Whether we like it or not, photography has technology at its base. Sometimes, changing up the equipment we use can allow us to change the way we look at the world in a significant way. This episode uses a triptych image I made in using smaller-than-my-normal 4×5 camera and color film (A Hasselblad and Fuji NPS 120 film) and examines how a change in the tools we are using can change everything about the way we see and photograph. The image above can be clicked to provide a larger view.
The edges of the frame change everything about how we see a photograph. One of the great masters of the use of the photographic frame edge was Edward Weston, and today we look at his remarkable ability to show us “just enough” of the subject. The podcast briefly touches on gestalt theory for the visual arts as conceptualized by Rudolf Arnheim.
For some reason, the podcast file for this week’s Podcast doesn’t have any pictures embedded in the file. Not sure what happened, really, and I’m away from my “production computer” for a week or so, so I can’t check it. I’ll try to fix it when I’m back.
For the last 16 years, I’ve been photographing structures and the landscape in Italy. Over the last two years, though, I’ve tried my hand at portraits and have learned some things about photography, my interests and the power of the large-format camera. This podcast features two versions of a portrait of a 97-year-old Italian man. Which do you think best portrays him? Post a comment with your opinion.
As I’ve worked with one of my newest photographs, I’ve noted a loose relationship Alfred Stieglitz’ “The Steerage” from 1907. It reminded me that photographers need to be aware of the image makers who have gone before them and helped them see. Now, I’m not saying that my photograph is the same as Stieglitz’ masterpiece, but I do want to suggest that it’s important to build a visual sensibility based on awareness of other photographers’ work. If you’re not looking at images, you’re not growing as an image maker.
Sometimes, when you think that there is a photographic subject in front of you, you can’t see the picture you want to make. In this episode, I talk about taking a left turn, both to find a photograph and to provide a catalyst for even more images. I also take a left turn with my vow to not talk about technical matters and wax rhapsodically about the new Epson V750 Pro scanner I’ve been using this past week.
