Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
A few days ago, fellow RFF member RichC proposed the addition of a new forum for people to discuss photos, rather than gear. Since then several others have proposed ideas in his thread, or in their own threads. RFF member Skopar Steve started a thread with one of his own photos called Discuss This Photo.
Unfortunately, I felt all of the proposals I have seen thus far fell short in some ways. Several people have said they think critiques of the photos should not be allowed, but how the heck do you discuss a photo without critique?
Others wanted all mention of gear banned. While gear should certainly not be the main point of discussion when discussing a photo, I think it would help people reading the discussions to learn if the photographers briefly mentions what gear he used and why he chose that particular set of equipment for that photo.
Skopar Steve's thread was just a photograph with an invite to people to discuss it. I feel like the photographer should lead the discussion by writing something about the photograph. What it depicts, why he or she chose to photograph it, and why he or she photographed it in the way it was photographed.
My model is a book by Ansel Adams called "Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs." In the book, Adams devotes each chapter to a discussion of one of his photographs. He talks about why he photographed the subject, why he depicted it the way he did, how he got the light he wanted, challenges he faced in making the photo and how he overcame them, and why he chose the equipment he used.
I'm going to start doing a couple of these essays a week, each focusing on one of my photos, and you can discuss the photo and my ideas. The photos I choose will not always be my 'superstar' photos; often they'll be more subtle and maybe even mundane. As a documentarian, I don't shoot individual photos, I tell stories that usually require several photographs to tell. Big, complex stories can require hundreds of images! Many images serve as 'connective tissue' that binds together the more exciting parts of the story, and it is important to understand these photos as well as the more interesting ones.
Unfortunately, I felt all of the proposals I have seen thus far fell short in some ways. Several people have said they think critiques of the photos should not be allowed, but how the heck do you discuss a photo without critique?
Others wanted all mention of gear banned. While gear should certainly not be the main point of discussion when discussing a photo, I think it would help people reading the discussions to learn if the photographers briefly mentions what gear he used and why he chose that particular set of equipment for that photo.
Skopar Steve's thread was just a photograph with an invite to people to discuss it. I feel like the photographer should lead the discussion by writing something about the photograph. What it depicts, why he or she chose to photograph it, and why he or she photographed it in the way it was photographed.
My model is a book by Ansel Adams called "Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs." In the book, Adams devotes each chapter to a discussion of one of his photographs. He talks about why he photographed the subject, why he depicted it the way he did, how he got the light he wanted, challenges he faced in making the photo and how he overcame them, and why he chose the equipment he used.
I'm going to start doing a couple of these essays a week, each focusing on one of my photos, and you can discuss the photo and my ideas. The photos I choose will not always be my 'superstar' photos; often they'll be more subtle and maybe even mundane. As a documentarian, I don't shoot individual photos, I tell stories that usually require several photographs to tell. Big, complex stories can require hundreds of images! Many images serve as 'connective tissue' that binds together the more exciting parts of the story, and it is important to understand these photos as well as the more interesting ones.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Isn't it called "Walker Evans, American photographs" then all images interconnects?
I spend half-a-year glazing at them every time I went to special place
. I don't think I needed any words or descriptions of those images. They were good enough without it.
It is interesting to see how current demand for muting of freedom to talk of whatever you want under photographs is corresponding to the state of current Western society. Or was it always like this?... And not only on West side...
I spend half-a-year glazing at them every time I went to special place
. I don't think I needed any words or descriptions of those images. They were good enough without it.It is interesting to see how current demand for muting of freedom to talk of whatever you want under photographs is corresponding to the state of current Western society. Or was it always like this?... And not only on West side...
fireblade
Vincenzo.
As long as all are civil, i can't see why not. If we were allowed to only reply once, and once only toward the photographer that would be good....(That would stop the p!ssing contest between members)... Similar to the TV show "Masters of Photography"........after their brief they came back with what their perception was of the brief. The judges gave their opinion, and even the judges disagreed sometimes, but the photographers would then go back to their desk, either smiling or their tail between their legs.
Having said that, do we have a Oliviero Toscani here at RFF
Having said that, do we have a Oliviero Toscani here at RFF
mich rassena
Well-known
This is a wonderful idea. I look forward to reading what you have to say.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
I've added my first photo for discussion: Sterling Hall Sr.