I visited my friend Tetsugo's studio last night and was amazed again by his work. His attention to detail makes you want to get as close as possible to the large prints and examine every little facet and texture. Then you back up and look at the larger image and are amazed at how well all the tiny details end up forming a wonderfully coherent composition.
The fun(ny) part of all this looking I was doing is that not once did I look at his work prints that were pinned to the wall as objects. So, as much as I may love the idea of creating objects out of my images, it never prohibits me from enjoying images for just what they visually represent. There may be the differences between object photographs and digital reproductions, but there are also differences between amazing works of art that are reproductions that you want to linger over, and digital reproductions that are meant to be glanced at.
I want to linger over photos more often than I get to these days...objects or not.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Object Photography & Digital Captures
What is so inherently wrong with looking at photography and creating photography as a physical object?
Why must the image and idea be sacrificed when the photographer explicitly spent time to emphasize the "object" of the piece?
I believe that one can view an object photograph for both its represented imagery and the beauty of its constructed form. I feel that it is more valuable to view an object photograph for its construction and for what it is showing in its imagery. By its fortune of being explicitly crafted and possibly selectively produced, the image helps to underwrite the idea that a photograph can (should?) be a timeless capture representing one specific moment in time that is never to be repeated. Does this not help photography in that it creates that specific moment that viewers cannot see elsewhere, over and over again, at any time of their choosing, with as much repetition as one desires? The viewer must recognize that this one representation they are viewing is possibly the only visual representation of that moment, and therefor must truly pause, look, analyze and enjoy.
The idea of digital photography indeed can help more people see more images faster and easier, without even the need to produce or own a print if not so desired, but it also helps to move the viewer along to the next image, and then the next image, and then the next image, in the process slowly removing the time spent viewing each image (think of all those internet slideshows that allow you the option of looking at each picture for 1, 3, or 5 full seconds before jumping to the next image). The whole point of creating still images is to produce something worth looking at and analyzing. The removal of photographs as objects in conjunction with the overabundance of digital images in fact acts against the inherent nature of photography (the capture of a specific moment). It becomes more about capturing anything and everything and less about looking at any one thing in particular.
I have been thinking about this...
What are your views?
Why must the image and idea be sacrificed when the photographer explicitly spent time to emphasize the "object" of the piece?
I believe that one can view an object photograph for both its represented imagery and the beauty of its constructed form. I feel that it is more valuable to view an object photograph for its construction and for what it is showing in its imagery. By its fortune of being explicitly crafted and possibly selectively produced, the image helps to underwrite the idea that a photograph can (should?) be a timeless capture representing one specific moment in time that is never to be repeated. Does this not help photography in that it creates that specific moment that viewers cannot see elsewhere, over and over again, at any time of their choosing, with as much repetition as one desires? The viewer must recognize that this one representation they are viewing is possibly the only visual representation of that moment, and therefor must truly pause, look, analyze and enjoy.
The idea of digital photography indeed can help more people see more images faster and easier, without even the need to produce or own a print if not so desired, but it also helps to move the viewer along to the next image, and then the next image, and then the next image, in the process slowly removing the time spent viewing each image (think of all those internet slideshows that allow you the option of looking at each picture for 1, 3, or 5 full seconds before jumping to the next image). The whole point of creating still images is to produce something worth looking at and analyzing. The removal of photographs as objects in conjunction with the overabundance of digital images in fact acts against the inherent nature of photography (the capture of a specific moment). It becomes more about capturing anything and everything and less about looking at any one thing in particular.
I have been thinking about this...
What are your views?
Monday, February 18, 2008
New Photo Blog
Some friends and I have started a new photo blog...
http://photomedium.blogspot.com
The Photographic Medium
"The Photographic Medium is a forum designed to promote the production and discussion of photography. The contributors to this dialogue will propose their own topics and contemplate others. This is a composite of its members talents and a venue for creative output and artistic theory."
Each week there will be an assignment handed out by one of the members. All members will create a photograph for the assignment, post it to the blog, and contribute to the public critique of all the photos. I encourage anyone with an interest to add their input to the critiques and help us push forward with this sort of 'group motivation.'
Work is alread up, check it out...Photo Medium
http://photomedium.blogspot.com
The Photographic Medium
"The Photographic Medium is a forum designed to promote the production and discussion of photography. The contributors to this dialogue will propose their own topics and contemplate others. This is a composite of its members talents and a venue for creative output and artistic theory."
Each week there will be an assignment handed out by one of the members. All members will create a photograph for the assignment, post it to the blog, and contribute to the public critique of all the photos. I encourage anyone with an interest to add their input to the critiques and help us push forward with this sort of 'group motivation.'
Work is alread up, check it out...Photo Medium
Update
Yes, I know, it has been a while. Things have been progressing slowly. Sorry to the people I have not been in contact with concerning the Photo House 144, but it looks as though it will be too difficult to continue with any shows because of my schedule and the fact that I am moving out of the city at the end of May. I have had to make a decision to either throw together a show with only limited participation/interest, or get my own stuff together and start actually creating the projects that keep flowing through my head. Getting the pen on the paper, if you will. So here I go getting the pen on the paper...
Friday, November 9, 2007
One Night Art Show in NJ
Hey, last minute notice...
Please join me and other artists for one night of art on display at the Exposure Gallery in Colingswood, NJ this Saturday from 4-9pm.
Exposure Gallery
559 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08108
Phone: 856-854-7557
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
Please join me and other artists for one night of art on display at the Exposure Gallery in Colingswood, NJ this Saturday from 4-9pm.
Exposure Gallery
559 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08108
Phone: 856-854-7557
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
The Photo House 144 Submission Guidelines
The Photo House 144 submission guidelines:
- E-mail files at 72 dpi resolution with a reasonable height and width for on-screen viewing (8 to 10" for example).
- No limit on number of images that can be submitted
- A separate title list with size of actual image, finished framed size, price and title for each piece
- That is it...seriously. I don't any money to look at work, and I don't want a bunch of overbearing requirements for artists to send in their work. I just want to look at a bunch of photographs and see which ones fit best within the space.
I am taking submissions now for the next two shows, with the cut off for sending in work as follows...
The Salon show in February : Submissions must be received by December 21, 2007
The Photographs as Objects show in May: Submissions must be received by March 28, 2008
Please don't hesitate to leave comments or e-mail me directly ( derek@dwillm.com ) with any questions...
Thanks.
Derek
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Submissions
The Photo House 144 is now accepting submissions for the following exhibitions:
A Salon of Photographic Artists - February 2008
A traditional approach to the medium, involving any chemically-involved process.
Small & Delicate: Photographs as Objects - May 2008
A focus on smaller photographs that can be seen as desired keepsakes.
For more information, or to submit work, e-mail me at:
derek@dwillm.com
A Salon of Photographic Artists - February 2008
A traditional approach to the medium, involving any chemically-involved process.
Small & Delicate: Photographs as Objects - May 2008
A focus on smaller photographs that can be seen as desired keepsakes.
For more information, or to submit work, e-mail me at:
derek@dwillm.com
Opening Night
The Photo House 144 is having its opening night exhibition this Friday, October 5, 2007 from 5-9pm. Join us for a celebration of new work by three outstanding local photographic artists:
Nicolas Gannon
Athena Petra Tasiopoulos
Drew Henry Tolbert
The Photo House 144
144 Sigel Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
derek@dwillm.com
Nicolas Gannon
Athena Petra Tasiopoulos
Drew Henry Tolbert
The Photo House 144
144 Sigel Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
derek@dwillm.com
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