latest additions to your library

mrtoml said:
Yes it is worth a look.

Magazine - Black+White Photography

www.blackandwhitephotographymag.co.uk www.blackandwhitephotographymag.co.uk
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I get it online. One of the great pleasures in the month is the tiny notification that another issue is ready for download. Or, I revisit an issue and as I look at the cover, it suddenly changes to the latest issue and Read switches to Download.

Thanks to your post, the cover was roses, I discovered an issue I’d never downloaded.
 
I’d like to add something about my reading of “How I Take Photographs,” FWIW.

I’m not a fan of Moriyama’s pictures - generally neither his subject matter or post-processing. But I’m very partial to what he calls the “snapshot” way of working that is the real subject of this book. It’s probably obvious to say this, but I think we must separate the way we take photographs from what we photograph and how we process our pictures.

I think in my head I had somehow bundled them all together as a Moriyama aesthetic, when they are really separate, and the so-called “snapshot” way of shooting can be applied to any subject matter and way of processing. Probably a “duh” observation, but nonetheless for me an important takeaway from this book.
 
JohnWolf said:
I’d like to add something about my reading of “How I Take Photographs,” FWIW.

I’m not a fan of Moriyama’s pictures - generally neither his subject matter or post-processing. But I’m very partial to what he calls the “snapshot” way of working that is the real subject of this book. It’s probably obvious to say this, but I think we must separate the way we take photographs from what we photograph and how we process our pictures.

I think in my head I had somehow bundled them all together as a Moriyama aesthetic, when they are really separate, and the so-called “snapshot” way of shooting can be applied to any subject matter and way of processing. Probably a “duh” observation, but nonetheless for me an important takeaway from this book.
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I like Moriyama, though his subject matter isn't always for me. But there's something really vital and compelling about the work, that keeps drawing me back. Maybe it is, as you mention, his snapshot working style. I've long enjoyed snapshot photography (in Japan it's called "snap" photography, and has a bit more art to it than the often dismissive connotation of the "snapshot" in the West). I think Moriyama has a genius for being moved by, and snapping, compelling scenes and details. Better than me, by a huge margin. But he also has a genius of curation of his own work, I think, to produce the books he has made.
 
The imperfections are what appeal to me in Moriyama's work. I love the look, the charcoal and snow contrast, the casual focus. But I especially like how he doesn't "prettify" the world in his pictures. What I see too much of today are photographs that aspire to be on calendars, wedding albums, advertisements, glorified nature magazines. I dunno...I like reality--dirty, ugly, twisted yet beautiful. Moriyama is one of those photographers who shows us that an imperfect world is more interesting than a polished one.

I have the book "How I Take Photographs" around here somewhere. I haven't read it, having shelved it after buying it and forgetting about it. Must rectify that.





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Dogman said:
The imperfections are what appeal to me in Moriyama's work. I love the look, the charcoal and snow contrast, the casual focus. But I especially like how he doesn't "prettify" the world in his pictures. What I see too much of today are photographs that aspire to be on calendars, wedding albums, advertisements, glorified nature magazines. I dunno...I like reality--dirty, ugly, twisted yet beautiful. Moriyama is one of those photographers who shows us that an imperfect world is more interesting than a polished one.

I have the book "How I Take Photographs" around here somewhere. I haven't read it, having shelved it after buying it and forgetting about it. Must rectify that.





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I agree 100%, coiuld not say it better!
 
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