Seabastes

For more information on Ernst Haas take a look at Wikipedia (sp?)

gmontjr2350 Loc: Southern NJ

I was tightening a loose bathtub fixture when it occurred to me what RodeoMan may have been referring to in his critique of the photo's critiques'.
There's a term used in Psychology called "priming", meaning you predispose people to respond in a certain manner by using chosen terms. In this case, rather than outright dismissal of the photograph, people were predisposed to consider the photograph seriously because they had been told it was taken by a famous photographer.
In RodeoMan's view, had the picture been presented with no prior commentary most viewers would have dismissed it as rubbish.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

I think you have a good point and bring into question about how to critique an image in this forum that we know comes from a well-known source. With modern research tools, it would be virtually impossible to offer a work by a famous photographer without someone linking it to its creator. When I was much younger, I was at a party held by one of my professors. I found him back in the kitchen with an empty bottle of superior quality liquor into which he had placed a small funnel and was pouring from a full bottle of some cheap whiskey. I forget the names of the whiskeys but I do remember him saying something very close to "Rodeo, people like this "Old Clawhammer" a lot better when I pour it from this higher priced bottle". I guess, in addition to deception, would be a form of priming as well.

goofybruce

Without reading all nine pages of responses, here's my comment: Yes, it's blurry; yes, there's color splashes; yes, it is not worth looking at; yes, we don't know the photographer; but, WHY was it taken??? To illustrate a magazine article on the increasing pace of living (there was quite a difference from the late 40s, into the late 50s); Was it to show colors with no distinction on place; was it just taken as a personal experience to try something and "something" stuck with photographer... perspective, place, position(of camera) make a world of difference.

10MPlayer Loc: California

It's funny how these types of arguments carry over from one forum to another. On the SaxOnTheWeb site, a forum followed mainly by saxophonists interested in playing jazz, there was a pretty nasty, ill-tempered discussion about "out" jazz, otherwise known as experimental or avante-garde music. That is "music" that doesn't follow the rules. The interesting part to me is that I was among the guys saying that experimental jazz is just noise and those who claim to like it are being pretentious - trying to preen for the world to show how sophisticated they are. At the same time, I looked at Haas' photograph and found value in it. I liked the way the blur suggested fast motion and change. I can't help it if I'm not being consistent, it's just how the art strikes me at the time.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Some replies are very polarizing if not outright sarcasm or troll.
Not only does this apply to photos or music but to any art in general. Modern art like the banana on the wall is IMHO, ridiculous. Just like the perfect sculpture of a person peeing in a corner or the empty room with a blinking light. Most abstract paintings and definitely Van Gogh's I find unattractive just as I hear most jazz music as noise.
To me, those are often just selfish expression if not half-hearted or unskilled attempts upvoted by hype and money.
There are few golden nuggets but those are (to me) too rare.

Many speak of art as having no rules. IMHO, that is far from the truth. Art is (always) beautiful and never rude. And beauty comes from balance, harmony, completeness & perfection. All of which have measurable parts that can be guided together with set rules.

I believe that one may be able to create something without following any rules, but if it only evokes emotion without being wholesome and without beauty, that is not art.

anotherview Loc: California

The craft of photography may rise to art in the right hands. After all, photography presents as an art-form via the realm of imagery. An effective composition of an interesting subject well-exposed will compel the eye. This result plays to the operation of human perception. One may say that an inescapable natural condition governs the practice of photography, with visible light as its medium.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Ridiculous. Art imitates life. Life is beautiful and pure. It is also ugly and complicated. So is art.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Ridiculous? Why do you always have to start a reply with an attack? Does it make you feel better to degrade others? Actually, it makes make you look like a lowball troll wanting attention.

Also stating things as if cast in stone when they are not only tells you have a limited understanding of things being discussed if not deliberately bending the truth to support your twisted point of view.

Art imitating life was written to have been first used by Aristotle and refers principally to some plays in Greek theatre. Even for the stage stories it was meant to describe, most of the time it does not apply.

Granted some arts are very complicated but no art is ugly. Only people who have limited understanding or those who want to fool others would rebrand ugliness as art.

From Robert Louis Stevenson:
"Life is monstrous, infinite, illogical, abrupt and poignant; a work of art in comparison is neat, finite, self-contained, rational, flowing, and emasculate. Life imposes by brute energy, like inarticulate thunder; art catches the ear, among the far louder noises of experience, like an air artificially made by a discreet musician."

But then again, this is your game. I'm not going to play with you.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Interesting. I’m the one open to different interpretations of what makes art yet you’re accusing me of casting things in stone. You’re the one that said

“Many speak of art as having no rules. IMHO, that is far from the truth. Art is (always) beautiful and never rude. And beauty comes from balance, harmony, completeness & perfection. All of which have measurable parts that can be guided together with set rules.”

I say hogwash. Art is about understanding the rules and breaking them!

... meanwhile somewhere in Norway Loc: none

Great example of composition, color and the story it tells... The depth of focus is interesting as is the abundance of information contained in a single image. Thumbs up...

anotherview Loc: California

One definition of art, found online: "the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power."

Photography functions as a visual art, all may agree. This art-form involves reckoning with visual balance of the subject within the frame for effective composition. This need for balance arises from human perception, an inescapable condition. Etc.

Walkabout08

Being familiar with the photograph and the famous photographer who captured it, I'm just going to watch.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I’m guessing that after 4 months there won’t be much to watch.