U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | RE: problem

RE: problem



Hi y'all!  Jumping in late once again!
	I have worked as curator, conservator and printer on two collections
of negatives of Barbados; one with negs made 1880-1937 (all glass plates)
and the other 1934-1977, about a century of photographs of Barbados.  Yes, a
large amount of the photos were functional in original intent.  However,
many were amazing if only for their clear depiction of life on this small
island over the period of a century.  And a few from each collection were
photographic art.  
	Please never forget, every photo, regardless of its original
intention, is an historical document.  Please keep your negatives safely
stored.  Don't use false modesty and say, "Well, who would want these,
anyhow?  My ego isn't that big".  Bull!  You may not be as good a judge of
the historical, sociological or even artistic value of your work as someone
50 to 100 years from now.  If you "got de stones" let posterity, NOT your
posterior, be the judge!
		CHEERS!
			BOB
	 

-----Original Message-----
From: zphoto@montana.net [mailto:zphoto@montana.net] 
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 4:27 PM
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Subject: Re: problem



Mark said:
>The proof sheets and digital files are an interesting
>record of what has  captured my eye over the years.   I
>also find it interesting to note that upon  viewing old
>contact sheets, I may find that images I ignored at the
>time are far  more interesting to me now than the ones I
>originally chose.   It's  fascinating to see how some
>aspects of our work changes over time and other aspects
>seem  to remain the same.

OK FINE I'll post one more time just to be annoying but I'll
share my "creative" idea I did this week:  first I went
through all the photos as I said and then culled the 1000
into one file called CURRENT.  Then I looked at each
individual image and just quickly labeled it
something--maybe one was "old stuff" or one was "vacant" or
one was "angst". So I made some folders that corrresponded
to what "themes" were continually appearing in my work.  As
I went through each image, I "tossed" it into one of the
folders. The ones I didn't know where they belonged I tossed
into a "don't know yet" folder.  THEN the fun began.  I went
through each folder, got a count of how many images were in
each.  A "beauty" folder was paltry so I looked at the
images in and decided what other folders they could be put
into.  My folders were not "old barns" or "sunsets" but
concepts, btw.  Then, after all this sorting, I had 4
possible exhibitions and one had the most images in it and
voila--my "show of choice".  Of course now I have to make
the gum prints!

 But better yet was that I found that all my images fit into
a very narrow range of interest and it helped me realize
what my work is all about. As well as gave me the (false)
sense of security that I was organized and in control.  So
while y'all are bipolar, I can be OCD.
Chris

Assistant Professor of Photography
Photography Option Coordinator
Montana State University
College of Arts and Architecture
Department of Media and Theatre Arts, Room 220
P.O. Box 173350
Bozeman, MT 59717-3350
Tel (406) 994 6219
CZAphotography.com


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