Photographic Distractions

<p>Fred,</p>

<p>I enjoyed the same photo as did Antonio. Nothing distracts in it, which I think is good, although perceptions vary (I was sort of amazed to see that none shared my own, and perhaps not yours).</p>

<p>Antonio,</p>

<p>I think education is very important, something we can never complete, but not the only element that limits us. The other is fixation of viewpoint, that sort of infernal "block" that keeps us from seeing or expressing in new ways. It's probably even more important than education needs in the more mature individual, and I think harder than lack of education to master or overcome.</p>

<p>I am working against such fixation all the time in my own work, seeking to experiment with new things and to perhaps thus find the unknown in me.</p>

<p>Wouter, it's when the brain STOPS spinning that you have to worry. LOL. I think it's an interesting train of thought, so no harm done!</p>

<p>Luis, it makes sense that we would reconsider photos we'd put on hold from years ago. I think about both Mozart and Beethoven. While there was a youthful exuberance in their early works, those works become very different when listened to in light of where they eventually headed. One can see foreshadowing when one looks back. And one can find a lot more depth in the early works when one has become acquainted with the full body of work. Sometimes, when I look back at my older, unprocessed work, I find things I wasn't yet ready to see but they were already there. So, my seeing (in some cases) is catching up to my instincts from early on in some cases. In light of what I've experienced and learned over the years, I am able to make some older photographs work where I wasn't ready at the time to see or realize the potential.</p>

<p>Arthur, what was your perception that no one seemed to share? And, good points about fixation of viewpoint being a block. As we've said in discussions about taste, there's that balance between our commitment to our taste and not getting hung up by it.</p>

<p>The idea that a photograph might have distracing elements in it is obvious...relates to the earlier idea of "clean" perhaps. Is that a negative? Depends on the photo, presumably.</p>

<p>Perhaps those aren't distractions, negative elements, so much as lures or teases? It seems to me that strongly graphic images, by being so "clean," so defined or complete, so "explained" and labeled, often lack the interest/curiosity/doubt factors that create the tension that holds my attention.</p>

<p>When it's easy to grasp the totality of an image, as with a lovely sunset or well "captured" duck or beautiful model, hasn't the potential for longterm interest and significance been sacrificed for mere decoration?</p>

<p>Some people really do seek boredom, so maybe it's unfair to call decoration "mere" :-)</p>

<p><strong>Arthur - "</strong>I think education is very important, something we can never complete, but not the only element that limits us. The other is fixation of viewpoint, that sort of infernal "block" that keeps us from seeing or expressing in new ways. It's probably even more important than education needs in the more mature individual, and I think harder than lack of education to master or overcome."</p>

<p>As long as one is a student, education can continue. And in teaching others, I feel one is also educated by one's student(s) and/or the process.</p>

<p>Fixed viewpoint is a problem, particularly because when working on a project, some constancy is often required, but it can easily encyst our creativity. Once someone scores some praise, money, recognition, etc., it's easy to fall into the groove. It's a basic random schedule of reinforcement thing. Then there is its most common form, righteousness, the real kiss of death. </p>

<p>Using nature's models, it helps to shed one's skin, or to leave one shell behind, and look for another (and avoid getting devoured by something in between!).</p>

<p>Luis's "random schedule of reinforcement" comment is brilliant, as is his use of "encyst" and "groove." That's the "behaviorist" perspective in a nutshell. However, it leaves out the little man inside, the soul, the Luis (or whoever).</p>

<p>I think Luis's comments lead to the potential in driving one's own bus, so to speak. We don't necessarily need, ultimately anyway, to "score some praise,money, recognition". Perhaps it's possible to take responsibility for our own work. "Root, hog, or die!" (Ken Kesey, perhaps thinking about Sartre)</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Yes... The French flag... Vive La France!</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I've spent a bit of time in France. I never saw a flag there with stars on it.</p>

<p>Right Dan, I have checked. There are no stars - with or without distractions.</p><div></div>

<p><strong>Dan</strong><br>

I'm aware there are no stars on the French flag but a lot of people don't... I was just being an ass.</p>

<p>Ah ha! Guys. There is a star in a corner of the Acadian (French "tricolore") flag in Eastern Canada. They are very proud of their New France heritage and have a "national" day (depends whether one considers a "nation" as a cultural, or purely political, entity I guess) every year in New Brunswick.<br>

P.S. Fred, please see my comments on your portfolio photo (2007?) that was linked.</p>

<p>France is very proud of not having hundred stars in the flag , one for each Département, plus additional for the overseas territories : one nation, one united population (almost!).</p>

<p>Hey <strong>Antonio</strong>,</p>

<p>That's cool! I knew that you joking; I just wanted to understand your point. It's refreshing to have a bit of humor around here. Thanks for lightening the mood! :)</p>

<p><strong>Arthur:</strong></p>

<p>I didn't know that about the flag of the Acadians. I wonder if their southern Cajun cousins ever had a flag like this.</p>

<p><strong>Anders:</strong></p>

<p>Le drapeau de la République a trois couleurs. Est-ce que vous voulez dire que les trois couleurs représentent trois régions, peut-être le Nord, le Sud, et la Capitale?</p>

<p>No, <strong>Dan</strong> the three colors of the French flag are the "the three colors of freedom" from the French revolution and date back to 1794.<br>

The <strong>red</strong> is medieval of origin (the golden flame <em>aura flamma), t</em>he <strong>blue</strong> is of military or royal origin (see the Quebec flag) and the <strong>white</strong> is the flag of Jeanne d'Arc (with the initials of the Virgin).<br>

You made me laugh ! South, North and the Capital! !</p>

<p>Dan,</p>

<p>I think this blog (http://www.acadian.org/acadculture.html) has the images of the Acadian (French red white blue Tricolor with star in upper left corner) and Cajun (to the right) flags. The Acadian flag flies regularly and is very visible in many parts of the Canadian Maritime provinces, particularly in the north and north east New Brunswick Acadian areas, and in more southern Moncton (Univ. of Moncton is a mainly French Canadian institution). There are lots of contacts between Louisianna Cajuns and the Acadians; one of the music pop stars of Louisianna (Zachary Richard) is a well known visitor to Canada and the provinicial governments, including Quebec, maintain francophone cultural links with Louisianna. The Acadian story (from circa 1603 to the British colony deportations of 1745 and on) and their eventual return from Europe, USA and elsewhere, is a good one.</p>

<p>Dan and Anders,</p>

<p>Regarding North and South: A great recent French film called "Bienvenue chez les Chtis" (The "chtis" being the nickname of some of the northern French residing near the Channel) may or may not be available with subtitles or translation, but it is really worth seeing; very funny, concerning a southerner (Provence) who is displaced in his work from his sunny climes to the hated cold north and his interactions with the northerners. Film by Danny Boon, a comic French actor/producer. I think it became a blockbuster in French film theatres in 2009. </p>

<p>With apologies to Fred, I offer this, like the flags, as a perhaps rewarding visual distraction.</p>

<p>As distractions, I'm sure that Fred will appreciate it all, knowing his openness to the unforeseeable. <br>

Thanks Arthur for the reference to the film on the Ch'ti population which I have heard about, but not seen.</p>

<p>By the way I confused the colors of the Quebec flag in my text of 6.18 above. It is of course referring to the <strong>white</strong> in the French flag.</p>

<p>Thanks for the side discussion on the French, Acadian, and Cajun flags. It never dawned on me before that the colors themselves would have significance. I'm a US citizen, and our flag is more about numbers.</p>

 

<ul>

<li>Thirteen strips signify the original thirteen British colonies</li>

<li>Fifty stars signify the fifty states.</li>

</ul>

<p>I found this explanation of the Acadian flag.</p>

<p><em>Le bleu nous dit d'être loyal;</em><br>

<em>le blanc nous dit d'être pur;</em><br>

<em>le rouge nous dit d'être brave.</em></p>

<p>The blue tells us to be loyal (the military color);<br>

The white tells us to be pure (as the young woman, Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc));<br>

The red tells us to be brave.</p>

<p>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Acadia.svg</p>

<p>The Cajun flag is a more complex version of the same theme with a Gold Star signifying the Virgin Mary (and also a reference to the Cajuns' participating in the American Revolution), a gold tower signifying Spain (which once ruled Louisiana), and the fleur-de-lis symbols signifying France.</p>

<p>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadiana</p>

<p>I think I'll have to visit these locales. I'll bet they have some amazing photo opportunities!</p>

<p>Dan,</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. The Acadian flag is essentially the French "tricolore" but with the uppermost star. I will check the Acadian significance (as opposed to the Cajun one) of the star. It might also be of religious significance, as, like the Quebeckers, they also came from France at or before Louis XIV's reign (early to middle 1600s) and thus brought the older religious convictions and speak an older version (pre-French-revolutionary) French than the modern Frenchmen and most other prior French colonies around the world.</p>

 

<p>Interesting point. I posted a photo for critique and one of the critiques was that the piece of wall to the side was a distraction... I suppose if I'd had the freedom to rearrange the scene I may have but, as it was, it was a window display in a historic town and I was shooting through the window... besides, I kinda liked the wall where it was... it fit my vision of how my art should look :)<br>

Better late than never, <br>

Marti</p>

<p>Interesting point. I posted a photo for critique and one of the critiques was that the piece of wall to the side was a distraction... I suppose if I'd had the freedom to rearrange the scene I may have but, as it was, it was a window display in a historic town and I was shooting through the window... besides, I kinda liked the wall where it was... it fit my vision of how my art should look :)<br>

Better late than never, <br>

Marti</p><div></div>