Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/12/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ohmigod - don't anyone criticize a master photographer! ;-) On 12/6/05 10:35 AM, "Mark Rabiner" <mark@rabinergroup.com> wrote: >> I agree that Salgado's work is the work of a master. That said, to my >> mind >> his exhibitions also have the a feeling I can only describe as one of >> ponderous monumentality, like watching a made-for-IMAX movie. This >> reinforces his narrative, but also leaves me with >> >> the feeling that the viewer is not left much room to process her own >> reactions or make independent judgments. It feels more like advertising >> than >> classic documentary work, more tendentious than revelatory. His narrative >> content tends to focus on big ideas, not on individual >> >> stories. One doesn't get the feeling that his subjects are much by way of >> individual beings to Salgado, that they may have dimensions to their lives >> beyond mass suffering. To my mind he also needs to be much more ruthless >> in >> his editing. Epic scope and scale plus overwhelming volume can actually >> blot out the complexity and nuance of human elements; it can certainly >> fatigue and overload. > > PMCC. > SF, CA > > NO ARCHIVE > > > There's no epic scope and big ideas and not individual stories or mass > suffering in his many shots of individual people. The kids for instance. Or > very small groups. > > Black and white Shots with rich blacks in the print of huge open pits of > thousands of minors climbing up walls with sacks of rocks over the > shoulders > sure. That's very powerful and very memorable and overwhelming. But the > other smaller scale stuff is of course much more personal. I find this > vague > strange criticisms of a master photographer. Master photographers get hit > from all directions from people sniping at them on the internet who are not > qualified to bring them coffee or hold their camera bag. If this applies to > the writer of this one I have no way of knowing - this is not directed > personally and is of course a generalization. > > > > Mark Rabiner > Photography > Portland Oregon > http://rabinergroup.com/ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information