'Genius of Photography' new TV series on BBC 4
- Thread starter disco_dave_2000
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disco_dave_2000
la la lapland
The first programme in the series is repeated tonight on BBC4 at 8pm
Yet to download the first episode (hardwork on a 1MB connection).
I actually like Sam Taylor Wood's photography. I like her art. I like her attitude - an attitude that's expressed well in her art. Not all of it mind. I think the Autorretrato series that Zenie references is a total fail. Doesn't work on any level. Nice idea. Just didn't come off.
Her Bram Stoker's Chair series I like a lot. There's something very spontaneous about them. The shadows frozen. The precarious balance. All the motion frozen in a split second of flash.
She's produced some great art. Much as I would like to dis her for being so well connected and in the scene, I can't. She's one of the few Joplin crew that actually give me something to think about. There are a couple of others also that regularly get 'overrated' type reviews from most that I enjoy on a level a few steps above Damian Hirst.
Although, in the grander context, it's all a bit mediocre. There's much better, more innovative, more moving stuff going on at the moment that will never get the exposure it deserves. But, that's always been the way. What makes a great photograph? Mass media exposure makes photographs great to the mass. Nothing else. Not skill. Not timing. Not composition. Not being in the right place at the right time. None of these things. They're all worth Jack shit if you don't get them seen enough times.
I actually like Sam Taylor Wood's photography. I like her art. I like her attitude - an attitude that's expressed well in her art. Not all of it mind. I think the Autorretrato series that Zenie references is a total fail. Doesn't work on any level. Nice idea. Just didn't come off.
Her Bram Stoker's Chair series I like a lot. There's something very spontaneous about them. The shadows frozen. The precarious balance. All the motion frozen in a split second of flash.
She's produced some great art. Much as I would like to dis her for being so well connected and in the scene, I can't. She's one of the few Joplin crew that actually give me something to think about. There are a couple of others also that regularly get 'overrated' type reviews from most that I enjoy on a level a few steps above Damian Hirst.
Although, in the grander context, it's all a bit mediocre. There's much better, more innovative, more moving stuff going on at the moment that will never get the exposure it deserves. But, that's always been the way. What makes a great photograph? Mass media exposure makes photographs great to the mass. Nothing else. Not skill. Not timing. Not composition. Not being in the right place at the right time. None of these things. They're all worth Jack shit if you don't get them seen enough times.
Stanley Edwards said:
yeah I'd do 'er too..even if she is a bit of a Ruth Archer.
friedaweed
Me and me girl named Jane
Yeah but how did you get in o' great firkynessfirky said:It is on there now with 300 seeds, just downloaded it at 1,900kbs took four minutes
These guys will have a nice torrent of it once its all aired. They do some very nice releases.
http://forums.mvgroup.org/
Anyways i fell asleep watching the repeat and mini nova only has 2 seeds. So come on firks get us in dude
stdPikachu
Plughole in bathtub curve
Loving this series. Lots of stunning work from photographers I've never heard of, as well as loads of the "old classics". It's like the televisual equivalent of Brian Sewell pouring you a glass of brandy.
It obviously does miss out alot though and does obviously concentrate on those photographers that are either alive or easily sound-bite-able, but I think it does well to fit in so many diverse images and the artistry behind them in such a short space of time. I was particularly impressed with some of the iconic war footage that was a bit too full-on for history books - the incinerated German tank officer and the half-decomposed skeleton of a Tommy half-buried in the WW1 trench were stunning pieces.
It obviously does miss out alot though and does obviously concentrate on those photographers that are either alive or easily sound-bite-able, but I think it does well to fit in so many diverse images and the artistry behind them in such a short space of time. I was particularly impressed with some of the iconic war footage that was a bit too full-on for history books - the incinerated German tank officer and the half-decomposed skeleton of a Tommy half-buried in the WW1 trench were stunning pieces.
Great series that has rekindled my love of photography.
Paul Russell
Psychogeographer
zenie said:
I finally d/loaded the whole series and wondered if the book is worth getting, as I'm on amazon currently.....
It's pretty widely available, probably your local W H Smiths will have it if you want a gander.
BTW, that reality TV photography show featuring Martin P**r as one of the evil judges starts soon on Channel 4
http://picturethis.channel4.com/
Edit: 6th January 2008 at 7:00pm
Paul Russell
Psychogeographer
zenie said:Did you do a thread on that? It looks a laugh
*Goes off to kill time @ work looking at site*
No. There should be one -- I'm sure it's going to be a bit of a talking point.
If the programme is super-popular, Martin P**r will become ultra-famous, which seems a bit odd if you're a documentary photographer trying to blend in with the background.
Paul Russell
Psychogeographer
zenie said:Perhaps you'd like to start sir?
Bah, maybe MP's decided he wants a bit of fame and adulation?!
I watched MP photographing a group of youths in Weymouth once for about 5 minutes. Afterwards, I had a chat with them, as I was interested in his approach.
When I mentioned he was a famous photographer, they immediately ran off trying to find him to get paid for the pics
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Is Martin Parr no regarded well then? I love his stuff
zenie
>^^<
Tank Girl said:we got the book for christmas, haven't read a lot of it so far, as have been looking at the pictures mostly, but I reckon it's worth getting for sure
yer I thought you had it
Will pop in the library later Orang Utan said:
Nah he is (well to me anyway!) it's just that he does (supposedly) candid and un setup work which if you knew he was would mean you'd probably say "how much you paying". So if he gets famous on telly......
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Eh? People would demand payment for being in a Parr photograph?
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
I don't get this - is that a criticism of him or his subjects? Should they be paid by Parr or should they not ask for payment?zenie said:Perhaps if they knew he was, yes maybe!
Orang Utan said:
neither
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
I dunno what I'd think or be flattered or offended - would I think 'do I look as freakish as some of his subjects?' or 'shit, I want a cut!'
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