Remember that link to the side, to the Downhill Stream of Consciousness? If you like underwater pics or general snapshots (not edited, not processed, just left as-is), take a gander there.
In fact, start here, then click through the “next day” links. Might be worth it, if you’re into that kind of stuff. An example:
Tree at night, handheld
I’ve been following the Sartorialist for a while now and I just can’t seem to figure out where all the fat people are. I get it, this is a fashion/street photo site based in New York. No fat people there, or so I’m told.
But I do like the style of the work and wonder: how would this look if applied to the typical person in the US?
There’s a new tumblr out there. Not sure how it’ll play out – I can’t imagine there being that much snark that you could bring up, but it looks like it’s off to a promising start.
I completely missed that Jay finally had his site refreshed. It’s looking pretty sharp, and he’s even added a blog. It’s early, but there’s a lot of promise there.
Four posts in and he’s already making more relevant content than this blog is.
Add it to your feed reader!
Nope, not getting a dime for this. Just a plug, nonetheless: check out his Faces of a Vanishing World video. You don’t have to pay actual cash money for it, but it is an option. An option I went with, in fact – the price is low, and the funds go to a good cause.
Why would you want it? I can only speak from my perspective, of course: I am someone who hates TV, watches perhaps five movies a year, and am not really interested in some young pup who is living the life I could always dream of… not to mention his obvious talent, which at 16 was already eclipsing that of whatever I might even aspire to.
I, the TV-hater, deem this a good video. It’s short for the cost – fifty minutes, with a bonus behind-the-scenes slideshow that’s worth watching through. Yet, it flows well. It’s full of information. You see interesting people, and come to care about them. You see Joey in juxtaposition with his life in New York, and you get a feel for his technique when he’s in the field.
An entertaining watch, and worth the cash.
Dragonfly after the rain
Embracing and extending an idea from another photographer, I decided to setup a tumblr blog for lower-quality photos.
In this case, I noticed on a recent post about social CRM that he had a link to his profile, and on his profile I found a separate flickr stream dedicated to just iPhone pics. This struck me as a great idea: his quality work is separated from his snapshots, so friends (who are likely to care about the snapshots & will forgive the poorer quality) view that, as doubtlessly do a few stalker fans. I enjoyed the beard hat, for what is was worth!
Now, I have a different set of circumstances. I don’t (yet) have an online gallery; I really only have this blog, a flickr stream, and a personal blog (yes, unlinked). The focus of this blog is learning – there are writings, meandering thoughts, wordy paragraphs, and occasional photos. Occasionally I’ll put in a daily snapshot, but it’s rare – those pics aren’t appropriate for the subject here.
Besides, who cares?
I do like the idea of putting out more of my pics, though. It’s a way to share, and a great way to get feedback. So in that vein, I started a tumblr feed – check it out, if you so wish. Since Tumblr is a bit easier for those quick, on-the-fly snapshots and observations, that’s what I’m using.
So, for now: the Downhill Stream of Consciousness blog is pretty much a visual record of memorable images that pierce the consciousness enough to stimulate me into posting here. Which is a nice way to say “it’s a repository for my cellphone snaps.”
Take the photo associated with this post, for example: on a completely non-photographic errand, I stumbled across this guy. Despite it being warm& mid-day, and this guy moving his legs around, he refused to fly off. The closes camera to me? My cell phone. What you see here is straight out of that camera, unedited.
So commencing a short while ago: the graphic journal of my awareness commences at Tumblr.
Critique away.
Women's Prison Gallery, partial Screenshot
I recently came across a fascinating online exhibition: Photography Workshop at Tirgsor Women’s Prison. Be warned: a few images are not safe for work (in the U.S. and other repressed areas). But by all means, if you don’t fear the human breast, check it out and think about the photos.
To me this hearkens back to one of the original purposes of photography: to show you (me) something different. At this, it succeeds: barring a catastrophic accident or psychosis, I am unlikely to be interred at a women’s prison – much less one in Romania. The imagery is eye-opening in that aspect.
Even more interesting to me: the images are not made by professionals. All images are made by women who are learning. And their work? Better than many professionals.
There are 95 images on the site, and each one made me stop and think.
Highly recommended.
Let me introduce you to Photovision, a video magazine. I’ve subscribed to this for the last two years, initially because the price was right. I continue the subscription because it’s an excellent way to see how other photographers work.
It’s kinda like this: I tend to do mostly portraits, landscape, and light architecture, with some product shots thrown in for good measure. These videos put me in an excellent position to view baby photographers, senior photographers, and other specialists as they work. There is technique to learn (the picture below is based on some of their portraiture), as well as a great deal about business.
Interested in getting into the business? This is a good way to get started.
If you’re interested, they currently have their annual subscription on sale for $39 a year (that’s six 2-hour disks, one every other month). Regular price is $149 (I’ve never paid that, but I’m told it used to be common until their sponsors started picking up a lot of the tab), so it’s quite a discount.
For forty bucks, why not go for it? Go to their site and enter “PVFAN” as the special promo code.
Portrait, Inspired by some work in PhotoVision
Relevant disclaimer: if three people follow that link, I’ll get the next year’s subscription comped. So I do get something out of you signing up, but it’s something I’d happily pay for anyway.
Go ahead, figure this out
“… it ceases to have any interest.” I’m paraphrasing a quote that I read today, mostly because it touched a nerve. For me, this is somewhat true.
I think it’s an issue of mental stimulation. If you’re stimulated enough by a work to be fascinated, you relish in the various tales that it tells. I’m noticing that I tend to follow artists who aren’t easy to decipher as a result.
For example, David Epstein (NSFW), who I’ve followed for quite a while now. Sometimes it’s quirky humor, sometimes his work has surprising depth. Unless you’re looking at his candid street shots, there’s almost always something hidden for fun.
Sorry, you won’t see the best of his work unless you’re on Flickr and labeled as a “Friend.” But it’s great, trust me.