nathanp
Established
Hello - this is my first post so take it easy on me 
I'm curious what people think about photographing sculpture and other types of art. I've taken a few pictures of various sculptures and I'm quite pleased with the results, but I don't know how much to attribute to the original sculptor rather than anything I've done. Is it 'fair' to display and be proud of a photograph where the main (and sometimes only) subject is a sculpture created by someone else? And where do you draw the line? If it's ok to be happy with shots of a sculpture - how about shots of a painting? or even another photo?
Maybe I'm just needlessly beating myself up over it and should just be happy that I've got a shot I like! I'm still fairly new to photography (but have kind of dipped in & out for a long time) and tend to attribute any good pictures to the subject matter and anything negative to my lack of ability/talent/experience.
I'm curious what people think about photographing sculpture and other types of art. I've taken a few pictures of various sculptures and I'm quite pleased with the results, but I don't know how much to attribute to the original sculptor rather than anything I've done. Is it 'fair' to display and be proud of a photograph where the main (and sometimes only) subject is a sculpture created by someone else? And where do you draw the line? If it's ok to be happy with shots of a sculpture - how about shots of a painting? or even another photo?
Maybe I'm just needlessly beating myself up over it and should just be happy that I've got a shot I like! I'm still fairly new to photography (but have kind of dipped in & out for a long time) and tend to attribute any good pictures to the subject matter and anything negative to my lack of ability/talent/experience.
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newspaperguy
Well-known
Go for it. It's your vision of the subject.
You wouldn't hesitate to record a beautiful flower,
even if you didn't grow it, would you?
You wouldn't hesitate to record a beautiful flower,
even if you didn't grow it, would you?
mfunnell
Shaken, so blurred
Another RFF member has posted this photo on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33116385@N00/3725118775/
I think it is a wonderful photo. It couldn't have been done without the sculputre. But the photo itself is original.
I like that, and while he's a bit "brown bread" I expect the sculptor wouldn't have disaproved.
...Mike
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33116385@N00/3725118775/
I think it is a wonderful photo. It couldn't have been done without the sculputre. But the photo itself is original.
I like that, and while he's a bit "brown bread" I expect the sculptor wouldn't have disaproved.
...Mike
pmun
Established
It's how you feel about it that's important.
Personally, I don't enjoy taking photos of obviously interesting or eye-catching things. I don't think that really utilizes the medium or challenges me. Besides, the sculpture will probably be the focus of attention - not your photograph of it. One more thing - chances are that there are already thousands or photos already in existence of that sculpture - why add to them?
www.urbanpaths.net
Personally, I don't enjoy taking photos of obviously interesting or eye-catching things. I don't think that really utilizes the medium or challenges me. Besides, the sculpture will probably be the focus of attention - not your photograph of it. One more thing - chances are that there are already thousands or photos already in existence of that sculpture - why add to them?
www.urbanpaths.net
Sparrow
Veteran
Couldn’t one say that about almost every photo, I’ve been taking mundane snaps of that mundane Kodack sign for years now, should stop?
nathanp
Established
Those are also some of the things that bother me about it, but on the other hand maybe it can be seen as a good challenge - taking pictures of something that is an obvious subject, but trying to do it in a way that shows it in a new light.
pmun
Established
Say what - what particular aspect of my post are referring to please?
Well, yes, if you think that they are mundane and don't enjoy doing it, perhaps you should.
www.urbanpaths.net
250swb
Well-known
Here are a couple of mine on Flickr
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2855093199_825d8ae486_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2782963047_1326f9ffbc_o.jpg
There is nothing wrong with making photo's of other art works in my mind. They are as much about documenting the world as photographing a tramp in the street or a war. If you can poke it, fall over it, or talk to it, you should photograph it.
Steve
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2855093199_825d8ae486_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2782963047_1326f9ffbc_o.jpg
There is nothing wrong with making photo's of other art works in my mind. They are as much about documenting the world as photographing a tramp in the street or a war. If you can poke it, fall over it, or talk to it, you should photograph it.
Steve
David R Munson
写真のオタク
I'm also in favor of photographing whatever you see that makes you see an image.
pmun
Established
I agree - that is a challenge that many photographers relish. But a spectacular subject still takes centre stage. Attempts to obscure it often attract even more attention to it - overwhelms the photograph. That's fine, if that's what you aim to achieve. I aim for more balance in a photograph.
www.urbanpaths.net
Sparrow
Veteran
chances are that there are already thousands or photos already in existence of that sculpture - why add to them?
Why, because it's not to your taste? I think not. I like the prosaic
pmun
Established
Thanks, yes I suppose you can say this about almost every photo: ''chances are that there are already thousands or photos already in existence of that sculpture - why add to them?'' But it particularly applies to crowd pullers such as sculpture.
www.urbanpaths.net
pmun
Established
No, because I thought it wasn't to your's. I assumed (perhaps wrongly) that you wouldn't want to continue if you considered both the photographs and subject matter to be mundane. However, I've noticed you've now used the term 'prosaic' that has more positive connotations. Anyway, of course if you like it - then don't stop.
www.urbanpaths.net
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Sparrow
Veteran
Sorry, that was lax of me .. I meant; I can find art in both the ordinary and the sublime, and I wouldn't deny the OP has the same ability
venchka
Veteran
One more
One more
While there may be 1,000s of photographs of a particular subject, none are exactly alike. Each is unique.
One more
While there may be 1,000s of photographs of a particular subject, none are exactly alike. Each is unique.
nathanp
Established
For reference, this is one of the pictures I had in mind. It's a sculpture called "Seed" by Peter Randall-Page.
Sparrow
Veteran
pmun
Established
pmun
Established
Does anyone agree with Sontag on this?
''While most people are only seconding received notions of the beautiful, ambitious professionals usually think they are challenging them.''
www.urbanpaths.net
''While most people are only seconding received notions of the beautiful, ambitious professionals usually think they are challenging them.''
www.urbanpaths.net
urban_alchemist
Well-known
I very much like taking photographs of how audiences interact with the art, as I feel it is a perspective unique to photography.
The second I find especially fascinating as it is the first evidence of the Renaissance by Giotto - that interaction between subject and audience (and its tacit acknowledgment) is at the very foundation of the revolution...
The second I find especially fascinating as it is the first evidence of the Renaissance by Giotto - that interaction between subject and audience (and its tacit acknowledgment) is at the very foundation of the revolution...