Comments on: michael loyd young – blues, booze and bbq

By: a moveable feast « Star in the Stone

a moveable feast « Star in the Stone — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:41:33 +0000

[...] “Blues, booze & bbq’s” great photo-essay on the heart of soul, from Burn magazine. New York Photo Festival website and comprehensive blogroll. Sound Remedies tuning forks to tame brainwaves with “biosonics”. strange new design ideas no joke. [...]

By: A Photographer’s Resolution to Focus | Photo Latest

A Photographer’s Resolution to Focus | Photo Latest — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:22:02 +0000

[...] Michael Loyd Young’s Blues, Booze and BBQ [...]

By: david alan harvey

david alan harvey — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:59:43 +0000

KEITH…

thanks for your critique….most welcomed of course….and i write the following being just a bit closer to Mike and his work than i am with many since i have mentored him and pushed him to follow his own personal path of growth and his dreams…..so surely, my following words are in this context….

when you write about Mike’s “treatment disguised as penetrating social documentation” i just scratched my very bald head….at what point did Mike try to “disguise” anything? did he say, or did i say in my into, that we were going to see a “penetrating social documentation”? i re-read my intro over several times in an attempt to see what you were reading into it..

yes, of course, historically the Blues came from suffering…obvious…but, Mike certainly had no intention in this work to revisit the history of this suffering but rather to celebrate the results..the positive results of suffering..of art born from suffering…..

another photographer attempting another kind of essay entirely could have made an essay showing modern day struggles which would parrot and symbolize the historic, but that is not Mike..not as a person, not as a photographer..as a matter of fact mostly what we see of black Americans by white photographers is some cliche attempt to show this struggle by way of truly hackneyed poverty pictures……c’mon now THAT is the cliche of all cliche….rarely do we see celebration of black Americans…

isn’t it sometimes quite refreshing to see work born of the heart?

speaking of heart, isn’t it simply a bit cruel on your part to call Blues, Booze & BBQ a “Delta Disneyland” ? the validity of your comment goes right out the window with a non-constructive slap as this…that is not critique…that is just being mean spirited…

you then had the audacity to link to your Mexico work which i suppose was intended to then show all of us “well boys, this is how it is done”…

hmmmm, a strange link to show given that long before the African descended peoples arrived by force on this continent was the total subjugation of the indigenous peoples in what is now Mexico…to be fair, i did look at your website, saw some very interesting pictures, and wrote you a private email saying so…but i saw no attempt on your part to document the last 500 years of suffering that went into the making of your work…since you are making no attempt in Mexico to show what you require of Mike in his essay, you just left me wondering about your own parameters…and i sure as hell saw no “heart” in the work..no real evidence of a connection to the people of Mexico…with Mike’s work one senses a connection…someone who loves the Blues, pure and simple…what do you love about Mexico Keith? or what do you hate? what is it for you? or,are visual question marks the only way to be on the leading edge for you?

in any case, this is an open forum…honesty on your part is of course welcomed and why we are here…in this spirit, i am sure you expect nothing less than honesty in return…

cheers,david

By: cathy scholl

cathy scholl — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:49:23 +0000

David and Michael,

I asked Norman and he said it is Poor Monkey that was photographed by both of you.

He sent me a photo of Model T Ford who he has also photographed.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:59:21 +0000

Michael,
We are very impressed with Blues, Booze & Bbq. It inspires us to follow our dream. You’ve created a story that brings the characters to life with emotion and a touch of humor. We like your emerging style and look forward to seeing where this takes you next.
Glenn and Sally Jensen

By: michael kircher

michael kircher — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:04:53 +0000

“…but please give us imagery that provokes your viewers, that generates more questions than it answers; not a hackneyed, refried treatment disguised as penetrating social documentation.”

This is serious? Heh!

By: keithyviet

keithyviet — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:37:11 +0000

Michael:
As I said, this was the first time I’ve ever sent a response to burn about an essay. I took the time and I tried to keep the tone of my critique serious and directed at the work and the discrepancy with the intro because I thought it warranted that. It was not sarcastic (as your response was) and it was not an ad hominem attack (as your response was).
Just wanted to let you know that.
And as Bob Black would say, “Running”. I’m out to shoot on the streets of Mexico City this afternoon, where I am most days. If you want you can see some of that work here http://www.keithdannemiller.com
Best,
Keith Dannemiller

By: Liam

Liam — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:18:06 +0000

Michael, congratulations. The photo of the street sign “Blues & Delta” really captures the spirit of the music. I look forward to seeing the book. L

By: Michael Loyd

Michael Loyd — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:06:45 +0000

keithyviet, thank you for the essay review. Since you are not charging me for the critique I would like to send you a signed copy of my book…. Blues, Booze, &; BBQ….a penetrating social documentation of the Mississippi Delta.

To all of the Burn fans that DON’T spend hours and hours sitting at their computer attempting to impress themselves and others with their endless critique and are out shooting: Don’t give up your dream and DO NOT stop submitting your essays because you are afraid that your work will fail to impress. Don’t shoot what you think certain people want to see, shoot what you see. Your style will find you. I am leaving for Disney today to shoot a penetrating social documentation…in B%W. (because I love Disneyland!)

By: eva

eva — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:44:46 +0000

keithyviet, interesting what you write, now I’m even more curious to get the book and see if what is missing here in the essay will be there, as there’s many more pictures..

By: NirAlon

NirAlon — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:27:21 +0000

Great essay Michael! Enjoyed it!

By: michael kircher

michael kircher — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:45:31 +0000

Hmmm… “disguised as penetrating social documentation.”

Despite Harvey’s intro–which gives a little history about where the blues came from–it is my understanding that this is about, um… the Blues, some booze and little BBQ. I see people celebrating, loving, enjoying. Nothing seemed to be even remotely “disguised”.

By: keithyviet

keithyviet — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:46:40 +0000

I’m sorry I am not a member of the mutual admiration society that is burn. I visit regularly and look at the work, a lot of which is very good, some even cutting edge. Unfortunately, ‘blues, booze and bbq’ fits in neither of those categories. Image-wise, there are 3 that are worthy of publication, nos. 2,3 and 11. Apart from those, the work is visually mediocre — nothing that we haven’t seen before, as other commentators have mentioned.
My first concern though is with the introduction which mentions the roots of the blues in an enslaved people; the ‘struggle to survive’; and (photos that) ‘illustrate the bond blues creates between the Delta and it’s people’. The discrepancy between these words and the actual imagery is enormous. I see nothing that tells me anything about the continuing, current-day struggle that gives sustenance to this rich musical tradition. Nothing about the connection between the land and the people that work it and/or live on it and how that might reflect in today’s blues. I don’t necessarily have to see sorrow and pain to be convinced that this is the blues, but the reason for singing this music was and is, to escape, to get out of something, usually the harsh existence in the Delta and the reality of life there. On this basis alone, the disparity between what I read and what I see, I wouldn’t buy the book.
But more than this, I feel that the photos show an utter lack of risk-taking on the part of the photographer. Visually and personally the work looks very comfortable, as if a couple of juke joints, a handful of blues festivals and some landscapes thrown in for good measure would suffice. And if you are not risking (either at the camera, on the ground or in your narrative structure) anything, to make a photo how are you going to entice someone to look at it? Another pretty picture, of ‘exotic and folkloric’ Mississippi we don’t need.
After looking at Michael Loyd Young’s work here, I feel like I’ve been taken on a tour bus through Delta Disneyland. I’m all for independent photography and books that derive from it, but please give us imagery that provokes your viewers, that generates more questions than it answers; not a hackneyed, refried treatment disguised as penetrating social documentation.

By: Twitted by richflintphoto

Twitted by richflintphoto — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:03:37 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by richflintphoto [...]

By: Mark W

Mark W — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:36:18 +0000

Wonderful.

By: Jukka Onnela

Jukka Onnela — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:20:47 +0000

cool musicians
a bit like the rich gangsta angst rappers in DAHs latest book. i always wonder when i look photos of musicians if the photos about are about good photography or about celebrities trying to look cool, or like the og (millionaire) gangstas in DAHs book (cube at his home?) west side.. BOW DOWN!, is it about making visual history, about the history of music or about “we all that”…………………

By: Jeff Hladun

Jeff Hladun — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:33:47 +0000

I feel as if I’ve been slapped silly by this wonderful essay! The images and the introduction are a perfect marriage, and on that level have hit the “sweet spot” the best of the essays I’ve seen here.
I can’t say I’m a big fan of the Blues, and I could never wrap my ears around why the Delta (Robert Johnson et al) waas such heavy influences on the Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, etc., but this series does. Congratulations Michael, you have opened my eyes – and maybe my ears!

By: michael loyd young – blues, booze and bbq « Gary Sharp

michael loyd young – blues, booze and bbq « Gary Sharp — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:51:54 +0000

[...] michael loyd young – blues, booze and bbq: [...]

By: Patricia Lay-Dorsey

Patricia Lay-Dorsey — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:44:38 +0000

I did NOT want this essay to end! I’d seen Michael’s book at DAH’s loft in October and was blown away by its vibrancy and life, but there is something special about seeing this slideshow while listening to the man himself, T Model Ford singing his blues. I must admit I look with envy at the vantage points from which Michael takes his photos. Makes me wish I could move around better and get low and high when shooting. There is such variety here; it’s like I never know where he’s going to take me next. Great work, Michael, and HUGE CONGRATS on the book and upcoming exhibit! I’ll be with you in spirit…

Patricia

By: slkarns

slkarns — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:51:43 +0000

Nice work, Michael, and congratulations on the book.

More often than not, I find the audio in slideshows like this distracting, but I think it works perfectly here – it really reinforces the mood without becoming intrusive. Definitely a cool song.

The portrait work is especially strong. #5 – wow. The landscapes give some nice context.

I’d agree with the others who said #19 feels a bit out of place, not for the subject, but because of the tilt-shift effect. I’d like to see this one without the selective focus.

Overall, great work. I’ll keep an eye out for your book.