[rollei_list] Re: Rolleisflex for Artists
- From: "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 21:43:13 -0700
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marvin Wallace" <Marvin0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 7:13 PM
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: Rolleisflex for Artists
I was considering the content of previous posts, and think
it obvious that
photography at least with film, is not like being an
artist," painter",
since the artist can be solely conceptual. The
photographer on the other
hand must at least be a great technician. He or She is
forced to master the
technique, whereas the artist can dispense with technique.
This mastery of
technique is what makes the photographer an artist within
the discipline.
This high technique lends itself to a quality camera such
as the Rolleiflex.
Examples of such photographer technicians are Cartier
Bresson, Ansel Adams,
Joel Peter Witkin, Andre Serrano, Cindy Sherman and so on.
Marvin.
I am not so sure I agree with this. I rather think that
any artist working in any medium must master it. There are
artists who have dispensed with conventional technique but
only after mastering it. Photography is odd because much of
the most difficult part of the medium has been done
industrially. Imagine if you had to make your own materials
like painters did until the modern period. Perhaps this is
why alternative processes appeal to many: one is required to
make at least some of the materials used. For conventional
photography the camera, film, printing paper, and chemicals
are all available ready made and have been for generations.
What is required is some understanding of the use of images
for artistic purposes (I dare you to define that). I know a
couple of people with the "eye", who take great pictures but
have only a rudementary understanding of the technical side
of photography. OTOH, most of the artists I know (quite a
few) know all about the stuff they use. I don't think any
artist can be solely conceptual.
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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