creativity

[FrankS]

We often get hung up on talking about our hardware, and that's okay, but check out the creativity on this site:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?include=all&photo_id=2859433

and especially this photo, though there are many more:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1787596

It's not done with a rangefinder but it could be. I wish I had this guy's vision and "moe-joe", do you know what I mean?

 

[Kris]

I've come to Piotr's site a while ago and it is indeed stunning. That kind of work is a good reminder for me when I thought I had come up with a good shot. Make me think "Oh cr@p, that shot of mine I thought to be good is actually nothing! Must do better next time."

[Woo hoo...I'm back on the second page of Top 10 poster with this post!]

 

[FrankS]

That's one of the things I love about art in general and photography in particular, there's no ceiling, no final destination. It's all a journey, just like life.

 

[Peter]

Totally agree with Frank. Reminds me of a statement made by a famous Kyudo (Japanese Archery) master when asked what he is shooting at. He replied: 'Myself'.

 

[Pherdinand]

i like Piotr too. I have him on my "interesting folks" list🙂

 

[bmattock]

Wow. The guy has an eye. I'm very envious. Thanks for the link!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[sfaust]

Piotr had been on my 'interesting people' list for quite some time. Very very creative and masterful imagery. I don't care what tool you give this guy, he will create something worth looking at, and looking at for a long time.

There are 4 or 5 photographers there that if I could only be 1/10th of what they are, I'd be head and shoulders ahead of where I am now.

:bang: 😡 :bang:

 

[taffer]

I didn't know of him and his job so THANKS for sharing the link. Wow...

Must work must work must work :bang:

 

[michael]

One of the most impressive things about Piotr Kowalik's site is the devotion to mining particular seams. No doubt he got better and better at it, but it was also no doubt hard work from beginning to the present. Hats off to the work ethic!

Michael

 

[peter_n]

Agree with Michael above, he clearly works at different approaches and you can see how he tries different ideas within those approaches. A very educational and inspiring body of work!

 

[GermanB]

well, no words...
his work makes me believe that is possible to create great things, and also makes me think about the excuses I have for not to do it ...

sorry just my blue mood, I'll keep trying

 

[digitalox]

Not only is he very creative, he has the technical skills to achieve whatever vision he sees (obviously). This is important. Sometimes just banging away on the technical skills, however mind-numbing you find it, will open doors later when your creativeness comes in. If you're feeling creative or have a great project in mind it will only be as good as your skills to implement it are. Some of us have gone to classes, some have natural abilities, some have already practiced for years and years. Some have all of the above, so get too down on yourselves.

Its good to aspire but its also good to be happy - no matter how good you get, there will always be the Next Level to get to. So don't let the Next Level be your Only sense of joy or you will be unhappy. Yet you must aspire too... I'm tired, I hope I'm making some sense.

Sorry for the long-winded post.

 

[StuartR]

Well, there is no doubt that he is an outstanding photographer -- creative, technically adept and so on. Yet for some reason, his work just doesn't float my boat. I guess I am more interested in work that is not constructed so much as captured. Piotr figures out what he wants, assembles it and then photographs it. I find myself more drawn to photographers who take what they are given and capture what is artistic about it. No doubt, both require massive amounts of skill to do well. My favorite example of the latter type is Martine Franck, Cartier-Bresson's wife. HCB himself is also a master of this style (well, the master), but I think I like Franck as much or better. It does not just have to be decisive moment photography though. I think the best landscape photographers like Adams and people like Edward Weston are in the same sort of mentality.
Here are some links to some of my favorites from Martine Franck:
http://www.magnumphotos.com/LowRes2/TR3/F/P/8/Q/PAR31651.jpg
http://www.magnumphotos.com/LowRes2/TR3/F/P/O/D/PAR11971.jpg

http://www.magnumphotos.com/LowRes2/TR3/S/3/8/Q/PAR119470.jpg

http://www.magnumphotos.com/LowRes2/TR3/F/P/3/H/PAR86016.jpg

 

[FrankS]

I know exactly what you're saying Stuart. Almost all of my photography is of the "found" variety, but I really admire the photogrpahers who also create the situation they photograph. They have not only a good eye, but the imagination/creativity to invent their scene, not just recognize that what they've stumbled across and are looking at, framed a certain way, would make a good photograph. Sometimes this invented image style is tiresome compared to the "natualness" of the "found" photograph, but when it's done well, like I think this guy 's work is, it's special.

 

[Doug]

I admire those who can conceive and construct a meaningful set image as much as those who see something in the world, manoeuver and wait for the capture. The four Franck images all seem intellectual; the first one is simply masterful...

 

[StuartR]

Doug I agree. And for the record, I do think Piotr's work is excellent. I think I like the "other shots" section far better than the earlier section though. For so many of them it seems more like he told the model: "do this" and then photographed the result. I guess I am more interested in images that capture the character and nature of the person more than a set theme. More straight photography than chosen themes. This is just my opinion. It certainly does not mean that Piotr is not light-years ahead of me, nor should it preclude anyone from enjoying his work.

 

[Doug]

I expect commercial photography is strongly in the "conceive, arrange, shoot" category, but Piotr's arranged photo, in illustrating an idea, somehow reminded me of the work of William Mortensen. Not sure just what term might be best for this, other than Pictorialist... maybe Thematic?

 

[nwcanonman]

StuartR,
You put into words what was eating at me. I found his photos "interesting", but lacking something. Spontineity. Kind of like setting up manequins, instead of catching live people "in the moment".
Just a different style than I care for, but inspired in its originality.