Himalayas - Page 2

kokoshawnuff · 08-16-2012

I was a bit jealous and annoyed that a photographer would have the opportunity to visit those places and choose to use an iPhone. But knowing that he's been there photographing for a long period makes me more indifferent than annoyed. I don't like the style, but as a pro sometimes you have to do something very different or counterintuitive to get published, and doing an assignment in the Himalayas with an iPhone is quite unique (?and brave?)

emraphoto · 08-16-2012

firstly, Tom is a great chap and excellent photographer.

i am going to both agree with the Roger Hicks camp and disagree (a bit). there is something about the way modern photography takes on a 'look' and then rarely strays out of it that bugs me. the square format, environmental portraiture where the subject was 1/3 (or less) of the frame and looking like a deer in the headlights thing ran to the point of sheer madness. i like Alec Soth but we don't need an Alec Soth era. the hipstamatic thing can be fun. i enjoy it at times. it has to be said though, that we are rooking ourselves (professional photojournalists) when we are embracing the elimination of the skill thing so willingly.

now on the other hand... this iPhone/hipstamatic/whatever thing is a visual narrative prevalent in our world. to explore and engage it seems quite 'artistic' (ugh) to me. to ignore it would seem overwhelmingly odd. restraint obviously has a role to play here.

who really knows what Tom was all about when he produced this work. maybe he felt like it was all a dream, which would fit with the images. how about i ask him and get back to you all?

semordnilap · 08-16-2012

I'm sure he didn't just bring his iphone all the way to Upper Mustang

I've got no problem with the look when it's done well, but I don't care much for these... A couple of them I'd actually like better if they hadn't been cropped square. I do like his other work at the link.

Peter_wrote: · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

I never realized before quite how much I dislike this sort of look. For me, the photography gets in the way of the subject matter.

what's with using grainy bw-film then..? quite a strong effect too. does photography get in the way of the subject matter there, too?

all in all i like the shown pictures. they are all well framed. i'm not sure about the processing now, but i think it's ok for me. not my prefered stile, but for sure it's unfair to blame the photographer to be a wanna-be, who wants to hide that fact by using hipstamatic.

personally i like it, when photographs somehow defamiliarize reality. they give you some possibility to take a step back and have room for your own thoughts than these hyper realistic clean pictures, which clash somehow right into your face.
and they are somehow more honest. "photography gets in the way of the subject matter", so they clearly show "i am a photography" and not "i am reality".

funkydog · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokoshawnuff

.. doing an assignment in the Himalayas with an iPhone is quite unique (?and brave?)

Whatever weight the 'tog saved bringing an iPhone instead of regular cameras is negated by the load of external clap-on backup batteries he'd have needed for the battery hungry iPhone. There'd be nowhere to charge batteries in the middle of nowhere unless he was hoping to leech off someone's truck batteries. I don't believe that solar battery charger technology has gotten to the point where the battery charges faster than the time it takes to drain it.

emraphoto · 08-16-2012

so, i sent Tom a few questions. maybe getting his take on things would be an interesting addition to the discussion. maybe his gear bag was stolen by some corrupt border police? not such a far fetched explanation really.

either way, Tom is far from a 'wanna-be'.

MartinP · 08-16-2012

I don't care what format or effects a photographer uses, but I really don't think image-damaging special-effects should be chosen for use on a 'real' news website to show the rapid changes being forced on a society. I complained strongly, via the website contact-form, about what I feel is the inappropriate editorial choice made in selecting these specific pictures for that specific story. There would be nothing wrong with the images in another context - say a chocolate box or something like that.

funkydog · 08-16-2012

Non hipster look at the Himalayas.
http://drjosephrock.blogspot.co.uk/

emraphoto · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkydog

Non hipster look at the Himalayas
http://drjosephrock.blogspot.co.uk/

man, those were some cool 'filters' on some of those shots

Sparrow · 08-16-2012

Personally I would be more impressed if these folk pointed their phones at the occupying Chinese army or the enforced modernisation of what was a few years back one of the few mysterious places on earth ... a bit like they did in Spain in the 1930's or Indo-China in the 60's ... but then I'm probably getting bored and cynical about "cool stuff" in my dotage

emraphoto · 08-16-2012

Stewart, i just want to look at the place, not actually care about what is happening there. sheesh.

Sparrow · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by emraphoto

Stewart, i just want to look at the place, not actually care about what is happening there. sheesh.

I was clearly not referring to your work, which is exemplary, but as I say personally I think "what is happening" is of greater interest, sorry

semordnilap · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkydog

Non hipster look at the Himalayas.
http://drjosephrock.blogspot.co.uk/

This is great!

nobbylon · 08-16-2012

a few I did when I was there,

http://www.johnwhitfieldphoto.com/album/himalaya#ps-gal

emraphoto · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I was clearly not referring to your work, which is exemplary, but as I say personally I think "what is happening" is of greater interest, sorry

i was just poking fun

stompyq · 08-16-2012

I really don't mind the look. Just looks like cross processed film in the digital age. Seems like i'am the minority here.

Roger Hicks · 08-16-2012

Perhaps the problem is that it's so passé. Anyone else remember the Bonzo's track:

Jazz: Delicious hot. Disgusting cold.

Cheers,

R.

RObert Budding · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Seems like there is a lot of hate here towards fellow photographers.

We live in a society that heaps too much praise upon modest achievement, particularly when children are involved. So when you see an honest critique you interpret it as hate. No, some of us quite honestly do not like the photos. Simple as that.

Roger Hicks · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by RObert Budding

We live in a society that heaps too much praise upon modest achievement, particularly when children are involved. So when you see an honest critique you interpret it as hate. No, some of us quite honestly do not like the photos. Simple as that.

Beautifully put!

Cheers,

R.

RObert Budding · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Beautifully put!

Cheers,

R.

I have two teenage sons, so I've seen a lot of overenthusiastic parents. My own kids do receive praise, too, but only when they've earned it. Call me old fashioned if you like.

Roger Hicks · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by stompyq

. . . Just looks like cross processed film in the digital age. . .

Exactly. Fake, fake, fake.

Digitally, you can fake just about any photographic process if you want to, though admittedly, Daguerreotypes are difficult. Cross processing of film was an interesting idea when it first appeared. Then it became dull, unimaginative and derivative. Then we got bad, digital imitations of dull, unimaginative, derivative film technique...

Most of the artists I know care quite a lot about the media that they use, and about remaining faithful to their chosen medium. To me, this style is about equivalent to printing on canvas-textured inkjet paper and then covering the print with fake brush-strokes in a clear medium.

Then you get people who can't separate 'hate fellow photographers' from 'dislike this technique intensely, especially when badly executed'...

Anyone do HDR Holga? I've seen more HDR that I like than this sort of stuff. As I say, no-one is obliged to like everything. To those who want to hop on any given bandwagon, I say, "Good luck."

Cheers,

R.

Phantomas · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Exactly. Fake, fake, fake.

Digitally, you can fake just about any photographic process if you want to, though admittedly, Daguerreotypes are difficult. Cross processing of film was an interesting idea when it first appeared. Then it became dull, unimaginative and derivative. Then we got bad, digital imitations of dull, unimaginative, derivative film technique...

Most of the artists I know care quite a lot about the media that they use, and about remaining faithful to their chosen medium. To me, this style is about equivalent to printing on canvas-textured inkjet paper and then covering the print with fake brush-strokes in a clear medium.

Then you get people who can't separate 'hate fellow photographers' from 'dislike this technique intensely, especially when badly executed'...

Anyone do HDR Holga? I've seen more HDR that I like than this sort of stuff. As I say, no-one is obliged to like everything. To those who want to hop on any given bandwagon, I say, "Good luck."

Cheers,

R.

Photographic equivalent of Jehovah witness knocking on my door sunday morning. Git! Git!

daveleo · 08-16-2012

Okay. Some people like the pictures, some don't.
What did anyone expect ?

What's next on the agenda? A poll ?

Roger Hicks · 08-16-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Hudson

Quite, but why in all seriousness did you start a thread like this?
Just to announce your pet peeve of the moment?

In all seriousness, why did you reply?

I wanted to see how others felt about it, and also to help clarify my own feelings about why I disliked it so much.

Interacting with other people is a good way to clarify one's own thoughts. The alternative, after all, is self-satisfied solipsism.

Cheers,

R.

skibeerr · 08-16-2012

I am in love with North India and Nepal, went there only three times for trekkings but if money and a crooked knee permit I will go back.

This series on Flickr shows my first steps in Photography with a Pentax 70 slr with kit lens and no knowledge of vignetting ;-)

I wish I had half the talent and the Hipsta / I phone at that time, the effect would not have bothered me

Just under the top of the Mera Peak with a Pentax all weather digi point and shoot.

[IMG]

IMGP0148 by wim_b, on Flickr[/IMG]