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Are photographers irrelevant to photography?
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Oct 22, 2018 12:42:05   #
Bipod
 
Why are there there so few posts on UHH about well-known photographers (living or dead)?

This thread is a place to post about the photographers you admire (present company excepted)
and their work.

Or, if you believe photography is a technology (rather than an art, craft or tradition), then it's a place to
post about your favorite engineer or programmer.

Please, no posts about your favorite corporation, brand or product--we get enough of that.

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Oct 22, 2018 13:19:22   #
G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK
 
That is a great point.
The internet is full of great images, however individual sites seem to be a small selection of peoples work. The magazines that used to promote 'great talent' have mainly gone. Art in the media seems to leave photography out of their coverage as it is rarely controversial enough.

If you look through links and resources people here have highlighted great work - but they never seem to become 'great names'. Perhaps the mass appeal of photography reduces 'hero's' to 'also ran'.

We have 'celebrity photographers' that have millions 'following' them on facebook - but are their images great or just 'of different places' and so merely 'interesting' to browse. Technique seems to be 'what they are teaching' rather than 'apparent in their work'.

As a final thought - who are the Photography critics these days? Critics who wrote books and articles in the past 'created' well known names. Now that everyone can be an expert no-one wants to be a critic.

I suppose if you get National Geographic or similar long established magazines (on or off-line) their editors will set a standard. BUT they have been accused of using stock images and non copyright work....Multiple Freelance rather than a great photographer working every day building up a recognized portfolio of printed work.

Professionals in most fields have lost their status. They may still get paid the best money, of a poor lot, but few get famous (rather than celebrity) as there is no longer 'that small pond' in which to be a 'big fish'. Celebrities have a very short 'life' these days.

It has been said many times - Young people do not have the Icons that previous generations revered. That is the cost of worldwide access and instant information...it brings people down to commonality.

Hope you do get some links that inspire you

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Oct 22, 2018 13:19:45   #
Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room
 
I have mentioned one of my photography "heroes" here, Frank Lee Ruggles. But unless someone is motivated to click on a link and explore, what purpose is there is talking about photographers?

That said, I learned a lot from Frank by taking some of his courses. As a former Official Photographer for the National Park Service, a position held only by twelve other former photographers (Ansel Adams was #7), Ruggles' work has been displayed in numerous galleries, and his book, "Chasing Light" is available in most National Park gift stores.

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Oct 22, 2018 13:24:30   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
Galen Rowell

From January 2018, a discussion topic posted in For Your Consideration section:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-505227-1.html

.

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Oct 22, 2018 13:36:45   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
There is a young photographer calling self "The Photo Extremist." He plays his camera equipment and with imagination creativity and dexterity, reminding me of a theater organ virtuoso.
One looks at his photos and say, "how did he do that?" and he tells in detail. He is an inspiring educator.
https://photoextremist.com/

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Oct 22, 2018 22:23:58   #
lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
Galen Rowell
From January 2018, a discussion topic posted in For Your Consideration section:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-505227-1.html .
Thanks for posting. Galen Rowell is one of my idols.

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Oct 23, 2018 00:51:11   #
tdekany Loc: Oregon
 
Art Wolfe is my favorite

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Oct 23, 2018 00:56:41   #
Haydon
 
tdekany wrote:
Art Wolfe is my favorite


For all types of subject matter, Art is unmatched. He's able to deliver spellbinding portraiture to captivating nature photography. He's a true artist. He's not about gear and camera settings. Art is about art.

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Oct 23, 2018 01:20:24   #
tdekany Loc: Oregon
 
Haydon wrote:
For all types of subject matter, Art is unmatched. He's able to deliver spellbinding portraiture to captivating nature photography. He's a true artist. He's not about gear and camera settings. Art is about art.


I don’t think I have seen a shot from him that wasn’t top notch. Of course I haven’t seen all of his.

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Oct 23, 2018 06:41:27   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
Bipod wrote:
Why are there there so few posts on UHH about well-known photographers (living or dead)?

This thread is a place to post about the photographers you admire (present company excepted)
and their work.

Or, if you believe photography is a technology (rather than an art, craft or tradition), then it's a place to
post about your favorite engineer or programmer.

Please, no posts about your favorite corporation, brand or product--we get enough of that.
Why are there there so few posts on UHH about well... (show quote)


I love looking at other photographer' photographs. I am amazed by Ansel Adams manipulation of a photo. He would have been in seventh heaven with all the photoshopping tools at his disposal. And there are rank beginners with very good photos that I enjoy looking at.

But having said that, it is like my teacher told us. It is alright to emulate the photos that one sees to learn how to do them. After that learning, his question was "What are you going to do now?!? What are you going shoot different?" He wanted to see some creativity, not just more copies of someone else's shot.

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Oct 23, 2018 07:13:15   #
daltonp Loc: Columbus, Ohio
 
Just checked out Ruggles' work. Thanks for the introduction to this photog.

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Oct 23, 2018 08:11:19   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
W. Eugene Smith

https://www.google.com/search?q=w.+eugene+smith&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS716US717&oq=W.+Eugene+Smith&aqs=chrome.0.0l6.607j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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Oct 23, 2018 08:15:01   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Along with the camera manufacturers, there is a company that makes a device that will tell you when a scene is ideal to photograph. It's called Arsenal. Between the auto capabilities of today's cameras and a device such as Arsenal, a lot of people have been converted from photographer to equipment porter.

On occasion, in the For Your Consideration section, someone will post a number of links to various famous photographers. Personally, I enjoy those links as the information is very interesting to read.
--Bob
Bipod wrote:
Why are there there so few posts on UHH about well-known photographers (living or dead)?

This thread is a place to post about the photographers you admire (present company excepted)
and their work.

Or, if you believe photography is a technology (rather than an art, craft or tradition), then it's a place to
post about your favorite engineer or programmer.

Please, no posts about your favorite corporation, brand or product--we get enough of that.
Why are there there so few posts on UHH about well... (show quote)

Reply
Oct 23, 2018 08:35:13   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
rmalarz wrote:
...On occasion, in the For Your Consideration section, someone will post a number of links to various famous photographers. Personally, I enjoy those links as the information is very interesting to read.
Those are the "Monthly Masters' Critique" that MinnieV hosts. I linked to Galen Rowell's above. Here was October's:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-556509-1.html

And one on Albert Bierstadt's influence on modern landscape photography:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-551350-1.html

.

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Oct 23, 2018 08:39:04   #
yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey
 
If you enjoy portraits, google Richard Avedon. His images are powerful and timeless.

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