Terry Richardson Bashing
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Tijmendal
Young photog
Keep on dreaming.
That Terry Richardson is a [creep?] isn't really news. I dislike the guy a lot; that being said: I like he isn't very gear dependent and just makes do with whatever is available and works for him. A lot of fashion photographers are really pretentious about their gear and whatnot, Terry doesn't seem to be. I'll say that for the guy.
koven
Well-known
To clarify what I was saying before. If you want to insult terry as a person or just personally don't like him then fine -that's your opinion. However when you keep bashing him as an artist say he's talentless or oversimplifying the stuff he does, Its almost as if you're insulting my intelligence. You're basically saying people who like Terry Richardson have no taste.
In photography I think the main element in making a good picture is taste. That feeling of knowing whether something looks good or if there is something there that will compel you to click that shutter. When the only thing you have is a white background, flash, and the subject there isn't too much room for gimmicks. Terry Brings something out of people in his photos and that's makes a lot of his portraits iconic.
I'm sure many famous photographers don't like Terry as a person but I guarantee that at last they respect his work and know that he brings something to the table.
People on here are so quick to bash other artists with nothing to show for it, no leg to stand on. I wish I could see their work to see they where they are coming from or even see if their opinions are worth listening too. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it would be cool if i had a way separate the opinions of artists I respect and opinionated people who like hearing themselves talk.
bonatto
looking out
Well articulated.
Jamie123
Veteran
Oh really? Did you actually read the links on blogs where they talk about his behaviour? They basically all quote the exact same girl named Jamie Peck, an American amateur model who was 19 at the time. This is how she explains why she gave him a handjob: "The only explanation I can come up with is that he was so darn friendly and happy about it all, and his assistants were so stoked on it as well, that I didn't want to be the killjoy in the room. My new fake friends would've been bummed if I'd said no"
Boo-effin-hoo. Cry me a river. So he's a rapist because he gets women to do things by being friendly? Mind you, this was not a full-time fashion model, this was somewhone who modelled a bit on the side so she hardly had an agency breathing down her neck. And she was going in for an editorial (surely unpaid) in an artsy magazine, not a big ad campaign.
Frankly, I think it's a disgrace how lightly the word rape gets thrown around in this thread. Ask a rape victim and they won't say "I did it because he was so darn friendly about it".
I resent the inherent chauvinism in the assumption that anytime an adult woman regrets having sex with someone it constitutes a violation of some sort. Women, just as men, are perfectly capable of making their own decisions. Rape happens when somebody decides they don't want to do it and it happens anyways. Consenting to sex and regretting it afterwards is not rape. It's merely what we generally refer to as having made a mistake.
PKR
Veteran
http://www.americansuburbx.com/2010/08/interview-interview-with-helmut-newton-2002-2.html
Bottom of interview. I saw Newton's comment as a slight to TR's work, while he admires Bob Richardson's stuff. My take on Newton's comment.
dogbunny
Registered Boozer
After taking the time to read the articles
After taking the time to read the articles
I've been following this thread. I really have to agree with you. If you read any of the above posted links, they mostly just rehash the Jamie Peck story and quote anonymous sources with vague recollections of stories in which, at worst, he was a bit creepy.
The Jezebel link is a great example of this. The author even says she has no way to verify the anonymous emails, but she will include them in the story anyway.
The same author goes on to imply that, in addition to being a creep, he may be a racist as well.
One woman in the industry said, "People should also be asking Terry why he doesn't shoot black girls." It's true that Richardson's extensive fashion work features almost exclusively white models. In fact, I struggled to find this single example of Richardson using a black model for a fashion story.
No facts, lots of hatchet swinging.
After taking the time to read the articles
I've been following this thread. I really have to agree with you. If you read any of the above posted links, they mostly just rehash the Jamie Peck story and quote anonymous sources with vague recollections of stories in which, at worst, he was a bit creepy.
The Jezebel link is a great example of this. The author even says she has no way to verify the anonymous emails, but she will include them in the story anyway.
The same author goes on to imply that, in addition to being a creep, he may be a racist as well.
One woman in the industry said, "People should also be asking Terry why he doesn't shoot black girls." It's true that Richardson's extensive fashion work features almost exclusively white models. In fact, I struggled to find this single example of Richardson using a black model for a fashion story.
No facts, lots of hatchet swinging.
PKR
Veteran
While I don't agree with how TR deals with women, please don't turn this thread into a legal argument. I'll dump the thread if it goes way OT. Please .. Thanks, pkr
Nomad Z
Well-known
The value or otherwise of all art is subjective. All opinions on art have no validity other than to those that express them, and to those that agree with those expressions. The fact that others may disagree is irrelevant. To base the validity of someone's opinion on one person's art on what one thinks of the opiner's art is little more than a strawman.
Bifurcation fallacy. Or do you honestly believe that valid opinions can only come from people that make pictures that you happen to be positively disposed towards?
koven
Well-known
Jamie123
Veteran
It is certainly not a slight to TR's work. He was asked what contemporary photographers he likes and specifically mentions TR. It would be different if he was asked about TR and made that comment but that's not the case. Any kind of sarcasm you see here is wishful thinking on your part. It just wouldn't make any sense in the context of that question. Also, TR wasn't as big a name 10 years ago as he is today so it's not like Newton would've feeled compelled to speak about him if he wasn't interested.
PKR
Veteran
Women in the modeling business aren't about to put their carers at at stake with a comment that could end all of their bookings. If you look at all the photographers who work in the fashion field, I think TR, by the work of his PR machine or by his chosen actions, is the current bad boy in his field. It seems he has an agenda and it's not up front. The porn industry may be more honest in their dealings with models than TR appears to be with some of his.
Jamie123
Veteran
Where do you see a legal argument? I'm merely trying to make clear that, if you actually read the articles, there's no way in which any reasonable and moderately intelligent person can classify his alleged behaviour as rape. And I'm not concerned with legal but with moral classification.
Seems pretty on topic to me.
PKR
Veteran
Do you think his work has changed much in 10 years. He's gone from an on camera flash on a point and shoot film camera to using a digital camera with a flash. Beyond that, it looks much the same to me. He will never be an Avedon or even a Bob Richardson to my thinking.
koven
Well-known
Nope not everything is subjective. There are some universal truths on what can be considered good or not. The main thing is expression.
I think I'm a pretty objective. Something can be good even if I'm not positively disposed to it. This is the difference between photography and other forms of "art". Photography is a very fascinating subject and its really easy to jump it. Anyone can join, I'm one of those people who jumped on the bandwagon.
With other forms of art like music or painting or sculpture there is a sort of barrier to get in. You have to put in a certain amount of work, you have to have a certain amount of talent, and you need a certain amount of respect for the craft to join the conversation or have a seat at the table.
With photography all you need is a camera to have an opinion. A lot of the opinions I've read on this site or in regards to terry are things I probably would never anywhere else but a photography forum. The reason for that is because a lot of people on photo forums don't understand or respect photography or even consider it an art, they think its easy/meaningless, and think they can just buy their way in.
If you dont like terry fine thats great but instead of just assuming the people that do are retarded maybe you should try to find out why he's liked. I think if you're trying to be an artist in any field you have to try to appreciate art you don't like or at least figure out why its respected. That's the only way you can grow, expand your horizons, and change your perspective. People do that in every field expect online photography forums thats why its hard taking a lot of people on here seriously.
PKR
Veteran
You may want to think about starting a thread on the topic..
f16sunshine
Moderator
muser53
MUSER53
Putting aside my thoughts and feelings regarding Terry Richardson's character I spent some time today reviewing his work.
Simply put I find his images to be derivative, simplistic and puerile.
Technically they are nothing special they are not my cup of tea but he does achieve a consistent look.
That he has chosen to document/record a segment of society that celebrates a highly sexualized and aggressive lifestyle has brought him notoriety and attention far out of proportion with the quality of his images.
As far as his work/images having an iconic quality, I'll just say that I do not think that his work will stand the test of time.
Simply put I find his images to be derivative, simplistic and puerile.
Technically they are nothing special they are not my cup of tea but he does achieve a consistent look.
That he has chosen to document/record a segment of society that celebrates a highly sexualized and aggressive lifestyle has brought him notoriety and attention far out of proportion with the quality of his images.
As far as his work/images having an iconic quality, I'll just say that I do not think that his work will stand the test of time.
PKR
Veteran
Jamie123
Veteran
That's total BS. Female models' careers are mostly short lived and most of them have no chance of ever making it big and they know it. They wouldn't have much to lose by speaking out. The fact is, those who have spoken out against him basically just say he's a creep or a perv. But that's it.
And how is he not upfront about it? His book "Terryworld" is basically porn. TR is widely known for making pornographic fashion photography.
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