Recent activity has been very much focussed on the exercises for Light, mainly because needed the better weather and longer days to complete them successfully.
Last week went to Kiev and took some satisfactory shots despite the inclement weather. See https://picasaweb.google.com/chris.sims3/KievOctober2011 I like in particular one shot of the metro. Using Silver Efex Pro2, came up with the following options:
The variety of says much of the power of post processing. Difficult to choose which is best, probably the last (using silhouette preset), although the second (high key) grows on one.
At the weekend, noticed that Martin Parr has an exhibition on at M Shed. Bristol receives little in the way of top quality photographic exhibitions so the opportunity to see the work of the city's best known, and only internationally renowned, photographer was not to be missed.
Parr has lived in Bristol for 25 years, and therefore has a good portfolio of shots. The exhibition was of about 40 of his images taken locally from 80s to present day.
These were my thoughts on certain of the shots as went round:
Photos of queue waiting for Banksy exhibition are good but might have been better composed lower down.
At the weekend, noticed that Martin Parr has an exhibition on at M Shed. Bristol receives little in the way of top quality photographic exhibitions so the opportunity to see the work of the city's best known, and only internationally renowned, photographer was not to be missed.
Parr has lived in Bristol for 25 years, and therefore has a good portfolio of shots. The exhibition was of about 40 of his images taken locally from 80s to present day.
These were my thoughts on certain of the shots as went round:
Photos of queue waiting for Banksy exhibition are good but might have been better composed lower down.
Like Badminton Horse Trials. Variety of expressions, particularly like the intense expression on one of the girls – a sort of exasperation. Vote for this as best image.
Royal Commonwealth Society Function is good. The formal expressions on two elderly white people contrasts with less intense enquiring expression of a young black man.
Bristol Grammar School is all about the expression on the young boy whose Mum's arm is round his neck.
Great image of cricketers looking for ball as part of the Year in the Life of an English Village series.
St Paul's Carnival is busy in a sort of find Wally way. Spoilt by traffic sign.
Overall, the exhibition encapsulates Parr's work well: he does social commentary but overlays with the "decisive moment" of Cartier Bresson; many of Parr's images (e.g Badminton Horse Trials) work more because of the precise expressions captured than because of their social message.
I am struck by the lack of composition in many of the shots - Parr takes clear well saturated and well focussed shots but often I think does not make the best of his position relative to the subject. There is no evidence of him getting down low (would have worked better on the image of cricketers searching for lost ball, for example). He is not shy to retain extraneous clutter, e.g the road sign which does draw one's eye away from the main action in St Paul's Carnival. This is perhaps the artistic licence for people photographers - the need for the "decisive moment", the expression or action that conveys a particular message, is paramount above the need for perfect composition.
There is much in Parr's work that makes one think: "I could have done that", and that is probably true. The point is that Parr has been out and done it and the rest of us have not. Like many well-known photographers (indeed artists in many fields) Parr's work is somewhat overrated. I believe there is a tipping point for artists where they become sufficiently well known that their renown becomes self-reinforcing; there is almost a peer pressure to respect, even revere, these artists simply because it is the approved thing to do. Having said that, his capture of the decisive moment is captivating.
Overall, the exhibition encapsulates Parr's work well: he does social commentary but overlays with the "decisive moment" of Cartier Bresson; many of Parr's images (e.g Badminton Horse Trials) work more because of the precise expressions captured than because of their social message.
I am struck by the lack of composition in many of the shots - Parr takes clear well saturated and well focussed shots but often I think does not make the best of his position relative to the subject. There is no evidence of him getting down low (would have worked better on the image of cricketers searching for lost ball, for example). He is not shy to retain extraneous clutter, e.g the road sign which does draw one's eye away from the main action in St Paul's Carnival. This is perhaps the artistic licence for people photographers - the need for the "decisive moment", the expression or action that conveys a particular message, is paramount above the need for perfect composition.
There is much in Parr's work that makes one think: "I could have done that", and that is probably true. The point is that Parr has been out and done it and the rest of us have not. Like many well-known photographers (indeed artists in many fields) Parr's work is somewhat overrated. I believe there is a tipping point for artists where they become sufficiently well known that their renown becomes self-reinforcing; there is almost a peer pressure to respect, even revere, these artists simply because it is the approved thing to do. Having said that, his capture of the decisive moment is captivating.
