Stacy Kranitz

[Ranchu]

Here is some good photography I came across.

http://stacykranitzprojects.com/

 

[bobbyrab]

Thanks for the link Ranchu, very worthwhile.

 

[NY_Dan]

She sure is committed to walking the walk -- driven. Her America is scary!

Comments from folk she interacted with are interesting:

"Hi - I'm a little confused. Is "As It Was Given To Me" an exhibition, published, etc? When you write, "Kranitz presents a diverse array of portraits and dense landscapes mixed with illustrated depictions of the region’s experience with colonization along with newspaper clippings from a local newspaper," where/how is the work "presented"? Sorry if I missed this; I'm just trying to track down how this work can be viewed & experienced. Thanks."

Found here: http://www.featureshoot.com/2013/10...tacy Kranitz’s Portrait of Central Appalachia

And: "I'm not sure what the photographer is trying to convey about Appalachia. They talk about stereotypes and then create a stereotype with these photos? Did they just hang out at the local bar and take pictures? As someone from here that's what it looks like. I guarantee I can go into a seedy bar anywhere in the country and get about the same visuals. As representative of.... I am not sure what....missed the mark sorry."

Anyway, she has some fantastic photos, and clearly made the effort. And for an MFA she doesn't go as crazy with the wordy gobledygook as most do 🙂

 

[Ranchu]

Glad to pass it on, bobbyrab. Hi NY_Dan, I think those were people commenting on the article, not people she interacted with.. There's been some 'controversy' apparently.

http://walkyourcamera.com/perpetuating-the-visual-myth-of-appalachia-part-one/

I agree with you, I think she's done some really fantastic photos.

 

[mfogiel]

You must be joking - aren't you?

 

[Ranchu]

No buddy, I'm not joking. If you don't like it, that's okay too.

 

[mfogiel]

To my eye this is another example of immature photography from an immature human being, who thinks this is hip.

 

[NY_Dan]

I can understand some viewers thinking the work is "premeditated" to fit what is hip or popular. And one could say that the whole art-speak, not just here, but everywhere is formulaic to endowing with words what is lacking in substance. And shooting stereotypes -- not that one shouldn't as they do make for good photos -- and then saying one is shooting these to portray extremes -- then bringing in statistics regressing to mean terminology -- to me is so much window-dressing. I didn't think the intermingling of photos with historical drawings and such lent much, and for me were a distraction and contrivance. I did like the going on an adventure and sharing the poor living conditions of her subjects in her quest to make photos. She clearly has some exceptional people skills. And there are some very good photos. In every business, one has to be strategic to survive -- and wanting to earn one's living as a photographer is no different - although unlike many fields, having one's strategy becoming too visible will lead to being called a phoney, hypocrite, and more. Hate the game not the player 🙂 Of course then one has controversy -- and that is an integral part of the strategy too. Ms Kranitz wants to get noticed, have her work appear in the media, and generate funds to survive and continue shooting -- she succeeded. "Armed" with an MFA, and certainly capable of the task, my guess she will wind up teaching, shooting, and having the career she wants. As for immature, of course she is -- she's still young, that goes with the territory 🙂 I just get tired of people wearing all these words, Leni Riefenstahl stuff -- just shoot the shots - but of course then we wouldn't have a methodology to support the assembling of collections and such.