Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 12:16 PM 5/16/99 +0000, you wrote: >That is why a guy can do multiple books of pictures of his dogs.....(sorry >to any Wegman fans out there, but yeesh...pictures of your dogs in various >situations was what I was shooting at age 11) Gee, isn't that interesting...Makes one wonder why Wegman's in numerous museums, had countless books published, and is richer than god, while.... :-) Seriously...Having read your posts lo these many many months I known that you're too smart a guy to indulge in the old, "Picasso? My pet monkey could do that." I would suggest thinking of Wegman not as a "photographer" per se, but as a humorist/comedian whose performance medium is photography. Much of his stuff is hysterically funny....check out the fairy tale books....Little Red Riding Hood?....I remember going to a Wegman exhibit at the Guggenheim in NY with my then 16-year-old son the budding artist. We wandered through the rooms, pausing and laughing, pausing a laughing...then, as we were leaving the Wegman area, we passed by a docent with a tour group. The docent was prattling on about Wegman's anti-something or other reaction against the something or other school of who-knows-what and the statement he was making....Ben turned to me and in a not very subtle stage whisper said, "Idiots...Don't they know he's a comedian with a camera?" >You will definitely find more Wegman books at any major book seller than you >will Philip Jones Griffiths, or even Salgado. George Harrison (the >musician) once said that Avan't Garde, really should have been aven't got a >clue. > > >Dan > >> >>As far as technique Vs heart in art..... >> >>The art market is far more complex than most people give it credit..... >>There >>are people who produce high-quality images all their lives and never get >>any >>recognition by the art community ... there are people who produce >>low-quality >>images for a couple of years who are forever critically acclaimed as >>geniuses. Some produce original work, other cliches. It seems rather >>whimsical and success is due more to luck, timing, a few curators and >>dealers >>than skill..... >> >>My suggestion.... Take whatever kinds of pictures you want using whatever >>equipment you want..... If you want technically perfect images ... learn >>technique ... if you want soft images, buy a Holga and smear Vaseline on >>your >>enlarger lens (and join a Holga club instead of the LUG : ) ). >> >>But take images that you are proud of that reflect your vision and view of >>the world! You only get frustrated if you try to take images that will >>please everyone else because you can't please everyone. You may never get >>a >>one man show at a major museum ... but at least you'll be proud of your >>work. >> >>Duane >> >>http://members.tripod.com/~Duane_Birkey/index.html > > >_______________________________________________________________ >Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com >