The Picture: Classic art principles in photography

[Thomas Dall]

Hi all,

this is my first newsgroup posting ever, so please bear with me.

I have enjoyed photography for a couple of years, but I feel I'm in a
dead end artistically speaking. I have read the on-line tutorials for
photographic composition, lighting etc. from KODAK, photo.net, Robert
Monaghans pages, Agfaphoto etc. and they are all very good and have
given me lots of inspiration.

However, I miss a more artistic approach to it. To look at it as "a
picture" before "a photograph". The New York Institute of Photography
has just started a series on the principles of classic art in
photography on their web pages, and it's something like that I am
looking for. Does anyone have any recommendations for sites or even
books? -- it need not be photo-oriented.

thanks in advance,
Thomas

[Frank Earl]

I think I understand what you are saying. After one learns the rule of
thirds, to use vertical and horizontal, look for strong patterns, dark
recedes, etc. etc. one may find that when one shoots, it is becoming more a
mechanical checklist than an artistic endeavor. Even if these produce
pleasing and technically competent pictures, it is not what I want. I want
vision and impact. I want stunning and visceral. I want mystery and
metaphor. I don't have these yet, but I want them badly. I need to
understand what I want to say. I would like my icons to radiate heavenly
light and my enemies to glow in the dark fires of hell.
Oh, and by the way, Ralph Hattersley has a book called Photographic
Lighting, subtitled Learning to See. He recommends that photographers go
through the same learning process as artists in regards to light. The book
covers a lot of that and and has exercises you can do at home in your spare
time.
Best recommendation I con come up with on short notice - good luck.

"Thomas Dall" <td...@not.iac.es> wrote in message
news:39196582...@not.iac.es...

[Richard Knight]

Try Beaumont Newhall's books on the history of photography. He was somewhat
responsible for the MOMA accepting photography as art. He was around in the
budding careers of Stieglitz, O'Keefe, Adams, Weston, Strand and the eras of
photocession and impressionism. This retrospect into the "classics" of
photography and their influences on modern conceptions and practices may be
the "spark" you are searching for. Just a thought.
Richard

--
It has taken me a lifetime to recognize when I should NOT feel obligated to
make a photograph (Ansel Adams).
Frank Earl <fe...@utah.uswest.net> wrote in message
news:wdpS4.15$Ke3....@news.uswest.net...

[Harry Liston]

Pardon me for throwing out a suggestion - your equipment? Could it be the
cause of your miseries? I know mine is. If your equipment turns you on,
then your likely to be more expressive in your work. If it always gives you
mediocre results, then no matter how many books you read, it ain't gonna
help!

Richard Knight <adream...@email.msn.com> wrote in message
news:u9mHCPyu$GA.229@cpmsnbbsa03...

[Jpf1]

Have you thought about an online tutorial based on your specific interest? I
teach a 10 week course specific to each students needs and desires. The
course costs $300 and consists of critical analysis based on the student's
specific goals in photography. There are working requirements based on the
above, as well as self assignments.

I analyze each students portfolio and resume, to determine the course
curriculum and then present it. The preliminaries do not cost anything. If
you are interested , send me an email. I can be found on the internet at
jp...@aol.com.

[Tony Spadaro]

In article <39196582...@not.iac.es>,

Thomas Dall <td...@not.iac.es> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> this is my first newsgroup posting ever, so please bear with me.
>
> I have enjoyed photography for a couple of years, but I feel I'm in a
> dead end artistically speaking. I have read the on-line tutorials for
> photographic composition, lighting etc. from KODAK, photo.net, Robert
> Monaghans pages, Agfaphoto etc. and they are all very good and have
> given me lots of inspiration.
>
> However, I miss a more artistic approach to it. To look at it as "a
> picture" before "a photograph". The New York Institute of Photography
> has just started a series on the principles of classic art in
> photography on their web pages, and it's something like that I am
> looking for. Does anyone have any recommendations for sites or even
> books? -- it need not be photo-oriented.
>
> thanks in advance,
> Thomas
>

Andreas Feininger, wrote several books in the 50s 60s and into the
70s. As far as teh camera equipment and films are concerned they are
all way out of date - But Feininger, an architect from a family of
artists, was a master of both the science and the art of photography.
These titles are worth seeking out. There are others but these are
the ones I know well.
Feininger on Photography
Advanced Photography
The Creative Photographer
The Complete Photographer
One of his books still in print is "New York in the Forties" a photo
book of views of Manhattan - some taken from as far away as seven
miles, with a home made telephoto camera.
It's not an expensive book - Dover publications, and I see it in used
book stores occasionally.

--
Digital Photo restoration in Chapel Hill N.C.
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/magor/tony
NEW --- The Secrets of Area 53 Revealed
The Teleconverter Page & The Night Gallery

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Before you buy.

[Mark Spatny]

On Wed, 10 May 2000 14:34:58 +0100, Thomas Dall <td...@not.iac.es>
wrote:

>looking for. Does anyone have any recommendations for sites or even
>books? -- it need not be photo-oriented.

Here's a "non-photo oriented" suggestion.

My major in college was set and lighting design for theater. A few
years later, after graduation, I was finding my work getting very
boring. At that time, I met a colleague who had been working in the
business for decades, and gave me some valuable advice. He told me
that even though Rembrandt was born hundreds of years before electric
light bulbs, he was probably the greatest lighting designer the world
had ever seen. He advised me to study Rembrandt's paintings, to learn
from his use of light and shadow, and the careful placement of light
sources in the composition. My colleague was right. It helped my work
a great deal.

Since photography is all about light and shadow and composition, maybe
studying these paintings will help inspire you, too.

[Bob Brickman]

Maybe exploring special effects will help to refresh you. There are plenty
of books on the subject.
Try some wild filters in unlikely combinations, or go digital and play
around with Photoshop-that should get you wired!
Extreme focal length lenses might help, or thinking about the similarities
between music compositions and photo compositions could get you started. Do
what you haven't been doing, or do the opposite of what you have been doing.
If all else fails, hell- just let go and take a break for awhile.
-Bob

--

Bob Brickman
34 Mennella Road
Poughquag, NY 12570
(914) 724-5783

http://www.UltimatePhotography.com
Resources and services for 35mm and Digital Imaging enthusiasts.