An interesting addendum to the Rarindra/McIntosh affair

For those of you who been around The Landscapist long enough, this just in - Atmawarin from Yogyakarta, Indonesia left this comment on some of the issues discussed in Jonathan McIntosh ~ a different kind of Jakarta landscape and Rarindra Prakarsa. For those of you not familar with the linked topics, it's worth checking out before reading these comments from Atmawarin -

I'm from Indonesian just like Rarindra. And come along with that, I hope my comment could add new perspective about what Rarindra intent.

Indonesia is huge. Even me (who have travelled arround 20 islands or more-yes islands) still felt unfamiliar with this part of the globe. Some part of our country were expansive, with jungles and sheer tall mountain, panoramic view and its sturdy silent people. But some part were dark, full of garbage, smoke and noisy people get killed. Those two world in one country were not mixed together. They were seperated. And when they were seperated, it's nearly impossible to have a clear focus on your eyes to capture Rarindra intent.

To speak the truth. In Indonesia, Me and my generation hold a great dissapointment in goverment-that act like a thieve. One thieve goes down but another thieve elected. They were people that have most responsible on what Johathan McIntosh capture in Jakarta. Poverty.

While some people get permission to exploit our country (and its you who live in "the west") from the thieves. There some part of our country that remains the same. Freeze by the time. Those part are part that I told you before. Expansive, with jungle and sheer mountain, sea, panoramic view and sturdy people. In this part of Indonesia, people are not concerned with computer, Mother Theresa, celluler phone or striptease. And as you can see in Rarindra portofolio. They were happy. That's not myth happiness.

Me and my generation still struggle to fix poverty in this country. But hence..there's a lot of time when we were felt very sad about what happened in our country. Mad And loose the spirit to change the way our goverment rule. Tired on corruption and lazy people.

When that times come, looking in some Rarindra's photograph give us good feeling.

Still. Rarindra may dont have any clue about what he has done. I think he's just want to make a beatifull portrait of Indonesia and represent it in dreamy way. The reality sure is not good as the photo. But looking at his portofolio give me sense of pride. We love this country. And will do something to make it remain loved.

Call it third world fake realism. But for me it worth something.

publisher's comment: Atmawarin, thanks very much for heart-felt response. It adds a wonderful dimension to the topic.

Featured Comment: Mary Dennis wrote (in part);"...this is one of the reasons I love the internet. What Atmawarin has written provides a great deal more context to consider when looking at Rarindra's images ... I was particularly drawn by his next to last sentence: 'Call it third world fake realism.' Fake realism...."

FYI - Can photographers be plagiarists?

Thanks to the wife for this link which, at its root, is an interesting take on the notion of originality in the medium of photography. Check it out (and then maybe leave a comment).

My thought is to quote here (again) a good take on the notion of originality by a fictitious preacher (from a dime-store detective novel I read recently), who, when accused of not being very original sermon-wise, stated, "I milk a lot of cows, but I churn my own butter."

Everything and the kitchen sink

The kitchen sink • click on photo to embiggen itHey, people, is there any interest out there for a group Landscapist Photo Project?

What I am proposing is this: The theme is The Landscape of the Kitchen Sink. The objective is to create a triptych of a kitchen sink, any kitchen sink. It doesn't have to be your kitchen sink or even a residential kitchen sink. New, old, clean, dirty, abandoned, whatever.

The only triptych requirement is that the 3 photographs be related.

If there is enough interest - 10 photographers? - I'll design a The Landscape of the Kitchen Sink book in a shared folder on Shutterfly.com and the participants and anyone else who might want one can order one at any time.

And, of course, the photographs will be posted on The Landscapist.

Something just for the fun of it. Any takers?

Featured Comment: so far, 10 of you wrote (paraphrasing): "...Count me in."

publisher's comment: When I mentioned 10 photographers, I did NOT mean to limit the number of contributors to that number. As I have always stated here on The Landscapist, the more, the merrier.

Ott Luuk asked, "Is there going to be a time limit?" - answer, "No".

FYI - Squarespace allows me to set up a visitor Drop Box, which is a password-protected folder for uploading images. I will set one up for this project and send the password along to all contributors, so PLEASE BE CERTAIN TO SEND ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you have never corresponded with me via email.

Featured Comment: Ana wrote, "...I wouldn't mind seeing other people's outtakes in addition to the final triptych. (I'm putting mine on flickr. ) It's too $@^ cold to play in the ocean, so I guess I'm getting my water fix here..."

publisher's comment: Good ideal Ana (but then I wouldn't expect anything less from an art student). What I find interesting about your approach to this project is how you will explore your sink over time with a number of picturing sessions. Me, I'll probably just wait and watch until the conditions are right and then pop off a series which will most probably be a one-shot, done deal.

Jaap Bijsterbosch ~ respect & curiosity

Dutch forest #4 • click on photo to embiggen it
Dutch forest #3 • click on phot to embiggen it
Dutch forest #2 • click on photo to embiggen it
Dutch forest #1 • click on photo to embiggen itJaap Bijsterbosch writes - "I am a Dutch photographer, with landscape as one of my favourite subjects ... I live in a suburb of Amsterdam in one of the most densely populated parts of the world. Also one of the richest parts, so that means a lot of cars, pollution, traffic jams etc. We also have something we call woods. It's not really natural but more or less cultural. Often woods were designed for hunting grounds for the rich, or as a wood production area for for the paper factories ... Still, walking in our woods I sense a lot of magic, the mysterious power of nature.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but sometimes it looks to me that taking photographs for you is almost a sacred thing. I as a photographer feel related to this idea. Respect and at the same time feeling a connection with the subject that one's photographing is an essential condition for a good picture. Photography is not about entertainment but about getting to know the world better and expressing respect for the subject.

There's one aspect about my photography which I did not mention in my earlier mail to you. It's curiosity which often drives me. Curiosity about the world, and how the world looks photographed (I know I'm quoting Winogrand now). And having a camera device around one's neck is a perfect alibi to get involved into situations and places, where without a camera I wouldn't dream to come. And often passion for a subject or a theme arises, and I know I am at the right place. If that passion doesn't come up, I know I'm wrong.

publisher's comment: See more of Jaap's photography. The blog is in Dutch - use babelfish or another web-based translator.

The Holga thing - Walter Baron & Jim Jirka

Marconi Beach - Walter Baron • click photo to embiggen it
The Door - Jim Jirka • click photo to embiggen it I suspect that there is no middle ground when it comes to the Holga. You either like the photographs it produces or you don't. I do, a lot. Although, truth be told, I don't have a Holga in my krappy kamera collection.

I think that I have come to like Holga photographs so much simply because they are a kind of anti-digital thing. Sort of like my love affair with the Polaroid genre. Both genres have that traditional old-timey film look to them that digital doesn't have. Unless, of course, like I do, you work digital in Photoshop to a state that is a bit less "perfect" or "cold" than it tends to be.

But, it's not just the visual characteristics of Holga photographs that is different. The camera's gaze and seems so much more like simple looking than the studiously constructed results that most often come from employing more technically adept machines. The photographs have more of the feel of a serendipitous glance than a prolonged stare - less of the cool post modern attitude (which I like) more of a subtle tip of the hat towards pictorialism.

I wonder what Group f64 might have said.

Thanks and much appreciation to Walter Baron and Jim Jirka for their photo submissions.

Featured Comment: Steve Durbin wrote (in part); "...another question for Holga users: is your choice of subjects in any way different when using this camera?"