve…bring it on!!! Of course I prefer compliments when I can get them :))
ERICA I may want to use the “lipstick and dirt” someday if that’s okay with you. I like that alot but I am also surprised by your getting what you described out of image #5…I agree with David…Are you SURE that’s the image you are talking about, not #4??? There is not even any dirt in that shot and not much lipstick either…
This just shows me it’s totally MY FAULT…
I AM AN IDIOT for posting these shots in the first place because there is very narrow depth of field…which I prefer.. My mantra is “closeup and complicated”…the more stories I can tell in one image the better…but I should have posted shots here that are “simpler” to see and quicker to assess in 2-3 seconds. For whatever reason the color space on LS is much “flatter” than my laptop so it all mishmashed together and in a small image like these it’s very hard to see what’s going on. Image #5 is not really about the girls at all…it’s the glance of the man (a preacher) looking at the girls…to me it’s much more about him than them. SPENCER I AGREE. He’s in focus, the rest is not.
Again, I should not have to be verbally explaining what you should see in the images. I should have posted images that are clear enough for you to see what was intended. MY BAD.
#9 is the same thing…Only the guy looking up at the Rodeo Princess is in focus but it’s hard to see this here.
I’ll just have to do better next time. Until then I do appreciate your taking the time to help me learn.
ERIC….”Be nice to Cathy?” Now I’m nervous…I’ve never met
David…you know him. Do I need you here to defend me? :))
I will do my best “Panos impersonation” and try to get a few shots out.
ASHER
I want to commend you for having such a sharp editor’s eye! Did you notice that the “group edit” of my photos that DAH liked so much was made up of 24 images, 19 of which were YOUR choices???
Now will you PULEEZE stop referring to yourself as a “crappy amateur”!!!! Thanks so much for your timely help, my friend.
Patricia
Do you folks know about the Eugene Smith Grant? The deadline for 2008 is July 15. Check it out at
http://www.lightstalkers.org/eugene-smith-submission-deadline
Patricia
PATRICIA
Thanks…!!! I will rid myself of self-deprecation. But to be honest, I think your observation just reflects that I am a student of DAH for many years even though I’ve never met him: I have his books, among others, and study them repeatedly, since long before this blog started. So I guess I just know what I like when I see it.
You’re really off to something special. I am sure your one-on-one session with David will be a fantastic learning experience. Savor it, take notes, ask questions, enjoy it! I had some one-on-one sessions with Steve McCurry last May and his advice helped me a lot and got me all fired up all over again- no small feat given that I’ve been a frustrated/jaded amateur for about 30 years.
Thanks,
asher
LET’S SEE…
DAH
managed to shoot a very little by myself yesterday, tho the light was crap and had no one to help with a reflector, but I tried..and shot a lot today with the generous amazing help of Sana..this is a person you want to have your back for you..and Rachel came briefly and did some audio. Am completely tuckered out but hopefully we managed to make something good. It’s sort of surprising how much doing it takes to get to the moment..but I am hopeful and am grateful and excited that you are looking forward to seeing the pics. Hopefully will have some scanning time on tuesday, so at least I will know where I stand..
BOB
bring on the MF bones!
SPENCER
it was inevitable that someone would say no, and I am glad you took it in stride. at this point I don’t even give it a second thought..it’s not about the photographer in most cases, so onward..the tricky part comes when you are trying to read a ‘no’..some noes are actually I would like to, but am shy/feel unattractive/whatever. In that case, there opens an opportunity to become closer to someone emotionally and see if they are actually willing but need to know they are in respectful, well intentioned hands..
MARCIN
I love to shoot color, but there most always seems to be a stronger reason to shoot BW. Sometimes when I am out street shooting for a period of time I will throw color in and forget about it on purpose. (Not hard to do, my thoughts are always elsewhere) I find for myself it is best to shoot color as if it is BW..I don’t mean to pretend, but just to shoot as I shoot, and the color is a bonus…that way a strong image is a strong image, and not just something I saw and framed up because the color was working.
CATHY
The lipstick and the dirt is all yours..and yes, image 5!! The whole thing for me happens in the left hand part of the frame, Miss Frontier’s essence at that moment..as i tried to say, the rest I pieced from info from all the images in the series..an inspiration from what you presented..
ASHER
but i want a Hass :)
MR HARVEY,
thanks. it’s not everyday that I find myself in the same room with someone from Magnum and I was just wondering what happened there. there was a panel discussion going on and just after she left I was almost blinded by the collected lights going on over the panel’s collective heads.
While I am being curious, would newcomers to Magnum be mag tyros?
Re: Sobol
I had never seen his work before a couple of weeks ago when i was told about him. Im very impressed by “Sabine” so much, especially by the editing of that story…very loose not only in shooting but also in the edit and sequencing. Im very impressed by the cloeseness. I love the aesthetics of the high contrast, harsh use of flash which definitely seem to be his photographic language. I do like how he is sticking to that aesthetic no matter the subject. Im sort of all over the board a bit, Ive been using that sort of approach in my Home Sweet Home series for months now but Im also exploring color in a couple of side projects. It perhaps does dilute the “language” of my photography although Im really in love with the possibilities of color for small side projects. I know that Bob for example seems to be sticking to his own aesthetic, Marcin, too. For sure most of the Magnum guys have a very clear cut, set aesthetic to their work so you know always if you are looking at a Harvey, Pinkhassov, Sobol or Parr.
I suppose my question to David, but also others, is this: How do you view changing style, from harsh BW intimates with strong flash to polaroidish colored landscapes by a single photographer?
Does variety hurt?
Does variety hurt? Only if you’re into that sort of thing…
ERICA
Life’s too short… go for it!
BOB
I second the vote: your fans are clamoring to see your Bones! I will send you an email soon to firm up our plans to meet in Toronto next month.
Hi EVERYONE
I posted a little current work from a long-term personal project on Asian cultures transplanted to the Pacific Northwest. There are two preliminary edits up of what may become smaller essays within that larger project… mostly I put it up because I’m in a classic editing bind where I have three or four pictures that are good of the same thing and even after going back and forth over which one to use, I still can’t decide… so, I thought maybe one or more of you might kindly give me some feedback. The photos start here:
http://www.telcomplus.net/satkins/photo2.html
First I put up some from the preliminary edit to give a feel for the overall look of the group… and then, in ‘Cherry Blossom Festival’ there are three pix of two boys portraying fishermen from a folk tale… the photos are almost identical, but subtly different, and I like each one for different reasons… Decisions, decisons! And then on the next page in ‘Chinatown Night Market’ down at the bottom are four cooking stall scenes. These are not the same view… but are what DAH would probably say are ‘all editorially the same picture’. So a tight edit would probably use only one… the question is, which one? Anyway, feedback will be appreciated!
“I will rid myself of self-deprecation.”
A great mantra from ASHER.
Asher, I have that in my blood as well. Maybe not the greatest quality but I think it gives me that push to always do better.
In fact ERICA that reminds me…You must be familiar with Krishna Das, the king of self-deprecation and the darling of the kirtan world. I used to be his manager and helped get his career going.
I finally had the chance to read your yoga pose analogy. Loved it. So true….Okay Erica, image # 5 it is! :))
Patricia–
I would love to meet you at the Mary Ellen Mark workshop. I’ll look into it tomorrow. But I imagine if it was full in June there’s probably a waiting list now. I’m also not positive I could swing it financially. I was looking into car rentals and inns in Woodstock. It’s insane how much it costs to rent a car in NYC these days. You’re looking at over a hundred smackers a day. And then the cost of the workshop and film and so on…
Erica–
I got another “no” today. The first one yesterday was a man who I tried to talk to a little, but he really obviously just wanted to be left alone. Today it was a woman in central park. She was actually working and a little sweaty and disheveled. So I think it was a bit of a vanity thing. It’s funny though… most of the people I’ve photographed have started conversations after the photos were taken. I think what I need to do, is shoot a few frames, have the conversation, then shoot some more. And here’s another question for…
Erica and anyone else that has two cents to spare–
An issue I’m having… often I see someone that I think would make a great portrait, but there are mobs of people around. I’m really nervous about asking because a) I think being shot down in front of that many people would just be too humiliating, or b) the person in question might just be too embarrassed to be photographed in front of a large audience. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
sl
Oh, and P.S. Erica and Asher–
I love my Hasselblad! Asher, in an earlier post, I forget how you referred to the Hasselblad, but it was something negative and I’m sticking my tongue out at you…
sl
SPENCER
Take a look at this Bruce Gilden video- it might help you get over your potential “embarrassment”…
I’m not saying that Bruce’s approach is ideal… but just to show you that many people in public either won’t notice or just won’t care. Whether that’s the style of photography you wish to pursue is a different issue.
The last time I was street shooting in NYC, I got rejected 95% of the time when I asked, and the 5% that said “yes” threw me off so much that I flubbed the photos, I was so surprised that they said “yes”! I think a genuine smile and sense of comfort with yourself goes a long way. Keep at it, shoot lots, fail lots, and eventually something will happen (and you probably won’t know how or why, but it will feel really good!)
I am a disciple in the temple of DAH, so David and others here can advise you more appropriately.
SPENCER
I have nothing “against” Hassy’s! I just think Erica’s eye is a much greater asset than any camera upgrade!
SPENCER
I really hope it works out for you to take the MEM workshop. It would be great to meet you! Yes, the whole thing is quite pricey. I’d pick you up if I weren’t coming from the west. In terms of places to stay, the prices were outrageous, but I called around and found a Super 8 motel in Kingston, just 20 minutes away. Instead of $180, it was $85 a night. The URL is
http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=03707
Call if I can help. My cell is 313-410-0454.
Patricia
Hey Asher,
I saw that Bruce Gildon video a few weeks ago. Oh that poor old woman at the beginning! It is an interesting video. I actually tried that style of street photography for a while (minus the flash), but it’s not really my thing. And I really don’t have the balls for it. I did most of my shooting from the hip, hoping my subjects were in the frame. And so often I noticed even with the camera at my side, people seemed to be staring suspiciously at it! Those types of shots can be very interesting when they’re done right, but I really prefer for my self willing interaction with my camera from my subjects. And so far it’s been a really great experience. I’m very slowly starting to get over my shyness and I’ve only had two people say no so far. I think it’s a combination of making photographs and therapy for me.
And I was kidding about the Hasselblad. You called them “over-priced collectors items.” Obviously, a beautiful photograph can come from any camera (in school we made pinhole cameras from oatmeal boxes). It just happened that all of the photographers I worked for during and after photography school used Hasselblads, so that’s the camera that I was familiar with. I got mine used at a photography store in Philly in the mid-80′s for 800 bucks, with an 80mm lens and a film back. And I do think it’s a wonderful camera.
Spencer,
often I think we project our fears onto others. perhaps you saw them staring suspiciously because thats what you expected them to be doing. I think that often the key to shooting on the street isnt external but internal: to get past your own hangups ad fears and simply go out and shoot people. Remember, its only a camera, its only a picture, theres nothing wrong with what you are doing.
In terms of asking to take portraits of strangers, here’s where I definitely think being a woman–especially a white-haired scooter-riding woman like me–is an advantage. Not that it’s impossible for a man, ie., look at DAH for one! I’ve only recently gotten comfortable going up to strangers and asking if they’d be OK with my taking their picture. I figure the worst that can happen is they’ll say no.
Now it could be that things are different in NYC. It probably is. But Erica should be a good resource on that. Just don’t let it get you down. If they say no, it’s THEIR issue not yours.
Patricia
Patricia–
You’re the sweetest! Thanks so much. I looked at the cpw website. The workshop looks wonderful. I also looked at their travel and accomodations page. They list some Inns that are in the $125 a night range that are right in the town. But maybe they’re all booked? A super 8 nearby could work just fine though. I don’t know the area at all. I’m going to call tomorrow and see if I can squeeze in. Begging and pleading my work. And I’d love to meet you. Not to mention, I could seriously use a weekend out of the city!
sl