Why William Eggleston is...

[danielsterno]

Not sure if its mentioned in this thread but there is a film I just watched on Eggleston. This link is for Netflix. Its not well done, its mostly showing him selecting an image to shoot and moves on-some but very little dialog- little more than an hour. Personally Ive always liked his work. In a sense I think the title is a sense of his image choice:
William-Eggleston-in-the-Real-World
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/William-Eggleston-in-the-Real-World/70040497?trkid=496751

 

[Jamie123]

Well, half of them are of below average intelligence...

Cheers,

R.

Below median intelligence maybe but not below average. 🙂

 

[Mr. Fizzlesticks]

After wondering about Eggleston for many years, I think I can sum up how I feel in one sentence.

He thinks he can play piano too.

 

[jawarden]

After wondering about Eggleston for many years, I think I can sum up how I feel in one sentence.

He thinks he can play piano too.

That's excellent!

You see the problem is that you were listening in black and white while he was playing in vibrant colors which were not so common back in the day. 🙂

The footage of him playing piano in the documentaries is beyond strange for sure.

 

[shadowfox]

... this is the problem I have with him, his supporters simply base his reputation on their good taste and fail to provide any analysis of his work or its place in the canon ...

I don't get what you are saying here.
I can't like a photograph because it suits my taste?
I always have to have an analysis ready to back up my liking it?

Sorry, but I don't have the time nor the energy to come up with those for each photo that I like. Sometimes I like it because I like it.

 

[charjohncarter]

I like him.

 

[sjones]

It really doesn't concern me who started using color first or, for that matter, who is the world's greatest photographer. None of that has any bearing on my like for Eggleston's work. How he uses color is what is impressive; and of course, there are other photographers (as some of you have already mentioned) who handled color with equal skill and creativity---this does not negate Eggleston's contribution.

But as I only shoot B&W and generally prefer B&W, it is more than just his control of color that attracted my attention. His subject matter (no matter how mundane to others), composition, and general atmosphere also drew me in.

Then again, I also like Stephen Shore, Lewis Baltz, and that whole New Topographics thing. And then there's the fact that I spent a part of my childhood in the South during the early 1970s, so there is probably something that resonates with me on a personal level that otherwise does not translate to most others; I don't know.

What I do know is that however anyone else feels about Eggleston is ultimately irrelevant, just as my opinion matters little to Eggleston's detractors. I don't need to convince anyone of anything. All I need to do is enjoy Eggleston's photos...well, many of them...never really liked the 'tricycle' photo.

 

[jsrockit]

My experience is that those who detest the art I like, have homes full of furniture I find atrocious, a car I would not buy, etc... 😉

Good point...

 

[Sparrow]

... and so true, even today

 

[Sparrow]

I don't get what you are saying here.
I can't like a photograph because it suits my taste?
I always have to have an analysis ready to back up my liking it?

Sorry, but I don't have the time nor the energy to come up with those for each photo that I like. Sometimes I like it because I like it.

... see post number 107

 

[Roger Hicks]

Isn't he like a rather insipid version of Marmite?

Either you quite like him, or you couldn't give a toss.

Note for non-Britons: Marmite is a salty yeast extract spread that is currently beating to death an advertising campaign based on 'love it or hate it'.

Cheers,

R.

 

[jsrockit]

This Eggleston fellow's photography sure is polarizing. 😕

 

[Roger Hicks]

Eggleston.

I quite like his work, but I'd be hard put to rave about it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[jsrockit]

Some people feel only virtuosos are worth bothering with... I don't feel that way. 😀

 

[Exdsc]

Some people feel only virtuosos are worth bothering with... I don't feel that way. 😀

People should start imitating Weegee, I mean anyone and their grandpa can be Eggleston, but Weegee, that guy was the virtuoso.

 

[semilog]

I didn't get Eggleston until I saw some of the dye transfer prints in person.

 

[jsrockit]

People should start imitating Weegee, I mean anyone and their grandpa can be Eggleston, but Weegee, that guy was the virtuoso.

A technical wizard he was...

4x5 Speed Graphic camera preset at f/16 at 1/200 of a second, with flashbulbs and a set focus distance of ten feet... 🙂

He was a sort of virtuoso of finding the crime scene though...

 

[dabick42]

@ Roger....

Quote: ''I quite like his work, but I'd be hard put to rave about it.''

Absolument. D'accord....

 

[Exdsc]

A technical wizard he was...

4x5 Speed Graphic camera preset at f/16 at 1/200 of a second, with flashbulbs and a set focus distance of ten feet... 🙂

He was a sort of virtuoso of finding the crime scene though...

I know for a fact that I could go out and shoot like Eggleston, the day I could shoot even 10% like Weegee, I'd consider myself a master photographer.

The sad reality is that kids and adults into photography today are stuck with people who're not even half as good as the masters before them. HCB, Eggleston, Arbus - the unholy trinity of amateur internet obsession, while there are so many true masters that go completely unmentioned.

But I guess people like famous photographers who they can easily imitate... Maybe if we start actually using true virtuosos as role models, the state of photography might get better from its current crap-fest.

 

[jsrockit]

I know for a fact that I could go out and shoot like Eggleston, the day I could shoot even 10% like Weegee, I'd consider myself a master photographer.

Many people say this, not many can do it. I think it is impossible to photograph just like someone else. It sounds to me that you prefer a photographer that searches out content that is not familiar. Nothing wrong with that, but it isn't the only way to do things.

The sad reality is that kids and adults into photography today are stuck with people who're not even half as good as the masters before them. HCB, Eggleston, Arbus - the unholy trinity of amateur internet obsession, while there are so many true masters that go completely unmentioned.

Opinion...and you forgot Daido. 😉 I don't agree that the aforementioned are not masters. I would agree that you need to dig deeper than these three though if you really love photography.

But I guess people like famous photographers who they can easily imitate... Maybe if we start actually using true virtuosos as role models, the state of photography might get better from its current crap-fest.

I think people gravitate towards what they like and may not be as cynical about photography. Many do try to cop a photographers style, but maybe that is all they expect from photography. Meaning, they are happy emmulating instead of innovating...just enjoying themselves. Most of us are not good enough to innovate. Most of us are derivative.