Traditionally this group has been a place for members to post examples of their work, and to seek or provide feedback. I see the group as being more of as hub where the community shares not just images but thoughts and experiences that fit the theme and may be of interest to others.
Along these lines may be recommendations of photographers that have really inspired you, websites that display exceptional work, or articles/techniques you have found really helpful - all following the group theme of course.
It is important that we ALL contribute - if an artist makes the effort to post an image I'd like us all consider offering a comment, even if it just 'nice' or 'thanks for sharing'. For those who may have been reluctant to comment in the past know that your input matters, and is as valid as any other.
Above all else, continue to respect your fellow members. We all have a set of eyes, but as with everything else in this world we may not see things the same way. Respect the opinion of others, even if you do not agree.
Thanks for being part of this great group, let's keep pushing one another to continue growing.
Thanks, Alan.
Thanks again for taking on the mantle here, Alan. I agree very much with your sentiments, as you're probably aware. A good photographer I know was scornful of FS after a quick look at the site. I too tire of endless epic renditions of bucket-list destinations and poring over new gear, although it's good to be aware of significant developments.
I was surprised at the ignorance of some of the photographers running the site, who didn't recognise Ansel Adams' photos amongst a group of others. How did they form their tastes? I've consumed all I could, perused and bought many portfolios that have inspired me. I KNOW I have "borrowed" from my heroes, and still do. Maybe it's all I do.
Names? Michael Kenna. Cartier-Bresson. Harry Callahan. Ernst Haas. Ansel Adams. John Sexton for landscapes. Naoya Hatakeyama. Ferit Kuyas. Franco Fontana, Richard Misrach (see "Golden Gate"), Joel Meyerowitz (see "Bay/Sky") for minimalism and more. Ed Burtynsky's "enviroporn" abstract aerials. Klaus Francke's aerials. Sally Mann, not just her "controversial" work. Robert Polidori. Hiroshi Sugimoto, a modern great. Bernd & Hilla Becher. Candida Hofer. Kenro Izu. That's just a few photographers.
Painters: Turner. Fernando de Szyszlo. Vermeer. Miro.
Sculptors: Giacometti. Henry Moore. Alexander Calder. Numerous sub-Saharan African mask sculptors. Kaigyokusai Masatsugu's tender animal netsuke.
Automobile "sculptors" who demonstrate composition, balance, tensions, animating the inanimate: Giuseppe Figoni. Leonardo Fioravanti and others at Pininfarina. Bertone. The English coachbuilders - Gurney Nutting, HJ Mulliner, Hooper, Park Ward, Lyons of Jaguar.
"The Edge of Vision - The Rise of Abstraction in Photography" by Lyle Rexer is good, but not light reading.
What draws me to FS is the photographer's vision, when this is a vision that resonates with me, whatever the "subject". You are a case in point, and always working to develop your vision. Interestingly, when I do recommend a photographer's work to someone here on the basis of their own images, they often know the name already, or like the work of the photographer in question. Maybe they've absorbed the influence, and it shows in their own work.
Thanks for your continued support Chris, and (of course) the depth of knowledge you bring to the group.
You have provided an abundance of suggestions for artists to work through, perhaps members can pick a few to check out and hopefully gain inspiration. There are definitely a few that I'll have to check out myself.
On the subject of influence, I am a great believer in absorbing great art and working those memories, either consciously or subconsciously to help enhance our own.
Copying? - a definite no, but the influences of others can definitely help develop your own style.
Like you I tire of the gear reviews and same-same locations, but I do think the site is a great community hub where we can all gather, express ourselves and hopefully help each other grow.
In hindsight my tone above did seem to malign FS in general a bit when I didn't mean to. For me, finding my niche of compatible spirits made it really engaging. And if others get off on Godafoss views, well, it is an amazing location, and if it inspires any creativity, so much tne better.
Maybe copying is a no, but what about imitation? That is a traditional way of learning any skill or art, perhaps less fashionable in our individualistic cultures. But can great work spring from nothing more than the artist's innate talent? I don't believe so (not that I think you're suggesting that, Alan).
I feel imitation is fine as a learning tool, and perhaps OK longer term for those that want or need to produce a certain style (eg at request of a client).
I think we all inevitably take elements from work we enjoy and use perhaps subconsciously within our own to a certain degree - I think we all learn from those that have gone before.
I can't imagine anyone picking up a camera and producing work to note without the influence of others.
Thank you for the discussion Alan.
I've been thru and had some studies of the old masters of art history; some my taste and others not so much. When it comes to photographers and the masters of years past I only know very few names and they are the same everyone knows.
I feel Chris brings up an very interesting point in that while people idolize these masters, they don't know "why" or can even, with 100% certainly, pick their work out from the "non-masters". That is worth a discussion of it's own...
There are styles I like and dislike and I'm sure on some level I subliminally incorporated their work into my own. It's not a bad thing and is the way art evolves, technology evolves, people evolve. Stealing is of course wrong but "touches of influence" just happens and is part of the human experience.
My personal background was getting into the digital arts back around 2000, and working in a studio on "production art" in 2005 and 06. I took a long break and just picked up a camera in mid 2019; showing up here not long after. I will say this, it is nice to produce art for myself and not in a "studio" with crunch times and ever changing project scope.
I am always happy to give feedback from a technical aspect but I try to stay away from the art perspective as that is in the eye of the artist.... Or I try.. I'm here, and I check in at least once a day to see what's going on. :)
Thanks Joe, I think it's always good to hear the perspective of others, so hope you will continue doing so even if it just to offer encouragement to others (your view is always sought and respected).
I think you underestimate the worth of your aesthetic judgments, Joe. It IS all subjective, but personally I find it stimulating to hear and try to understand others' viewpoints (when expressed in a civil and constructive manner), particularly when I DON'T initially agree. God knows, I might even agree one day...
;-)
Totally agree with you Chris (it is my goal to have you agree with me at some point,,,,)
Not with YOU, Alan - come on!
;-)
Thank you Alan, and Chris... I do agree completely, it's always valuable to hear input from others, defiantly. :)
Yes, I defiantly listen to Alan's view in particular.
;-)
haha
Question - I always hear and read about a photographer's style, something that you can take one glance at and say that's Adams or a Cartier-Bresson. How important is it to you to have your own style or draw inspiration from other greats? I do not have a style per se.
I don't feel it is completely necessary to have a personal style; but in a way it dose help.
I feel I'm still in the exploratory stage of finding my personal style still. I don't think i will ever find a "unified" style for all my photos; but will probably land on a "this style for black and white" and "this other style for sunsets", ect.. A style just helps separate one from the "pack" but is neither a good nor bad thing really. If someone is looking for "branding" then it is probably for the better.
It may also just come down to... If I go out and shoot the local reservoir and just want all the photos to have the same style so they all match in a series. Next time I go there, perhaps a different unified style for them. This way I don't really have a "overall" style but my photos are in recognizable sets of their own.
Just my thoughts. It is a rather complex subject and a very individual-personal one.
Hey Joe, I do see common themes in the work you have presented (in your portfolio), and would love to see more.
Thank you very much Alan! :)
I use to have many images up but removed most of them as I've been constantly receiving 1 stars; so I've been laying low waiting for the trolls to move on. It's sad to see "professional" photographers act so childish. Is what it is I guess. I should upload some more again...
I have quite a few on my Flickr page if you want to take a quick peek... I still have more to upload there as well. I've been kind of on a b/w kick as of late.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/josephsvelnys/with/50892102456/
Hey Joe, what beautiful images - they totally deserve to be in you FS portfolio.
My one major gripe with FS admin is that they allow these trolls to continue. I too was hit by someone marking every single image of mine as a snapshot - I reported it but admin never responded. The annoying thing is that they could quite easily identify and block these people.
I now pay no attention to star ratings, and post what I feel is representative of who I am. If people like it, fantastic, if they hate so much or have a gripe they can go ahead and give it a '1'.
Thank you Alan. :)
Yeah I should upload some and see what happens. I've grown a bit of a thicker skin over the past six months but when I first arrived it was a gut-punch for sure. If I'm not mistaken, on the back end of the site they can see who scores what photo what but nothing is ever done. Which is weird. I absolutely do not mind feedback or if something could use more work but only if a comment is given. I have had a few give comments and low scores; but I respect that as they are not hiding behind anonymity.
Great portfolio on Flickr. You should definitely add some to your four here.
Makes total sense, Joe. Thanks for your insight. I've been thinking about doing a series (of something), so I'll have to see where it leads me.
Thank you Bruce, the kind words are much appreciated. :)
I don't think you get to choose, Bruce! Do what you do, and if there is a certain consistency of approach, OTHERS may say you have a "style".
Cartier-Bresson's apparent style also reflects non-stylistic aspects - uncropped black & white documentary images, often of obviously French or French colonial scenes. His style is different than, say, Willy Ronis' if you look at a whole lot of images of each, but I'm not sure I could begin to tell his image from another documentary photographer's. My favourite image of his is a landscape I'd never have picked as his.
Joel Meyerowitz' work is so varied I can't see a JM "style" in it. Ansel Adams' is bolder, more contrasty than his one-time assistant John Sexton's gentler, softer touch, although there is a clear kinship. A Bill Brandt image can almost be picked by its style. A consistency of approach that suggests a style may or may not be there in someone's work. It varies from artist to artist, even among the greats.
I wouldn't even think about your own style in your place. If anything, I'd be concerned it would hamper and constrain you, and tend to prevent your work from flowering.
I think that's a great point Chris. I was asked to define my 'style' a couple of years ago and after struggling I reviewed all of my (personal) favorite images and was surprised to find some common themes.
These themes were not intentional, but perhaps more describe the type of work that tends to float to the top when I review.
I think that like most outside of the professional sphere I tend to look for subject matter and conditions that attract my eye, and capture/process to suit my own taste. There is not a lot of thought that goes into whether a shot ticks any sort of style box that I or others place upon me.
I suppose if I were to put together a portfolio those favorite images of mine may form a more consistent theme (and perhaps convey a style?), but they would be the minority of my overall work.
Interesting subject, love the discussion.
Interesting, Alan: if your own favourites have common elements, "form a consistent theme" and " perhaps convey a style" then that suggests you do have a style. I could characterise your work as mostly having a peaceful, soft or gentle quality with fairly soft contrast, without dramatic or confronting elements, and tending to be simple (the ICM work which clearly interests you ticking most of these boxes inherently), well composed and balanced.
Does that comprise a recognisable style, though? I'm not sure. I guess if I saw your name on one of the heroic landscapes with dramatic light and contrast that abound here, and found it was by you, I'd be astounded.
I'm in total agreement Chris. I'm in no way inferring I have a recognizable style, more that my favorite images tend to follow the themes you may mention, and by extension could be considered to contribute to a certain (but by no way unique) style. Perhaps more that I tend to follow a style than have a style???
That is not to say I would not shoot a dramatic landscape when given the opportunity, it just may not be a result I enjoy as much.
Does that make sense? I feel you know a lot more about this than I..
Can following a style mean you actually have one? For me, all of your ICM i can look and say it's yours. It's just well done and consistent all the time and has your stamp on it.
Don't know that there's much TO know here, Alan! All just opinion.
That make a lot of sense. I dont think I'd want to be constrained with finding a style to be boxed into. I appreciate the input!
Nice!