Our Favorite Photographers, Our approach to photography.

11/98 Zoners

David Rosen-

A question like this takes work! I've had saved it and was cogitating

before I replied.

First pass:

1. Sally Mann, Robert Frank, Sylvia Plachy, Helen Leavitt, Walter

Rosenblum, Mary Ellen Mark, Bourke-White, etc.

2. Revealing candid street portraiture

Best,

DSR

Billie-

This isn't a simple one to answer and I'm not sure I can answer it.  

My favorite photographers are many and some of them are contemporary and

regional, basically unknown outside of Texas. Interestingly though, the

majority make photographs of people. Early Hudnall, who has photographed in

the black community of Houston for years. Rufus Lovett, who teaches at

Kilgore and has several wonderful series but I especially like the one of the

people from Weeping Mary. Victoria Smith from Austin who is making elegant,

beautiful still life images of flowers. Linda Butler, take a look at her

work in her newest book, Italy, in the Shadow of Time. David Plowden and his

work in the mid-west. Sally Mann's family, Edward Weston's day books as much

as his photography.

All of the photographers I like have a command of their craft and take a deep

look at the subject. The actual photograph, the surface, the tonality, the

luminosity are all important to me. Although the image is the "thing" if the

rest doesn't enhance the image it just doesn't come off for me. It isn't

important what the format, printing technique, DOF, etc if in the end it all

comes together and the object has a presence, and elegance.

My approach to photography.....well what works best is when I get lost in the

subject rather than taking a studied approach to the subject. I will usually

make quite a few images but only one or two will be "right"....will capture

what I felt. The darkroom is very important to my interpretation of the

negative.

Well you can understand why I didn't try to respond to this earlier. I'm not

sure I can answer this and make myself understood.

Billie

Aileen-

> 1. Who are your favorite photographers?

When I first became interested in photography my main influences were Edward

Curtis, Ralph Gibson, Les Krims and Lee Friedlander. As I grew in photography

my influences changed: Olivia Parker, Robert Adams and Bill Owens became very

important to me with Friedlander remaining a constant. Currently I am spending

a lot of time with works done by Bauhaus photographers like Laszlo Moholy-

Nagy, classics like Atget, and contemporary photographers Robert Adams and

Friedlander.

> 2. What is your approach to photography?

Over the years I have had an eclectic approach to photography. Social

photography such as the works of Owens, St Adams and Mary Ellen Mark are the

opposite side of the same coin that has on it's other side the introspective

works of Parker and Man Ray. Whether one looks to the outside world in

landscapes, human conditions, or to the inner world of our dreams and feelings

it is all a part of the same story, the same anthropocentric view of our

reality. I make photographs because I love the medium. I make images because I

want to say something to myself and others, or to contect on some basic

level. I seek out people's stories in my viewfinder because I have a need to

"see" and share it. Sometimes, once in a great while this connection through

images from one person to another happens, sometimes even in the photographs I

make. Joy.

Aileen

Frank Armstong-

There have been many photographs and many photographers that have

influenced my work. Here are but a few and what I feel that they have

given me:

Russell Lee, a sense of people; Walker Evans, a sense of place; David

Plowden, a sense of the common; Elliott Erwitt, a sense of humor; Oliver

Gagliani, a sense of inner life; Ansel Adams, a sense of light; Edward

Weston, a sense of the thing itself; O'Sullivan, Watkins, Jackson, a sense

of adventure; Robert Adams, a sense of man's interaction with the

landscape; W. Eugene Smith, a sense of concern; Atget, a sense of quiet

space; Joel Meyerwitz, a sense of deep space; Mike Disfarmer, a sense of

dignity; Frederick H. Evans, a sense of majesty; P. H. Emerson, a sense of

beauty.

-Frank

Sandy Fleming-

Paul,

Have thought about this for long enough.

Favorite photographers:

Edward Weston, Margaret Bourke White, Harry Callahan. Interested in the

work of Diane Arbus, Jerry Ulsman. Lots of zoners.......

About photography:

When there is no passion, no love, when I don't see the images in my

head, when art and photography no longer fill me......I don't want to do

it anymore. I hope as a teacher, I can impart some new vision, some

new way to look at our surroundings, our lives, to my students.

Okay, that's it.

sandy 

Phil Fleming-

Paul,

I used to really like Elliot Porter, Larry Ulrich, Tom Till, etc., but I've

deviated from that kind of work now. I admire Ansel as a technician, but not

so much as a photographer.

I guess I'm currently impressed with O. Winston Link and his train photos via

flashbulbs--his work was a tremendous technical achievement.

I've recently had the opportunity to do a hands on review of the porfolios of

Frank, Stephen, and Chip. Their work is very good.

I guess historically, I admire Edward Weston's work the most.

-Phil

Tom Kachadurian-

Both art and photography move me deeply. Throughout my College yaers I sat

on the floor in the Detroit Institute of Arts in front of "The Nut

Gatherers" day after day. It is a 19th century the example of inspiration

and technique meeting to create absolute beauty. I live far away from the

DIA now and only get there about every two years. Still when I turn the

corner in the museum now and see that painting, I get light headed as if

accidentally running into and old love on an afternoon walk.

Moon and Halfdome holds me like a magnet each and everytime I see it.

DSR has a Jock Sturges of children in boarding school uniforms that jumps

off the wall at me.

I have an E-photo you sent about a year ago of you and your father that

reveals all the love and sadness I have in my own relationship with my

father.

I could go on with the list for hours, but it will be a list of works, not

the people who created them.

Paul asked about photographers, and I am not a groupie.

-Tom

Sadanand Warrier-

Hello Paul

I was intending to reply but then forgot.

Favourite photographers...

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Adams, Sunil Jana, Sebastio Salgado,

Walker Evans, W Eugene Smith, Bert Hardy...

Actually lots. Dont want to keep on with the names.

Approach to photography...

Most of the time I see something I like and click. 35mm approach.

I have never conciously worked on a photograph. I would like too

though. At this point I only spend time looking at various angles.

I never actually modify the picture myself that is to say, set it

up. I would like to do it one day. Set up an atmosphere. I have a

long way to go.

One thing I had in mind was to set peoples thoughts expressions

etc into a setting which would reflect those thoughts. You know

in India there is a school of painting where the emotion is

expressed not in the faces of the people who are in the painting

but by the surrounding scenes. Emotions such as fear etc would

be expressed as a cowering animal tree .... all that sort of

thing.

End of ramble .. Stop.

S

Eleanor Brown-

amen AMEN! TOM......You said it---I feel much the same way also---tho there

certainly photographers that have inspired me and influenced my work---and

yes, Ansel was the original photographer whose show I saw here in Houston that

convined me to make the move from my then emphasis on color work--to black and

white work.--Ansel's show was my real first contact with black and white

photography---and I was moved beyoud words---I have 3 of his prints in my home

which I love,---tho many of his photographs I don't like at all---but certain

prints are wonderful.....so it is with all photographers, incl. myself. Since

then, many photogaphers have influenced my work--the well knowns, the

"unknowns", friends, aquintances, etc. etc....There are many wonderful prints

that move me that never get shown and there are many, in my opinion, lousy

prints that get wonderful exposure because of skilled PR influential gallery

owners who happens to like the work or can make money off the "name"....a

recent example are some of the recent works by Keith Carter which I think seem

to be more "gimmics" than "art"....I feel some of his earlier work is far

superior. I love many of Michael Kenna's works, but some of his stull is

absolutely horrible---and so it goes with all photographers.....just my

opinions!!! ;-)eleanor

Kerik-

Paul -

As others have said, this is not an easy question to answer. So, here's a

quick shot at it:

Faves:

Kenna, Gowin, Mann, Sturges, Weston, Lois Conner, Linda Connor, Kenro Izu,

Christopher Burkett, Porter... OK. I'll stop...

My Approach to Photography: One day at a time.

-Kerik.

Stephen DiRado

Okay...

I'm going to do this by Name and the photos they created that inspire me.

 Brandt: night photos, wide angle nudes, dramatic lighting with nudes, play on

interiors and nudes.

Adams: Simplicity, uncommon in the common, works out themes, night photos and

his writing.

Sander: portraits, 8x10 format.

Callahan: Landscapes, Eleanor photos!

O'Reilly: A life long commitment to being the best he can be as an artist.

Amazing collages.

Weston: Charis Wilson nudes. Peppers are pretty hot.<smiles>

 There are many more but these names come to mind first.

 Yours,

Stephen

Stephen DiRado

Hi Tom (and Eleanor):

Loved your description, your experience seeing the painting The Nut Gatherers.

I had a similar experience during my art school years. I, like you, sat for

hours, week after week in front of Gauguin's "Brooding Woman" at the Worcester

Art Museum. Even now, 20 years later when I enter this museum I stop by this

painting and smile. I think for sure I'm trying to say things in my

photographs that this painting does so well.

Okay, I hear you and Eleanor. But don't dismiss life long achievements in any

one photographer. We are all human including history's great photographers,

they blow-it almost as much as anybody else out there who are trying to make a

statement! I do not consider myself a groupie, but I do love and respect

individual photographers. Also learned to hate some as well. ( This is just

as valid, BTW.) I think just about every good photographer out there has made

at least one photograph in their life time I can relate to and admire. Yes,

Eleanor, even Keith Carter has fallen in recent times into formula

photographs. He still has a powerful history and he is only a mid-career

artist. History will tell if his innovative vision (not connected to his

career) has come to an end. Remember that most photographers peak over a ten

year period, the rest of their lives are spent repeating earlier successes.

Walker Evans best work all happened within tens years and Robert Frank's

"Americans" in less time. Do I consider Frank one of the great ones?

Absolutely yes! He has inspired generations of photographers.

Oh, I pray that I peak at about 70!<smiles>

My inspirations change from year to year. First, as a kid I loved Diane

Arbus, then in college hated her, then in my 30's, secretly respected her, now

in my (early) 40's I openly admire her purity. Not any particular photo (yes,

I love maybe a handful) but her commitment as an artist, her drive, her

vision. The same can be said for Weston, Brandt, Sanders, R Adams and even

Ansel Adams.

Good conversation BTW!<smiles>

-Stephen