kristina_kraft

<p>I'll be short. I think photojournalism can be in a category of <strong>conceptual art</strong>. I'm pretty sure of it. Recently I visited London Festival of Photography and one of the photojournalistic exhibitions was conceptual:<br>

http://lfph.org/diary/behind-closed-doors </p>

 

<p>Here is a citation to mull over if you find it interesting and engaging:"...Gursky’s world of the 1990s is big, high-tech, fast-paced, expensive, and global. Within it, the anonymous individual is but one among many." - MoMA</p>

 

<p>Nice topic, Art X.<br>

your question, does humanism govern our photography? I think it does. And I don't only refer to this following link, but also talking from my own experience of making portraits. Generally, all portraits belong to humanistic style of photography. Meaning that, it all depends on photographer's personality of being able to empathise with the sitter, and also on a degree of connecting with a sitter. <br>

Here is a link to children in humanistic photography: <br>

http://www.luminous-lint.com/app/news/LL/BL/9/903/ </p>

 

<p>Fred, <br>

I think that 'pretext' in Degas terms is more complex than 'symbol'. I like 'pretext' word as well.<br>

His other two radical ideas are too complex for me to understand, more or less. The first one about achieving something that is true by means of the false can be apply in a narrow and particular field. Just like his paintings of the ballet dancers. Thinking more about it, well, what about mythological and Christian scenes in the time of the Renaissance?( Also, I think in the Classic Greek architecture - whole Necropolis. Which is for me beautifying of gods sanctuaries.) That can be put into this quote. I don't know what else. I think that as you go north in Europe, the paintings are about ordinary, working people in everyday life. <br>

Best regards,<br>

Kristina<br>

</p>

<p>It is a nice overall conversation here. Thinking about symbolism. I used to photograph woods in snow with a slide film that gives blue tones. It meant to stand for a 'magic', 'fairy' world. For me blue colour can depict the liveliness, vibrancy of life in the forests. It's all connected to the legends, fairy-tales of the Middle Age when life in forests was more abundant then it is today.<br>

Recently I was working on a book that is all about flowers as a symbolic representation, or allegories for human characteristics - emotions, thoughts, fertility; and comprising also of human power to idealised the life through beauty, love, religion beliefs. I saw in my husband's pictures of flowers another world, symbols and allegories and have based the book on a completely different side of what he was expecting. I looked at his images of flowers and got ideas about them. It was instantaneous 'light bulb' in my mind! So his flowers reminiscent of various human conditions.<br>

I remember that the famous Impressionist painter, Edgar Degas, said that his ballerinas aren't really about ballerinas. They are a symbol for something else. Maybe femininity, gracefulness in the body movements, etc.<br>

Krisi</p>

<p>You're welcome, Brad! Thanks for an explanation. </p>

<p>Brad,<br>

wow, Brad! I'm speechless now that I read about the world you live in. I think I understand what you're talking about. Maybe you'll become their hero one day! </p>

<p><strong>Fred</strong>,<br>

well, that's absolutely great that the federal government sent a lot of food to that camp and that Steinbeck wrote a novel being influenced by it. I only saw the movie 'The Grapes of Wrath', twice.<br>

I was judgemental due to my ignorance... Ah, knowing about knowledge - meta-knowledge! <br>

"Photojournalism is not about paying subjects to get photos, nor should it be. It is often about raising awareness and a good photojournalistic effort can have a great impact, as Lange and the other FSA photographers did." - I see, Fred. Your explanation is swell! You couldn't have explained it to me better.<br>

"Of course, we can never be sure, but had Lange paid people to get her photos, my guess is that many today would still be judging, claiming that was unethical photojournalistic practice which brought into question the authenticity of the photos and her assignment." - Sounds reasonable to me. I think so too. </p>

<p><strong>Brad</strong>, I browsed rather quickly through your web site. This is a nice engaging photograph. I read about this photo. You are serious about raising money for youth on the street. Here in England there are photographers who also do projects with socially sensitive people. I guess you should know how to do it, so that feels natural.</p>

 

<p><strong>Fred,</strong> yes, I feel I have a right to say about any photograph that had been taken of poor immigrants, or of the Depression era from where I <em>sit. </em>I don't judge. This is not my profession. And I am not righteous either. I simply think that case sensitive situations, such as Lange's portrait, should required a financial support. I don't have money to pay people, so I take pictures of people whose life is settled and who are happy and fulfilled in their soul, who are emotionally open in front of me, or to me. And whose paths in life intertwine with mine. <br>

I appreciate your second reply. <br>

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

<p>I have read down to <strong>Fred G's post</strong> about D. Lange. <br /> I think that Lange's portraits can't be a reference point here, because times have changed since the depression era, 1930. So, the approach of taking portraits of poor people on the street might require a different approach. As <strong>Brad said</strong> for people in the street that they are just people. Without having them categorised by a social class. I also share the same opinion about it. I feel it was unfair that Lange didn't pay to the immigrant, poor mother. It's a sad story behind. Though it was a reciprocal help. Yes, but on the general level of humanity. So that "I" can read about it "today". <br /> When I meet various people in the street, sometimes "holding the power of the encounter" is on me. At least I felt that way. You can see a few portraits of women in my folder "Glimpses" - Untitled VI, IX, X.<br /> http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=1031459 <br /> I find myself lucky that my presence didn't disturb these three women. I have developed my own methods so that I can deliver my ideas, or a concept, successfully. What I noticed for myself is, that it takes a different mind frame when I'm on the field. It's like growing. And I'm enjoying it a lot.</p>

Taken with Leica M6 and Kodak Ektar.<div></div>

<p>Julie.<br>

thanks for putting these wonderful opinions of Caponigro and Doisneau. I understand both of them because I can see myself in their comprehension of photographing. <br>

The most exciting part of photographing is when I see a possibility to veil the ordinary objects in nature that are not particularly interested at first sight. But as I look longer at something that attracts me at the giving moment, I see the possibilities to capture them pulling the soul out of them, so that photograph may look alive as a separate reality wanting to pull the viewer inside.</p>

 

<p>When I photograph landscapes I want them to look more mysterious. I want to add something, some real stream of life. Photographing architecture, the feeling is the same - have to look different, have to pull the viewer inside wanting my photos to speak.<br>

When I do portraits, at least there has to exist some minimum connection between me and the subject if it is taken on the street. But I don't take photos of strangers because I only see an empty skin. I like a lot to take the photos of people that I know, and every time I find something new in their expression. Unfortunately, It's all stored in my memory, not on slides. <br>

The great gift is when your relations with friends evolve. It would be a great portfolio showing all these evolving among old friends, couples. But then, who would live a life? I'm the one who likes to live and that's why I don't have so much photos of my friends or of people that I know.</p>

<p>Arthur,<br>

your question seems logical to me. For me every aspect of life, on all existential levels has some levels of beauty inside. Of course, but only to people who love life, who love to live fully. (speaking from my experience). Beauty is the highest form of living - encompasses the truth, moral values, feelings, emotions, nature...all good things including death, decaying, destruction, emptiness but in a natural way not man-made like wars, but on personal and intimate level.<br>

From my experience I like to make people happy with my photographs and I do make them happy with my creative images. Because it is also about my personality, character that people find themselves attracted to it. And I'm happy to see them like that. And it's not about family photos only, in my case.<br>

When you are in love, it just radiates from you and other people noticed that and your work becomes better, vibrant and interesting and they want to be a part of it too. Because when you are truly in love, you can find an inspiration in everything and make a really good photograph.<br>

I may say that this quote is attainable goal of photography.</p>

 

<p>Thanks Wayne,<br>

yes, Harry Potter can give you a great influence to create something. I like him also and other characters.</p>

<p>Wayne,<br>

So this is an image that I photographed after my boyfriend broke up with me. A black and white inanimate objects. I could not find a meaning in a colored photograph any more, as I've been always photographing in colors.<br>

http://www.photo.net/photo/8551997<br>

I like your <em>Power Place</em> . Showing a full black and white tonalities.</p>

 

<p>Craig,<br>

it was very stimulating to hear how human brain sees and visualizes. It is a hot topic. The topic about Mona Lisa was a real discovery for me. But I couldn't see how she changes the expression of a smile at such a short time. I'll look again.</p>

<p>Glenn,<br>

you always say something interesting and (almost) entertaining. This is how you sound to me in a very positive manner.</p>

<p>Fred,<br>

"Unfortunately, even with constant reminders, humans seem to keep heaping atrocities on one another."<br>

Yes, you are right, totaly. My generation didn't experience those kinds of wars, only heard. So, it is kind of compensation in a strangely way which I don't comprehend - that we keep heaping atrocities on one another.<br>

If you consciously don't fitting into particular conglomerate, you ought to be "killed". Because I think people are not comfortable having around "unfitted person". So they are fueled by fear wanting to hurt them. I still believe in evolving of their consciousness. Yes, I've been hurt.</p>

 

<p>Thank you, John for sharing this information. I had no idea about that part of the world except the terms "Pol Pot", "killing fields", "Khmer Rouge". I didn't know that there exists Museum of Genocide, and at least I expected that I'll find a story of photographers who photographed the prisoners before they were killed. I was surprised finding a book about Pol Pot where writer described him as a charismatic person with kind of Buddhist-monk behavior. I simply can't believe.<br>

I never understood the politics in this area of the world.<br>

Generally, Cambodians were pretty people, very pretty.</p>

<p>Paul,<br>

if I may ask you? Why on earth are you raging, diminishing the values? Are you diminishing the value of Lepage's art work?<br>

Looking at your portfolio, I find your concept a little bit bizzare, intriguing. Feeling like I'm entering a door in an old ruined house, and finding ...well, you know that feeling... a different things of someone who left.<br>

<br></p>

<p>Paul,<br>

if I may ask you? Why on earth are you raging, diminishing the values? Are you diminishing the value of Lepage's art work?<br>

Looking at your portfolio, I find your concept a little bit bizzare, intriguing. Feeling like I'm entering a door in an old ruined house, and finding ...well, you know that feeling... a different things of someone who left.</p>

 

<p>Arthur,<br>

You described so clear about this particular male behaviour. I've been wondering about it for tha last one month. Self-healing, catharsis from what? From beauty, from good things - thinking on happy relationship. I understand. From my point of view, my catharsis lies in having a relationship. It transfomrs me in a way I can't describe in a simple words. It would be in a poetic words, then.</p>

 

<p>Arthur,<br>

in that case "Dancer" could be fine to my senses. No one likes to see not just drama, but tragedy, injustice in the movie. I never listened Bjork, but I know here style and a few songs. Not my type. It would be interesting to see her in that movie together with Chatrine D. Yes, you're right about human values.<br>

What do you think about Ingmar Bergman, a Swedish producer. Famous not only by his movies. He was producing also for the theatres. He also worked with Von Triar. I watched "Fany and Alexander".<br>

"The Image Mill": Now you caught me! Not the best presentation of a history. Why not?</p>