civilized ku # 3635-36 ~ does it matter?

July 17, 2019

1 iPhone picture / 1 µ4/3 picture - not telling which is which because IT DOESN’T F***ING MATTER

along the fence ~ (embiggenable) — ***along the fence*** ~ (embiggenable)

It's a warm and humid day which tends to aggravate the mean and nasty mood I'm in. So, I had to cool off, literally and figuratively, before writing this entry...

...The physical cooling off was easy. The mean and nasty took a while longer inasmuch as I tend to get that way when I read something as ignorant and wrong-headed as what I read on TOP yesterday. To wit, a comment by a TOP follower who wrote, re: Johnston's I have stopped discriminating against iPhones (mobile devices) as cameras and the pictures they produce post:

"...I do disdain cell phone cameras when used to make art photos .... or you can have a photography blog in which all photos distinctly are not equal. Of the not-equal photos, the iPhone shots are the least equal.

You might think I am in a mean and nasty mood because the comment was leveled at iPhone photography / pictures inasmuch as I use my iPhone to make "art photos". However, that is not the case. Not at all. My mood is dictated by the fact the comment is so utterly wrong-headed about the Meduim of Photography and Its Apparatus (conventions / a complex structure within an organization or system).

Or, as a concise sentence, it's about the pictures, stupid.

The commenter's ignorance is evidenced by the fact that he chose to base his ass-backward bias by implying that Robert Mapplethorpe's pictures-made with professional gear-are superior to those made using an iPhone, aka:, in his apparent opinion, amateur gear. Therefore, the only good pictures are those made with the right stuff - truly utter hogwash.

I have spent much time over the past 50 years visiting galleries, museums and other venues for the purpose of viewing / experiencing good photography. Never once have I formed my opinion on what is good photography-aka: what I like-based upon what gear was used or even how the pictures were created. Doing so, re: gear et al, is strictly the provence of "serious" amateur gear-heads.

It is possible that the commenter likes to view pictures which exhibit great detail, smooth tonal / color gradations and the like. If so, that's fine-like Julian's grandmother was heard to day, "For every pot there's a lid."-but to project that personal preference outward in the cause of denigrating work that does not exhibit that criteria is, well, stupid, ignorant and wrong-headed.

As a counterpoint to his specious opinion, I would submit Walker Evans' color SX-70 Polaroid work (which I have seen) as an obvious example-one of many I could mention-of stunning photography that defies, gear or print "quality" wise, the close-minded commenter's bias. Work which is different from but "equal" to that of Mapplethorpe and many others I could choose to mention.

Perhaps, rather than feeling mean and nasty, re: the commenter's bias, I should just feel pity for him and his opinion. After all, the Medium of Photography and It's Apparatus is a grand, glorious and messy domain replete with all manner of expressions and practices. How truly unfortunate it is for one to limit himself to just a small fraction thereof.

OK. I feel better already.

civilized ku # 3634 ~ photography is not dead

July 15, 2019

DON'T TAKE PICTURES is a site I visited on regular basis. The site's ABOUT statement Is to my liking:

...The title, Don’t Take Pictures, references the language of modern photography. Over the years, the term “taking pictures” has begun to be replaced with “making photographs.” The change signifies a distinction between the widespread use of cameras in the modern world and the more systematic, thoughtful process of creating photographic art. At Don’t Take Pictures, we strive to celebrate the creativity involved with the making of photographs.

In particular, I appreciate the fact that most of the featured pictures-those that appear it a variety of regular catagories-are made without a heavy layering of art sauce. That is, the pictures are primarily made without the application of visual effects.

In a video in today's entry, filmmaker Wim Wenders stated, “I do believe that everybody’s a photographer. We’re all taking billions of pictures, so photography is more alive than ever, and at the same time, it’s more dead than ever.”

In the process of explaining his position-re:Mobile phones have killed photography-Wenders stated:

"...The troublee with iPhone pictures is nobody sees them. Even the people who take them don't look at them any more and they certainly don't make prints.:

IMo, that idea is simply not accurate-if not out-right wrong on so many points-if for other reason that I have made multiple-100s of prints / 10 photo books (and counting) of my iPhone pictures-either from online POD sources or on my wide-format printer. And, I am certain that I am not alone in that undertaking inasmuch as there are quite a number of online sites that are devoted to the making of POD mobile phone pictures and photo books. In most cases, prints can be ordered / photo books can be made directly from a mobile device.

Are the majority of mobile phone picture makers making prints / photo books? Probably not. On the other hand, it's quite probable more prints are being made in today's digital world than in the the analog picture making era. I believe that to be the case inasmuch as the current estimate of pictures uploaded every day (somebody is seeing them) is 1.8 billion (657 billion a year).

Another statistic claims that, of those 657 billion pictures, 36 billion prints are made a year. That is a hell of a lot of prints. And, as to Wenders' "nobody sees them" (pictures) idea, a hell of a lot more than 36 billion people are looking at them.

On a personal basis, it's also worth noting that my blog is curently averaging 3,800+ page views a month. Every page on this blog has at least 1 picture. That number of picture views is most likely more-in just one month-than the number of views my pictures have had in all of my many exhibitions over the years.

Civilized ku # 3632-33 ~ day to day

July 10, 2019

All pictures made near Boston, Mass. (embiggenable) • iPhone

While I thought time would drag during this hockey showcase event-only 1 game a day-in fact there have been a number of activities such as college tours which have made time fly. Consequently, I haven't had an opportunity to post. That and the fact that I haven't experienced much which has pricked my eye and sensibilities.

Nevertheless, there have been a few life-in-a-residence-suite with 2 teenage hockey players which have caught my eye. nothing grand and glorious, just everday moments.

FYI, one of the pluses of being near the border of New Hampshire is access to interstate highway rest stop liquor stores. The stores are huge with a great selection of bourbon and single malt scotch and the prices are a good bit below where I live.

civilized ku 3630-31 (kitchen sink/life) ~ arts and hockey

July 6, 2019

My fascination with my kitchen sink seems to know no bounds. I have made close to 100 pictures of the sink, not because I have an emotional or intellectual attraction to it, but because, on a somewhat frequent basis, my eye and sensibilities are pricked by visually interesting relationships of light and shadow or color or shapes or all of the aforementioned.

That written, I'll be away from my kitchen sink, this Sunday > Thursday, while I am away (near Boston) for a hockey showcase event, Hockey Night in Boston. Hugo (my grandson) has been recruited to play for Team Pittsburgh (PA) Sophomore-players entering their sophomore year in high school this fall. It's a highly-scouted very high level competition with players from 21 states and Canada. While he has been offered a spot-for his high school junior year-in the hockey prep program at a prep school, it nevers hurts to be seen.

During my trip, I will be posting blog entries. Fortunately, Squarespace has finally gotten up to speed on their blog software for iOS. It is essentially the same as their desktop software so I can creat entries without compromising my standard workflow.

Now, I'm off to the Adirondack Center for the Arts for this evening's opening reception of my solo exhibition, The Adirondack Snapshot Project ~ Mementos, Memories, Memory where I will give a talk about my project. Then, it's get in the car with Hugo (and his line mate) and drive to Boston.

civilized ku # 3627-29 ~ don't forget to remember to forget

July 4, 2019

1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville ~ at the Essex Ferry / Lake Champlain (embiggenable) • iPhone — ***1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville*** ~ at the Essex Ferry / Lake Champlain (embiggenable) • iPhone

Westport Yacht Club ~ Westport, NY / Lake Champlain (embiggenable) • iPhone — ***Westport Yacht Club*** ~ Westport, NY / Lake Champlain (embiggenable) • iPhone

All pictures made last evening in the Adirondack PARK

Without trying to put too fine a point on the word (but doing it nevertheless), in yesterday's entry on TOP, How Do You Become a Photographer?, Mike Johnston wrote about "work[ing] out your style." While my featured comment on that entry did not (deliberately) address the idea of style, I would like to address the idea that, iM(considered)o, style and vision are very different concepts.

Style is a signature look that commercial photographers adopt in order to stand out from the crowd. Most often the style is developed as means to market oneself. And, if a photographer has a style which appeals to clients-ad agncies and their clients)-then he/she elevates themselves to a position in the marketplace that takes them out of the bid-for-assignment fray ... if an agency creative / art director sells a photographer's style to a client, then he/she will have to submit a job estimate but not a bid against other competing bids. The job is theirs from the start. I know this for a fact inasmuch as that's the horse I rode across the finish line during my 30 year career in comercial photography.

True vision is a signature look that is developed / recognized without any commercial / marketing / business intent. It's emergence is entirely individual personhood driven inasmuch as true vision is the outward manifestation of an (seemingly) innate / preternatural manner of looking and seeing the world. In the photography world, it is independent of rules, conventions and theories. I believe it is accurate to write that true vision is felt rather than thought. That true vision is there-internal, within the confines of an individual's pysche-for the artist to find and recognize. CAVEAT: not everyone is or can be an artist.

And, as I wrote in my TOP featured comment, I truly believe that the only way to find one's true vision, is to start making pictures, lots of picture, with absolutely no intent in mind. In other words, an almost mindless pursuit of point and shoot picture making .... point a picture making device at whatever-independent of what you have been told is suitable to be photographed-strikes your fancy, pricks your eye or artistic sensibilities and then shoot it.

In the act of shooting pictures, banish all thoughts of rules and photography conventions. Just trip the shutter (real or virtual) when your framing and the arrngement of the referent(s) within the frame look "right" to your eye. Don't think about it. Just do it.

Then make a boat load of proof prints and just look at them. Don't think about them. Just try to be open-minded in order to recognize those pictures which feel "right" to your eye and sensibilities. Not perfectly right but close enough to "speak" to your innate vision. Therein is the seed of your vision.

At that point, it is time to think. To think in order to recognize what it is in those prints that pricks your eye and sensibilities. Once you can identify, however loosely, those characteristics-visual + emotional + intellectual-you, most likely, will never have to think about again.

civilized ku # 3625-26 ~ real is always better

July 2, 2019

Adirondack Snap Shot Project on exhibit ~ Adirondack Lakes Central for the Arts - Blue Mt. Lake, NY — ***Adirondack Snap Shot Project on exhibit*** ~ Adirondack Lakes Central for the Arts - Blue Mt. Lake, NY

The Adirondack Snap Shot Project exhibit is up and running. Over 225 pictures are on exhibit - 112 on the walls, and other 80-100 in cigar / jewelry boxes and 5 album-like photo books with 33 pictures each (also on a pedestal). The Opening Reception, with an artist (me) talk, is this Saturday (5:30-6pm) at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mt. Lake, NY. Now, on to old business...

Re: Tyler's issues with his ability to read my blog. Now that the above mentioned project work is completed, I have had the time to delve into the settings for my Squarespace template where I found options for typefaces. So, henceforth, this blog will have a serif tyeface that is BLACK. I hope this change helps Tyler (and anyone else you might have had similar issues). However, I am making no promises, re: the number of words, with the new typeface/settings, I use on this blog. :>)

Re: Tyler's comment, re:

....do you view your work and those of others in the same way? According to you, you seem to prefer (by far) to view prints on the wall, or in books. Where does that leave us, I wonder.

I am uncertain about the first part-...do you view your work and those of others in the same way? of that comment. However, assuming he means do I look at the work of others in the same manner as described in that entry, the answer would be yes. I look at all pictures, first and foremost, for the feeling-visual (energy wise), emotional (beyond the much sought after "wow" factor), intellectual (thought provoking insome manner)-they impart. Depicted referents are, for the most part, almost irrelevant - snap shots excepted. Or, as John Szarkowki wrote about work he liked:

... form and subject are defined siultaneously...indeed they are probably the same thing. Or, if they are different, one might say that a photographer's subject is not its starting point but its destination.

The second part of the question seems to me to question how I stand on his pictures inasmuch as I have only ever viewed them as digital representations rather than as my preference for analog, aka: printed, objects.

I like Tyler's picture very much. I visit his site whenever there is a new entry. Dispite the fact that that is how I have viewed / experienced his pictures, the thing I value most, that which pricks my eye and sensibilities, in a picture-visual energy and the form (relationship of lines, shapes, color, tones) in which it is presented-is readily apparent in both the digital and analog viewing mode.

That written, and iMo, I prefer viewing prints simply because a tangible / tactile object, to and for my eye and sensibilities, conveys a much more sensuous feeling than a device screen ever will.

civilized ku # 3624 ~ out the door

July 1, 2019

Just a quick entry 'cause I'm on my way out the door to hang my Adirondack Snap Shot Project ~ Mementos, Memories, Memory solo exhibition work - a 2 hour ride to the Central Adirondacks. I'll have a picture or 2 of the installation in my next entry.