Comments on: To BW or not to BW? http://artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html a multi-disciplinary dialog Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:30:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Karl Zipser http://artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6694 Karl Zipser Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:01:55 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6694 <em>I think asking this question too soon in the process can bring everything screeching to a halt.</em> David, Absolutely, I agree. Let me try to phrase it a different way. What I try to do with my work is ask myself, do I feel I am trying to discover something, or am I just trying to cover space and pass the time? If the former, I attempt to trust in the artistic process itself and not interfere with thinking or doubting when I am away from the easel. So why should I ask of Steve a question I avoid asking myself? Shrug. I think he gave the right answer. Steve, You should rig up a stereo viewer with a prism. Stereo photography used to be a big thing, but I have never seen it explored for its artistic possibilities (outside of the visual science laboratory). I made a major discover about stereo and art. One day I will have to share it. I think asking this question too soon in the process can bring everything screeching to a halt.

David,

Absolutely, I agree. Let me try to phrase it a different way. What I try to do with my work is ask myself, do I feel I am trying to discover something, or am I just trying to cover space and pass the time? If the former, I attempt to trust in the artistic process itself and not interfere with thinking or doubting when I am away from the easel. So why should I ask of Steve a question I avoid asking myself? Shrug. I think he gave the right answer.

Steve,

You should rig up a stereo viewer with a prism. Stereo photography used to be a big thing, but I have never seen it explored for its artistic possibilities (outside of the visual science laboratory). I made a major discover about stereo and art. One day I will have to share it.

]]> By: David http://artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6675 David Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:06:08 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6675 <i>Your question is a good one: what am I trying to say? The answer is, I don’t know.</i> I think asking this question too soon in the process can bring everything screeching to a halt. I'd recommend "what am I exploring here?", or better yet, "what is it that is engaging my curiosity here?" Your question is a good one: what am I trying to say? The answer is, I don’t know.

I think asking this question too soon in the process can bring everything screeching to a halt. I’d recommend “what am I exploring here?”, or better yet, “what is it that is engaging my curiosity here?”

]]> By: Steve Durbin http://artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6672 Steve Durbin Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:19:56 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6672 Leslie, Our comments crossed, but I see you were thinking along the same lines. Except I would say frustration is too strong, it's just that I'm not settled yet, but that's OK. I'm hoping for your outcomes 1, 2, and 3, but there will probably be a bit of 4 along the way. Leslie,
Our comments crossed, but I see you were thinking along the same lines. Except I would say frustration is too strong, it’s just that I’m not settled yet, but that’s OK. I’m hoping for your outcomes 1, 2, and 3, but there will probably be a bit of 4 along the way.

]]> By: Steve Durbin http://artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6671 Steve Durbin Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:16:10 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6671 Birgit, I can't see what you see in these, and I think I'm glad of that, especially about the second. But the fascinating thing to me about these abstracts is that every viewer has his or her own associations that are at least as important to their reaction as what is "really" there. Please give your imagination free rein! Karl, I tried the cross-eyed stereo viewing to very interesting effect. I'll have to play more with that. Your question is a good one: what am I trying to say? The answer is, I don't know. At the moment I'm purely following my intuition as to what seems interesting, and trying to learn how I (and others) respond to various aspects of the images. If this project follows the typical pattern, I''ll eventually develop a sense of what I really want to accomplish with it. At that point I may go back and re-work earlier images, or go out and make new ones with my new eyes. David, I don't know if I'm that adventurous. It will be interesting to try, but I guess one of the constraints I've set myself for now is to work within more or less conventional photographic techniques, in particular working with one image at a time. Even so, your ideas are good ones to try because I may either A) get some ideas for more conventional manipulations, or B) fall in love with the result and throw away the conventions. Mark, The oriental impression you remark on is one I welcome. In addition to the contribution Birgit notes, I think of Japanese wood block prints as characterized by relatively large fields of relatively flat color, and also having some linear or calligraphic qualities I am always attracted to willy-nilly. It's interesting that your abstract paintings with their created surfaces still refer to discernable real things. My images are of real surfaces, albeit altered up or down in color saturation, but the "abstract" shapes and lines don't refer to anything real at all. In both it's the interplay of reality and abstraction that can be powerful. Birgit,
I can’t see what you see in these, and I think I’m glad of that, especially about the second. But the fascinating thing to me about these abstracts is that every viewer has his or her own associations that are at least as important to their reaction as what is “really” there. Please give your imagination free rein!

Karl,
I tried the cross-eyed stereo viewing to very interesting effect. I’ll have to play more with that.

Your question is a good one: what am I trying to say? The answer is, I don’t know. At the moment I’m purely following my intuition as to what seems interesting, and trying to learn how I (and others) respond to various aspects of the images. If this project follows the typical pattern, I”ll eventually develop a sense of what I really want to accomplish with it. At that point I may go back and re-work earlier images, or go out and make new ones with my new eyes.

David,
I don’t know if I’m that adventurous. It will be interesting to try, but I guess one of the constraints I’ve set myself for now is to work within more or less conventional photographic techniques, in particular working with one image at a time. Even so, your ideas are good ones to try because I may either A) get some ideas for more conventional manipulations, or B) fall in love with the result and throw away the conventions.

Mark,
The oriental impression you remark on is one I welcome. In addition to the contribution Birgit notes, I think of Japanese wood block prints as characterized by relatively large fields of relatively flat color, and also having some linear or calligraphic qualities I am always attracted to willy-nilly.

It’s interesting that your abstract paintings with their created surfaces still refer to discernable real things. My images are of real surfaces, albeit altered up or down in color saturation, but the “abstract” shapes and lines don’t refer to anything real at all. In both it’s the interplay of reality and abstraction that can be powerful.

]]> By: Leslie http://artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6668 Leslie Tue, 20 Feb 2007 23:25:09 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6668 Steve, I am a lover of color and so it takes a lot for me to prefer black and white, if given a choice. However, I find it extremely hard to choose between the two in this series (and why do you think it has to be either /or?). Both are compelling. THe black and white are more graphic, by that I mean, they seem like more careful designs. Whereas the colored ones seem more free form, "accidental" or found, rather than the intervention by you the photographer being apparent. So I echo Karl's question - what do you hope to achieve with this body of work? You may not know yet, so it may be hard to answer that. I am not sure where the source of your frustration is and that would help in giving you feedback. I agree with your last comment - for me clarity often comes in the making and reflecting back on the image, rather than trying to figure it out ahead of time. just make more and and one of the following will happen: 1.the direction will become apparent, 2. you will be more satisfied with them, 3. you create a beautiful new series about which you feel proud, 4. you become totally sick of them and frustrated and chuck them to the side. Any are possible. My vote is the beautiful series and it seems to me you are on your way! Steve,
I am a lover of color and so it takes a lot for me to prefer black and white, if given a choice. However, I find it extremely hard to choose between the two in this series (and why do you think it has to be either /or?). Both are compelling. THe black and white are more graphic, by that I mean, they seem like more careful designs. Whereas the colored ones seem more free form, “accidental” or found, rather than the intervention by you the photographer being apparent.

So I echo Karl’s question - what do you hope to achieve with this body of work? You may not know yet, so it may be hard to answer that. I am not sure where the source of your frustration is and that would help in giving you feedback. I agree with your last comment - for me clarity often comes in the making and reflecting back on the image, rather than trying to figure it out ahead of time. just make more and and one of the following will happen:
1.the direction will become apparent,
2. you will be more satisfied with them,
3. you create a beautiful new series about which you feel proud,
4. you become totally sick of them and frustrated and chuck them to the side.

Any are possible. My vote is the beautiful series and it seems to me you are on your way!

]]> By: birgit http://artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6661 birgit Tue, 20 Feb 2007 22:28:03 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6661 There is a delicacy that may convey the 'oriental' impresssion. There is a delicacy that may convey the ‘oriental’ impresssion.

]]> By: Mark Illingworth http://artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6660 Mark Illingworth Tue, 20 Feb 2007 22:24:16 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/to-bw-or-not-to-bw.html#comment-6660 Steve I'm pleased that my work inspired you "to a flurry of work" and your mention of "freedom and playfulness" would suggest a light and happy mind at the time of the work - I think both can be superb friends to creativity. I sense an oriental feel to the new work, and I can't put my finger on why, but the images all make me smile. The images on your site from top to bottom take me through a journey as if from one world to another - from an audio point of view I am taken to a music world of UNKLE. http://www.discogs.com/artist/UNKLE (this has links to UNKLE sites too) Steve

I’m pleased that my work inspired you “to a flurry of work” and your mention of “freedom and playfulness” would suggest a light and happy mind at the time of the work - I think both can be superb friends to creativity.

I sense an oriental feel to the new work, and I can’t put my finger on why, but the images all make me smile.

The images on your site from top to bottom take me through a journey as if from one world to another - from an audio point of view I am taken to a music world of UNKLE.

http://www.discogs.com/artist/UNKLE
(this has links to UNKLE sites too)

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