In the last two of my Basic Guide to Photographic Bliss and Making Better Pictures Periodic Musings I’ve discussed the learning opportunities that come from owning photo books and visiting museums and galleries to study paintings. It’s also essential see photo exhibits!
Last year, for example, I went to a lot of shows. Some were better than others, but I learned something from each one. Highlights included Vivian Maier, Robert Frank and Todd Webb and … no kidding … Paul McCartney!
Go to as many shows as you can. Why? Simple. You will be inspired by the works of the masters and learn many things. And now for something really interesting … when you go to photo galleries, you may well discover your work is as good or better than much of what’s being shown. That’s right. And not surprising at all, given the perceived need by galleries to show what is new and “hot”. Making this discovery should inspire you to press on and do even better work!
One of the greatest sources of information concerning photo exhibits, calls for shows and much much more is The Photo Review Newsletter. You can learn more about it at https://photoreview.org
Stay well,
Michael
Yes, prints
Yesterday I went to Riga Art Space, I think that’s what it’s called and saw photographs by a guy who just calls himself Sieggfried. Supposedly, these photos were kind of part of a movie, or maybe they were taken along with some kind of movie making as he wandered around much of what might be called the East.
The room was quite dim, and what seemed like 14 x 17 inch sized photos on some kind of cardboard, were hung from thin wires from the ceiling. In other words, 14 x 17 with some white borders — and that’s all. And back to back pics on each board. Lit extremely well, each photo isolated in the darkness (I had to use my flashlight to find the WC)
How striking these were, made, I think, around 2005. And there is a book of his called Far East, which now seems cheap to get 2nd hand.
For me seeing these was a kind of revelation. Raw, human mostly, and light and shadow and I thought these must have been taken with a Leica M, and seeing a photo of him holding a camera but not really clear and maybe not the one in the link below I thought yes, a Leica and a 35mm or 28mm lens.
What became clear to me was that here indeed was Photography, raw and real and in no way prettified, even though some of the images were to my mind extraordinarily beautiful. But in that adverb, is the word “ordinary.” And I am thinking that is the goal. Yes, shoot what you see, what catches your eye and imagination, your intellect, remembering those who came before, and maybe most important is to get out there, if you happen to be of a daily life, etc, inclined photography.
And that it’s gotta be in black and white and it has to be film. (I think. Why?) Because digital seems to lack a kind of visual depth. Because my digital photos look “flat,” and I am not writing of depth-of-field.”
So, I do have my work cut out for me. Now back in Bangkok, I hope tomorrow. And start printing however tenuously with a finicky compact enlarger that needs a $300 copy stand. At first not worrying about print quality but just to get the real thing.
https://www.liveriga.com/en/13799-siegfried-debrebant-s-exhibition-cinema-nomad
Paul,
Many thanks for your very thoughtful comment and link!
Best,
Michael