Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/19

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?
From: imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser)
Date: Mon Jan 19 14:08:32 2009
References: <5B13112AD743CA6EF73CB6B2@hindolveston.reid.org> <49748995.1070108@summaventures.com> <F56E4221-F88E-429B-AEC0-A95231307675@cox.net> <C5E919E3-BE92-4ACE-8F7A-8BE816F43907@mac.com> <BA1D5252-950F-4D96-8A96-C31FAC9F2893@cox.net> <C2880B5A-68AB-4B76-960A-5D7966EEEADA@mac.com> <5CB1F9AE-EE9A-4895-9FE8-8D87E57A185B@cox.net>

feeling a little relief that after looking often
you find more to appreciate in the images.
I'd expect that if we saw some 11x14 or 16x20 prints
we may even find more to appreciate in them
(and I don't mean on glossy newsprint stock with a poorly registered  
process dot).

I certainly wouldn't refer to them as "great" portraits
or superb photographs.
Yet (for me), they contain some fascinating visual qualities;
expressing a some what humbled (un-glorified),
yet respectful human condition.

We, on this list, look at a hell of a lot of photographs;
how much time do we actually spend on each viewing?

I find that on some days a post may look, to me, rather dull.
The next day it may (or may not) resonate more.

Somewhat regularly I do self portraits
to test a lighting set up, an ASA setting or
just to see "how I look today."

Many times I feel shocked by how I look;
but also fascinated by my own reality,
vulnerability and slow disintegration.
I rarely have the courage
to publicly post these "tests"on a screen or print;
even though some of them have a certain raw power.

Rather than "wimpy"
I believe it took (and always takes) a certain amount of courage
on everyone's part (photographer, subjects, editors)
to try something a little "off."

The glamour assembly line
could certainly have been employed;
as it is every single day
ad nauseum.

Regards,
George Lottermoser
george@imagist.com
http://www.imagist.com
http://www.imagist.com/blog
http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
Picture A Week - www.imagist.com/paw_07




On Jan 19, 2009, at 2:06 PM, Steve Barbour wrote:

>
> On Jan 19, 2009, at 11:26 AM, George Lottermoser wrote:
>
>> and with equal respect to you Steve
>> nothing wimpy about
>> attempting to work within those restraints
>
> I wanted to respond George, but before doing so I again went  
> through all of these photos...
>
> I must say that this time, after 3-4 previous looks... I appreciate  
> more these images...
>
> The subjects still decide how they want to be seen, they pose, and  
> that was the idea, even encouraging  "bring something to include in  
> the photo" but I am bothered by the fact that they insist they  
> wanted to let the subject pose as wished, yet when Axelrod posed  
> with cookies, the photographers  chose not to show that image, as  
> "it almost didn't look real" "it was too silly"...
>
> so they set their own editorial limits, controls on what was  
> acceptable/permissable...sadly a lapse, I think...
>
>
> maybe they simply wanted us to mull over and talk about these  
> photos,  just as we are...
>
> Steve
>
>
>
>
>
>> ;
>> especially with the subject a person I neither know
>> nor will have the time to get to know.
>> (as any working photographer
>> who's been assigned a few moments
>> with an exec or CEO can attest)
>>
>> In many cases
>> it's easier to apply
>> learned, professional tactics
>> to produce the flattering portrait,
>> complete with more dramatic lighting,
>> and corporate backgrounds
>> to add (perhaps superficial) content.
>>
>> Regards,
>> George Lottermoser
>> george@imagist.com
>> http://www.imagist.com
>> http://www.imagist.com/blog
>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>> Picture A Week - www.imagist.com/paw_07
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 19, 2009, at 10:07 AM, Steve Barbour wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 19, 2009, at 8:38 AM, George Lottermoser wrote:
>>>
>>>> one can only guess:
>>>> 1) a catalog of Barack Obama's top advisers, aids and members of  
>>>> his incoming administration
>>>> 2) without flattery or suggestive environments
>>>> 3) each within a very limited time frame
>>>> 4) and in quite a number of different locations
>>>> 5) while maintaining a consistent look across the collection
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> with respect George, to your efforts to come up with some kind of  
>>> an adequate explanation...
>>>
>>> these sound awfully wimpy to me...
>>>
>>>
>>> Steve
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> George Lottermoser
>>>> george@imagist.com
>>>> http://www.imagist.com
>>>> http://www.imagist.com/blog
>>>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>>>> Picture A Week - www.imagist.com/paw_07
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jan 19, 2009, at 9:27 AM, Steve Barbour wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> what were they trying to accomplish?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Leica Users Group.
>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more  
>>>> information
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


Replies: Reply from sethrosner at nycap.rr.com (Seth Rosner) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)
Reply from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)
In reply to: Message from reid at mejac.palo-alto.ca.us (Brian Reid) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)
Message from pdzwig at summaventures.com (Peter Dzwig) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)
Message from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)
Message from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)
Message from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] Dehumanizing portraits?)