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Tag Archives: inspiration
Fine Art Photography – Is It Still Viable?
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Dear friends, you will notice three differences in today’s photography podcast:
- Rick is missing (he’s in Naw’lins) but we’ve got an amazing guest to fill his shoes.
- There’s no featured artist or photographer this week as our guest, on behalf of galleries, features all artists.
- 95% of the show features intelligence and well-articulated thoughts – because our guest spoke for 94.5% of the show! But don’t worry, bizarre behavior and poorly-formatted thoughts will return next episode!
And [drumroll] Introducing… Ginger Fear!
Can photography still be a viable piece of art sold by a gallery? If you’re a fine art photographer, you need to listen to this episode. As it turns out, there is actually a lot of potential and hope for photography (and other art) in the digital age and Jason even suggests some surprising actions to take.
If you shoot fine art photography, the information in this book is worth far more than the selling price
Seriously, this has to be one of our greatest shows ever. Jason Horejs, the owner of Xanada Gallery in Scottsdale AZ drops by and gives us incredible insights into the role of an art gallery and how photographers can do a better job getting gallery representation. His wit, knowledge, charm, and insight into the gallery world provided the show with a lot more information than we were expecting.
If you’re interested in learning more about the art world and Xanadu Gallery (where, in fact, they do not roller skate and wear satin pantsuits to Tony’s dismay), look for Jason at:
- His blog, Red Dot Blog
- Xanadu Gallery
- His Facebook page
- His book Starving to Successful
What do you think? Let us know here and on Twitter!
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Art, Business, Fine Art, Framing, Future, gallery, hybrid photography, Jason Horejs, Nudity, Photography, Printing, RedDot, Sales, Scottsdale, Social Media, Xanadu Gallery
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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, Critique, David Lynch, Eddie Soloway, editing, education, Edward Weston, Erik Johansson, Fine Art, Helen Grace Ventura Thompson, Heston Blumenthal, James Balog, Jim Brandenberg, Like, obsolete, Photography, Podcasting, Professional, Social Media, Techniques, Ted Forbes
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It’s All About Context… and the French – Episode 40
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Context is King
Okay, for the record, Rick does not hate the French. He seems really intent on convincing us that he doesn’t.
Too few photographers look at their work in the context of the subject or client. What makes an image important to the client or viewer is the broader context and meaning of the photograph. For example, would the picture by Addie Adams of the young Vietnamese girl running down the road after her village was hit by napalm be as powerful or have such impact if not set in the story of the Viet Nam war?
Topics today include:
- Really, Rick doesn’t hate the French
- “Dry Ginger” is not the porn name of one of our hosts
- Context is key
- How arrogance and fear prevent a lot of photographers from reaching their potential
- Developing relationships with your subject or clients is critical
- Surreal photographs existed before Photoshop!
- Could the iPod have existed 20 years ago, even if they had the technology?
- No, really, Rick does not hate the French!
© Jerry Uelsmann
Our Artists
This week’s photographer is Jerry Uelsmann. In particular, we were struck by the image shown here – created in 1969 and done entirely in the darkroom. So, for the post-production haters who think Photoshop has created too many “artists”, we’ll point them to Jerry and say it was being done before Photoshop. Beautifully developed as a black and white image, his work straddles that line between realism and abstraction.
Our other artist is Sir Jonathon Ives of Apple. Ives is the Senior Vice-President of Industrial Design at Apple and is responsible for some of Apple’s most iconic interfaces. Rick, an Apple fan boy (an “Apple-lyte” as Rob calls him/them) since the 80s, waxes poetic about Ives’ influence on design and suggests (correctly, Rob and Tony think) that the same design principles used by Ives’ can be used in photography.
“The word design is everything and nothing. The design and the product itself are inseparable” – Jon Ives.
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Clients, Context, iPod, Jerry Uelsmann, Jonathon Ives, Photography
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Photography Today, Is It Killing Off the Dinosaurs? Part 2
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Photography? No, really, we do talk about it eventually! As usual, the guys take the long way around to getting on topic as we have our usual discussion about what we’re drinking, why Rick will eventually play all seven dwarfs, whether Rob or Tony has the larger breasts and, well, you know by now…
Oh, and thanks to Mr. Sadie Breeze for preventing brain damage.
Photography, Dinosaurs, and When You Won’t Change
After the last episode’s emotional tirade about whether or not the photography industry still needs a traditional sales force, things come down in this second part. Instead, we talk about whether the film shooters and even the dSLR users today are being left behind by the advances of technology. Is there still a place for traditional print portraits? Is there still room for the fine artists? How about the RAW vs JPG argument: is that argument going to be irrelevant in the near future? And what about those guys who insist on only selling prints and not providing CDs? That’s an issue we need to deal with.
Let’s face it, photography is indeed changing and, as much as we want to believe differently, we don’t have the actual answers about what will still be viable five years from now. But one thing is clear – if you’re not going to be a visionary in photography then you’ll end up a dinosaur and, historically, we now how that ends.
Artists of the Fortnight
Tony points us toward the amazing photography of Dennis Hopper. Sadly, Dennis is no longer with us but his work in photography remains with us. Rob believes that actors often make great photographers because they live their lives being creative. Regardless of why, Hopper himself has a body of work that is poignant and strong. Anybody who wants to get into the fine art side of portrait photography would do well to take a good long look at Dennis Hopper’s work.
For our artist, we look at the well-known Rembrandt. If there was ever a true Renaissance Man, Rembrandt was it. Schooled in math, science, art, literature and history, Rembrandt used that learning to develop a style of portraiture known for its sharpness and, of course, it’s lighting.
Don’t forget – Our Photography Book Review
Head on over to www.PolarizingImages.com now and take part in our book discussion, The Art of Photography!
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Business, change, Clients, Dennis Hopper, dinosaurs, editing, Fine Art, Future, History, hybrid photography, Meetup, obsolete, Photography, Photoshop, Podcasting, post production, Rembrandt, Twitter
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Visionaries: Are There Any Visionaries Left in Photography?
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Visionaries – It’s a word that evokes a sense of artistry, focus, vision (d’uh) and, apparently, confusion…
Are There Visionaries in Photography?
The guys get down to discussing the finer points of the role of visionaries in photography until they realize that theymay not be talking about the same thing.
Oops.
Still, the guys have a lively debate about whether or not we can recognize visionaries while they’re actively creating art or if we can only recognize their influence after they’re dead – or at the very least, after the influence is over. Kind of like a gambling streak in Vegas, right? You never know you’re on a streak, you only ever knew that your were on a streak.
And what about the tie, or bond, between visionaries and technology? Can technology create, or destroy, a person’s vision? Or is technology truly just a tool that visionaries can use to bring their vision to life?
Our Artists
Our artists, on one hand, could not be different. But you can easily argue that they are very similar if we look at each one’s influence in their respective worlds. Either way, they are truly visionaries, even if you hate their stuff.
Robert Mapplethorpe – love him or hate him, you can’t deny the importance that Mapplethorpe has had on the art world. Then, when you realize the time period in which he was most active, you can see see the boundaries that he had to cross and the limitations he had to break through. Definitely check out the documentary on him, Black White + Gray.
Emily Carr is one of Canada’s best known artists, was influenced by both modernism and post-impressionism and that is readily recognizable in her artwork. Her role as one of Canada’s artistic visionaries is still maintained and celebrated today, particularly in the province of British Columbia where she was also influenced by the indigenous peoples of the West Coast.
P.S. – Rick and Tony are totally wrong: Rob is freaking FUNNY!
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Art, Artistry, direction, Emily Carr, Robert Mapplethorpe, visionaries
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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, Critique, David Lynch, Facebook, Forums, Giulio Sciorio, hybrid photography, Leonard Nimoy, Meetup, networking, Podcasting, Social Media, Steven Chappell, Ted Forbes
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Inspiration – Episode 32, How Do We Deal With a Lack of Inspiration?
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When You Find Yourself Lacking Inspiration
At one time or another, every photographer deals with lacking inspiration. It’s frustrating as hell, knowing that you want to shoot but you end up just sitting there trying to figure out what to shoot. But don’t worry, you really aren’t alone; we all go through it. It’s just a matter of how you power through it, right? Right? Hmmm….
It’s easy to be distracted and blame other things like spending too much time on Facebook, or shooting only for clients/income, etc. But, in truth, sometimes we just get burned out and we seek out those distractions. Fortunately, we don’t leave it on such a negative thought – we also talk about how to get past it.
Rob is starting to shoot new material again and has gotten deep into hybrid photography and that’s seems to be the catalyst for finding inspiration again. Rick’s finding inspiration by specifically not going out and shooting for clients. But, for both of them, allowing themselves to be open to new creative vision and direction has brought a certain spark and inspiration back.
Just watch out for the “analysis paralysis”!
Today’s Artists
Dogfish Head Brewery constantly shows the inspiration that their brewers bring
Tony chose the artist and, as you can guess, he went way outside the box. But, if you can believe it, he doesn’t choose a musician. Yeah, we’re surprised, too! It’s Sam Calagione. Who? Sam is the president and founder of Dogfish Head Brewery. All three of the guys are into home brewing (big surprise, right) and Dogfish Head provides plenty of inspiration not only for their home brewing but also on a higher creativity level. Sam, and Dogfish Head, don’t allow themselves to be constrained by what’s been done before or by thinking that experimental beers can’t (and shouldn’t) be done. By allowing the creative spirit to flow, Sam and his brewery produce some of the most exciting and creative beers today. And there’s some huge lessons for all of us who are photographers in that approach.
Rick chose Joel-Peter Witkin as the photographer. It’s artistic and Witkin’s work shows his level of inspiration but, as a warning, his work can be very disturbing and definitely not safe for work. His composition techniques are quite strong and his use of black and white really brings a timeless feeling to the images. His subject matter, though, is where we have to warn you. From his bio on the Acid Skull site (that’s the site we’ve linked his name to): “His works carry the delicate tonality of a 19th-century ambrotype, showing morphed scenes with human body parts and deceased subjects with a strong satirical sentiment against vanity.” Here’s the link to his work on Acid Skull.
And PLEASE, check out our Cafe Press Store to support the show and don’t forget to leave a comment!
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Artistry, Collaboration, Comfort Levels, Photography, post production
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Shooting the Fine Art Nude – From the Other Side of the Lens
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The Nude Model
An hour and a half? We could have kept this one going for hours!
Okay, we’re talking about nude photography again, just like we did back in episode 12. Well, not exactly like we did back then. Jayda, an art model that Rob recently worked with, drops by the show to answer the guys’ questions and offers her own insight into what it is like to be a nude model. She adds a whole new (and welcome) dynamic about the topic and you don’t have to listen to the three sausages talk about nudes!
Alternative print process – the fine art nude
Have you wondered what a model looks for when deciding to work with a photographer? Or to what level a model may want to collaborate on an image or in the entire shoot? Or what the model expects from the shoot? Or how awkward Rob, Tony, and Rick get when talking to a girl? Then this show will answer those questions, and more.
A huge thanks to Jayda for providing such a well-articulated insight into the life and world of one art model.
Folks, this show is a keeper!
Artists:
Following on the theme of fine art and nudity, we look at the painter Pierre-Phillipe Renoir and the photographer Nadav Kander. How have we not talked about Renoir before?
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
Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Art, Collaboration, Critique, Eduardo Chillida, Jim Brandenburg, Opinion, Techniques
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Art – Can the Creation Of It Be The Actual Art? Episode 18 Says “Yes”
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Art – it’s what this is all about, right? Damned straight, skippy!
We get off to a slightly rough start this week, but there’s a reason – Rick was drunk and Rob wasn’t. After we get the universe sorted out, we quickly get into our usual flow and have an amazing discussion (if we say so ourselves) about whether or not the mere act of creating art can be the art itself.
What, exactly, makes something “art”?
Never let anyone say that a portrait can't be art
After watching a documentary on Spencer Tunick’s Naked States – a state by state journey through the US photographing everyday (yet remarkable) people – Rob was struck by the number of the subjects who talked about how posing for Tunick’s art project was a healing and powerful experience. And that got him thinking (which always is a good idea, right?) If the therapeutic aspect of the project was in the creation of the work then maybe, from an art therapy perspective, the real art is in the creation and not necessarily the final print.
That leads us down some interesting paths as we talk about whether a blind person can create art if they are not physically engaged with the medium and the healing power of being an art subject. Rob opens up about the real strength and joy of his work!
Our photographer and artist of the week
Tony introduces us to the wonderful work of Irving Penn. From his Wiki Page:
(June 16, 1917 – October 7, 2009[1]) was an American photographer most known for his fashion photography, portraits, and still lifes. Penn’s career included work at Vogue magazine, and independent advertising work for clients including Issey Miyake, and Clinique. His work has been exhibited internationally, and continues to inform the art of photography even after his death.
Our artist of the week is the well-known and very talented jazz musician Miles Davis. Considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, his penchant for creating something new from nothing is an inspiration to all artists, including photographers.
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Posted in Podcast
Also tagged Art, Boudoir, Clients, Comfort Levels, Fine Art, Irving Penn, Miles Davis, Nudity, style
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