W/NW Photos of Nothing Special

[Rob-F]

When Stephen Shore asked Andy Warhol to explain the meaning beneath the surface of his art, Warhol replied that there was no hidden meaning; the surface was all there was. Shore's book, "American Surfaces," consisting of casually snapped travel photos, is based on that idea. I thought I would start a thread along the same lines. I'll post a few that I think are evocative of Shore's style--or perhaps the deliberate lack of it. Feel free to add your own. As I see it, they should be fairly mediocre shots of nothing too important. I think he was trying to emulate the style of people with no particular skills in photography or composition. Or taste. Here goes.

Grandfalls, Texas

Fort Stockton, Texas

Paris, Texas

OK that's enough for now. Let's see yours!

 

[Joe Jesus]

'fairly mediocre shots of nothing too important' is what I'm all about. a photograph doesn't have to be incredible to be enjoyable.

I've found that I liked my photos the most when I didn't know anything about composition or art or anything in that vein. When I started trying to 'get serious' about it, whatever that means, the magic went out of it.

lately i've been trying to get back into that zone.

 

[Emile de Leon]

I like those TX shots a lot..! Something about em strikes a chord..

 

[ferider]

Paris, Texas

Nice. I can hear Ry Cooder in the background.

 

[cz23]

I'm with you, Joe, in abandoning seriousness and pursuit of Art. Still, I can't bring myself to shoot these so-called banal subjects unless there's at least something engaging, and usually it's graphical. But I like the "surfaces" concept very much. - John

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I think this applies to a lot of our photography, the type of images seldom posted to the galleries.
Over time my yardstick has changed. I'm back to looking only for images that are meaningful to me.

Chris

 

[retinax]

Most of these pictures don't look like random snapshots to me. The composition of many of these is quite decent, nice colors and tones, and they do a lot to convey a sense of the place and mood, rather interesting for someone who's never been there. May it be that they just look sort of ordinary to you because the subject is ordinary for you?
Anyway, I guess I just disagree with the stark description that you introduces this with. I've seen many pictures (also on this very forum) with more "style of people with no particular skills in photography or composition. Or taste". These just seem pleasantly devoid of mannerism. Keep practicing if you want to shoot like someone bad at photography 😀

 

[dmr]

I like the idea of an American Surfaces project.

I also am curious as to what we'll get here in the "Nothing Special" thread, as opposed to the "Something, Anything" thread. 🙂

 

[robert blu]

it's difficult to make a good photo about Nothing Special...anyway I give a try with a couple of mine

 

[Rob-F]

I would say these two are in the spirit of "American Surfaces." "Nothing special" may not be the best description of Shore's work. I'm not sure what is. Maybe "Intentionally Banal." Keep 'em coming, we will see what develops.

 

[seany65]

Hmmm. It seems "with no words" doesn't mean what I thoguht it did. lol.

 

[Rob-F]

Hmmm. It seems "with no words" doesn't mean what I thoguht it did. lol.

Are you pondering the meaning of the "Words/No words" category? I think it means you can either post pictures with words, or just photos without words; your choice. And people can post comments freely.

 

[sreed2006]

At last! A topic I am an expert at!


Evidence of a Struggle by sreed2006, on Flickr


Fire Hydrant with Cone Hat by sreed2006, on Flickr


Just a typical alley by sreed2006, on Flickr

 

[nikon_sam]

 

[a.noctilux]

My speciality, "rien de spécial" in french 🙂.

 

[lawrence]

Wonderful shot that looks like it's straight out of a French 'Nouvelle Vague' film of the 1960s 🙂

 

[Rob-F]

Most of these pictures don't look like random snapshots to me. The composition of many of these is quite decent, nice colors and tones, and they do a lot to convey a sense of the place and mood, rather interesting for someone who's never been there. May it be that they just look sort of ordinary to you because the subject is ordinary for you?
Anyway, I guess I just disagree with the stark description that you introduces this with. I've seen many pictures (also on this very forum) with more "style of people with no particular skills in photography or composition. Or taste". These just seem pleasantly devoid of mannerism. Keep practicing if you want to shoot like someone bad at photography 😀

OK, good point. I'm having trouble defining it in words. Probably "a picture is worth a thousand words" applies here. This set is more like it, I believe.

Teralingua, Texas:

What caught my eye here is that the car underneath all that junk piled on top of the carport is a Rolls Royce Silver Spur.

 

[lynnb]

Suburban light industrial area in Sydney, IIIf Summitar APX100 in Rodinal

 

[lynnb]

Cockatoos in suburban parkland, Sydney. IIIc Summicron 5cm f2 collapsible HP5+ in D76 1+1

 

[Scapevision]

I believe they call it new topographics these days 🙂


Urban Remains by Scapevision, on Flickr


Urban Remains by Scapevision, on Flickr


Sweden Cont'd by Scapevision, on Flickr


Urban Remains by Scapevision, on Flickr