Ruth Bernhard died

[Jazz]

Ruth Bernhard died recently. I’m a fan of her fearless spiritual power, as well as her incredible photographs, so I have been thinking about her this week. Here’s an excerpt from Ruth Bernhard, The Eternal Body,
"When a creative moment happened to her, she said she didn't have any choice,'' he recalled. "She said she was 'obedient to the light, from early morning till late at night.' ''

Digital capture is fast and easy, especially versus large format photography with sheet film. So why do I sometimes go an entire week without capturing an image? Instead of being “obedient to the light” as she was, I think I’m “obedient to the computer”. And I don’t like it, at least not every day. In 2007 I will resolve to shoot more sheet film, to slow down.

(then I’ll scan it )


If you want to learn about an interesting photographer and person, check out this lady’s life and work. She was an extraordinary photographer of the nude, an especially difficult subject. Looking at photographs like Perspective II, 1967 or In the Box Horizontal, 1962, I like to imagine how photos like those come about, and how different they look than what we see nowadays. Here’s just one of many links available. (NUDITY)

http://www.womeninphotography.org/ruthbernhardAA.html

(Note: a computer monitor can’t do justice to her images. The book I have is called Ruth Bernhard - The Eternal Body, published by Chronicle Books and it is excellent, beautifully printed.)

 

[craig]

Her work will forever have a presence in photography. Digi is not fast or easy for me. You should look at the computer as a digital darkroom and have fun with it. If you are scanning your sheet film you may be missing the point.

 

[Jazz]

If you are scanning your sheet film you may be missing the point.

Well, it was pretty much just a joke line (see the laughing little guys?) But I guess I need to get funnier. Anyway, thanks for your comment Craig.