16-year kid shames me and probably you too

[Roger Hicks]

People in marketing love teenagers, because teenagers buy crap, and buy often. In order to empower this demographic, they had to create a whole culture where demand is created for all sorts of nonsense.

So, what followed was boy bands, girl bands and now Justin Bieber etc... However, by empowering teenagers they ended up teenagerizing culture itself, a dumbing down of everything, stupid and coarse humor, everything juvenile has become "cool"... Vampire movies, happry potter, ugh...

Once again, its consumerism in a rather sinister form. Its not the fault of these teenagers, they'e put under extreme pressure, to buy and buy more, to fit in, to be "cool".


What this kids needs to do is to stop with all those silly pictures and instead document his life his friends and the problems they face and the problems facing teens overall. then he'll get respect.

Who from?

Cheers,

R.

 

[zumbido]

What this kids needs to do is to stop with all those silly pictures and instead document his life his friends and the problems they face and the problems facing teens overall. then he'll get respect.

That might be the only type of allegedly "serious" photograph that is more cliché than soft-focus portraits in a field.

 

[eddie1960]

I see stuff like this fairly often when applicants submit portfolios to the university where I teach photography. I have learned from experience to pass on applicants with portfolios similar to this, or at least not pursue them . Students who come in with portfolios like this are almost always un-teachable. They've been told they are god's gift to photography and they believe it and so they continue to produce the same old tired thing, unwilling to open up to new challenges. They tend to take criticism as a personal attack. Just in terms of prospective students, I look for more edgy, more challenging, more imaginative work. Or work that demonstrates an engagement with the world around them. This kid's work is mostly a repetition of tired cliches it seems to me. Technical accomplishments don't mean much at this stage, ideas do. Disclaimer: I don't know this particular kid, and these generalities don't apply to everyone, they are just the sum of my own experience.

nice call Pablito

If you follow any of these kids on Flickr what you'll find is a mutual wank over each others work and no criticism allowed. It's a very insular group and rarely do you see them move outside their comfort zone or do anything new
and having employed numerous kids in the past twenty years when i was in retail the sense of self entitlement and inability to accept constructive criticism always amazed me. not all kids but most of a generation it seems were brought up this way

 

[ebino]

Perhaps the kid doesn't compete with a Magnum photographer or a successful ad-fashion tog, but... as I look through the galleries here and the pictures of the week, I stand by my assessment that the kid shames most of us here, including a fair number of pros and teachers.

Well, Magnum is the Vatican for some of us.

 

[alistair.o]

Thanks for the link Frank. I felt much more upbeat after going through the Flickr site than I do now after going through this thread!

Oh dear people, I am more than a little surprised at many of the replies. The photographer is young and is 'breaking all the rules', there is a joy and an exuberance and I am delighted for him and wish him very success. He is in his teens and I am 61 this day - give it up for effort.

Al

 

[antiquark]

Could you possibly photograph slum duelers in India effectively and know how they feel, when you just had lunch in a fancy restaurant and the gear in your camera bag would provide them food and shelter for a year?

Do you realize that your argument can be reversed onto yourself?

 

[zumbido]

Do you realize that your argument can be reversed onto yourself?

You haven't picked up yet that self-reflection isn't his strong suit?

 

[ebino]

That might be the only type of allegedly "serious" photograph that is more cliché than soft-focus portraits in a field.

Yes, to a numb bourgeois mind, bereft of all care and concern for the human condition.

Please don't flame my posts.

 

[ebino]

Do you realize that your argument can be reversed onto yourself?

My arguments are not important. If it makes you think, that's important.

 

[Jamie123]

I find it pretty horrible to be honest. It's got 'flickr explore' written all over it.

As far as teen photographers go, I must admit I was quite impressed the first time I saw Nirrimi Hakanson's work. Not necessarily because I love everything she does (although she has some pretty nice great in her portfolio) but because it's really surprising to see such consistency and signature in style from such a young person. If she continues to grow and work hard she's got a great future ahead of her.

Besides, you gotta respect a photographer who's shooting Diesel campaigns at 17.

 

[antiquark]

My arguments are not important. If it makes you think, that's important.

I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue...

 

[ebino]

Besides, you gotta respect a photographer who's shooting Diesel campaigns at 17.

Is it because of her talent, or because Diesel sells to 17-year-olds?

17-yr-olds will be blown away by another 17-yr-old shooting photos of their brand of choice, so what they should do? buy Diesel clothing and a camera! Money is made and everyone stays happy.

 

[back alley]

i can't let this thread continue...it's embarassing...