What makes a photographer or a photograph great? I just watched a great video by Hugh Brownstone of Three Blind Men and an Elephant. Hugh is a wise old man from NYC who does analysis...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I just watched a great video by Hugh Brownstone of Three Blind Men and an Elephant.

Hugh is a wise old man from NYC who does analysis like NO ONE does analysis. He goes deep with his observations, comparisons, and conclusions. He uses an overview of the late Saul Leiter, a New York Street photographer, painter, and self-described "lazy man," to conclude many of the same things about photographers and photographs and photography that I do.

I found myself saying, "Yes! Yes!" at every turn. I'd love to hear what you think. You will have to watch to the end to get the whole "picture."

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/IRJwynhCM38

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Superficial mumbojumbo. A caricature that takes itself too seriously. Toadall waste of time.

(Download)

Bill_de Loc: US

burkphoto wrote:

I just watched a great video by Hugh Brownstone of... (show quote)

Being able to enjoy it/them without talking about it.

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I know what makes a photograph great, and it wont keep the lights lit and wont make your obit go viral.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

burkphoto wrote:

I just watched a great video by Hugh Brownstone of... (show quote)

Hype and good self promotion.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

A true photograph doesn't need to be explained.

ELNikkor

Will watch the rest later, as on my way to work, but just saw at 5:50 where someone had paid $200 mil for a Pollock work of , of, don't even know..., but $200 m?? (and it looks like you might find it dusty in a Kentucky flea market for $5.)

anotherview Loc: California

My view: The craft of photography may rise to art in the right hands. This craft has four parts: effective composition, good exposure, interesting subject, and perceived intention or purpose.

This practice assumes that photography functions as a wordless medium of human expression. In this realm, a given photograph offers a visual voice. A worthy photograph speaks for itself.

Understanding photography this way skips talk of objectivity and subjectivity, as if one over the other, when both apply.

All said, the medium of photography has room for every expression.

burkphoto wrote:

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/IRJwynhCM38

deanfl Loc: Georgia

burkphoto wrote:

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/IRJwynhCM38

Thank you for sharing. I was not familiar with Saul Leiter. I found it interesting that he lived in an era with no auto focus, in body stabilization, or photoshop, and still created interesting photographs. I welcome information that can broaden my perspective.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

ELNikkor wrote:

Will watch the rest later, as on my way to work, but just saw at 5:50 where someone had paid $200 mil for a Pollock work of , of, don't even know..., but $200 m?? (and it looks like you might find it dusty in a Kentucky flea market for $5.)

It has been said by some that Jackson Pollock's works are largely about "the art of selling it." I put him in the same category as Maurizio Cattelan, the guy who duct taped a banana to a wall and sold it for $120,000. "Any excuse to support a charity or the collector's wealth." (It was sold twice more before the banana was ripped off the wall and eaten by a performance artist.)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

anotherview wrote:

My view: The craft of photography may rise to art... (show quote)

I buy most of that. As a communicator, I have always thought that the perceived message (intention or purpose) is the selling point of prose, poetry, music, and images.

In evaluating my own work, I look at all the things you mentioned. I don't call it art, as that is for others to decide. But I always ask, "Do I have a point, and did it register with others?" Once I can say, "Yes," I move on.

StevenBrownPhoto Loc: Excelsior, MN

burkphoto wrote:

It has been said by some that Jackson Pollock's works are largely about "the art of selling it." I put him in the same category as Maurizio Cattelan, the guy who duct taped a banana to a wall and sold it for $120,000. "Any excuse to support a charity or the collector's wealth." (It was sold twice more before the banana was ripped off the wall and eaten by a performance artist.)

😂😂😂😂😂😂

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

An artist can capture beauty with any camera. The rest of us need the best camera.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Public opinion. 😂