Category: the fora

all that stuff people say online

Captions.

Posted on Posted in meaning, morning wood, the fora, the meta

Words are limited, so are photographs. Words have possible definition; photographs don’t.

Amateurs can be spotted by what they try to eliminate. And how.

It is common that they will present pictures with captions. Their captions include technical specifics. The craft, the method used, the specifics of technology are key to their working – to their exchange of common ground. The amateur, enthusiast community is built around the camera counter. What to buy, how much to pay, these are the components of their world. They are consumers attempting to claim makership.

They celebrate their GAS and joke about their wife finding out. Her ignorance is assumed. She is too busy buying makeup to notice my charges.

[posts are in recent to prior order. they are consecutive in time, but different threads.

“don’t like captions that try to influence” ?too arty for his socialization.

“what does that mean” — needed more caption.

Captions, writing on photographs are welcome elements of photography since its inception. But, that of course is among those “arsty” types who are trying to influence my opinion. Do you wonder what network he watches?

Acceptable, even necessary caption examples: “Great shot, very pleasing.” + “Intrepid 4×5 MK4
SuperAngulon 90mmf8” ” “I wouldn’t want it any brighter.” + “Fuji HR-U  D76 1:6 12 minutes”

These are the words of the enthusiast. Somehow they do tell me what to think; what is acceptable; how little thought it takes.

For me, I wish the captions and conversations where brighter. Or at least had even a hint at meaning beyond place and placement.

Perfect Alibis

Posted on Posted in as written, babl, Carp Fishing, M&Ms, morning wood, Prints, the fora

Who do you envy? I can’t show you my work on the web because it is so fantastic ; simultaneously Making judgment of photographs I’ve only seen on the web. cake eat 2

Do they show or do they tell. Their perfect alibis for doing so much talking without any pictures is because only the print matters. That is the answer you are to see. See? Only see? It is so present, so magical, you must stand in awe before it. find a gallery to buy from; hunt but you will not find. The alibi set is so exclusive they have no gallery representation. The gallery wasn’t good enough.

finding gods to follow: repeating their phrases, singing seeking their praises.

Do you begin with answerable questions; do you permit answers other than yours. If you gave up by the 70s, do you have anything useful to say in your seventies?

you can buy the print, but only in person.

I have no prints for sale. (catch 22)

Like the old: we could have ham and eggs if we had ham and we had eggs.

he has to defend his commitment. maybe explain his stumble — potential in youth isn’t enough. knowing the weston’s isn’t enough. knowing isn’t enough.

Of course alternatives are okay, if they are “well printed” — and, anything other than silver-gelatin can’t be well printed. Unless it was sanctified in some way — like from my book publisher.

[am in drafting-mode of a Stieglitz post ]

helpful hindrance

Posted on Posted in da net, morning wood, the fora 
answering a question they don’t have experience in
cause they need to be heard


parked car ... don’t need more information, they need more courage-- the power to try again. 

they always tell you what to wear to the dance .. they think you like the same music

always telling you what to wear, no matter how you dance

assume they know how to dance and aren’t merely jumping around showing off — remembering someone else’s memory

mark of an amateur : they cant tell good advice from bad, they are too filled with fear. biggest fear is of making a mistake. art is about moving without enough knowledge  -- that's what you are making


----
making a list 
key concept(s)
-- assembly process
pigment in colloid
wash-off processing
exposure hardens colloid to retain pigment
-- more exposure = more density, depth of layer

how to make your list
work from both ends
-- have a goal
-- know where you're starting
have distinct pages for each step so drill down isn't blocking your guide list.
don't get yourself lost with stacks of pages, references.
take each into notebook. stickies help