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Winogrand 1964


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We've already done Eggleston. Though perhaps he warrants a return. Or, more to the point, maybe we could do a more thorough job the second time round.<P>

 

Robert Clark, I appreciated your nod to Zarathustra. And your point about other cultures / other models is well taken (I too have felt the storm and stress of uneasiness while amid the unfamiliar; and also the amber calm of ancient community). However, the capitalist mode of production (as I understand it; my level of interest in this area is minimal) is obviously predominant (a point the U.S. is presently making in the most ardent fashion; which, it appears, it plans to continue indefinitely. Bringing the mountain to Muhammed). It was this predominant, western mode I was referring to. But, you may be right.<P>

 

Rob, I think we may be talking in circles. You may be giving out the same advice that Capa was giving to HCB. And for the same reasons. In which case, I agree with you. What I don't wish to have missed, however, is the vitality of the creative impulse, the importance of its care and feeding. To create is to go beyond.<P>

 

Bill Mitchell, I had much the same reaction to the Winogrand book on spending some time with it, some time ago. (See my comment above about tighter editing.) And I've wondered since if that reaction was attributable to the caliber of much of the work; or, as sometimes happens, if it was because I hadn't given myself enough time to grow into it, or really see it well. Because of course it is often the best things that are the least accessible on a first outing (you'll recall hearing this on many dates, I'm sure). I think probably that more of the work would come to light for me on further inspection; while some of it just needs to be pared away. A really fun project - kind of a dream project of mine - would be to spend three years or so going through Winogrand's work with a keen eye and a sharp pencil, editing ruthlessly. I'll bet you could come up with an outstanding volume or two. They might be thin, though. But quantity really is secondary.

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err... but only the advice given by Capa to HCB was the direct opposite of what was misquoted in this forum. After the war when it was not obvious what to do, HCB decided to photograph - and Capa told him to find something, some kind of (photographing) activity NOT to be remembered as a little surrealist photographer. So he (they) began to do photojournalism, although HCB claimed he kind of never actually became a photojournalist and was photographing LIFE, his camera just an instrument for making instantaneous artistic sketches of it, like an artist's small sketchpad he carries around all the time.

 

Nicey to see you guys. Byeee

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1. While scherba's phrasing was correct, D. Th's twisting is what I objected to: 'The reason Capa made this suggestion, as I understand it - the only reason - was so that HCB could be "the little surrealist photographer"'

 

2. It's not for someone with your school-dropout-level thinking (science = sth outdated peculiar to the bourgeoisie) to actually sound off.

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  • 3 years later...
Michael, funny how sometimes complex reasonings collapse as soon as they are illustrated with examples. IMO you couldn't have made a worse case for yourself choosing these 2 pix. The GW one is probably one of the best ones he ever took. It's just STIRRING frightening almost surrealist. By comparison the HCB pic is dry & uninspired in composition tasteless. But thats' just my opinion...
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"So that is my epitaph for the best known slob of photography whose name was included in its history either because of his luck

and connections in the curator/"art" world"

And that one is simply insulting to the memory of GW. Sure he knew Szarkowski, so what? Szarkowski also supported hundreds of photographers that claimed to be **Artists**. Check the "Windows & Mirrors" catalogue. Most of these "artists" have fallen into the dustbin of photo history while GW's work IS still published. A conclusion to draw here?

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  • 1 year later...

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