Antilimit

[Stephen]

Re: Antilimit

I've just been back for another look. Having read some of the comments on here I though I must be missing something. How can any one call this creative photography? Gallery 2006 Miss Betty III. God I've seen it all now. Even half her face is blurred, composition diabolical and Oh he's still not repaired that tripod.

Hi Ron, you are of course entitled to your opinion and I don't expect you to change that for a minute. Also, please don't take this as a personal affront or as an attempt to discourage you or anyone else from expressing their opinions. Yet you appear very dismissive of the whole body of work, essentially it seems, because it doesn't fit in with your personal style and ideals when it comes to photography.

You are a self confessed luddite when it comes to anything that might be described as off the wall or of an artistic style in photography, so you are hardly qualified to pass such judgements. Bob Dylan once famously said in one of his classic songs.
"Don't criticise what you don't understand"
However in the Info section of his site, he attempts to explain what his style of photography is all about, and he finishes by asking people to view his work with an open mind.

I've said before that you don't need to like or indeed understand what he is trying to see or visualize in every shot. As for the Miss Betty shots, they are clearly part of a small series. I personally don't see a problem with the composition and in the specific one you mention I also don't see half the face blurred, rather its in shadow.

[Bearface]

Re: Antilimit

Having read some of the comments on here I though I must be missing something.

I thought you were missing something too, but in all fairness that's entirely your choice. Creativity isn't something everyone possesses, which is why straightforward, basic photography is still relevant for many people. Personally I like to step outside the box labelled "safe and conventional" now and again........it's good for the soul.

How can any one call this creative photography? Gallery 2006 Miss Betty III. God I've seen it all now. Even half her face is blurred, composition diabolical and Oh he's still not repaired that tripod.

It's probably a good thing that we all see things differently, don't you think? The photography on this site is without question creative, but if you don't appreciate it's nuances and depth, that's fair enough.

[Bearface]

Re: Antilimit

See, now that sums me up Bearface...I mean the mediocre reference shot bit! lol

If you're satisfied with that, then so be it. However if you want to raise your own standards, you need to be more positive

[paul.r.w]

Re: Antilimit

That's why I came on here, so I can learn from nice peeps like your goodself.

[lumix]

Re: Antilimit

I'm not going to answer any particular replies to this thread as that can only lead to individual arguments. In general this is how I feel about this type of photography. Ok I have spent many many years learning the rights and wrongs of photography. Based on my personal learning's I now feel that what I'm seeing here is more wrongs than rights. I know times they are a changing, but what was frowned upon years ago is now given a new title, Creative imagery, and seems to be quite acceptable. I have no objection to others admiring this type of work, or indeed copying the style. I feel I have as much right to express my dislike for such work as others have to praise it. I don't like red wine but like white wine, we all have a right to make these statements without being challenged.

[Bearface]

Re: Antilimit

Ok I have spent many many years learning the rights and wrongs of photography. Based on my personal learning's I now feel that what I'm seeing here is more wrongs than rights.

So what you're saying is that you're right and people such as Pol, Stephen and myself are in fact wrong..? I mean, I'm as familiar with the "rules" as you are Ron, but I also know that it's how you interpret them which separates predictable, everyday photography from the really interesting stuff. I also know that if I adhered to the rules (which were made a long time ago in any case...) religiously, I'd be out of business in no time.

Creativity isn't wrong, it's just something which you don't relate to. Personally I can't abide soulless, unimaginative, "safe" photography, but I won't criticise anyone else if it happens to be their "thing". However, simply ticking all the technical boxes is not the route to a great shot, not by any means...

...we all have a right to make these statements without being challenged.

I agree. However my own response was prompted by these comments:

"Having read some of the comments on here I though I must be missing something. How can any one call this creative photography?"

To me this is a direct challenge to those who expressed admiration for the work on the site, and it's unquestionably why I personally chose to say what I did in response. If you're happy to challenge others, you have to be equally ready to be challenged in return

[lumix]

Re: Antilimit

Perhaps if you read my first post again, you will notice that I said there was some good work there but a lot I class as rubbish. I have not condemned all this guys work. Purely made a statement that I did not like all of it. Do I have to like what you like, no. I'm not here for an argument, I am not going to try to change your opinion, so lets leave it at that.

[Bearface]

Re: Antilimit

Perhaps if you read my first post again, you will notice that I said there was some good work there but a lot I class as rubbish. I have not condemned all this guys work. Purely made a statement that I did not like all of it.

I knew what you'd said, and I have already said that your personal opinions are yours to express as you wish. However if you read my posts again, you'll see that I wasn't disputing your views at all.

Do I have to like what you like, no. I'm not here for an argument, I am not going to try to change your opinion, so lets leave it at that.

Of course you don't have to like what I like! I'm not trying to change your opinion either, but in your previous post you were specifically objecting to being challenged and I simply pointed out that you were quite openly challenging several people who'd commented on this thread.

Artisitic or creative photography is a subjective thing and it's rare for a mixed group of people to agree on one image, let alone several galleries full. My only beef with you was that you were questioning the opinions of those of us who appreciated the artist's work, which is an entirely different thing to simply expressing your own point of view.

I hope we're cool.........I wasn't trying to fall out with you

[lumix]

Re: Antilimit

First things first Tim, I'm very cool. Just like to point out that I have stated that I have no objection to others appreciating that type of work, and I have never claimed that the likes of Pol, Stephen or your Good-self were wrong. I merely stated that in my book a lot of the images were wrong. As you rightly say we are all entitled to our own personal opinion and what I said was mine. No offence intended. I don't see that I have attacked anyone or, until this post, mentioned anyone by name. If I have touched someones sensitive spot then I apologize.

[Autumn]

Re: Antilimit

I have now revisited the site, giving myself more time to digest the contents.

There are many photographs that just crick my neck, however, I have to admit that I have somewhat altered my position and am impressed with many of the tones and colours of the photographs.

For some reason, there are some pictures of cows that I like - not sure, but they may be infra red type. They are in sepia.

Yes, the site was certainly worth a relook and I have decided that there are more that I like than I at first thought.

It is interesting that he only uses a Point and Shoot camera, the Oly C8080.

It doesn't suit my mind to have bits of the picture cut off - in fact I find it quite upsetting ie two old cars "Old friends?"

I can handle Tunnel Chi being on the slope 2004. I may have even done that myself.

Study of Stasis 2004 - I have many buildings taken from that angle.

Burdens, 2005 - the angle of this just made my head ache and I think it was pics like this that made me not want to venture further into the site. Likewise Urban Rush 2005 - I would have binned it together with Portrait of a shift and Ere 2004.

In fact, there are more images within the site that I like than on the Front Page (Splash?).

It is an interesting site and made me want to sort out my failures I may not have been discovered yet.

[coupekid]

Re: Antilimit

I'm not going to answer any particular replies to this thread as that can only lead to individual arguments. In general this is how I feel about this type of photography. Ok I have spent many many years learning the rights and wrongs of photography. Based on my personal learning's I now feel that what I'm seeing here is more wrongs than rights. I know times they are a changing, but what was frowned upon years ago is now given a new title, Creative imagery, and seems to be quite acceptable. I have no objection to others admiring this type of work, or indeed copying the style. I feel I have as much right to express my dislike for such work as others have to praise it. I don't like red wine but like white wine, we all have a right to make these statements without being challenged.

Fair enough Ron, I think it is good that people have different tastes and opinions. However, I think a healthy debate is a good thing, and I hope you dont think I was 'challenging you' in a negative way.

I think before I was into photography, some of Tims and Stephens images of old dissused, rusty factories etc I would have seen in a less artistic, and less appreciative way as I do now, what I am trying to say, is that sometimes embracing what you initially dont understand, can reap rewards, and nowadays, I see many things in a different light because of time here viewing images that initially I would have dismissed.

I hope that makes sense, and is in no way meant to be provocotive, however, if after trying to view the images for the second time you really dont enjoy them, then thats just taste I gues!

[Pol]

Re: Antilimit

I have now revisited the site, giving myself more time to digest the contents.

There are many photographs that just crick my neck, however, I have to admit that I have somewhat altered my position and am impressed with many of the tones and colours of the photographs.

For some reason, there are some pictures of cows that I like - not sure, but they may be infra red type. They are in sepia.

Yes, the site was certainly worth a relook and I have decided that there are more that I like than I at first thought.

It is interesting that he only uses a Point and Shoot camera, the Oly C8080.

We'd also noted and discussed the use of the p/s camera. David feels a p/s camera would be his own ideal choice for such a project - I asked him why and he remarked that he wouldn't want to feel the camera was intrusive either for himself or the possible subjects - just a 'quick click' sort of tool that was inobtrusively capturing spontaneous thoughts and feeling as he went along.

I suppose he has a point there - the camera acting like a sort of quick 'paintrush' tool that's capturing (drawing) small 'sketches' as you pass along life's corridor.

I don't view the site in the same way as I might view photography albums, ie picture by picture. I 'experience' the overall site, though there are certain images that have more impact on me than others.

For me - it's an ongoing experience and contemplation of the artist's days, life, experiences, thoughts, snatches of his moments, colours of his moods, thoughts and environment as he passed through - or sometimes as he reviewed and remembered, prompted by the 'sketches' he'd snatched with his camera.

I also enjoy the overall colour palette of the site because it's soft, pastel and conducive to contemplation, considering the feelings evoked and daydreaming and considering how my own thought and feeling relate and sometimes interlock with the artist.

Y'know how your mind sometimes wanders and you kinda wonder where you've been for the past few minutes? Well Eric allowed us into 'where his mind went' and in doing so, he stimulated my own thoughts, reminded me of transient moments and thoughts from my own past .... and enriched a few ideas and thoughts about the present too.

That's just a small explanation of how the work communicates all sort of emotions, feelings and personal memories to me. I hope that all makes sense and didn't bore anyone rigid.

Pol

[Stephen]

Re: Antilimit

It absolutely does make sense Pol, to me at least. In short, viewing individual images in isolation it not the ideal way to treat this site.

[Autumn]

Re: Antilimit

It absolutely does make sense Pol, to me at least. In short, viewing individual images in isolation it not the ideal way to treat this site.

May not be for you Stephen, but that it how it works best for me. When I looked at it as a whole, only the ones I didn't like popped up and hid the better images, for me.

[Autumn]

Re: Antilimit

I also enjoy the overall colour palette of the site because it's soft, pastel and conducive to contemplation,
Pol

For me, the colours are so beautifully subtle and soft and above anything else, that is what I like best about the site 'His indvidual colour style.'