Re: [Leica] Cicadas droning

[Rob Schneider-Laura Tully <robslaurat@earthlink.net>]

Mike Johnston wrote:

> Tell you what. Go get at least three of Bill Eggleston's books. Study
> them carefully. Then go see if you can make six photographs that you
> think are in his style or that look like shots of his.
>
> You're going to see it's not so easy, but you'll also get halfway to
> understanding what he's all about.
>
As I said before, I enjoy much of Eggleston's work.  And though the
"Greenville, Tenn." pic left me cold, and puzzled, it's actually growing on
me.

I just want to disagree, strongly, with the derision heaped on the "Miami"
photo.  This is wonderful.  Here is an entire novel by Carl Hiassen in a
35mm frame.

Look carefully at the compositions.  This is where the Walker Evans
comparison comes into play.  Evans's work often looks casual and "artless"
until you take the time to examine the structure of the image (sorry).
There is care and precision in the way many (most) of his photographs were
composed, cropped and printed.  Eggleston's work looks the same way.
Elements line up for a reason and they all serve a purpose (however subtle)
in the composition.

I find the same subtlety and humor in much of Lee Friedlander's work.
Another prime example of, "If this looks easy, go try it yourself."  Much of
Friedlander's work looks like nothing at all on quick examination.  Look
again and entire stories come off the page.

BTW, whoever first posted the link to "Masters-of-Photography," thanks!
I've now got some really cool Gary Winogrand wallpaper on my computer.

Rob Schneider