Comments on: Picture a project

By: Dalton

Dalton — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:37:13 +0000

Robert,
I am finding this post a bit late, but I wanted to let you know that I found it very enlightening. I had to sit down and write a statement recently about a group of photos. Writing the statement was a challenge, mostly because I’m not used to speaking about my work. But now that the statement has been written, I feel like it has solidified my purpose, and now I am much more clear on where I need to take the project. In this case, the photos led to the idea, which leads to more photos. It feels like a pretty natural way to go about things.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:56:56 +0000

Personal projects are really what photography is about for me. I really enjoy the commercial aspect, particularly since it pays well, and I always try to inject every commercial job with my own personal style, but really it’s the personal projects that get me the most excited.

Most of my projects last for years, and most seem to just go on and on with no end in sight. I don’t know if this is good or not, but as long as I’m getting something good out of them, I suppose there’s no need to end them.

Since I’m from Detroit, and still reside here, most of my personal projects have to do with the area. The post-industrial Detroit is not pretty, but there are some interesting stories to be told.

This past year has been unbelievably busy, so for 2008, I’ll be back to my on going personal projects. And hopefully, one day, I’ll get them online and/or in print.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:17:02 +0000

@sherman-99% of what you see in editorial portraiture is intended to flatter the sitter, and for the purpose of the picture that is enough usually. But most of the best pictures we remember we never made with the intention of flattering anyone, they were made usually as a reaction to the sitter. But this is a whole book in itself. You’ve got two days left to go to the Met and see “The Age of Rembrandt” which will tell you all you need to know about portraiture..!

By: sherman

sherman — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:34:32 +0000

Really great post Robert. I too have been following your blog for some time. I too find it an interesting, intelligent, thought provoking read.

I have had portrait sessions with people that were not that interesting. No matter how I directed I could not get that “thing”. It end up becoming a frustration on my part, I would be down on myself for not having the skill to pull that thing out. And too be honest, I really don’t know what “thing” that I was trying to find. But I knew it was something better than a pose or a look. A certain amount of tension, emotion -sense of a real person that is so hard to capture. That I find very difficult to do. So I can understand why editorial photographers sometimes do formulaic material, not too many have the idea the get that frame.

Your note on Avedon is interesting as well. It seems that he found interesting people and tried to capture that interest, instead of finding people and making them interesting.

Thanks for your insights.

By: me

me — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:07:52 +0000

@scott-That is a very interesting comment, collaboration gets overlooked often in photography but it is essential for many photographers. When you think of art directors, photo editors, stylists, setbuilders, makeup, hair, assistants, you realise that the commercial arts are extremely collaborative. Even in the fine arts, book publishing, preparing a show, developing a concept, scouting, etc, collaboration is there. Suggestion for 2008-find someone you trust and work together on something for a change…

I have a post coming about getting unstuck in the new year.

By: scott Rex ely

scott Rex ely — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:24:54 +0000

If I could offer a suggestion on something to read; Group Genius by R. Keith Sawyer available from Basic Books ISBN-13:978-0-465-07192-0. As a follow up to his other book which I also highly recommend, “Explaining Creativity”, he analyzes collaborations. I find it thoroughly refreshing to constantly be reminded that great creative and innovative people keep having ideas. Here is a quote from Group Genius, pg. 107 “Successful innovators keep having great ideas. they know that most of their ideas won’t work out, and they’re quick to cut their loses and pursue those that resonate WITH THEIR COLLABORATORS”, emphasis mine. In his chapter on Small Sparks, he lists the five basic stages that are imbedded in a collaborative process. quoted verbatim here from page 81:
1. Preparation, period of working hard, studying the problem and talking to everyone else working on it.
2. Time-off:the team member changes context and engages in other activities- often in conversations with others.
3. the Spark: During time off, a solution appears; but the solution is deeply embedded in the knowledge and social interactions of the time off and preparation phases, and it builds on sparks that others have had.
4.Selection: An “Aha!” feeling doesn’t always mean the idea is good. creative people are very good at selecting the best ideas for following up, or they collaborate with others in selection
5. Elaboration: Working out the idea typically requires a lot of additional ideas. Brining them together always requires social interaction and collaboration.”

I know this is related to groups but if you take some of the structures he sets up to provide optimum innovation and creativity and apply it to our endeavors as individual creators i think we can start to see that we are not really the lone operators that we perceive ourselves to be. Why do you think these blogs like this one or APE’s are soo refreshing? Collaboration. Again I can’t recommend his books too much. they might just be enough encouragement to inspire your most brilliant future work and help you understand in some part how you really got to your best moments. Enjoy. Thanks beyond Robert, YOUR collaboration is monumental and I hope people realize the value your contributions. Sincerely, SRE

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:06:29 +0000

Thanks for the post Robert. I recently found your blog and have been enjoying the discussions going on here and this particular entry strikes a chord in regards to my present feelings about photography. Sometimes, it is so easy to get wrapped up in producing the final image that I forget to enjoy the process. I’ve reached a stagnant place in my photography within the last few months and I would like to use the beginning of the new year to focus on the process . . . to let myself enjoy shooting just to shoot without any particular objective in mind. Thanks again for the post.

By: don giannatti

don giannatti — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 11:03:28 +0000

Thank you for a very thought provoking post. So much here. Working through creative issues and this post comes at a great time for me. Love the blog man.