word of the day

I have learnt a new word today. It is pronounced "bunting" and means dog rough or shit... The girls gave this word while playing a quick game of, 'guess the meaning'  this afternoon.  This London street slang was in response to me asking the class about a 'palimpsest'. A very grand word meaning a sign or document, written over or crossed out.

Lewis Hine

Photographer Lewis Hine, who changed the world that we know today through his pictures, is the source of great interest for one of my students. Our current brief is on portraiture and the genre that my learner is looking at is child photography. The above picture was taken less than one hundred years ago and I still find that quite shocking. Childhood is something that we now cherish as a society and understand  the link between these formative years and the adults that we become. Of course I am curious about the girl in the image who looks to be about nine. Surrounded by heavy industrial machinery the dirty shirt indicating the nature of her work. The pdf a collection of his images I found on the internet is moving and shocking. 

'While photographs may not lie, liars may photograph' Lewis Hine

Lewis Hine -  

Sold! Behind the gare St Lazare a snip @ €433,000

Henri Cartier-Bresson.

For those who love the French master and are fascinated by the mind boggling fees paid for photography this post is for you. If I were an investment banker I would certainly consider spending this kind of eye popping money on such a fine example of 'the decisive moment'. While no expert I would anticipate that this image will increase in value. I am less certain of getting the same return on Rein 11 Andreas Gursky's record breaking sum achieved early this month. If I had the choice about which one I would like to see hanging in my penthouse apartment St Lazare wins every time. 

Andreas Gursky

The Worlds Most Expensive Photographs is a run down of famous pictures sold in recent years.
I am going to check down the sofa for cash to start my collection, all donations gratefully received.

What makes a good portrait?

My learners are busy working on their portrait assignments (or they should be) so when I read Chris Floyd's  blog about a portrait session; I felt it was worth sharing. This is a great insight into the world of professional portrait photography at the highest level. The link is for a job shot in London with two British actors. The picture of Macca is one of my favorites from his archive.

Chris Floyd

"You don't take a photograph you make it," Ansel Adams

photographs for research

Nicholas Brewer

Nicholas Brewer

I have spent a couple of hours this afternoon looking through old photographs of the high street in Wimbledon. The Broadway in SW19 has four excellent ghost signs still in existence; during the early 20th century they were everywhere. The earliest photograph that I could find for the sign above was taken in 1908. 'Dining Rooms',  at least 113 years old is looking good. While the commuters of London were using trams to get around; a ghost sign adorned every other wall. Looking through the pictures today I saw one of the first photographic businesses in the area. They were trading from 1900, roughly 60 years after the birth of photography. There were pictures of the other signs I have photographed and there is more research to do. Using photography as away of piecing together a time-line for the ghost signs is a first for me and demonstrates the many uses of the medium.

Gregory Crewson

The 'Genius of Photography', the seminal six part program from the BBC is essential viewing for those wanting to increase their knowledge of photography. While watching the final episode recently Gregory Crewson was interviewed and talked about his method of working. Each image is constructed like a film set with roads closed and street lights turned off. The cost and organisation involved in such a mammoth production is mind boggling. The work has a cinematic quality rich in pools of light bringing out small details that guide the narrative.  The work is very atmospheric and reminds me of an Edward Hopper painting. Crewson's prints sell for about £70,000.

Edward Hopper

behind the gare St Lazare...a bargin at €180,000

Henri Cartier-Bresson

If you have a spare €180,000 then this rare print could be yours. Christie's are auctioning Henri Cartier-Bresson's print next month. The image was taken in 1932 and the last print was made in 1946. It is this print that is going under the hammer. I am unsure of the printer but it was unlikely to have been the great man at the enlarger. The reason that I wanted to bring this to your attention, other then the fact that I did not want to you to miss out on placing your bid, is that it is one of the few images that he cropped. HCB often printed with the black borders around the edge of the print so that the viewer knew that they were seeing the same vista as the photographer. The reason for the cropping on this occasion is due to the railing of the fence that you can see below.

Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. - Henri Cartier-Bresson

London Protesters

Nicholas Brewer

Nicholas Brewer

I have just returned from the protests outside St Paul's Cathedral in central London. The tented community is peaceful and the crowd are friendly. The above image indicates how the majority feel about the police although some of the idiots speaking were less than supportive. Occasions like this do give a voice to some who are clearly speaking from a narrow agenda and the usual misfits were well represented. One speaker in particular seemed to have a personal vendetta against Paris Hilton. While she is an easy target for those feeling resentful of the inequality of wealth it is hardly her fault that she was born into a wealthy family. While there are banners galore moaning about globalization and the oppressed masses there seemed to be a lot of protesters drinking Starbuck's coffee naturally I did not feel inclined to point out the irony of this. There were many photographers and news crews all providing Tarquin and Victoria with their fifteen minutes of fame. I am not absolutely certain there were protesters of this name but I could hear many speaking with an educated and refined English accents. Everyone in the free world has the right to protest regardless of their background. If you are going along to support them maybe you could take them some deodorant, a week is along time without the comforts of home.

Nicholas Brewer

life through a mirror

Welcome to the 40th edition.

Gary Winograd

Teaching young people does provide you with a mirror of what you were like when you were that age. It is not long before you start identifying your friends in this new found looking glass. The group is a mixture of hormones, shyness and the cocky swagger of youth.  There is not an exact copy of your friends just characteristics or similarities that may remind you of your nearest and dearest. The photomontages made from old magazines that they produced this week were funny, irreverent and sensitive. As they leant a new skill and had an enjoyable experience it all went well. Naturally teaching is not just about having a good time but if this is included in a lesson then it helps to keep learners motivated and more likely to return. The arrogance of the young can help them to take risks and next time you see a boy racer you will be reminded of this.  You may recall that being aged between 16- 19 blessed you with the ability to think that you were 10 meters tall and bullet proof. Here is the balance that a lecturer is looking to maintain. Risk taking in a safe environment is a positive thing and is actively encouraged. A measured response to risks and the ability to understand what worked well and what needs improving. It reminded me that I need to come out of my comfort zone and make opportunities professionally and personally to accomplish my aims. The uncertainty of it all does make the heart bit a little faster and risk taking lets you know that you are alive.

I am currently reading 'dialogue with photography' by Paul Hill and Thomas Cooper. A great read of interviews conducted with legendary photographers like Paul Strand that describe his meetings with Alfred Stieglitz. For all of those who like to read and want to brush up on your photography history this is recommended.

Paul Strand

I think of myself as an explorer who has spent his life on a long voyage of discovery. - Paul Strand - From Aperture article on Paul Strand.