Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]- --=====================_11065362==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Yesterday I took time out in London to visit the Helmut Newton retrospective at the Barbican, and the Don McCullin exhibition on Aids In Africa. At this point I would add that people who wish to contribute or get the book of the Don McCullin exhibition can do so. I have put details at the bottom of this email. The Helmut Newton show is at one of the UK's premier galleries and is a great show with some wonderfully printed work. His nudes are reproduced maybe 2 meters high and are therefore virtually life sized. His fashion work is very stylized but great. One of the interesting comments made is that the work appears to be casual in nature but very element is totally controlled to the nth degree - the placement of a glass may look casual but the video showed that he is adamant about the smallest of details. He works with Hasselblads and a 35mm which I could not identify (the name was taped over with black tape, presumably for sponsorship reasons!) He shoots on Tri-X and the larger prints were described as 'high-resolution laser prints'. The print quality was as good as you would expect. In total contrast was the Don McCullin exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in the East End of London just east of the City area. This is a gallery that I had not visited before but is a fine gallery with good facilities and a reasonable bookshop. Don appears to be back to his old form. I always felt he was 'lost' in recent years with his landscapes and still lifes although he needed the break to get the images of carnage out of his mind. The exhibition shows him at his best and portrays a truly tragic subject. His use of light and the quality of his prints is some of the finest I have seen. A short video shows him working on the project with an Olympus, not a Leica as has been suggested. This one is well worth a visit. What I found interesting and disturbing is the total contrast between the two photographers. Newton is working in a high-profile way in the mega-bucks league and every aspect of his work shows it. There is the hour long 'promotional' video, the massive high gloss prints and the supermodel images. This compares with McCullin's minimalist approach and reticent attitude to such a high profile subject. He does not seek any personal glory but wishes to remain an observer who presents his observations without being part of them. The small book of the McCullin exhibition can be obtained from Christian Aid by emailing jfairrie@christian-aid.org with your credit card details. You can also make donations on that address. The book cost me 10UKP so I would suggest it would be about 15USD plus a little for postage. Gerry - --=====================_11065362==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" <html> Yesterday I took time out in London to visit the Helmut Newton retrospective at the Barbican, and the Don McCullin exhibition on Aids In Africa. At this point I would add that people who wish to contribute or get the book of the Don McCullin exhibition can do so. I have put details at the bottom of this email.<br><br> The Helmut Newton show is at one of the UK's premier galleries and is a great show with some wonderfully printed work. His nudes are reproduced maybe 2 meters high and are therefore virtually life sized. His fashion work is very stylized but great. One of the interesting comments made is that the work appears to be casual in nature but very element is totally controlled to the nth degree - the placement of a glass may look casual but the video showed that he is adamant about the smallest of details. He works with Hasselblads and a 35mm which I could not identify (<u>the name was taped over with black tape</u>, presumably for sponsorship reasons!) He shoots on Tri-X and the larger prints were described as 'high-resolution laser prints'. The print quality was as good as you would expect.<br><br> In total contrast was the Don McCullin exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in the East End of London just east of the City area. This is a gallery that I had not visited before but is a fine gallery with good facilities and a reasonable bookshop. Don appears to be back to his old form. I always felt he was 'lost' in recent years with his landscapes and still lifes although he needed the break to get the images of carnage out of his mind. The exhibition shows him at his best and portrays a truly tragic subject. His use of light and the quality of his prints is some of the finest I have seen. A short video shows him working on the project with an Olympus, not a Leica as has been suggested. This one is well worth a visit.<br><br> What I found interesting and disturbing is the total contrast between the two photographers. Newton is working in a high-profile way in the mega-bucks league and every aspect of his work shows it. There is the hour long 'promotional' video, the massive high gloss prints and the supermodel images. This compares with McCullin's minimalist approach and reticent attitude to such a high profile subject. He does not seek any personal glory but wishes to remain an observer who presents his observations without being part of them.<br><br> The small book of the McCullin exhibition can be obtained from Christian Aid by emailing jfairrie@christian-aid.org with your credit card details. You can also make donations on that address. The book cost me 10UKP so I would suggest it would be about 15USD plus a little for postage.<br><br> Gerry</html> - --=====================_11065362==_.ALT--