Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Walt, I was the one who started the whole thing so I feel like I should respond. It is simple, I just don't get much of a charge out of his work. I am well aware of his impact on the art world and the technologies of photography, et al. I am also sure that had I not been only a couple months old when you were hanging that show in 1969 I might appreciate that impact even more. All that notwithstanding, my reaction to his work is simply one of indifference. I see his work (either on every other calendar in the bookstore or in a museum) and it simply does nothing more for me than make me think "wow halfdome sure is beautiful". I won't apologize for it, its called personal taste - it makes no statement about the man himself. While I can look at landscape photography over and over, and I love taking it for my photo albums, I would buy 100 different Gene Smith clones' work before Ansel clones. I also think that brussel sprouts are one of the most vile vegetables on this planet. Cheers, Dave On Apr 4, 2005 7:25 PM, Walt Johnson <walt@waltjohnson.com> wrote: > Can't help it B.D., been dwelling on a comment you made a while back. Was > gonna let it slide (sometimes it best to keep trap shut) but must respond. > > You mentioned how boring the Ansel Adams genre was. I railed. I chomped at > the bit. I had steam coming out my ears. I kept my mouth shut. > > Sorry, but it's of no avail. Ansel was a man who set trends, not followed > them. Sure, there are lots of look -alikes out there today. 'I'm sure we > could uncover a lot of Gene Smith clones too. Hey, every time I turn around > there are folks emulating Robert Frank, William Klein and Mary Ellen Mark. > > One thing is certain though, Ansel was an original. Sure, some of his > writing was a bit pedantic but he was an original. Artist, > environmentalist, > and humanitarian. > > I help to hang one of his shows in 1969 and was very sad not to be able to > have $75 dollars to buy a signed "Moonrise over Hernandez". (that was with > the student discount) > > One Ansel is worth about 27 Maplethorpes. (sp) Hell, haven't used anything > other than a Nikon, Leica, or RB since school days but if I wanted to know > the ins and outies of a view cam I'd certainly look to Ansel's writings. > > Walt > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >