civilized ku # 728 ~ Autumn color # 48
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 12:41PM 
Lousy Autumn color ~ Everywhere - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenAfter getting my surgeon's (sort of) OK, Hugo and I are heading out to Albany early Thursday AM where we sill catch a train to NYC and from there and another train to Philadelphia.
The wife has been in South Jersey (Merchantville) since last Saturday. She and her siblings have been keeping watch at their mother's bedside since then. Mom's death, not unexpected, is imminent so Hugo and I are heading down to be there with family and friends and for the services.
I don't know if I will be posting anything for a short while but, that said, I am taking Sven W's (and Markus Spring's) request seriously. Both have suggested that I offer "relevant guidance" and "positive instruction" regarding learning to see. In fact, yesterday's civilized ku # 725 entry, which contained 2 very pertinent-to-the-art-seeing quotes, was a first step in that direction.
That said, I would suggest that you read an entry by A. Cemal Ekin (on his blog, Kept Light) as a very pertinent counterpoint to the drivel and dreck dispensed by so many so-called "masters" of "fine art" photography. And, while you're at it, pay special attention to his statement - the knowledge of the medium and its qualities elude many photographers let alone many who view their work - because knowledge of the medium and its qualities is a paramount notion re: learning how to see.
FYI, I'm taking a pen and notebook .... yes, you read me right, a pen and a notebook in order to jot down my thoughts and ideas about seeing.
See y'all soon.
Reader Comments (2)
Personally, I agree that understanding the medium is very important, but I do not think that it is paramount to the process of seeing.
In my mind, seeing (and I am paraphrasing freeman Patterson here) is about distilling the visual elements in the scene, and arranging them in the frame to create a whole. I think this process is independent of the medium; it is fundamental to understanding any visual medium. I also think the process is independent of subject matter.
I do think the medium is important, but it is not everything. In my mind, a lot of photographers place too much emphasis on the medium, to the point that the are really not communicating at all. As an example, aomoeone that tells me that this is a good picture, you just need to see it big enough to see all of the detail is missing the point.
Mark, thanks for taking over this task, especially in these times of distress. I wish you all the necessary energy for yourself and those who will depend on it.
Yesterday's post I read carefully, as I will do with some of C. Ekim's blog post that promise interesting content.