Digital BW, The Print

> The people I've admired in the arts "seem" to move about without concern for how a new body of work will
> effect
> marketing or whatever. There is the illusion that someone like Wegman would surely have made enough money by
> now,
> and being an artist at heart, would use success to gain the freedom to do whatever he wants, rather than be
> trapped by
> continuously having to produce more of same.
> Harvey and Mark, anyone, do you think it's possible to have artistic career success and remain free to
> progress as an
> artist? Or is it just an illusion, and always some kind of compromise? My observation is that it would take
> a remarkable
> individual to remain clearheaded in the middle of success.
> Which is why I make a constant point of remaining unsuccessful...
> yeah, that's it...
> Tyler

Tyler,
While it is true that many artists move from project to project, they tend not to stray too far from their
original 'style'.  And further, I think that when one gets 'approval' for one's artwork, after (usually) years
of slogging away, it's hard not to try and 'please' the muse.  I am not saying that it's about the money.

On the other hand, I went from one style of photography (neo-pictorialism, nudes) which were selling very
well, to NY nightlife images of Klub Kidz, drag queens and transexuals (ala Brasaii), which did not sell at
all, and it sort of put an end to my forward motion in the gallery world.

My dealer was extremely nice about it, but has not been able to sell any of the newer stuff, and has explained
that it's a totally different market.  For about 5 years after I finished the nudes, he tried to cajole me
into shooting more of them (as he had a ready market for my work)...But those images no longer interested me.

I imagine, in another 15 years the NY nightlife images will start to sell...They will be old enough to be
those ethnographic statements that I referred to in another post.

BTW:  Even though the Nightlife shots were beautiful, and popular with the academic crowd (The International
Center of Photography in NYC had us lecture about them, as did the Society of Photographic Educators at their
annual meeting, and the Michigan Journal of Photography covered them in one of their publications) but...Not
popular with the 'collectors'.  Not hip enough, or not fashionable or the like.  But it's ok, I like them, and
that's what counts.  :- )  I figure I'll just make my living doing commercial work...Mostly rock & roll
portraits.


Harvey Ferdschneider
partner, SKID Photography, NYC



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Harvey, 

That was another interesting observation.  I do enjoy reading your posts and insights. 

Does your company have a website?  I like Ethnography.  

Steadman

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: SKID Photography 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, October 08, 2001 3:31 AM
  Subject: Re: [Digital BW] The confusion of art by career


  > The people I've admired in the arts "seem" to move about without concern for how a new body of work will
  > effect
  > marketing or whatever. There is the illusion that someone like Wegman would surely have made enough money by
  > now,
  > and being an artist at heart, would use success to gain the freedom to do whatever he wants, rather than be
  > trapped by
  > continuously having to produce more of same.
  > Harvey and Mark, anyone, do you think it's possible to have artistic career success and remain free to
  > progress as an
  > artist? Or is it just an illusion, and always some kind of compromise? My observation is that it would take
  > a remarkable
  > individual to remain clearheaded in the middle of success.
  > Which is why I make a constant point of remaining unsuccessful...
  > yeah, that's it...
  > Tyler

  Tyler,
  While it is true that many artists move from project to project, they tend not to stray too far from their
  original 'style'.  And further, I think that when one gets 'approval' for one's artwork, after (usually) years
  of slogging away, it's hard not to try and 'please' the muse.  I am not saying that it's about the money.

  On the other hand, I went from one style of photography (neo-pictorialism, nudes) which were selling very
  well, to NY nightlife images of Klub Kidz, drag queens and transexuals (ala Brasaii), which did not sell at
  all, and it sort of put an end to my forward motion in the gallery world.

  My dealer was extremely nice about it, but has not been able to sell any of the newer stuff, and has explained
  that it's a totally different market.  For about 5 years after I finished the nudes, he tried to cajole me
  into shooting more of them (as he had a ready market for my work)...But those images no longer interested me.

  I imagine, in another 15 years the NY nightlife images will start to sell...They will be old enough to be
  those ethnographic statements that I referred to in another post.

  BTW:  Even though the Nightlife shots were beautiful, and popular with the academic crowd (The International
  Center of Photography in NYC had us lecture about them, as did the Society of Photographic Educators at their
  annual meeting, and the Michigan Journal of Photography covered them in one of their publications) but...Not
  popular with the 'collectors'.  Not hip enough, or not fashionable or the like.  But it's ok, I like them, and
  that's what counts.  :- )  I figure I'll just make my living doing commercial work...Mostly rock & roll
  portraits.


  Harvey Ferdschneider
  partner, SKID Photography, NYC



  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., SKID Photography <skid@b...> 
wrote:
> BTW:  Even though the Nightlife shots were beautiful, and popular with the academic crowd (The International
> Center of Photography in NYC had us lecture about them, as did the Society of Photographic Educators at their
> annual meeting, and the Michigan Journal of Photography covered them in one of their publications) but...Not
> popular with the 'collectors'.  Not hip enough, or not fashionable or the like.  But it's ok, I like them, and
> that's what counts.  :- )  I figure I'll just make my living doing commercial work...Mostly rock & roll
> portraits.

Harvey, recognition by people who know what they're looking at is 
pretty satisfying.
If we were both at that same gallery in Seattle, I'm wondering if 
we've met. I can't seem to remember anyone anymore...
The internet has brought a lot of interesting people I thought had 
disappeared back into communication, it was wonderful to have Arnold 
Gassan in discussions on the Leben list before he died.
Like you, I have no problem with any of these issues for my commercial 
work, things seem pretty clear there.
Tyler

Steadman,
Thanks for the compliment.

We recently secured our domain name (skidphotography.com) but there is only photo up on our 'under
construction' page...But by the first of next year, our full-blown site should be up and running.  I will
announce it's arrival, when it is ready.

Harvey Ferdschneider
partner, SKID Photography, NYC



Steadman Uhlich wrote:

> Harvey,
>
> That was another interesting observation.  I do enjoy reading your posts and insights.
>
> Does your company have a website?  I like Ethnography.
>
> Steadman
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: SKID Photography
>   To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Monday, October 08, 2001 3:31 AM
>   Subject: Re: [Digital BW] The confusion of art by career
>
>
>   > The people I've admired in the arts "seem" to move about without concern for how a new body of work will
>
>   > effect
>   > marketing or whatever. There is the illusion that someone like Wegman would surely have made enough
> money by
>   > now,
>   > and being an artist at heart, would use success to gain the freedom to do whatever he wants, rather than
> be
>   > trapped by
>   > continuously having to produce more of same.
>   > Harvey and Mark, anyone, do you think it's possible to have artistic career success and remain free to
>   > progress as an
>   > artist? Or is it just an illusion, and always some kind of compromise? My observation is that it would
> take
>   > a remarkable
>   > individual to remain clearheaded in the middle of success.
>   > Which is why I make a constant point of remaining unsuccessful...
>   > yeah, that's it...
>   > Tyler
>
>   Tyler,
>   While it is true that many artists move from project to project, they tend not to stray too far from their
>
>   original 'style'.  And further, I think that when one gets 'approval' for one's artwork, after (usually)
> years
>   of slogging away, it's hard not to try and 'please' the muse.  I am not saying that it's about the money.
>
>   On the other hand, I went from one style of photography (neo-pictorialism, nudes) which were selling very
>   well, to NY nightlife images of Klub Kidz, drag queens and transexuals (ala Brasaii), which did not sell
> at
>   all, and it sort of put an end to my forward motion in the gallery world.
>
>   My dealer was extremely nice about it, but has not been able to sell any of the newer stuff, and has
> explained
>   that it's a totally different market.  For about 5 years after I finished the nudes, he tried to cajole me
>
>   into shooting more of them (as he had a ready market for my work)...But those images no longer interested
> me.
>
>   I imagine, in another 15 years the NY nightlife images will start to sell...They will be old enough to be
>   those ethnographic statements that I referred to in another post.
>
>   BTW:  Even though the Nightlife shots were beautiful, and popular with the academic crowd (The
> International
>   Center of Photography in NYC had us lecture about them, as did the Society of Photographic Educators at
> their
>   annual meeting, and the Michigan Journal of Photography covered them in one of their publications)
> but...Not
>   popular with the 'collectors'.  Not hip enough, or not fashionable or the like.  But it's ok, I like them,
> and
>   that's what counts.  :- )  I figure I'll just make my living doing commercial work...Mostly rock & roll
>   portraits.
>
>
>   Harvey Ferdschneider
>   partner, SKID Photography, NYC
>
>
>
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>         Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>               ADVERTISEMENT
>
>
>
>
>   Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and other resources as they are often
> being updated. The page is at:
>
>   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
>   Please follow these basic guidelines:
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>   - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
>   - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep them short.
>   - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
>   - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or "flames."
>   - Complete your Yahoo profile.
>   - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various resources on the homepage.
>
>
>
>
>   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>                    Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
                        ADVERTISEMENT


>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and other resources as they are often
> being updated. The page is at:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or "flames."
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various resources on the homepage.
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]