Henk Thijs via Blurb
I have in hand Henk Thijs's "Photography: from gum to inkjet", more or less 34 pages, some of the scenes already seen by website, but different anyway seen on paper in format of one image + caption per page that you actually, physically turn -- with thumb and finger on paper -- a different and possibly more real/profound experience (despite my fondness for art "on the monitor"). Someday some great parser of photography & its experiences will parse the differences between art-on-the-monitor and on-the-page, .... but that's not this e-mail... This is to ask Henk a question -- the answer to which I figure could be of general interest so I ask "on list"... I've commented before that I find Henk's scenes of what around here we call "street life" especially compelling (my favorite here, BTW, is "Lucca," 2009, & its distinguished-looking grey-haired fella at the outdoor cafe). But what I want to know is how Henk shoots these folks unawares. Hidden camera? Long lens? Disguise with a portable telephone booth? I've done a lot of street shooting with various stratagems, but always with small camera I can more or less invisibly "click," & generally with a crowd to melt into.... These have the look (at least to this non-large-format photographer) of large-format. Maybe Europeans are so blase about tourists with cameras they don't notice? Or??? (I think at one point I knew this format, but may have repressed it.) My other question is about the cover image, "Max" (tricolor gum). If I remember correctly that's... a grandchild? (Exquisite head in solemn soulful portrait.) What I want to know, Henk, is how did you figure the cropping -- in that black surround. Did it just "happen," did you try other ways, or...? (And what did you promise or threaten the kid to get that look?) I could go on, but restrain myself, except "good for you" (also whatever it is calls itself "Blurb"). PS. Where is Marrakech? I know it's not in New York. (We call that Mamaroneck & I used to live there -- heh heh). Judy
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