[Leica] Journalist buys a Leica!/Reinvigoration

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

Great post Rabs!
To me a fine art photographer is someone who has cracked the fine art
market.
He or she has found a gallery owner and entered into a relationship with
them for them to have shows of their work and probably represent them for
the long or short term.
On a photography list which a camera brand name in the title and most of its
inhabitants in software design and heavily involved in the continual buying
and selling of camera gear which much less thought to their body of work
they are accumulating its seems natural that the art world becomes  a thing
of suspicion. The term "artist" off putting and an object called "art" a
thing of suspicion.

Someone who had a strong background in art might find the high tech
continual buying and selling of camera bodies and lenses and printers with
suspicion and mistrust. I know some of those.
They are much more comfortable with focusing their attentions on their
portfolio and their next print or shoot.

My background in school I was an art major and to call oneselves an "artist"
was something we had to get over real quick; as its no big deal.  Also the
act of producing art and forging a portfolio was kind of a natural thing one
starts into it or I think you'd flunk out real quick.
You hang your stuff on any wall you can and see how it flies.
Its really not voodoo and its really not rocket science.
Though on the LUG for the most part it certainly seems to be.



On 12/30/12 12:36 PM, "Mark William Rabiner" <mark at rabinergroup.com> 
wrote:

> Thing is it does say "Journalist " at the top. Doesn't really have a fine
> art bent to the thing.
> I was not impressed by her work I found it exceedingly above average her 
> eye
> I'd give a C+ and her commitment a C-.
> She studied English Literature and graduated and bought a camera.
> I don't blame her writing is a lonely thing.
> But apparently feels one had to study English Literature but photography 
> one
> just does as a lark. This kind of a thing always has bugged me.
> I did learn one or two or three things from my teachers in school on the
> whole photo and art and print making bent.
> "quantum mechanics was no fun so I just went out and bought a camera".
> I'd be more impressed with someone who photographed their way through
> college and graduated and started writing.
> 
> 
> On 12/30/12 11:49 AM, "Greg Rubenstein" <gcr910 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Warning: rant at fine-art photographers
>> 
>> Read with interest the piece about the journalist buying a Leica and
>> how it reinvigorated her interest in photography. I know exactly what
>> she felt and how she feels. Am sure many working photographers,
>> journalists, amateurs and others who use cameras have had similar
>> experiences.
>> 
>> Back in the 80s and 90s as cameras became increasingly automated, I
>> began to feel disengaged. Nothing to do with my commitment to
>> photography, but I felt less essential to the process -- despite the
>> fact that my eyes, vision and results were the keys to getting work.
>> 
>> Bought my first Leica to help me "regain my chops." Had to manually
>> focus the thing. Had to set its aperture. Had to select a shutter
>> speed. Even began using my handheld light meters more. It was
>> re-engaging and reinvigorating. And continues to be. My commitment
>> never wavered. Today I own only Leica gear. Other stuff for work or
>> personal projects is easily rented as needed.
>> 
>> Also, there have been and are times when I cannot be in two places at
>> once. I am an omnivorous viewer of images and portfolios. Having
>> viewed so much, I will say publicly, and knowing full well that I'm
>> offending some people, I have never hired a photographer with the
>> appellation "fine art" on his or her card, resume or portfolio, and
>> won't recommend a fine-art photographer to someone seeking a shooter.
>> 
>> Why?
>> 
>> Based on the limits of my experience and viewing, and the anecdotal
>> experiences of others in my sphere, I have found that fine-art
>> photographers:
>> 
>> -- have attitude ("If buying a new camera 'reinvigorated' her interest
>> in photography, then she has never really been that committed to it
>> anyway. Sad thing is, this airhead has a job with a major newspaper."
>> being a typical example of such attitude.),
>> -- lack a necessary understanding of photographs as communication, and
>> -- do not understand or willfully ignore the needs of businesses that
>> hire them or other customers who pay them.
>> 
>> This is my experience and my prejudice as a photographer and as
>> someone who has hired photographers, as well as someone who spends a
>> fair amount of his time with photographers. I have yet to meet a
>> fine-art photographer who grasps any of the concepts mentioned above
>> except attitude.
>> 
>> Fact is, I bristle when someone tells me one of my images is artistic.
>> At one of the finest design and photographic programs in America, The
>> Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology (a college
>> created by many of the Bauhaus school -- Laszlo Moholy-Nagy among them
>> -- when they fled the Nazis) "art" borders on being a dirty word.
>> 
>> Think hard, then hold your tongues and thoughts, fine-arts
>> photographers, when you publicly question others' commitments to
>> photography or "photographic purity."
>> 
>> End of Sunday rant. Anyone in the mood to respond, feel free to fire
>> back publicly or off list.
>> 
>> Thank you.
>> 
>> Greg Rubenstein
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 
> 
> 




-- 
Mark William Rabiner
Photography
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/