Comments on: lila schaffler – my collections http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/ burn is an online feature for emerging photographers worldwide. burn is curated by magnum photographer david alan harvey. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:17:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: 워드프레스 플로그인, 슬라이드쇼 | 지니김의 블로그 http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-59383 워드프레스 플로그인, 슬라이드쇼 | 지니김의 블로그 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:41:27 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-59383 [...] 올 수 있다. 플릭알등 피드를 생산해 주는 갤러리 블로그 모두.. 잘 구현된 burnmagazine essays  사이트롤 볼까요? 매그넘 사진가 ’데이비스 알런 하비’ [...] [...] 올 수 있다. 플릭알등 피드를 생산해 주는 갤러리 블로그 모두.. 잘 구현된 burnmagazine essays  사이트롤 볼까요? 매그넘 사진가 ’데이비스 알런 하비’ [...]

]]> By: kathleen fonseca http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-59245 kathleen fonseca Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:37:22 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-59245 Lila Loved your text..it really built me up, i clicked play expecting to match this intense cringing sense of the horrible last man standing, the one left after the destruction, after the fight, after the massive cool-aid party, the orgy, the 3 days of meth, the tsunami, the coup, the massacre..but i didn't find that..i found well-fed and coifed performers of various sizes, shapes and kitschy acts (and believe me, i know that fetish world well--it's not that i don't get it). I found fish and a llama that resembled people in rather fascinating ways. But i never found the metaphorical last man screaming. I am very disappointed. Either you FEEL what you wrote a lot better than you have been able to visually express or else you don't feel what you wrote and therefore your photos don't connect with your words. If you DO feel it then i think, in the words of that old song by Salt n Pepa, "that ain't iiiiiiiiiittttt" meaning, you missed. The photos are fine, nothing wrong with them. But as an essay they simply do not measure up to the amazing intro. You need to dig deeper, get in tighter..and by that i mean get closer to the nucleus of your own vision, whittle away at the fat until your blade scrapes bone..because Lila, i think you need to be this person and when you are, that's when your words will do the nasty with your photographs: "In the end there’s just that one person left over for it all to come back to, the one person left who just eats it all, hating it, loving it, slipping away and coming back all over again, sitting there in that empty room and screaming." Best Kathleen Lila

Loved your text..it really built me up, i clicked play expecting to match this intense cringing sense of the horrible last man standing, the one left after the destruction, after the fight, after the massive cool-aid party, the orgy, the 3 days of meth, the tsunami, the coup, the massacre..but i didn’t find that..i found well-fed and coifed performers of various sizes, shapes and kitschy acts (and believe me, i know that fetish world well–it’s not that i don’t get it). I found fish and a llama that resembled people in rather fascinating ways. But i never found the metaphorical last man screaming. I am very disappointed. Either you FEEL what you wrote a lot better than you have been able to visually express or else you don’t feel what you wrote and therefore your photos don’t connect with your words. If you DO feel it then i think, in the words of that old song by Salt n Pepa, “that ain’t iiiiiiiiiittttt” meaning, you missed. The photos are fine, nothing wrong with them. But as an essay they simply do not measure up to the amazing intro. You need to dig deeper, get in tighter..and by that i mean get closer to the nucleus of your own vision, whittle away at the fat until your blade scrapes bone..because Lila, i think you need to be this person and when you are, that’s when your words will do the nasty with your photographs:

“In the end there’s just that one person left over for it all to come back to, the one person left who just eats it all, hating it, loving it, slipping away and coming back all over again, sitting there in that empty room and screaming.”

Best
Kathleen

]]> By: bullockphoto http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-59041 bullockphoto Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:16:12 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-59041 i have to agree with some of the previous comments - some strong images, but not a cohesive edit. for me, the animal photographs felt disconnected - i had to stretch to try to understand their relevance. i wanted to see either a tight edit of the documentary work, or a belloc-esque series of the dark erotica. all of these disjointed series do give me a strong sense of your aesthetic as a photographer, but overall the grouping doesn't pack a punch the way it could, despite the intensity of the subject matter. i have to agree with some of the previous comments – some strong images, but not a cohesive edit. for me, the animal photographs felt disconnected – i had to stretch to try to understand their relevance. i wanted to see either a tight edit of the documentary work, or a belloc-esque series of the dark erotica. all of these disjointed series do give me a strong sense of your aesthetic as a photographer, but overall the grouping doesn’t pack a punch the way it could, despite the intensity of the subject matter.

]]> By: Frank Michael Hack http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58861 Frank Michael Hack Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:50:51 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58861 I am just coming out of a David Lynch marathon so this pieces seems to resonate with me. The non-linearity and odd characters work well together like a Lynch film. If it was in color I think I would have liked it more. I ask myself why do we still photograph in B&W. Most of the great B&W photographers of the past were handcuffed into the medium, but now we are not. So why do we still shoot in B&W purposefully. It seems with movies we don't see that same trend and I wonder about that. This is more for discussion than a comment about this work, but I guess I would ask you Lila why do you personally choose to present your work in B&W. I am just coming out of a David Lynch marathon so this pieces seems to resonate with me. The non-linearity and odd characters work well together like a Lynch film. If it was in color I think I would have liked it more. I ask myself why do we still photograph in B&W. Most of the great B&W photographers of the past were handcuffed into the medium, but now we are not. So why do we still shoot in B&W purposefully. It seems with movies we don’t see that same trend and I wonder about that. This is more for discussion than a comment about this work, but I guess I would ask you Lila why do you personally choose to present your work in B&W.

]]> By: todd r. behrendt http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58860 todd r. behrendt Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:30:14 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58860 I dig this; I'm down. Like Mr. Black said, that is one damn fine statement. I commend you for that. I found myself drawn into this essay because of its unexpected turns, and that is a positive trait. You have a good eye for light and angles, and I would be interested to see your work progress. Congratulations and keep shooting. I dig this; I’m down. Like Mr. Black said, that is one damn fine statement. I commend you for that. I found myself drawn into this essay because of its unexpected turns, and that is a positive trait. You have a good eye for light and angles, and I would be interested to see your work progress. Congratulations and keep shooting.

]]> By: Carrie Roseman http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58841 Carrie Roseman Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:24:50 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58841 I love how each image has this "in your face quality"...not in an aggressive way, rather, in the way that seems like a child's view of the world and all things unfamiliar. And I think the use of flash adds to this effect. I found the seemingly non-cohesive thread to the essay refreshing...but I do think that there is a unifying element, which is these stand-out moments of memory. Sounds lofty and contradictory, but what I mean is that I think that these shards of time thrown together aren't just happenstance; they make sense to me and I didn't want the essay to stop. There is a nice flow and curious quality to this essay, and it's nice to be able to peek into someone else's experiences and wonder about the wonder of the moment, their frame of reference and intrigue and what it could have meant. The nostalgia factor is why the populous take pictures; photographers take it a step beyond that to not only document, but to add a style, an art, a statement, a beauty to these things we see. I find this essay to be a lovely homage to both. I love how each image has this “in your face quality”…not in an aggressive way, rather, in the way that seems like a child’s view of the world and all things unfamiliar. And I think the use of flash adds to this effect. I found the seemingly non-cohesive thread to the essay refreshing…but I do think that there is a unifying element, which is these stand-out moments of memory. Sounds lofty and contradictory, but what I mean is that I think that these shards of time thrown together aren’t just happenstance; they make sense to me and I didn’t want the essay to stop. There is a nice flow and curious quality to this essay, and it’s nice to be able to peek into someone else’s experiences and wonder about the wonder of the moment, their frame of reference and intrigue and what it could have meant. The nostalgia factor is why the populous take pictures; photographers take it a step beyond that to not only document, but to add a style, an art, a statement, a beauty to these things we see. I find this essay to be a lovely homage to both.

]]> By: hookstrapped http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58839 hookstrapped Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:01:16 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58839 I like it. The theme that strikes me through the strongest pics have to do with limbs and bodies and contortions of one sort or the other. That's the stuff that stuck with me. I don't know if I would suggest that others be edited out to gain coherence because I like the mental break that a visual dualism provides -- with the faces and masks and so on. Thanks. I like it. The theme that strikes me through the strongest pics have to do with limbs and bodies and contortions of one sort or the other. That’s the stuff that stuck with me. I don’t know if I would suggest that others be edited out to gain coherence because I like the mental break that a visual dualism provides — with the faces and masks and so on. Thanks.

]]> By: michael webster http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58831 michael webster Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:39:17 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58831 I very much like the idea of photographers using select photographs in their portfolios to make essays. I would guess that most if not all very good photographers have their own idiosyncrasies that surface no matter what assignment or project they are shooting and someone with a good narrative sense can make a compelling story out of them. And what I love about photo storytelling is that the narrative connections don't always need to be subject matter or content. They can be tone or movement or color combinations or mood or a host of other non-definable-with-words story elements. I thought the story in this essay was pretty straightforward. Fish in a tank, stuffed animals in a diorama, an animal in a pen, faux freakshow performance artists on a stage, young people hamming it up or getting wasted. "See the animal in his cage that you built? Are you sure what side you're on? What if everything around you, isn't quite as it seems? What if all the world you used to know, is an elaborate dream? And if you look at your reflection, is that all you want to be?" Or something along those lines. Or something completely different? Or that and a whole lot more? That's what I like about the possibilities of narrative in the photo essay. Just like a good novel only more so. People will argue until the end of time about the meanings contained in "The Brothers Karamazov," or even "The Grand Inquisitor." Why not go for it if you've got something to communicate with your photos? Regarding the photography itself, I see a lot of skill but would like to see more originality. Perhaps I'm off base here, but it seems I've seen most of those pics before. But I guess that can be another argument for the photo essay. Once everything on earth has been photographed from every possible angle, putting choice ones together to create original narratives opens up a lot of possibilities. I very much like the idea of photographers using select photographs in their portfolios to make essays. I would guess that most if not all very good photographers have their own idiosyncrasies that surface no matter what assignment or project they are shooting and someone with a good narrative sense can make a compelling story out of them. And what I love about photo storytelling is that the narrative connections don’t always need to be subject matter or content. They can be tone or movement or color combinations or mood or a host of other non-definable-with-words story elements.

I thought the story in this essay was pretty straightforward. Fish in a tank, stuffed animals in a diorama, an animal in a pen, faux freakshow performance artists on a stage, young people hamming it up or getting wasted. “See the animal in his cage that you built? Are you sure what side you’re on? What if everything around you, isn’t quite as it seems? What if all the world you used to know, is an elaborate dream? And if you look at your reflection, is that all you want to be?” Or something along those lines.

Or something completely different? Or that and a whole lot more? That’s what I like about the possibilities of narrative in the photo essay. Just like a good novel only more so. People will argue until the end of time about the meanings contained in “The Brothers Karamazov,” or even “The Grand Inquisitor.” Why not go for it if you’ve got something to communicate with your photos?

Regarding the photography itself, I see a lot of skill but would like to see more originality. Perhaps I’m off base here, but it seems I’ve seen most of those pics before. But I guess that can be another argument for the photo essay. Once everything on earth has been photographed from every possible angle, putting choice ones together to create original narratives opens up a lot of possibilities.

]]> By: mimi mollica http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58809 mimi mollica Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:05:13 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58809 Lila, Your essay/collection, which includes some really nice shot, confuses me quite a bit. There seem to be a bit of everything in here; friends, artists, weirdoes, performers....and the style and content of each photo do also vary a lot. I can see influences from jeanloup sieff, diane arbus, susan meiselas and nan goldin, just to mention the first ones that came into my mind seeing your photos. All of this would be fine, if not for the fact that your collection does not make clear if you just hang around with some of the subjects you photograph (like Nan Goldin did for years) or if you pose models 'ad hoc'. The importance of this, where you stand and what is your message, plays its main role when you want the viewer of your pictures to understand your world. You see, I believe it is important to understand what the obese naked person is doing (and I am not talking about captions here). If you would have kept a consistent style, ie one language throughout your essay, I would have understood your words. I have visited your website and seen all of it, and found the same issue there too. Thanks for sharing Mimi Lila,
Your essay/collection, which includes some really nice shot, confuses me quite a bit. There seem to be a bit of everything in here; friends, artists, weirdoes, performers….and the style and content of each photo do also vary a lot. I can see influences from jeanloup sieff, diane arbus, susan meiselas and nan goldin, just to mention the first ones that came into my mind seeing your photos.
All of this would be fine, if not for the fact that your collection does not make clear if you just hang around with some of the subjects you photograph (like Nan Goldin did for years) or if you pose models ‘ad hoc’. The importance of this, where you stand and what is your message, plays its main role when you want the viewer of your pictures to understand your world. You see, I believe it is important to understand what the obese naked person is doing (and I am not talking about captions here). If you would have kept a consistent style, ie one language throughout your essay, I would have understood your words.
I have visited your website and seen all of it, and found the same issue there too.
Thanks for sharing
Mimi

]]> By: peter grant http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58793 peter grant Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:39:31 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58793 Lila, I love these sorts of images. People expressing themselves physically. Anyone who thinks of this as weird should think about it a little more deeply, as there is nothing strange or abnormal about it. One can look at any culture again, and again, we find people expressing themselves physically. We dance. We play sport. We paint. We comment. We look. Your photo's capture that in my mind. Build up your web site so I can see more.. Lila,

I love these sorts of images. People expressing themselves physically. Anyone who thinks of this as weird should think about it a little more deeply, as there is nothing strange or abnormal about it. One can look at any culture again, and again, we find people expressing themselves physically. We dance. We play sport. We paint. We comment. We look. Your photo’s capture that in my mind.

Build up your web site so I can see more..

]]> By: wendy http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58792 wendy Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:05:44 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58792 characters and dreams.... lines and forms..... animals and shadows... ** like your mix of B/W and color on your site... I'm curious however, why you chose to leave #25 in color on your site?!? I find it much stronger in B/W.. really love all the lines and shapes in that one..... *** characters
and
dreams….
lines
and
forms…..
animals
and
shadows…

**
like your mix of B/W and color on your site… I’m curious however, why you chose to leave #25 in color on your site?!? I find it much stronger in B/W.. really love all the lines and shapes in that one…..
***

]]> By: Gordon L http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58791 Gordon L Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:24:40 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58791 Whoa, Lila, I don't remmember that shit at all. You and I obviously come from different planets. Love the Llama pic though. Whoa, Lila, I don’t remmember that shit at all.

You and I obviously come from different planets. Love the Llama pic though.

]]> By: Jonathan VDK http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58786 Jonathan VDK Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:28:45 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58786 for me, when i come to burn, i want to be engaged, inspired and motivated in my own photography. this piece just doesn't do that for me. the images weren't as good as i expected after reading the text. for someone who has had a camera with them since they were 12, i thought the quality would be higher. perhaps Lila was going for more of a 'style thing'. perhaps. for me, when i come to burn, i want to be engaged, inspired and motivated in my own photography. this piece just doesn’t do that for me.
the images weren’t as good as i expected after reading the text. for someone who has had a camera with them since they were 12, i thought the quality would be higher. perhaps Lila was going for more of a ‘style thing’. perhaps.

]]> By: Tami http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58752 Tami Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:05:33 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58752 How fascinating that such a lovely, sophisticated young lady can see the world around you in this light. Your knowledge and use of light is great! I love the way you focus on your subjects and the intimate relationship you create on film between model and photographer-very nice. You look to me like you could be one of the greats coming up quick. You've got a unique style and skill. I'd personally like to see your photos mixed with world journalism; you can really capture the moment. Good Luck! How fascinating that such a lovely, sophisticated young lady can see the world around you in this light. Your knowledge and use of light is great! I love the way you focus on your subjects and the intimate relationship you create on film between model and photographer-very nice. You look to me like you could be one of the greats coming up quick. You’ve got a unique style and skill. I’d personally like to see your photos mixed with world journalism; you can really capture the moment. Good Luck!

]]> By: susanw http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58751 susanw Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:54:50 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58751 What if the "essay" is not what people assume it to be here? What if the essay were titled something different? or presenting something other than audiences expected? Traditional coherence doesn't exist here, true, but what exactly is "traditional coherence" in an essay form? that it has a beginning, middle, end? that there is a point to illustrate? what if it is the way of illustration that is the point? i don't think there is a right or wrong way to create a photographic essay, but i think this collection has a coherence in vision, if not subject matter. What if the “essay” is not what people assume it to be here? What if the essay were titled something different? or presenting something other than audiences expected? Traditional coherence doesn’t exist here, true, but what exactly is “traditional coherence” in an essay form? that it has a beginning, middle, end? that there is a point to illustrate? what if it is the way of illustration that is the point? i don’t think there is a right or wrong way to create a photographic essay, but i think this collection has a coherence in vision, if not subject matter.

]]> By: michael kircher http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58749 michael kircher Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:48:36 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58749 Watching this was rather like rifling through someone else's box of photos. Interesting in its own way... titillating, excited, curious about what you might next find. But as others have mentioned, not really coherent as an essay, or even an "essay." (whatever that is.) And as big a PITA as Jim Powers often can be... I have to admit to laughing heartily at that last sentence of his comment! ;^} Watching this was rather like rifling through someone else’s box of photos. Interesting in its own way… titillating, excited, curious about what you might next find. But as others have mentioned, not really coherent as an essay, or even an “essay.” (whatever that is.)

And as big a PITA as Jim Powers often can be… I have to admit to laughing heartily at that last sentence of his comment! ;^}

]]> By: Lila Schaffler http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58744 Lila Schaffler Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:20:52 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58744 ...Thank you sincerely for taking the time out to view my work. It's a truly amazing feeling to read some of the comments offered in response to my photography!!...So again, thank you for this. I'm thrilled and honored that I was given the opportunity to publish and share this work through Burn Magazine. ....I am thoroughly aware of the fact that there are people who will not find coherence or aesthetic enjoyment through the work in which I produce, everyone is entitled to there opinions and thoughts on the matter...Thank you for taking the time to look, regardless. …Thank you sincerely for taking the time out to view my work. It’s a truly amazing feeling to read some of the comments offered in response to my photography!!…So again, thank you for this. I’m thrilled and honored that I was given the opportunity to publish and share this work through Burn Magazine.
….I am thoroughly aware of the fact that there are people who will not find coherence or aesthetic enjoyment through the work in which I produce, everyone is entitled to there opinions and thoughts on the matter…Thank you for taking the time to look, regardless.

]]> By: Ramon Mas http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58743 Ramon Mas Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:46:27 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58743 I didn't understand this essay or found its coherence, yet for some reason, I wanted to keep watching more more. Truth be told....what the hell do I need coherence for?? I have enough of that stuff in my daily life!! Congratulations Lila, I really enjoyed it. I didn’t understand this essay or found its coherence, yet for some reason, I wanted to keep watching more more.

Truth be told….what the hell do I need coherence for?? I have enough of that stuff in my daily life!!

Congratulations Lila, I really enjoyed it.

]]> By: Jim Powers http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58742 Jim Powers Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:30:57 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58742 So you go through your photos, pick out a bunch of stuff, and string the stuff together. I'm really not very interested in a greatest hits collection. Much rather see a project, something more coherent. I guess David cued in on the "weird" aspect of these photos. Not sure what you would do with this other than show it on Burn. So you go through your photos, pick out a bunch of stuff, and string the stuff together. I’m really not very interested in a greatest hits collection. Much rather see a project, something more coherent. I guess David cued in on the “weird” aspect of these photos. Not sure what you would do with this other than show it on Burn.

]]> By: danclinch.com http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/12/lila-schaffler-my-collections/comment-page-1/#comment-58741 danclinch.com Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:24:07 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=4729#comment-58741 Personally, I couldn't find a coherence in your edit. I couldn't trace much of a link between the snapshots of your friends, the animal close-ups and fetish stuff. Unless of course your friends are depraved zoophiles - then it makes perfect sense. More of a (un)lucky dip than a collection. Well done on being published. It's remarkable. Personally, I couldn’t find a coherence in your edit. I couldn’t trace much of a link between the snapshots of your friends, the animal close-ups and fetish stuff. Unless of course your friends are depraved zoophiles – then it makes perfect sense. More of a (un)lucky dip than a collection.

Well done on being published. It’s remarkable.

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