Re: [Leica] Alfie

["Stuart Phillips" <stuart.phillips@rcn.com>]

Look in the archives - you'll see what you missed.

stuart phillips
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "George Lottermoser" <imagist@concentric.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Alfie


> After reading BD's diatribe, I had to "see" what all the fuss was about -
and
> also downloaded the "Postcards" pdf.
>
> Without a doubt, from any sort of professional POV, the writing, design
and
> images need heavy duty editing and serious revision. The technical limits
of
> the P&S digital camera, as well as the aesthetic and technical limitations
of
> the shooter and designer, have certainly been revealed in the work. But in
> fairness a couple - few images have some appeal. And further, begin to
speak
> about a potentially interesting existentialist theme (A philosophy that
> emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a
> hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable,
and
> stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of
one's
> acts.)
>
> I find it difficult to imagine this work coming from a graduate student;
and
> its limitations being published for sale (self or otherwise). But as
> beginning, undergraduate student work; I see an idea, effort and direction
> buried in quantity, ego and verboseness. If indeed Alfie does not listen,
see
> and learn, that's too bad. However, had Alfie submitted this body for
> critique, learned from that critique, and re-submitted a heavily edited
> revised version for further discussion - could we have found some
compassion
> for his desire to communicate and learn?
>
> Indeed, can I depend on this group to help me in these regards? Or will I
too
> get my head cut off?
>
> Within the last few days someone else submitted a body of work done with a
> digital P&S, much of it heavily manipulated in PS. I found it very strong
> visual work and appreciated the opportunity to see it. No one put it down
for
> the hardware's technical limitations or the photographer's choice to use
it.
>
> I don't understand why we put down effort without constructive criticism.
To
> suggest that someone has erred in offering work to the LUG for viewing,
> critique and / or sale because it isn't up to "our standards" seems a
slippery
> slope. I've spent a hell of a lot of time tracking down images submitted
by
> members of this group which appear far worse than Alfie's best
"postcards". In
> many cases I have no idea if the submissions come from beginners or from
folks
> that have been trying for decades and really, maybe ought to give up the
> chase. And I don't know how long Alfie's been working at "it" either.
>
> Obviously Doug's wildlife work ranks magnitudes above Alfie's street work.
And
> while Doug may not have ever offered "prints for sale" of his early
attempts
> and failures as he pursued his craft. I don't think its inherently wrong
or
> inappropriate on an FS-friday to do so. Don't like it - don't buy it.
Don't
> like the guy / gal - don't read it or look at it. But why attack the
person?
> What have I missed?
>
> geebeespawgeebeespaw@btopenworld.com
> (geebeespaw)9/6/029:13 PM
>
> >I never understood his obscure titling of his images and the photographs
> themselves did nothing for me but looking at the pdf file ("there's no
such
> thing as bad publicity") I think they are an improvement on past efforts.
> Would I buy a copy? No I would not. Have I seen worse? Yes I have and not
all
> of it mine and not all of it from amateurs. As previously stated, I will
not
> be buying a copy but I would like to offer congratulations to Alfie for an
> object lesson in tenacity. He had a dream and he chased it down. It says
> something for the climate on the LUG >recently that I hesitate to post my
> opinion in case the fallout rains down on my head. If it does, so be it.
Good
> on yer Alfie.
>
> George
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