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Tag Archives: Critique
A Retrospect – 1+41=42, Episode 42
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Looking Back
Tonight is a different show. Any fool can take a look back at earlier shows when they hit a special milestone but it takes creative and talented fools to do it when there’s no particular reason. And we are, if nothing else, creative and talented fools! So, we took the opportunity this week to do a retrospect.
Alternative print process – the fine art nude
Looking back through all 41 previous episodes, we each chose our top three episodes along with an honorable mention. We didn’t tell each other which episodes we were choosing or why we chose them and it is interesting to see which episodes we did choose. Some were predictable, others were quite a surprise. Education was big on our list, as was networking and the importance of guests and what they brought to the show.
Then we did the same with our featured artists and photographers.
So give this show a listen and let us know here, or on Twitter, if you agree with our choice or disagree. What were your favorite shows up until now?
Don’t Forget!
We could really use your help to offset the financial cost of putting the show on (hosting, etc.) so why not treat yourself to some awesome Polarizing Images swag from the Polarizing Images Swag Emporium on CafePress?
Finally, a huge thank you to all of our listeners and guests – it’s been fun and we’re only getting better and bigger!
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Adrian Newey, Akira Yoshizawa, Amateur, Arnold Newman, Art, Collaboration, David Lynch, Eddie Soloway, editing, education, Edward Weston, Erik Johansson, Fine Art, Helen Grace Ventura Thompson, Heston Blumenthal, inspiration, James Balog, Jim Brandenberg, Like, obsolete, Photography, Podcasting, Professional, Social Media, Techniques, Ted Forbes
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Is Software the New Barrier to Entry? PI41
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The New Barrier to Entry?
We start off with Rick trying to dial back his (seemingly) hatred of the French but then he turns his attention to the Basque region of Spain. But, hey, he does an Irish friend. If you’re familiar with the other podcasts that Tony is involved in, you’ve gotta be shocked that he is the voice of reason and sanity on Polarizing Images!
And don’t forget the new segment! Send us the name of a drink via our Twitter account – @PolarizingImage – and we’ll have Rick drink it through a Red Vine straw. Remember to tag the Tweet with #RedVineDrink.
Anyway, lots of good stuff in this episode once you get past our usual goofiness (A.K.A. the reason you keep coming back). Topics today include:
- Do we really expect Tony to do any heavy-lifting? *Can* he?
- If E&J is good enough for us, it’s good enough for hillbillies. Let’s just call it “domestic”… I wonder if Rick is blind yet?
- With the cost of software, does that make it a barrier to entry? How about the learning curve of software?
- Does keeping on top of software updates prevent the guys from updating their gear?
- Is there a perfect tool or piece of software?
- How terrible or lazy are actions and filters? (hint: Rob has changed his opinion)
Even just 20 years ago, it was quality camera gear that posed the greatest barrier of entry to being a professional photographer. You would never have dreamed about becoming a wedding photographer with “just” a 35mm camera and a couple of inexpensive zoom lenses. Today? Different story! But you need something for post production. Whether you’re buying high end applications like Photoshop (still the “gold standard”), paying less for a more appropriate version of Light Room, or stand alone apps and filters, your collection and library of software is going to grow and, regardless of how much you spend (or don’t) it all takes time to learn. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the time required to hone your craft as a photographer!
Our Artists
Starting with our photographer, we look at Italian photojournalist Clay McLachlan. Want to see how a working (and successful) photojournalist sets up a seemingly easy food shot? Check out this behind the scenes video called Blue Bottle.
As an homage to Rick’s father, Rick chose the German-American architect, Helmut Jahn. Jahn was the architect behind the United Airline’s terminal at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. And yes, at one time, O’Hare was an example of modern architecture. Chicago is a city filled with architectural history and relevance but, beyond that, a city of artistic importance. Anyone who wants to be a travel or architectural photographer will, at some point, need to travel to Chicago and see the works of influential designers such as Jahn.
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Actions, Amateur, barrier to Entry, Business, Clay McLachlan, Clients, Comfort Levels, editing, Facebook, filters, Future, Helmut Jahn, hybrid photography, Like, obsolete, Photography, Photoshop, post production, Professional, Software, Techniques, Twitter
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Networking – Episode #33, Networking with Other Photographers
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How Important is Networking?
Networking? Really? Yeah, believe it or not, a lot of photographers (the three of us included) are firmly of the opinion that our art, skills, and techniques can only improve when we’re willing to talk to other photographers. Whether we are giving/receiving critiques, asking/answering questions, or just shooting the shit with other people behind the lens, networking is where we grow.
We’ve bitched (a lot, actually) about those shooters who keep everything to themselves and refuse to share their “secrets”. To those guys (and, yeah, they’re almost always guys) we say, “spoiler alert – your secrets are nothing more than cobbled-together tricks you read in widely available books.” So get over yourselves.
As Rob points out, this podcast only exists because Tony believes in networking with other photographers and Rob believes in the same. Think about some of the great guests we’ve had on the show: from Ted Forbes to Giulio Sciorio to Steven Chappell: all great photographers who also understand the importance of collaborating.
I could go on, but you get the point! BTW, speaking of collaborating, don’t forget to leave a comment or call our line and leave a message.
Our Artists
Leonard Nimoy’s Shekhina
With two of the three guys being Trekkies, it’s a good thing that the third (Rob) is writing the show notes – that’s how we’ve avoided the obvious Star Trek references when we look at our highlighted photographer, Leonard Nimoy. Tony and Rick are both wrong when they guess that Rob’s main attraction to Mr Nimoy’s photography is the dance section. Nope, gotta check out Shekina. It’s his interpretation of the feminine nature of God. With a fine art twist, of course! Like his work or not, Rob is completely entranced with his photography!
Rick, keeping with his “Seriously, WTF?!” artist theme, chose the director David Lynch as the featured artist. From Twin Peaks to Blue Velvet, Lynch’s non-traditional approach to film making is a real inspiration not only to the three guys but should be to all photographers (and artists) looking to work outside of that proverbial “box”. Nimoy and Lynch, as artists, may be too famous for networking with but there are plenty of artists who are following their paths. We just have to find them and learn to trust their vision.
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Art, Collaboration, David Lynch, Facebook, Forums, Giulio Sciorio, hybrid photography, inspiration, Leonard Nimoy, Meetup, networking, Podcasting, Social Media, Steven Chappell, Ted Forbes
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And Your Unsolicited, Adulterated Opinion Would Be…
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Opinions, they say, are like assholes – everybody has one. And we’re no different… we’re assholes with opinions! Which opinions matter, whose opinions matter, and why should we even care? Pretty basic questions but they need to be answered.
What’s Your Opinion?
Look, we all from time to time have the need to get praise and flattery from people. And, if it’s from people we like or respect, even better! So, tonight the guys open up and reveal what it means to each of them to get critiques and opinions from people we respect and admire. Even when what they have to tell us may not be what we want to hear. C’est la vie…
But this is one topic that takes advantage of the differences between Rick, Rob, and Tony. We’re each at different stages in our photography and it shows when we talk about whose opinions and critiques we seek and listen to.
Our Artists
So, this is episode 22 and, unbelievably, Rob has waited this long to highlight one of the photographers he admires most – Jim Brandenburg. Having watched Jim’s DVD, Captured By The Light, several years ago, Rob has become heavily influenced not just by his photographic work but by who Brandenburg is as a photographer. If you ever think you’ve been handed a tough challenge, read up on his 90-day one-frame-per-day shoot. Then quite yer bitchin’. Watch the trailer on YouTube:
Our artist is Eduardo Chillida. Okay, apologies to Mr. Chillida: first Tony tried to pronounce his name and then Rob took a stab at it. Two different pronunciations and both are probably just slaughtering the way it’s supposed to sound. No matter, he’s still a brilliant artist and Tony does one helluva fine job relating Chillida’s work to photography.
So, what’s your opinion? Let us know!
Oh, and buy shit through our affiliate links, please? We’re running out of server space!
Watch the trailer for Jim Brandenburg’s Chased By The Light
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Also tagged Art, Collaboration, Eduardo Chillida, inspiration, Jim Brandenburg, Opinion, Techniques
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Like it? But I Don’t Like It!
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Finally, Tony and Rob disagree on a topic. And we like it!
Like or Dislike?
Are you one of those people that hits “Like” on a regular basis? Actually, it doesn’t matter if the button says “Like” or subscribe or list or add or… could you possibly be contributing to the dilution of photography’s impact? In today’s topic Tony, Rick, and Rob talk about the Like button and how we see it as being a problem for photography.
The questions we (try) to cover today are:
- Are people just hitting the like button with out thinking?
- How does this impact photographers?
- Has it killed personal tastes?
- How do we stop from falling into the trap of just hitting the like button?
- Are there any upsides to this?
- Is there anyway/need to solve the problems it causes?
- Is it possible that, when we require standards, we can make art less accessible? Art needs to be accessible but where is the line between being available and just being inundated with 500 crappy pictures of a person’s vacation?
We get on a pretty good bent about whether we need to have people adhere to standards, should we go to smaller, more personal communities, or even look back about 10 years on the internet when Web Rings were all the rage? The one thing that becomes clear in this episode is that we don’t have an answer (just a bunch of opinions).
Please leave a comment on the post to let us know if you agree or disagree. Better yet, let us know what you think is a viable solution to the problem.
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Today’s artist is Norman Lindsay.
Today’s photographer is Joe McNally. Oh, and here’s the link to the YouTube video of Joe that Rob refers to in the episode. This guy goes places that none of us three would ever dare! Well, maybe Rick.
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Criticism, editing, Facebook, inspiration, Joe McNally, Like, Norman Lindsay, Social Media, StumbleUpon, Twitter
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Stagnating as an Artist and a Photographer
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Have you found yourself in a period of stagnation? Whether it’s a short and temporary “artist’s block” or a longer-term period of not producing your art, at some point in time, all of us experience a period where we just don’t produce any art.
Listen to today’s episode where Tony & Rob are joined by Rick, Rob’s long-time photography partner and friend. We discuss the reasons behind falling into a slump, how to recognize the fact that we are stagnating, and possible ways to break out of it. This is a longer episode but easy flowing and it goes by quickly. Does being accountable to another artist help or hinder? This is a show full of questions, but short on answer – and that’s a good thing, I think.
Today’s showcased photographer is Jeff Wall and our artist is Bob Kingsmill.
Don’t forget to sign up for our Flickr group and follow us @PolarizingImage (yeah, one too many letters in our name).
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Artist Block, Bob Kingsmill, Collaboration, inspiration, Jeff Wall, Social Media, Stagnating, Twitter
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Do I Suck? Maybe…
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Liam from the Isle of Man drops by to hang out with us this week to discuss a topic that haunts everyone: self-doubt. Topics include planning the next five years, overcoming doubt, and not charging enough. Just cash the fucking check and deal with it!
Today’s featured photographer is John Hyde and the featured artist are the Beatles. No link for the Beatles because if you need a link for them, you shouldn’t be using a computer.
BTW, check out Liam’s podcast, Uttabull.
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Clients, Collaboration, Comfort Levels, Confidence, Criticism, Doubt, John Hyde, Landscape Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, post production
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Scene 5, Take 2
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Yeah, we’re a week late getting the recording out but we’ve dealt with it and so should you! After figuring out our technical issues, we’re back with this week’s topic, the Artist’s Statement. We cover the why and, to a bit, the how of the artist’s statement. Find out, if you don’t have one, why you need one. It’s about legacy, style, and telling people who you really are.
Our featured photographer on this show is Clyde Butcher and our artist is Brett Whitely. Word of caution, Whitley’s web site automatically starts playing an audio track of the artist speaking so turn off your speakers or jump to another page to make it stop!
B_Mo, you know we’ve mentioned you, so we know you’re going to listen…
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged artist statement, Artistry, brett whitely, clyde butcher, Criticism, inspiration, legacy, palestrina, Photography, Podcasting, Social Media, style, Techniques
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Keeping it Real – Putting it on Paper
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Our third podcast is done and ready for listening, but are you? After a rough opening by the Aussie, Rob & Tony discuss the print and topics include why having your photographs made into prints adds value, the mistake most people make in printing, a small disagreement about making proof sheets, Rob (again) goes on a rant about the industry’s trend toward providing clients with crap (oops, “images on CD”), and a look at a local (to Chicago) artist and his digital art.
Spoiler alert – Rob still hasn’t given out any foot rubs!
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Artistry, Canon, CD, Epson, HP, Luster, Paper, Photography, Printing, Proofs, Rag, Techniques, Twitter
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Our Second Episode – Are We Legit Yet?
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Number two is in the can! (See what I did there?) Today’s topics include the critique; why critiquing the technical aspects of a photo is only half the equation, why it’s good to be Edward Weston, and a rant about people who don’t understand what post-processing is all about.
Here’s the article we discuss: 10 Ways to Critique a Photo
Photos we critiqued:
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Arnold Newman, Artistry, Chicago, Criticism, Crop, Cropping, Edward Weston, Igor Stravinsky, Naperville, Photography, Podcasting, Social Media, Steve McCurry, Techniques, Twitter, Warmth
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