Comments on: Contemporary Photography

By: On ‘Contemporary Photography’ « New Words

On ‘Contemporary Photography’ « New Words — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:55:59 +0000

[...] response to my Brent Clark article, my friend Paul Lester wrote this: “It seems as though most of the photographers just decided to go against the grain with [...]

By: cool daddio

cool daddio — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:49:36 +0000

I think pretentiousness is an issue at any age. I do find I rarely connect with the type of photography your describing but like all art I suspect it has to do with MY connectors. Having not felt alienated or lost or exestentially challenged for quite some time the minimalist or ‘anti’ photographs you are describing don’t resonate with me and I’ll bet some of my flower macros would make some of those photographers physically ill

By: Reza

Reza — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:17:19 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve been online. I see you have some fantastic shots. One of these days I have to sit down and read all the things you’ve written

By: paul

paul — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:59:16 +0000

Shane, thanks for commenting; however, if you disagree with a position, it would be nice to elaborate as to why, instead of calling it ‘dumb’.

By: shane j montgomery

shane j montgomery — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:38:25 +0000

mike, thats the dumbest comment i’ve ever seen on a photoblog, congrats.

By: Intern

Intern — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:16:13 +0000

I love contemporary photography!!!!! Some of them are very very thought provoking!!!!
I saw only half of the photographer’s works from that list … and didnt much like any of them …

But comtemporary photography is much much bigger than that …
I’ve been to Museum of Contemporary Art [MCA] and also Museum of Contemporary photography [MOCP] here in Chicago … I love the displays there …

two things:
#1: I think every NEW form of art is criticized…. Impressionists were were laughed at …. for their innovative style, their quotidian subject matter and their layers of paints, considered “Unfinished” … it stood the test of time and reformed paintings forever …

#2: I think Contemporary photography is like impressionism … It free photography from tradionalism and opens way for new vistas … But that doest mean that i connect with every image claimed to be or labelled as a comtemporary photograph … But some of them are very thought provoking and indeed mindblowing!!!!

By: Will

Will — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:54:38 +0000

Ahh, great post Paul. Personally, I think it is important to have an open mind. Take in everything around you and focus on what does appeal to you. Even though I agree with the current thoughts on cont. photo, to ignore something may only sell yourself short in the long run, no matter what it is you do. There is some stuff out there that I find boring, revolting, horrifying, but I do tend to go back and check it out once in a while. I have been surprised at some of the places that I can dig up a little inspiration. Of course this is only my opinion.

Hey, have a great weekend!

By: John

John — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:33:16 +0000

I agree Paul; their stuff doesn’t do much (or anything) for me. It almost seems to be “anti-photography,” designed to expressly go against the grain of conventional photography (whatever that is).

Perhaps in 40 or 50 years people will look at the work of these photographers in the same way that we look at the “masters” of b&w photography from the 30’s and 40’s. I think one of the reasons we relish those works is that they represent a much simpler time long gone by. Maybe in the future the current crop of contemporary photographers will be viewed in the same light.

By: Photo Buffet

Photo Buffet — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:28:48 +0000

Interesting conversation! I think first impressions are lasting. That doesn’t mean I can’t learn to appreciate the effort that goes into someone’s art, but I certainly don’t have to like it. Kind of reminds me of an old Seinfeld show, in which Ellen visits an art museum–remember that? She comes upon a small display in the shape of a pillar, and atop its little “shelf” sits a black purse. She doesn’t want to look like a newcomer to the world of art, so she concentrates and squints and makes all kinds of strained expressions to appear artsy. Then a woman sweeps into the picture and squeals when she finds the purse she’d accidentally left behind. It wasn’t a display at all.

My first glance at a photo or painting either draws me in or cancels my interest. It’s not that I can’t appreciate an artist’s effort; I just like something that impacts me emotionally.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:26:35 +0000

I like simple shots….