Self-portrait of a young, desperate artist

Chris this is wonderfully witty work. I hope you didn't have to hold that pose too long though, especially if the fan was running. There's something striking in the faces of the women at lower left. For reasons I can't really describe right now, I get the sense of the women as being somehow symbolic of your cultural transition from your home to the midwest. Maybe I'm nuts for thinking that, but I sense a kind of warped "American Gothic" look when I see this. Very well done.

Who's the dude in the background in his underwear crinkling up the seamless? If he's your assistant I suggest you give him the boot out the door. In this case, it looks like you can give him his own boots.

Who is that DUDE???????? I am the DUDE!!!!! ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT????

It does have a very warped American Gothic-ness to it...i think it might be the hat on the girl at right, and of course their intensity of gaze (well the one at left looks bored) but theyre so oblivious to the tomfoolery behind them...i'm curious, were they allowed to look back?...its really a good shot though...never underestimate the power of desperation...

Actually they had no idea I was undressed. I fooled them and said that this is a 1 minute exposure shot and they can't move... :)

I began smiling the moment I saw this picture, and I doubt that smile will disappear anytime soon. Too bad there isn't a category for humor! ;)

Interesting! Unique! Not my favorite but very originall.

Ahah! Yet another performance!

What does that mean??? "ANother performance" and 2,4 rating? I don't get it.

Chris,

I must explain the "yet another performance" business, as well as the low ratings I gave to this picture. I was just returning from having seen, both in this site and in "real world" exhibitions, a considerable number of images in which the photographer had staged up some action, usually involving himself, and had shot the whole. Unfortunately, images of this kind usually involve some symbolism, and attempt to convey some meaning, which I am too lazy, or too dense, to decipher. They simply appear too concocted and artificial to me. I have the old fashioned opinion that the main purpose of photography should be to show some, more or less hidden, aspects of reality rather than staging situations. There are other arts for this.

Of course, this is subjective and questionabe, but that's it.

I have highly appreciated (and rated) some of your recent photographs, like "acqua e bastoni" or "Nana", which perhaps explains why I was the more disappointed by this self-portrait work of yours. Sorry!

I am glad you cleared it up for me. Now I know what you like. I must addmit that "aqua e bastoni" and "Nana" have no value for me whatsoever. They were shut (especially the color photo) to show people that shooting colorful landscapes or any other comercial stuff is the easiest thing to do. I hate postcard photography, but did it along with a couple of other ones to prove how easy it is to do... Thanks!

I get the impression that this is a send-up. And a very amusing one at that. How you might aspire (incidentally I don't think you do ... your sense of humour would prevent that) to fly about your theatre like an angel to persistent whoops of admiration whereas in truth (your send-up) your audience are unimpressed and have their back to you. A man may be impressive with his clothes off but to keep his socks on? That said I think the satirical aspect of the picture would have endured even with the socks off. It has enough there with the position of the feet (especially the one clearly rooted to the ground), the absence of wires to the ceiling and the ridiculous fan all fitted out with a power cable n all. Socks on is therefore inspirational. Perhaps a little room to the right of the fan? It is a tad close to the right edge wouldnt you say?

Yeah... But try to frame it standing there... Not an easy task... :)

Granted. Especially standing for a full 1 min exposure :)

Hey Chris,

This is a terrific shot! At first I was a little thrown by the modern electric fan but the more I look at it, the more I love it. It actually rounds out the overall satire of the shot. I hope satire was the result you were looking for, because I mean to praise, not offend! This is deffinately one of the most enjoyable pictures I have ever seen. It's so interesting, I keep going back to look at it again and again. Everytime I look at it I notice another aspect that escaped me the previous time and I like it that much more!

 

 

Very good ideea

I have this photo on my hard drive and it always makes me smile ..one of my favorites.

I've seen this shot many times by now and it always made me smile and laugh. The desperation on your face and pose is so apparent, its brilliant, makes the title perfect. And it can also work for an actor beside an artist. But I think this would be a much more powerful shot without the two ladies, just you and your desperate pose with the fan. Probably doing a remake is worth it.

Either you've been watching TOO many Emir Kustarica films, or you've been drinking with the Lodz Kaliszka mob!

 

Either way - BRAVO!

 

The looks on the faces of the women, is priceless.

 

K