On this subject of originality again, compare these 2 pictures. Both taken in Fez by Magnum photographers (Abbas and Bruno Barbey), 7 years apart:
http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=Mod_ViewBox.ViewBoxZoom_ VPage&VBID=2K1HZO455SNUB&IT=ImageZoom01&PN=3&STM=T&DTTM=Image&SP=Searc h&IID=2S5RYDWO3AKI&SAKL=T&SGBT=T&DT=Image http://tinyurl.com/64ytsg and http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=Mod_ViewBox.ViewBoxZoom_ VPage&VBID=2K1HZO455SZI9&IT=ImageZoom01&PN=11&STM=T&DTTM=Image&SP=Sear ch&IID=2S5RYDIVPS83&SAKL=T&SGBT=T&DT=Image http://tinyurl.com/5kqova Now, if I don't see a donkey carrying a TV when I'm there I shall be mightily pissed off! My expectations have been set. And how about these? Different photographers, different countries, 35 years apart. HCB: http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=Mod_ViewBox.ViewBoxZoom_ VPage&VBID=2K1HZO455498O&IT=ImageZoom01&PN=1&STM=T&DTTM=Image&SP=Searc h&IID=2S5RYDIPAPAP&SAKL=T&SGBT=T&DT=Image http://tinyurl.com/69qtsz Barbey: http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=Mod_ViewBox.ViewBoxZoom_ VPage&VBID=2K1HZO455O7X1&IT=ImageZoom01&PN=2&STM=T&DTTM=Image&SP=Searc h&IID=2S5RYDIXWXWX&SAKL=T&SGBT=T&DT=Image http://tinyurl.com/5dg43b So now I have to do one of those. As an hommage, you understand. Bob > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Bob W > Sent: 13 June 2008 21:52 > To: 'Pentax-Discuss Mail List' > Subject: RE: Shooting plan > > I don't exactly have a shooting list, but I like to visit places where > pictures were taken that I really like. I like to try and understand > what the photographer saw when he went there, and how easy or > difficult it must have been to get the picture. For instance, the view > of the Ile de la Cite from Pont Neuf in Paris has been photographed > 273 billion times, but somehow THE picture of it, for me, is > Cartier-Bresson's > http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=Mod_ViewBox.ViewBoxZoom_ > VPage&VBID=2K1HZO45X3IE9&IT=ImageZoom01&PN=3&STM=T&DTTM=Image&SP=Searc > h&IID=2S5RYDIOUH0U&SAKL=T&SGBT=T&DT=Image > > http://tinyurl.com/5snu4q > > I've been there any number of times, but have never seen it like that, > and have never seen a picture of it as nice as that. But I've taken a > lot of pictures of my own that I like around that area because I've > gone there as a result of that photograph. > > I don't want to make duplicates or copies of other people's pictures - > it would be impossible by the nature of Magnum photography anyway - > but I do like to see what they saw, to try to understand the processes > that make them great photographers, and a by-product of that is that I > often get quite good pictures of my own. > > > > > BTW, my use of the term "visual plagiarism" refers to rather obvious > > reworking of others' ideas rather than direct copying. > > > > David Hurn and Bill Jay refer to The-It-Has-Been-Done-Before Syndrome > as Myth #6. Here are some excerpts: > "photographers should actively look for ideas, attitudes, images, > influences from the best photographers of all ages" > > "our advice [...] is best exressed by [...] 'the immature artist > imitates; the mature artist steals'. So steal from the best" > > "use other people's ideas and attitudes as your ladder" > > "a good book is one that includes as many ideas as possible that are > worth stealing" > > > Is genuine originality disappearing from the photographic > mainstream? > > > > By definition, no, because it's never been there. It's the mainstream. > Originality is not mainstream. If you want to see original photography > I recommend the magazine ei8ht, if you don't already know it. The > companion website is www.foto8.com. > > This year's World Press Photo book discusses similar themes to those > you've raised, and says "it was disappointing that so much of what was > submitted was familiar. One wonders why some photojournalists spend > time and energy telling us what we already know in a style borrowed > from another photographer. [...] One is left with the impression that > many entries were submitted because they looked like previous winners' > photos. Their sole purpose appeared to be to win prizes, a pointless > journalistic exercise". > > So all in all, steal but don't copy. Be inspired, but don't imitate. > > Bob -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
