GARRY WINOGRAND: "Photos have no narrative content. They only describe light on surface."
PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNAL: Of course Gary Winogrand's photographs look nothing like this, but his statement above strongly suggests a photography of abstraction. How to resolve the quotes accompanying the last three TODAY'S? Should the photographer aim for Evans' "what else they are," or only, "light on surface," or, as Eric Lindbloom suggests, will metaphor always slip through the smallest apertures? Should photographers cultivate an aesthetic philosophy, stake out a position with this camp or that, or is it better just to follow the heady brew as it delights my lens?
I know some who follow this blog will throw up their hands in exasperation at this image. I hope others will enter the space of the image, move with the curves, reserve judgement, and be surprised to learn it is a simple thing, nothing more than a reflection in a red car along a street in Lunenburg. André chose to publish it in our workshop highlights book along side yesterday's image, and I thought they belonged together.
Whatever your ultimate opinion, I'm especially eager to hear reactions to this one.
2 comments:
I'm almost sorry you told us what this was! It's hard for me to erase "Big Red" - M's first car- from my head. Perhaps I would have enjoyed the mystery and the abstract, but alas, you gave away the punch line.
Yes, I know. I considered whetehr to say anything about what it was. Usually I resist, but this time it seemed to serve my intent to let Toyota out of the bag.
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