urban ku # 142 ~ it's back ... again
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 08:11AM 
Last evening snowfall • click to embiggenSo, yesterday we made of list of picture types some of us would most like not to see. Of special note was the list of Paul Maxim which was essentially a list of all of my recent picture entries here on The Landscapist.
That said, let's consider the opposite - picture types you would like to see. Well, not exactly what you would like to see, more like what you are going to see.
It seems that it's the season for exhibitions and periodical articles regarding the works of 'emerging' or 'new' photographers. Amongst others, MoMA has the New Photography 2007 exhibit and American Photo has an article, Emerging Artists 2007.
The NY Times panned the MoMA show. As for the American Photo piece, IMO, there are some interesting works in the collection. I especially like the pictures of Amy Stein. Her Domesticated series, wherein she explores mankind's relationship with the natural world and its "wild" creatures, is especially good. Her Stranded series about motorists encountered on the sides of roads ain't bad either.
One notable thing about the 15 photographers in Emerging Artists 2007 is that at least 3 of them, including Amy Stein, are staging 'events' and photographing them. This picturing MO is a relatively recent thing in photography (Art-wise) and a number of photographers and/or Artists who use photography are using this technique as their primary means of expression.
It's kind of an 'in thing'.
Speaking of which, our own Aaron Hobson (a chip off my old block) has been selected (1 0f 12) to paricipate in The Center for Fine Art Photography (at the Museum of Contempory Art in Boulder, Colorado) 2008 Portfolio Show, which is another look at some of the stuff you might be seeing more of, like it or not.
I'm not surprised Aaron is doing so well. All you have to do is read what Italy's leading daily newspaper, La Repubblica, had to say about his pictures -
"It's a different way, harsh and merciless, to narrate America. Aaron Hobson's shots do not admit replies. The idea of linking this Country with happyness and great opportunities clashes with reality. And you can live in a metropolis or in the suburbs, or even worse, in some desolate land. Colors, dark tones and subject are all together the result of a complete story. The "strip" of images that we present in this gallery are a small masterpiece of technique and visual writing as are the other works of this artist as well, who is one of the best talents in America. Not to miss his website."
I guess we'll be seeing more of his stuff as well.
Reader Comments (3)
I think we will see (and I wish to) much more of digitally composited work. Various ways this might happen: large scale landscape works, wide-angle works along the lines of Aaron's, triptychs and the likes (I like Keith Johnson's Extended series to quote a very recent example), or more abstract work such as from Harvey Benge and Julian Thomas.
I think we're also going to see some serious work from the Lomography/Holga crowd, possibly from someone using a phonecam (the digital equivalent). Whether this will be a positive step or not remains to be seen.
"That said, let's consider the opposite - picture types you would like to see."
I'm looking for pictures that show a connection between you and your subject. I don't care so much about the subject as the connection. And you've been showing me those pictures, so I have no complaints.
Personally, I did "staged" photos in college (late 80's). I guess I was ahead of the times, since the professor never liked the project. Too bad I can't find any of them now! The project was to create some of the Tarot deck photographically. Since I worked in the campus theatre, I had student actors and costumes at my disposal. I wish I still had those resources, because my brain always has "staged" photos swirling around in there.
As for photos I'd like to see, I am happy with the type of photography coming from the Hobson family. I barely surf the "other" sites, because I can't find anything that doesn't look like everything else on the site.What I like to see are photos where I feel like I am standing right there and somehow my other senses fill in so that I can smell the snow or imagine the wet texture and see my breath in the chill air for example. I don't care what the subject is, just so my imagination is intrigued and my mind tricks me into thinking I am "there".