Monday, December 31, 2007
Gordon Willis
One of my favorite movies is The Godfather. I love the whole look of the movie. It's warm, dark, and moody. Gordon Willis was the cinematographer and discusses the look of the film in the video below.The title link will give you more info.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Ralph Gibson
I don't know much about Ralph Gibson but I like a lot of the things he says in the video below.
Title link takes you to more of his work.
Title link takes you to more of his work.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Jim Marshall
I'm on a rock photographer jag at the moment.
Jim Marshall shot just about every musician of the sixties, seventies and beyond. If you click on the title link you can listen to a NPR interview from 2004 where he talks about how he works. Jim talks about the access he had back in the day and the time before media management.
Jim Marshall shot just about every musician of the sixties, seventies and beyond. If you click on the title link you can listen to a NPR interview from 2004 where he talks about how he works. Jim talks about the access he had back in the day and the time before media management.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Karl Ferris
Karl Ferris shot some of the most iconic images of the sixties. He photographed Hendrix, Cream, The Beatles, and Donovan.
Check out the video below, very cool stuff.
Check out the video below, very cool stuff.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Johnny Cash
I heard the Johnny Cash version of "Hurt" today and it reminded me of several things.
It's never to late to reinvent yourself and the power of imagery can make you hear things differently. I would wager that most people never paid real close attention to the lyrics of this song until they saw the video. Mark Romanek was the director and did a great job of intertwining archival footage with new imagery. If you click on the title link you can read more about the making of the video.
It's never to late to reinvent yourself and the power of imagery can make you hear things differently. I would wager that most people never paid real close attention to the lyrics of this song until they saw the video. Mark Romanek was the director and did a great job of intertwining archival footage with new imagery. If you click on the title link you can read more about the making of the video.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Week One
It has been one week since I started this blog. Like most of my projects, I start with an idea and then I start to refine it. There are things I will change in the coming weeks. I read just about every photo blog that I can find so I'm fairly familiar with what people are doing.The information that people share is unbelievable and inspiring. We even got a shout out on the first day from Whats the Jackanory? and that's like blog royalty.
I don't post a lot about photography because I think the other bloggers cover most of the issues.I'm more interested in the process of how creative people think and how they arrive at certain thoughts and ideas. I use a lot of youtube videos to get across some of my thoughts, there is usually a sequence of visuals or one or two lines in the videos that have meaning to me. Sometimes they just make me laugh.
It is just about impossible to discuss inspiration without sounding like a prick in a beret and turtleneck. I get that some of my references cause eyes to roll and that's cool with me, what inspires me may not mean anything to you. Part of the reason I have kept myself anonymous is so you don't have a preconceived idea of the work I do and you just look at what I post, after all it is called Pretentious Corner.
I don't post a lot about photography because I think the other bloggers cover most of the issues.I'm more interested in the process of how creative people think and how they arrive at certain thoughts and ideas. I use a lot of youtube videos to get across some of my thoughts, there is usually a sequence of visuals or one or two lines in the videos that have meaning to me. Sometimes they just make me laugh.
It is just about impossible to discuss inspiration without sounding like a prick in a beret and turtleneck. I get that some of my references cause eyes to roll and that's cool with me, what inspires me may not mean anything to you. Part of the reason I have kept myself anonymous is so you don't have a preconceived idea of the work I do and you just look at what I post, after all it is called Pretentious Corner.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Chuck Close
If you click on the title link you will see a pretty cool piece on how Chuck Close works.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Guy Maddin
He's been around for a while. Check him out.
Flashbacks, cheap cameras,vignettes,grainy film and Darren McGavin.
Click on the title link for more info.
Flashbacks, cheap cameras,vignettes,grainy film and Darren McGavin.
Click on the title link for more info.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Horace Bristol
In 1937 photographer Horace Bristol pitched an idea to Life magazine about a story on migrant farm workers with John Steinbeck writing the text. The magazine passed on the idea but the two agreed to collaborate on a book project. After working several weeks Steinbeck left the project to write the novel The Grapes of Wrath. Bristol's images were used by Life when they did a story about the novel. The images were also used to help cast and provide the look of the 1940 movie version starring Henry Fonda. Click on the title link to read more and see some of the photos.
Music
Another way to expand your mind is through music, all styles. The best musicians are free of all thought when then play.They feel it out, get in the zone and go. They know there are only twelve notes to choose from and it's their job to mix them up anyway they can.
I often try this when I start a new project, free my mind of my style and what others are doing and just create. At the end of the day I'm looking to see if I've learned anything new. Once you are in the rhythm and momentum kicks in it carries you to the end result. Just like music.
A great example of free thinking is slide guitarist Derek Trucks. He incorporates many styles of music into his own.When he plays he is almost emotionless but what comes through his hands is what he's feeling. If we could all tap into our own creativity that way.
I will post two videos of him. The first will be with The Allman Brothers Band which he is a part of and the second will be him playing with Eric Clapton. Clapton doesn't have him up there because he's a great guitar player, he has him there because he inspires the shit out of him. Even the most celebrated need motivation. If you like his playing go to the iTunes store and search for The Derek Trucks Band.
I hope the blog is living up to it's name.
I often try this when I start a new project, free my mind of my style and what others are doing and just create. At the end of the day I'm looking to see if I've learned anything new. Once you are in the rhythm and momentum kicks in it carries you to the end result. Just like music.
A great example of free thinking is slide guitarist Derek Trucks. He incorporates many styles of music into his own.When he plays he is almost emotionless but what comes through his hands is what he's feeling. If we could all tap into our own creativity that way.
I will post two videos of him. The first will be with The Allman Brothers Band which he is a part of and the second will be him playing with Eric Clapton. Clapton doesn't have him up there because he's a great guitar player, he has him there because he inspires the shit out of him. Even the most celebrated need motivation. If you like his playing go to the iTunes store and search for The Derek Trucks Band.
I hope the blog is living up to it's name.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Welcome
Welcome to my new pretentious blog, everyone has one so why not me? I 'm a commercial photographer but this blog will not just deal with photography.You may or may not see some of my work here, this blog is not part of my marketing campaign.The first several post are going to deal with people who influence me. You can't see their influence in my work but it gets my mind moving forward.
Movies play a big role in getting me to think about my own work. What's more pretentious than foreign films?
Jean-Pierre Jeunet is the director I'll be talking about today. his films include Delicatessen, Amelie, A Very Long Engagement.
He has a background in animation which comes through in all the visuals of his movies. He uses very heavy colors primarily reds,greens and sepia tones. Jean-Pierre is heavily influnced by painter Juarez Machado. You will see the similar color schemes.
He tends to use the same crew and actors in his movies. All three of the films I mentioned have a very consistent look and feel about them. These movies were made over a thirteen year period.
Movies play a big role in getting me to think about my own work. What's more pretentious than foreign films?
Jean-Pierre Jeunet is the director I'll be talking about today. his films include Delicatessen, Amelie, A Very Long Engagement.
He has a background in animation which comes through in all the visuals of his movies. He uses very heavy colors primarily reds,greens and sepia tones. Jean-Pierre is heavily influnced by painter Juarez Machado. You will see the similar color schemes.
He tends to use the same crew and actors in his movies. All three of the films I mentioned have a very consistent look and feel about them. These movies were made over a thirteen year period.
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