Photographers you don't 'get'

Posted by: DelR on 24 January 2010

Try as I might I can't get my gead round the work of William Eggleston.

Also is the work of Cartier Bresson overrated, with current interpretations being placed on his work, on what he may have thought was just a 'snap' at the time?
Posted on: 24 January 2010 by winkyincanada
Interesting question. I saw a Bresson exhibition in Paris last year, and whilst I enjoyed the images very much, I couldn't help but wonder to what extent some were staged. It really changed my view of each image as I contemplated the possibility that it was set up.
Posted on: 24 January 2010 by shoot6x7
William Eggleston - I totally don't get. But HCB is an artist. Consider the kind of camera he used and the essence which he captured, he will always be a master to me.

Annie Leibovitz to me is totally overrated. She has excellent assistants and when I look at her work I think 'yeah, so what'.

There are also some Ansel Adams photographs which I don't like as well.

Photographers I love - August Sander by a country mile, John Sexton, Willy Ronis, Gary Winogrand and Elliot Erwitt.
Posted on: 24 January 2010 by dsteady
I love Eggleston, but I may not have got him at first. There are a lot of winks in his photographs, and his printing technique was incredible. But I think what's hard at first to grasp about Eggleston is how masterful his compositions are. It's hard to grasp because he makes it looks easy, even haphazard, but after pouring over a lot of his images one might begin to see a pattern to his compositions that is very deliberate, revealing a singular point of view.
Posted on: 25 January 2010 by Derek Wright
Ralph Eugene Meatyard - especially his family pics of people wearing masks.
Posted on: 25 January 2010 by mikeeschman
A long time favorite is Robert Capa, who captures the souls of his subjects in his pictures.
Posted on: 25 January 2010 by Christopher_M
quote:
A long time favorite is Robert Capa, who captures the souls of his subjects in his pictures.


Sharp and upright is enough, yeah! Winker

Chris
Posted on: 25 January 2010 by Derek Wright
The topic has drifted a little (what a surprise) just to point out that I am not a fan of Meatyard, my original comments could have been misinterpreted
Posted on: 26 January 2010 by DelR
Richard Billingham, I bought his Landscapes book, mainly as inspiration that some of my pictures aren't bad, 'cos I look at some of the pictures & think 'Why' because without some arty explanation they are just bland snaps.
Posted on: 26 January 2010 by Kevin-W
quote:
Originally posted by shoot6x7:


Annie Leibovitz to me is totally overrated. She has excellent assistants and when I look at her work I think 'yeah, so what'.


Totally agree - Liebovitz is an overpaid, overrated hack.

Mario Testino is competent enough, but I can't help wonder whether he was just in the right place at the right time and shot the "right" people.

Ryan McGinley is a bit crap as well. Just don't get him... and don't get me started on Cindy Sherman!

I love HCB, the divine Lee Miller, Brassai, Robert Frank, Weegee, Bill Brandt, etc..
Posted on: 27 January 2010 by GraemeH
quote:
Originally posted by Kevin-W:
quote:
Originally posted by shoot6x7:


Annie Leibovitz to me is totally overrated. She has excellent assistants and when I look at her work I think 'yeah, so what'.

Mario Testino is competent enough, but I can't help wonder whether he was just in the right place at the right time and shot the "right" people.


Agreed. It's the kind of work that values clarity over authenticity.....Back to the 20's & 30's 'Hollywood' static stageyness.

Garry Winogrand is a favourite. Try 'Figments from the Real World'