Mani Sitaraman
(K=312) - Comment Date 5/14/2001
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Sincere apologies for the bad HTML :-(
The Decline of Fashion Photography
Link is
http://slate.msn.com/Code/CultureBox/010510_fashion-slide-show/01.htm
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james warden
(K=288) - Comment Date 5/15/2001
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hmmm . . . from your link, i got through only 3 of 28 clicks. i apologize, but i need some kind of digest version cuz 28 clicks is a tax i'm not willing to pay, i just saw a horst exhibit and it was lame in the same way. especially the horst photo where there are three or four ladies lookin' at a miniature dude through magnifying glasses. mani, i'm only commenting because i happened to see this exhibit by horst. why are you into this? walk away bro, don't drown in quicksand and blame the bog.
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Chris_Yeager
(K=131) - Comment Date 5/15/2001
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Thanks, I very much enjoyed that survey-
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Bill Angel
(K=90) - Comment Date 5/15/2001
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Some of the comments the author of "The Decline of Fashion Photography", Karen Lehrman, makes are puzzling. For example, for image 25 (of 28) she remarks:
"? many fashion photographers today aren?t even photographers first. Immediately prior to achieving his status of celebrity photographer, Mario Testino was a waiter."
If someone were a waiter in a trendy restaurant, I should expect that their exposure to, and interaction with, celebrities, would be a valid apprenticeship for other positions in the celebrity/fashion business, especially positions that do not require extensive technical knowledge. Let's face it, you can now take good pictures, even under unusual lighting conditions, without even knowing how to focus a camera, let alone determining the correct exposure.
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Jeff Spirer
(K=1973) - Comment Date 5/15/2001
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These days, at least in the US, being a waiter is usually a way to make money while becoming something else. I wonder if he was a professional waiter or if he was a photographer at the time but not published.
There's a joke that's been around years. An actor calls his best friend and says, "Hey, I just got a great job." His friend asks, "At what restaurant?"
I have much bigger problems with the content of the essay, which I posted at photo.net where Mani referenced the same article.
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mark lindsey
(K=1720) - Comment Date 5/15/2001
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its not easy to shoot fashion because of advanced equipment. its "easy" to shoot because so much crap is accepted as great photography mostly because of who shot the picture.
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Mike Dixon
(K=473) - Comment Date 5/16/2001
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I enjoyed looking at the photos, but the text wasn't particularly thought provoking. While the article was subtitled "An Argument in Pictures," it was really nothing more than a statement of the writer's position. Simply dismissing or belittling any perspective that you don't share is hardly an argument. . .
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blake
(K=470) - Comment Date 5/16/2001
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If photographers and editors really cared about the role of women in society, they would use models above the age of 20, who look like they could complete a sentence.
The writer's position as "provocateur" is laughable at best; as illustrated by the above arguments. She claims that people involved in fashion in the past cared about art and photography, whereas people today are superficial...yet she, herself, can't reist the temptation to make broad generalizations and fling insults. Essentially, the author bases her arguments on the comparison "cream of the crop" of fashion photography's past as recognized by Moma versus just about anyone and everyone working today...a ludicrous comparison because there is probably TONS of shitty photography from the age of Steichen that has been forgotten.
Weak argument. Flawed conclusion.
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Struan Gray
(K=1802) - Comment Date 5/17/2001
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I too disparaged the 'essay' in the (now disappeared) thread on photo.net. After looking at the presentation again - the pictures are nice after all - I haven't changed my mind, but think some credit should be given for the article's pointing out that there is some fantastic work being done in fashion *illustration*.
Probably get lynched for saying it here though......
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james warden
(K=288) - Comment Date 5/21/2001
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well i went back and made it through the whole 28 clicks. i agree with struan and like that illustration. i saw a film once of some designer doing one of the drawings and it was done with a real flair and done very quickly. the colors were great and the figure had a flow and easy energy that was really appealing. but i also remember being dismayed at the actual dress which was the final result.
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