Funkacious Funk.

[Cheyenne]

a photo is not something that has profundities. it is merely a vehicle for the conveyance of life. it is to prove that i was alive that day.

Hi Jophassa, I kind of disagree with your above statement. I think that a photo can be either a vehicle for the conveyance of life as you put it but I also think that a well taken photograph can also be very profund and have just has much to say as any painting.

Your photos aren't really my taste but I think I can see what you are trying to do. To me #1 is a little hard on the eye but I do like the angle of #2 and #5

 

[LaFoto]

Well, I am struggling a bit with the OVERALL randomness of your photos, jophassa, but I am beginning to accept this as your personal style, and I feel that even in your photographing things very - bordering on "extremely" - randomly there is some development to "doing this better" to be seen, focus is better now, DOF is getting better ... To me they feel like someone lying somewhere, relaxing, and for the mere fun of doing so looking at things with one eye only "Let's just see what this looks like from up close" ... like that.

It IS different, it is not quite so much my taste, but then I admit to being old and old-fashioned in my views, I would not necessarily feel like copying it, but ... it is what YOU want to do in YOUR photography and I can accept that. And I must say I quite like the boldness of colours, short DOF and rarity of the carpet in the garden in your first pic here.

 

[jophassa]

yey. Garden Carpet. I think i should make a film. i guess i dont really appreciate pictures of animals etc. as much as other people do. landscapes are ok if they are really dramatic. a picture of a strange animal is fine also. but, for me, the most interesting pictures are those which capture a moment in a human being's life. as far as i am concerned composition is not the most important thing in a picture.

 

[PNA]

Whatever............!

 

[jophassa]

when i think about it, isnt everyone's style random?

i took a look at some of your pictures, LaFoto, and they are about as spontaneous as my pictures are. pictures of a model island. of clouds. of a beach. of a house. people on a high street. surely they are all random?

 

[PNA]

I believe there are at least 5 basic levels of photos:

• Shots that only the photographer understands and enjoys…..

• Snapshots: the backbone of photography….

• Shots that are enjoyed by most viewers…

• Professional shots to make money…

• Commercial shots for advertising….

Now, in my opinion, all of the above type photos say something to someone. And that is my point!

jophassa, did you post your photos for comments? I have offered mine, with no offense intended.

 

[jophassa]

i think i am part of the first and second. yourself?

i didnt take any offense, but i sometimes get excited with debates. i like a lively debate. no offense taken.......

 

[dmyshkin]

Asconpg: with all due respect, you sir, are misguided.

First off, the best art is created by people who make something because "they freaking feel like it, ok?". I don't believe in whiny emotional art. Art is just an expression of form, texture and color, and if it means something to someone, great, if not - who cares, it still looks PRETTY. Maybe you should go ask some abstract oil painters what the theme is in their art? Question Kandinksy and his black squares? Ask dali what the hell is wrong with him?

These shots remind me of some world-class shots I saw at the Moscow Photobiennale, and in fact, are of a specific and world-established style of composition, low angle or macro shots (sometimes combined with a cross-processed style of shooting/development popularized by one very notable rangefinder camera). The shots in question were selling for $5000 a print and were every bit as spontaneous and whimsical as these. I am also reminded of Pierre and Giles' style, who have shot a who's who of hollywood celebrities and sell for 5-15K a shot. My own black and white prints sell at galleries on the East Coast for 2-5K, so I'm no amateur, either, and once again, these are *damn good photos* amid a sea of generic crap on this site.

What did you want, some more pictures of daisies, lighthouses and boxcars? You can look here: http://www.astrocore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=25

for some of my shots that SELL, and SELL BIG. Maybe you'll be bewildered by their apparent lack of postcardness as well?

-D

 

[PNA]

Definitly 1 & 2, and I attempt to capture photos that evoke viewers opinions, good or bad. That's why I post here. I am not a pro or com potog and do not aspire to become one. Too old!

Thanks for asking.

Are you close to St. Andrews?

 

[dmyshkin]

I don't know what St. Andrews is.

If you hung 1&2 in the gallery I show at, I guarantee you they'd get bought in a heartbeat. I'd hang them in my house myself... those are awesome shots!!!

I'm not saying you're a pro, or not a pro, or whatever. What I'm saying is you should expand your horizons before bashing someone's semi-abstract style. This same sort of crap was happening more than a hundred years ago before the impressionists, cubists, etc were being taken seriously. Now, it's very valuable art. And, just like all the famous abstract painters, from looking at jophassa's previous galleries, he was an accomplished classical artist first before experimenting with cutting edge.

FYI, some great LOMO shots this post reminded me of:
http://pictures.lomography.com/pix/p070705/23758e571532a36f/UL_877095_11459657882_l.jpg
http://www.lomography.com/0001/fotos/p120505/9249fa9c5e1261e0/UL_837063_11188214825_l.jpg
http://www.lomography.com/0001/fotos/p070705/d630853ff895dadd/UL_852059_11364959552_l.jpg
http://www.lomography.com/0001/fotos/p070705/4655e565efcd8d43/UL_842705_11513239512_l.jpg
http://www.lomography.com/0001/fotos/p070705/3be6c9753d8943a7/UL_880431_11527371841_l.jpg
http://www.lomography.com/0001/fotos/p300704/cfecc4e54828a822/UL_859337_11116137062_l.jpg

(various photographers)

 

[jophassa]

wow. those a really cool. i dont know the technical terms for those pics but i do really like 1 and 3. what exactly is going on in 3?

thanks for the compliments. it is nice that someone is appreciating my 'art'. or maybe i should say art. Opus de Jop. (unless you weren't referring to my pics...)

 

[jophassa]

PS i am in edinburgh. st andrews just aint my scene...

 

[PNA]

Hang on, I've got something to say...........

 

[jophassa]

ok ok....

 

[terri]

dmyshkin: with all due respect, we don't resort to name-calling around here, or we find ourselves bounced right out the back door.

Read the FAQ's. Play nice.