10MPlayer Loc: California

Has anyone watched "The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith"?

I just watched it. I had no idea what to expect but it combined two of my interests. Jazz and photography. I'm sure others here are familiar with Gene's work, he was an amazing artist, but he is new to me. As far as his photography, one of the things that piqued my interest was the few minutes the film spent investigating how he created his prints. They go into a little bit of detail about how he slightly underexposed his images then used a ferrocyanide bleach to force the highlights. For all the purists here who think the only correct type of image is one that comes straight out of the camera, it might just open your eyes.

But that is the least of it. The film explores the life of a quirky, imperfect man who was consumed by his art which was fueled by amphetamines and huge amounts of other people's money. You have to see the movie to understand, but somehow he managed to maintain this decrepit, falling-down-on-itself loft inhabited with many of the big names in 1950s jazz, the place packed with sound recording equipment that recorded several years worth of goings-on, all the while shooting hundreds of thousands of photos and processing them, is incredible. And not just ordinary prints but art.

Catch the movie if you get a chance. It's worth a few minutes of your time if you are interested in the history of the art of photography.

NancyS Loc: SE Michigan

Thanks for the tip!

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

Thanks,I will check it out!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Watched the first few minutes - I am going to set aside 90 minutes to watch it - the neighborhood was my stomping grounds back in the mid to late 60s when I was just getting acquainted with photography and jazz, so it is of special interest for me. Sadly, the Flower District, and the Photo District just south of it, is all but gone, as are the characters that were part of the scene.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Interesting--I have always admired his photography.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I've been a big fan of Smith for a long time. But I'm afraid in today's digital climate, some of his darkroom techniques would have been considered unethical. For instance, he would burn in backgrounds to emphasize the main subject, which many today would consider too much manipulation for photojournalism.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I never heard of this movie. It sounds like a good movie to watch while in lockdown.

jerrym

Just saw the movie on Amazon Prime. It was thoroughly enjoyable and in my humble opinion, very well done. As some one else said, it covered 2 of my favorite things---jazz and photography. The photography parts brought back memories of my film and darkroom days. I had heard about Smith but was unaware of the scope of his work. The jazz parts brought back very pleasant and older memories of the few visits I was fortunate enough to make to Birdland.
I highly recommend this film to any one who appreciates good jazz and would like to learn a bit about Smith.
Thanks for posting about it.

Peterfiore Loc: Where DR goes south

Great film and enjoyed it immensely. Not Just Smith...it was common practice to burn down an image. Burning down a background would the least of his manipulations. Smith often added elements to his images, and whatever else he felt would strengthen his concept (narrative). Smith was an artist working in the arena of Photojournalism.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

Thank You, 10MPlayer! I am a big fan of Smith and love jazz. I know what I will be watching tonight.

SonyBug

Thanks. It is a dream of mine to have a career in art fueled by other peoples money. Lots of it. I hope it happens soon as I am running out of time at 81.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

So sad to hear about the Flower and Photo District. When I visited New York last, Greenwich Village village had dissolved into luxury apartments ...but at least the Vanguard remained. Such magical memories.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Sounds good. Thanks.

https://www.google.com/search?q=the+jazz+loft+according+to+w.+eugene+smith&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS925US925&oq=The+Jazz+Loft+According+to+W.+Eugene+Smith&aqs=chrome.0.0i355i457j46j0l2j0i22i30l4.500j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

bluezzzzz Loc: Stamping Ground, KY

Thanks for that info! W. Eugene Smith was a big influence on me back in the early 70's when photography was a bigger part of my life. His WWII photographs from the South Pacific, where my father served, are stunning...and heart-breaking.

There is a big book by Jim Hughes about his life and work, too.( W. Eugene Smith. The Life and Work of an American Photographer. Shadow and Substance Hughes, Jim [Eugene Smith]) I've got it somewhere, and plan to hunt it up and reread after I've watched this doc.

Here's where I found that documentary could be seen:

Thanks again,

Marshall

berchman Loc: South Central PA

The New York I grew up in with its specialized districts like the electronics stores displaced by the World Trade Center, musical instrument stores on 48th St between 6th and 7th Ave, the fur district south of Penn Station are all gone, making the city (for me) a much less desirable place to visit. Now it looks like the final nail in the coffin is driven by the pandemic which has resulted in the closing of the many small authentic ethnic restaurants. I left the city for the country in 1968, just in time so far as I'm concerned.