[Leica] Re: comments from one of the judges

[walt at waltjohnson.com (Walt Johnson)]

Montie

So we don't get too far off base on this I have to say your ship winner 
was just that. A real winner. Impressive, passionate, passes as art, 
passes as storytelling and I was green with envy. Silhouettes, on the 
other hand, were always a quick fix for a slow news day. :-)

Walt

Montie wrote:
> Interesting observation, Walt. For me, it's more a question
> of degree of impact one's work has, rather than whether or
> not I are one (artist).  ;-)
>  
> Obviously, there are many more "Pillars" in art than there 
> are "Architects".  Some of the artists you mentioned were 
> architects responsible for whole movements!  ;-)
>  
> Montie
>
>
>   
>> Monti
>>     
>
> The Fine Art genre. That  makes all the difference in the world. 
> Naturally, had I known we were going to move into such a creative, 
> complex and deep subject such as fine art I'd have been more respectful. 
> :-)       I will admit, though, to having an early on love affair with 
> /*art photography*/ before becoming tainted with journalism. I was 
> fortunate enough. to see, handle, and be partially responsible for shows 
> by Ansel Adams, Brett and Edward Weston, Minor White, Dave Heath and 
> others. They were, as I'm sure you know, the backbone of what came to be 
> called art photography.
>
> It now seems as if every Tom, Dick and Honey carrying an overpriced 
> camera is into art photography. Either that or heaven forbid, 
> photojournalism. Believe me, I've nothing against art. Even been known 
> to enter (and win) a few art contests but that wasn't the issue with my 
> post concerning our contest. One has only to pick up a copy of Black and 
> White magazine to become all to familiar with fine art photography. The 
> back twenty-five percent of that bastion of photo art is filled with 
> "struggling artists". Mostly, it seems, they  are listed as fine art 
> photographers rather than dabblers, dilettantes or just plain wishful 
> thinkers.  Psychology, culture, life experience, education and insights 
> aside, I was not caught up in a  fine art versus the rest of us 
> routine.  What we manage to post on a monthly basis is quite far afield 
> from /*art*/. You, me, and ll the rest do o.k., but fine art? I think 
> not. Occasionally one of  us may stir the graphics pot and pull out a 
> nice image but I'd be remiss if I tried to classify any of us as artists.
>
> One more thing before returning to my state of lethargy and inaction. 
> There are plenty of LUGGERS burning up a lot of film (or pixels for our 
> less fortunate compatriots) on a constant basis. Rather than 
> encouraging  more film to be wasted  I'd hope the contest  causes  us to 
> think before we click.  Intent, content and after it's all over, repent. 
> :-P
>
> Walt
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>