Every picture should be built on a standalone idea. No matter where the picture takes you the idea wil stay put to give the thing some substance.
Strawberryfields Forever the Beatles song is just like that. It has its weird complicated side but underneath theres a song with John playing along on guitar. The song itself sounds good without all the other stuff and maybe its made more interesting later with Pauls mellotron part and Georges Indian zither and the fact that George Martin has spliced together two different versions into one.
So someone complains my idea was this but now its turned into that. But if the idea is strong enough you should be able tobuild on it and still sense it under all of the 'that'. Good photographs are built on a strong concept and or design so that no matter what is added the origins are evident.
The problem comes from simply copying a page, so what was the idea behind this page. If you knew that how do you not know that you would do something different. Of course photographers look at magazines to 'see whats going on' but better photography comes from photographing the idea of whats going on. That way youre whats going wont be like everyone elses.
Wether its John singing and playing along on acoustic or the Beatles playing on record
Its Strawberryfields Forever
Monday, July 10, 2006
Thursday, July 06, 2006
IN A FIX?.....CALL HARRY HOUDINI
It happens in photography,( David Bailey and Donovan once discussed over lunch how there were literally hundreds of things that could go wrong in photographing fashion) so now youre in a fix, cornered, the location didnt work out, its raining and doesnt look as though its going to stop, youve forgotten a piece of equipment etc etc.
So what do you do? you do what you planned to do if any of these things happen just like Harry Houdini the famous escapologist
Houdini once boasted he could get out of a jail cell that was securely locked. But he had to inspect it first. When he went he took a selection of picklocks with him, (Harry had already tested nearly every lock on the market and made picks for them) as he seemed to be testing the strength of the bars and pretending to see if he could sqeeze through he was really deciding on which pick would pick which lock. He stretched out on the bed to see how hard it was for his 'stay' and at the same time hid a selection of picks as he checked the mattress etc. When he returned he was meticulously shaken down to see if he was bringing anything in but there was nothing, because it was already there. The guard had hardly sat down to read the paper when the phone rang. "Houdini calling". He was out!!!! and there it was the empty cell.
It just illustrates the point by planning ahead and preparing for location changes etc etc You can get out of most fixes just like Harry. Bert Stern had the attitude,'if it cant be done here where can it be done'
Because he'd thought of that beforehand he probably knew the answer.
So what do you do? you do what you planned to do if any of these things happen just like Harry Houdini the famous escapologist
Houdini once boasted he could get out of a jail cell that was securely locked. But he had to inspect it first. When he went he took a selection of picklocks with him, (Harry had already tested nearly every lock on the market and made picks for them) as he seemed to be testing the strength of the bars and pretending to see if he could sqeeze through he was really deciding on which pick would pick which lock. He stretched out on the bed to see how hard it was for his 'stay' and at the same time hid a selection of picks as he checked the mattress etc. When he returned he was meticulously shaken down to see if he was bringing anything in but there was nothing, because it was already there. The guard had hardly sat down to read the paper when the phone rang. "Houdini calling". He was out!!!! and there it was the empty cell.
It just illustrates the point by planning ahead and preparing for location changes etc etc You can get out of most fixes just like Harry. Bert Stern had the attitude,'if it cant be done here where can it be done'
Because he'd thought of that beforehand he probably knew the answer.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
LETS GO BIG GAME HUNTING
Some 'amateur' photographers dream of shooting big accounts, big fashion,big elebrities etc etc.
What do you need to do such things. Its a bit like big game hunting. First point where is the big game. What would you do????
Would you buy a rifle first or a flight ticket.
Yes where is the big big game. Where i live I could buy the rifle, the bullets, the tent the provisions, the 4x4 everything, but it would do no good, because there are no big game targets here. I would end up chasing little game with big game equipment. Sure it massages my ego to have all this stuff but I have no trophies well no big big trophies.
On the other hand I could get a ticket to where the game is. What about the stuff, well we'll hire or rent that for the moment, build up a trophy list and then maybe buy some of the stuff and really give it its intended use.
Would it be best to spend £$1000s on gear or spend the same amounts spending time in a big game location sayLONDON,PARIS, MILAN, NYC or LA
When the tickets not an option the camera makers rub their hands with glee. First get a 1Emark7 20mp and a full set of low dispersion x lenses and next, well who cares what comes next, they say thats your problem. Heck shoot the girls in the office and join an online forum.
Give us all your cash and thatll be your ticket
What do you need to do such things. Its a bit like big game hunting. First point where is the big game. What would you do????
Would you buy a rifle first or a flight ticket.
Yes where is the big big game. Where i live I could buy the rifle, the bullets, the tent the provisions, the 4x4 everything, but it would do no good, because there are no big game targets here. I would end up chasing little game with big game equipment. Sure it massages my ego to have all this stuff but I have no trophies well no big big trophies.
On the other hand I could get a ticket to where the game is. What about the stuff, well we'll hire or rent that for the moment, build up a trophy list and then maybe buy some of the stuff and really give it its intended use.
Would it be best to spend £$1000s on gear or spend the same amounts spending time in a big game location sayLONDON,PARIS, MILAN, NYC or LA
When the tickets not an option the camera makers rub their hands with glee. First get a 1Emark7 20mp and a full set of low dispersion x lenses and next, well who cares what comes next, they say thats your problem. Heck shoot the girls in the office and join an online forum.
Give us all your cash and thatll be your ticket
Saturday, March 04, 2006
KISS THE FROG
"I remember I wanted to get in and out as soon as possible. Larry Carlton and Chuck Rainey were there, pretty much business as usual. Then they counted off this tune...the first thing I heard was the lyrics 'agents of the law/luckless pedestrian,' and I almost stopped playing. I thought, 'I'm listening in my phones to this guy who can really sing, and the tune sounds amazing, and the band is amazing,' it was just...different. You have to kiss a lot of frogs when you're a studio player. After that I had to stop and collect myself.
This reminds that in commercial photography as well as session musicianship you have to have an attitude toward the job. That was Rick Marotta a drummer who did some Steely Dan sessions in the seventies. His first look was 'business as usual' but he got a suprise, a good suprise.
When you take on a fashion session, even if as a test, you sometimes have less control as you'd like but the idea is to work to make whatever is in front of you as good as possible. Even if the m.u. and the clothes are not to your personal taste.
It may look like a frog but kiss it anyway and the suprise may come
Back to the Steely Dan players
Heres one person who wouldnt kiss the frog because he thought the music was 'schlocky'
So he didnt get hired and get the good suprise
"There was a situation during the time that Steely Dan was really hot. Larry Carlton recommended me to those cats to play on a track. There had been a date that I had done three years prior to that recommendation, where it was some schlocky. music and I said, "Ya know, I don't really want to play this," and I just played very mediocre. The "one thing" Fagen and Becker happened to have heard me play on was a tape of that one track. They told Carlton, "We've heard this cat; he's not happening." Carlton told me the story afterwards. So it doesn't pay in the long run to do that. "
Kiss the frog. It pays in the long run.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Simply stated
1. LINE
2. SIZE
3. SHAPE
4. DIRECTION
5. TEXTURE
6. VALUE
7. COLOUR
Do you see any of these when you look through the lens or is it all frocks, legs and hairstyles. Can you make one or two stand out. Wheres the design in this fashion picture???
In the film the Magnificent Seven Brynner was the standout. He wore all black. His horse was bigger than the others. He had better lines. Good. The other actors were SUPPORTING actors
they had interesting attributes but that was it.
However the problem was with another actor named Steve McQueen, He was up and coming. He wanted more.Watch the film and watch McQueen try to upstage Brynner. While Brynner talks McQeen in the background fiddles with his hat fanning his face, checking his gun etc. Doing anything and everything to draw attention away from Brynner and onto himself.
It reminds me when I look through the lens, something has to stand out,
you can see fashion pictures where the hair upstages the frocks, hair pictures where the mu steals the show, pictures where the photography upstages everything.
whats the star of your show, dont let the supporting ideas steal the moment
You can have Brynner or McQueen but not both
1. LINE
2. SIZE
3. SHAPE
4. DIRECTION
5. TEXTURE
6. VALUE
7. COLOUR
Do you see any of these when you look through the lens or is it all frocks, legs and hairstyles. Can you make one or two stand out. Wheres the design in this fashion picture???
In the film the Magnificent Seven Brynner was the standout. He wore all black. His horse was bigger than the others. He had better lines. Good. The other actors were SUPPORTING actors
they had interesting attributes but that was it.
However the problem was with another actor named Steve McQueen, He was up and coming. He wanted more.Watch the film and watch McQueen try to upstage Brynner. While Brynner talks McQeen in the background fiddles with his hat fanning his face, checking his gun etc. Doing anything and everything to draw attention away from Brynner and onto himself.
It reminds me when I look through the lens, something has to stand out,
you can see fashion pictures where the hair upstages the frocks, hair pictures where the mu steals the show, pictures where the photography upstages everything.
whats the star of your show, dont let the supporting ideas steal the moment
You can have Brynner or McQueen but not both
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
AIM HIGH SHOOT LOW
Questions, Critiques, there are thousands of them. Often unhelpful,contradictory, sometimes misleading.
Aim high, shoot low
Its from a Bob Hope film I think. Hes useless with a gun and has to have a shootout with the baddie. On his way to meet him everyone gives their 2 cents worth of advice, aim high shoot low, lean left shoot right etc. It reminds me of the queries: which developer should I use? Whats a good lens for fashion? Which is the best film for portraits? Answer!! Try it and see. Are people afraid to test these things? Its what fashion testing used to be all about. Trying things out. Find what works for you. Then use it/them. Test Test Test, Testing has validity moreso if your trying to prove a point to yourself. (Most tests arent really test at all just excuses to photograph)
If not youll get as many ideas as Bob got in his film, so many he couldnt remember any, and yes he won the fight but it was sheer luck.
If you want to know if your equipment and materials and ideas will work, dont ask ,TEST
Aim high, shoot low
Its from a Bob Hope film I think. Hes useless with a gun and has to have a shootout with the baddie. On his way to meet him everyone gives their 2 cents worth of advice, aim high shoot low, lean left shoot right etc. It reminds me of the queries: which developer should I use? Whats a good lens for fashion? Which is the best film for portraits? Answer!! Try it and see. Are people afraid to test these things? Its what fashion testing used to be all about. Trying things out. Find what works for you. Then use it/them. Test Test Test, Testing has validity moreso if your trying to prove a point to yourself. (Most tests arent really test at all just excuses to photograph)
If not youll get as many ideas as Bob got in his film, so many he couldnt remember any, and yes he won the fight but it was sheer luck.
If you want to know if your equipment and materials and ideas will work, dont ask ,TEST
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
DO YOU REALLY WANT THAT CRITIQUE...its probably worth less than 2 cents
Do you need it? 2 cents worth!!!!
I once asked an experienced photographer how I could make progress, the reply was "stop asking other photographers (my peers) what they think about your pictures."
Strange, but surely you have to ask someone to get some feedback??
'Sure. but look' he said' what are you trying to do with these pictures, something commercial? If so show them to an ad agency, people in the business, insiders, youll soon find out where you are and where you need to go, and they wont be saying great shot, how did you light that, or do you use the new Gazebo Mark3f camera with the Tinkertoy 1.3 zoom lens. These guys know what was, is, and will be and theyre not the self indulgent peer gratification junkies you hang out with.
Ouch, but it was going to get worse.
OK so you tell me what you think.
Well how long have you been photographing seriousley
About 5 years
It looks like one year five times over to me. You got your peer approval the first year and spent the next 4 years trying to keep it.
But there must be something good?
Sure but you're not selling the goods just your own ego.
"Look," he repeated." think about selling the goods, not yourself,(then came the thing I remembered most) If your going down the commercial route suppress the creative ego, we'll find out that youre a genius later."
Ouch (that hurt) bigger ouch (he was right).
Formerly there were only a handful of people to ask about your pictures unless you joined a camera club but now with the web you can interact with literally thousands and play critique tennis all day long if you wish.
I asked an internet acquaintance about this recently. NYC fashion photographer Richard Warren.
This is what he said
I question the value of critiques in a public forum . Aside from the self-indulgent need for peer approval, what is the point ? If you took the photo and liked it enough to place it on a server then obviously the image meant something to you. I understand that when you are starting out it is good to ask others about basic composition, lighting, lens choice etc.If you have a good grasp of lighting, composition, technique and style. and are trying to develop a personal style then you should not listen to others as to how "take the photo" or even their opinion of the composition .
The editing process is just as important as the image making process. You wouldn't let others take photos for you right ? So why ask others to edit for you ?
When I was still an assistant, I was helping my boss edit some film from a Lineia Italia shoot done in Rome. It was rare that I was helping with the edit, but I guess he had his reasons for wanting to turn-around the film quickly. He pulled a slide out and asked me what I thought of it. I was duly impressed with the shot and innocently mentioned "Great shot , sort of looks like a Helmet Newton shot". He took the chrome and through it on the floor and stomped on it " I can't make photos that look like Newton; I have to take photos that look like me !"
As "decoration" to one of my posts I placed an image on a public forum. I was not even asking for a critique; but received a mouthful.
"Never cut a girls head in half !" , " Instead of over head light, why not try a big soft box from the side" I even had folks telling me what type of background to use.
I took the photo (good or bad) and liked it enough to print it and put my name on it. Why in the world would I want another photographers opinion on my personal work ? Don't get me wrong; I like strokes as much as anyone else. Just be honest with yourself and realize that "strokes" is the only tangible reason to post a photo on a forum (other than to solicit models to hire you for portfolio shots)
Yes, the varied cast of characters. Some are making photos as their art while others are following the editorial fashion route. Really the only comment I could make about someone's "art" is that it works or does not work for me. Otherwise I start telling them how to take a picture; and no one needs that.
Narrow the criteria. Putting an image up on an forum and saying "What Do you think ?" puts all the work on the person willing to comment. If someone is putting this little effort in a post , then why should I put more effort in my reply ? Its too much work.
I would be able to comment better if someone limited the critique.
"I was trying to do a Maxim type photo; What do you think ?"
OK. Now the criteria is set and I have something to judge by. I have seen Maxim photos and can use that as a reference to judge the photo in front of me. I have always done this with my own fashion work simply by looking at the magazine and then looking at my photo. If my photo is as good as the one in the magazine then it is a "keeper". In this case you really do not need a lot of folks commenting on your photo.
Finally , variety in the posts. I did a "no-holds-barred" critique on another forum once. The following 20 posts were "What Do you Think ?"
Too many "What do you think?" is just as bad as "Model booking January-December" posts. Its nice to see a mix
And that doesnt include 'any and all comments welcome'. So is there any real value to photographers via forum critiques. Personally I view them as market research. I ignore all the ones that suggest I should have gone for more detail in the whites, and the How did you do that etc' but look for something else.
Suppose someone said 'your photographs are scary', or 'depressing,'' or (heaven forbid) they make me want to go out and buy that dress or tie. Well you could react to that kind of comment. Why do they think that way? Should I take another look? If youre a poster when was the last time some one critiqued that way. When was the last time you wanted that type of response.
Any and all comments welcome
Richard Warren kindly agreed to let me post his comments. His work can be found here
Fashion photographer Richard Warren http://www.richardwarrenphotos.com/
I once asked an experienced photographer how I could make progress, the reply was "stop asking other photographers (my peers) what they think about your pictures."
Strange, but surely you have to ask someone to get some feedback??
'Sure. but look' he said' what are you trying to do with these pictures, something commercial? If so show them to an ad agency, people in the business, insiders, youll soon find out where you are and where you need to go, and they wont be saying great shot, how did you light that, or do you use the new Gazebo Mark3f camera with the Tinkertoy 1.3 zoom lens. These guys know what was, is, and will be and theyre not the self indulgent peer gratification junkies you hang out with.
Ouch, but it was going to get worse.
OK so you tell me what you think.
Well how long have you been photographing seriousley
About 5 years
It looks like one year five times over to me. You got your peer approval the first year and spent the next 4 years trying to keep it.
But there must be something good?
Sure but you're not selling the goods just your own ego.
"Look," he repeated." think about selling the goods, not yourself,(then came the thing I remembered most) If your going down the commercial route suppress the creative ego, we'll find out that youre a genius later."
Ouch (that hurt) bigger ouch (he was right).
Formerly there were only a handful of people to ask about your pictures unless you joined a camera club but now with the web you can interact with literally thousands and play critique tennis all day long if you wish.
I asked an internet acquaintance about this recently. NYC fashion photographer Richard Warren.
This is what he said
I question the value of critiques in a public forum . Aside from the self-indulgent need for peer approval, what is the point ? If you took the photo and liked it enough to place it on a server then obviously the image meant something to you. I understand that when you are starting out it is good to ask others about basic composition, lighting, lens choice etc.If you have a good grasp of lighting, composition, technique and style. and are trying to develop a personal style then you should not listen to others as to how "take the photo" or even their opinion of the composition .
The editing process is just as important as the image making process. You wouldn't let others take photos for you right ? So why ask others to edit for you ?
When I was still an assistant, I was helping my boss edit some film from a Lineia Italia shoot done in Rome. It was rare that I was helping with the edit, but I guess he had his reasons for wanting to turn-around the film quickly. He pulled a slide out and asked me what I thought of it. I was duly impressed with the shot and innocently mentioned "Great shot , sort of looks like a Helmet Newton shot". He took the chrome and through it on the floor and stomped on it " I can't make photos that look like Newton; I have to take photos that look like me !"
As "decoration" to one of my posts I placed an image on a public forum. I was not even asking for a critique; but received a mouthful.
"Never cut a girls head in half !" , " Instead of over head light, why not try a big soft box from the side" I even had folks telling me what type of background to use.
I took the photo (good or bad) and liked it enough to print it and put my name on it. Why in the world would I want another photographers opinion on my personal work ? Don't get me wrong; I like strokes as much as anyone else. Just be honest with yourself and realize that "strokes" is the only tangible reason to post a photo on a forum (other than to solicit models to hire you for portfolio shots)
Yes, the varied cast of characters. Some are making photos as their art while others are following the editorial fashion route. Really the only comment I could make about someone's "art" is that it works or does not work for me. Otherwise I start telling them how to take a picture; and no one needs that.
Narrow the criteria. Putting an image up on an forum and saying "What Do you think ?" puts all the work on the person willing to comment. If someone is putting this little effort in a post , then why should I put more effort in my reply ? Its too much work.
I would be able to comment better if someone limited the critique.
"I was trying to do a Maxim type photo; What do you think ?"
OK. Now the criteria is set and I have something to judge by. I have seen Maxim photos and can use that as a reference to judge the photo in front of me. I have always done this with my own fashion work simply by looking at the magazine and then looking at my photo. If my photo is as good as the one in the magazine then it is a "keeper". In this case you really do not need a lot of folks commenting on your photo.
Finally , variety in the posts. I did a "no-holds-barred" critique on another forum once. The following 20 posts were "What Do you Think ?"
Too many "What do you think?" is just as bad as "Model booking January-December" posts. Its nice to see a mix
And that doesnt include 'any and all comments welcome'. So is there any real value to photographers via forum critiques. Personally I view them as market research. I ignore all the ones that suggest I should have gone for more detail in the whites, and the How did you do that etc' but look for something else.
Suppose someone said 'your photographs are scary', or 'depressing,'' or (heaven forbid) they make me want to go out and buy that dress or tie. Well you could react to that kind of comment. Why do they think that way? Should I take another look? If youre a poster when was the last time some one critiqued that way. When was the last time you wanted that type of response.
Any and all comments welcome
Richard Warren kindly agreed to let me post his comments. His work can be found here
Fashion photographer Richard Warren http://www.richardwarrenphotos.com/
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