Fred Herzog - In His Own Words

[Colin Corneau]

http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/05/interview-fred-herzog-in-his-own-words-excerpts.html

A good collection of the photographer's thoughts, although I certainly could have used more of his images. 🙂

One quote stood out to me:
“Content cannot be manufactured, in my opinion. That which I can find is better than that which you can make. That which we find, the work and the use of the people out there, it’s natural, that’s what ordinary people do, that interests me.
I take pride in saying these are all how we looked, not how we wanted to look, or staged. You cannot stage pictures.

Photographic finesse has its place, but it can also get in the way. I was trying to show vitality. The pictures are about content, and more content. And if there is no content, take no picture.”

“It’s exactly the other way around now. ‘Okay I’m going to take my clothes off, and I’m going to stand there in the nude, and I’m going to try and look lonely or profound.’”

Quite true. Maybe it's because I have always worked in a more documentary, real-life approach but to me those are the most compelling images...what could be more interesting than what's going on around us?

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

And if there is no content, take no picture.

I think that's a good policy for documentary work.

 

[Lauffray]

It's probably the edit or maybe just my impression, but I found he was talking mostly about the past and in a slightly nostalgic fashion.

Interesting to read anything by him, thanks for posting

 

[segedi]

Revelation vs Creation. I too like to reveal as creation often conceals. Was fortunate enough to see an exhibition of his. Great stuff.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Thank you for the link!
I was lucky to see his photographs in Vancouver.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Yes, I first discovered his work at a show in Vancouver at the VAG in 2007 (if I recall) and I was immediately blown away...I just knew his work was something special and the book I got at that show remains one of my favorites.

 

[jsrockit]

Yes, great work... and unique for its time period.