Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/05/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]George, Your words helps me to define better what I've said on my previous message, I was talking about to be in love with what you are photographing..., but I think that in fact, in the life we should be in love with what we are doing, if not... Is a shit, I'm soory but is the only word I've found to explain what I want to say. Saludos cordiales Luis -----Mensaje original----- De: lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org] En nombre de Lottermoser George Enviado el: mi?rcoles, 02 de mayo de 2007 22:59 Para: Leica Users Group Asunto: Re: [Leica] WAS: IMG: early April,NOW: Street Photography 'definition' I've been reading the comments to my, "Can one articulate what makes a powerful "street photograph?" On Apr 30, 2007, at 7:03 PM, H. Ball Arche wrote: > I will say, though, that a large part of what motivates me to shoot > what I do is the great joy I feel to be back home in the South after > being away for most of the last 25 years. And by South I mean that > mental condition much more than the simple location. I love being > surrounded by folks that I 'get', and maybe that comes through. I think that "great joy" comes through in his photographs. On May 1, 2007, at 6:42 AM, Philippe Orlent wrote: > Street photography. 4 criteria for me. > What I consider the perfect street photograph is the following: > It is a photo made 'out there' (indoors or outdoors), in public places > where people that don't necesserally know each other meet, pass, > interact or don't interact. High potential for boring (for me). > It is a photo where you feel that the photographer was unnoticed. > This doesn't mean that you can't have people looking into the lens, > but it should be with an 'empty' and non responsive look. Or that > pre-recognition look just before people understand that it's them that > are being photographed. Same potential still there (for me). > It is a photo that captures a moment that the viewer recognizes as > being unstaged, pure and genuine. A snap of life. A frozen moment. Still doesn't, in and of itself, necessarily bring anything interesting to the photograph. > And finally it is a photo that has a perfect composition. As if it was > staged to get all the elements in it at the right place at the right > time. Like everything suddenly falls into place. Without being staged. This begins to feel like a valuable criteria. On May 1, 2007, at 12:31 PM, Luis Ripoll wrote: > I fully agree your criteria, that's more difficult is communicate to > the spectator the same sentiment you had when you took the image. And this, I believe speaks to the heart of it; and to all fine photography, or any other art. Probably not the "same sentiment," yet, a sentiment or feeling, as close as possible. On May 2, 2007, at 1:46 AM, Alastair Firkin wrote: > I usually think that "interaction" makes the image strong. It can be > inter-human interaction, or the effect of the place on the person etc And this comment also speaks to the "feeling" of the photograph. Perhaps also speaks to the "interaction" of the photograph and the photographer; as well as the photograph and the viewer. On May 2, 2007, at 3:31 PM, Philippe Orlent wrote: >> Philippe, >> >> I fully agree your criteria, that's more difficult is communicate to >> the spectator the same sentiment you had when you took the image. > > I really don't know if that is possible. > Anybody? I do think it possible, desirable, difficult and necessary in the context of fine, strong powerful photography; whether street or other genres. I think it fair to suggest that the best reach for more than just a record; and strive to communicate an emotion - at the very least a feeling of extraordinary beauty, irony, humor, pathos, compassion - something. Whatever the photographer feels then needs enhanced and/or amplified by the aesthetic elements composed in the frame. I don't think it enough to just document, technically well, a beautiful object, place, or event. If the photographer does not have strong feelings and/or thoughts about the subject it's unlikely that the viewer of the photograph will. Regards, George Lottermoser george@imagist.com _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information