Digital BW, The Print

What's in a name? I recently saw a documentary on Helmut Newton,
and he made some comment about 2 things ruining photography. One
was "art" and I don't recall the other one. When HCB died recently, I
also recall some article where he said he didn't consider his photography
as "art" but as a "craft."

Just two data points. Doesn't mean a thing, or at least not without some
further exposition, examination and exploration. In any case, I would
personally attribute not just "artistry" in these two photographers'
works, but an "artistic impact" on our culture by teaching us some new
ways of seeing.

So why the craftman designation? I don't know, but there seems to be some
minor tradition of at least some photographers aligning themselves with the
"craftsmen" or "practical arts" rather than the "artists." Perhaps because
both of these photographers executed (very different types of) commercial
assignments? Perhaps it's a kind of false modesty, with these photographers
trumpeting their success, reknown and cultural impact while eschewing the
"artist" self-attribution (cloak of dignity) taken on by their 
(presumed) lesser
peers?

Maybe it is something of the latter. In both cases, these two very different
photographers made a similar claim. HCB claimed (disputed) that he only
used a 50mm normal lens on his Leica. In the documentary, Helmut Newton
claimed he almost always used a "normal lens" on a few MF cameras ('blads,
Rollei TLR and a few Fuji/Plaubel MF RF's). Each as if to claim that they
were not "gear heads" or "technicians," beholden to, or much aided by, the
more advanced capabilities of the camera technology; instead attributing 
their
photographic work and its power almost solely to the power of their vision,
their eyes or seeing in a fairly literal sense, translated nearly 1:1 
through the
"normal lens." A claim, I would probably not dispute. It is a claim, to my
ear, like that of "an artist."

Ok. I've gone far out enough on a limb on this topic and trying to 
psychologize
two giants of photography :-)

Who knows? But a bit of success mixed with bit of modesty is, in fact, 
usually
rare and almost always endearing. So if "photographer" is it, I'll take 
it, especially
as I have few aspirations for success :-)

Oh, and to keep it on topic, my printers seem to be working fine, a good 
friend
of mine surprisingly much prefered a BO print on Kayenta to some prints 
of the
same subject made with quad inks on Kirkland, and I still haven't 
screwed up the
courage to dive into profile making for QTR :-)

Scott

Paul Aparycki wrote:

>
>
>
> Children, Children,
>
> Must we start a flame thread over something as silly as this?
> Everyone please take ten deep breaths and let it go. Time to go back
> to profitable pursuits.
>
>
> Regards,
> Clayton
>
> Have to disagree with you Clayton . . . the list is "digital b/w the 
> print",
> the implication being the holier than thou space left by AA and others.
>
> Yes if it degenerates into name calling then it is of little use . . . 
> but I
> would suggest that some people, especially those who don't even 
> remember/or
> know what film is would hardly have had any exposure to "photographers" or
> is it "artists" who value the work they do. You yourself make and sell
> beautiful prints . . . do you advertise yourself as a "photographer"? or
> just a "snapshooter" (that is stretching it a bit . . . but the 
> implication
> was there in the original thought).
>
> Digital b/w doesn't have to be ONLY about how many grams of ink you can
> squeeze into a re-usable cartridge, if so then the list ought to re-name
> itself as popular (and messy) mechanics . . . period.
>
> I think there should be some . . . oooh, I hate saying this, but 
> "cultural"
> content on the odd occasion. The comment that started this whole she-bang
> hi-lighted a total lack of understanding of the predecessors who 
> forged the
> space we are in now. There are thousands of photographers, some still with
> us, many dead, who are/were/and always will be . . . artists.
>
> I am a commercial shooter . . . have been for virtually all my life, and
> don't consider myself an "artist", though frequently in the problem 
> solving
> I have to do, artistry does enter into it. I enjoy and in some cases 
> revere
> the artistry that I have seen in the past, and present from some of my
> fellow photographers
>
> Perhaps, the original remark was aimed at (and rightly so) the frequent
> "artist's statement" . . . if ever there was a justification for an air
> sickness bag, that has got to be it . . .
>
> "Art" like politics, and religion, is usually not a simple subject to
> discuss, but I do think the justification for the "trashing" of most 
> of our
> finest photographers should be open to a little discussion. Some of 
> the geek
> heads might actually look up some of the names and learn a little about
> photography . . . that wouldn't hurt a bit.
>
> all the best
> Paul Aparycki
>
>
>
>
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