[Leica] Week 15

[philippe.orlent at pandora.be (Philippe Orlent)]

Well,

I think the answer to your question lies in what has been talked  
about on the LUG some 2 weeks ago, but in another context:  
photography vs. or combined with drawing.

Although I do know how to draw (have been thought to in art school) I  
never really liked it: very hard to reach an acceptable level  
(translate acceptable as personal signature). I'm feeling much more  
comfortable with photography. And there are a lot of other reasons  
why. I won't elaborate any more on those, though.

But I do know one thing: looking to and studying top artist's  
(whether classical or modern) drawings, paintings and sculptures in  
real, in museums and in books, and having drawn and painted myself  
(or studying it) for some years, my sense for composition, color and  
esthetics is more developed than average, and it helps me to make  
"more balanced" photographs. Whether these latter are considered good  
or not is another issue which amongst others depends on different  
(f.i. socially or not determined) parameters.
But it definitely gives me an advantage. And it has nothing to do  
with drawing "well" or not: it's just by trying to do it that you  
discover a lot of stuff about it.

I'm also grateful to my parents for taking me to museums and talking  
about art in general from a very young age on. It's one of the most  
precious things they have given me.

So IMO, if you're looking to ameliorate (although I think you're  
talented already) your artistic skills, find a good evening or  
weekend art school, and above all, a good and open minded teacher.  
The study itself will take some time, but it will be well worth it.

BTW: I also found your answer to B.D.'s 'why do you photograph'  
question very interesting. Although I'm not sure if that is the real  
reason, it sure was some good food for thought.



Op 18-apr-06, om 23:05 heeft Michiel Fokkema het volgende geschreven:

> Thanks Philippe,
>
> I didn't shoot too much digital trough Easter. Maybe 60-70 pics.  
> But I do shoot in raw and therefore have to develop them, correct  
> distortion,  set wb,etc.  I also need some time to decide if a  
> picture is good or not. In any case I find it very difficult to  
> decide if a picture is good or not. Apart of course from the  
> obvious out of focus/exposure, bad framing etc. I'm still try to  
> find a good group/club of people who can help me with this. My  
> technical skills are oke but artistically I still have a lot to learn.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Michiel Fokkema
>
> Philippe Orlent wrote:
>> Hi Michiel,
>> I like all of them: one way or another, you managed to make  
>> something visually interesting of a complex arrangement of  
>> architectural forms. Every time the eye is guided in a very  
>> natural way.
>> I don't know how you did it (I suspect it's the combination of  
>> form and tonality, and your previsualistion skills, or just sheer  
>> talent.), but it sure works.
>> As always, I truly enjoyed the lightness (or delicacy?) of your  
>> 'color use' in B&W.
>> Thanks for showing!
>> Philippe
>> P.S.: suggestion: in digital, do not wait to accumulate several  
>> 100's of pictures. If not, selecting and 'developing' them becomes  
>> very time consuming.
>> I suspect Tina will know what I'm talking about. I remember her  
>> stating on the LUG she had to go through several 1000's of  
>> photographs after here trips.
>> I always admired her courage for that.
>
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