Will there ever be any more 'Old Masters'?

Consulo (e2 Member)

7

10 Sep 2005 - 10:51 AM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

I know that might be the wrong term to use, as these were the heavyweights that really established photography as an artform, but maybe you'll see what I'm driving at as I go on.

I was just looking through some Cartier-Bresson's and Bill Brandt's work recently, and I was thinking; will we ever see photography this good again?

I know that there is plenty of excellent photography being produced today, and there always will be, but it principally in the context of their times of being alive I was thinking of.

As the modern world has moved on, we've beome more and more homogenised, with much of the 'civilised' world becoming, in many regards, the same when it comes to styles etc.

Back in the day, I think that the style of people's clothing, the architecture, the way of life, all fantastically suited the medium of photography, especially B&W. Styles of clothing, city layouts, architecture...they all seemed to have moved on in a way now that I think don't lend themselves so well to such iconic types of imagery.

Will future generations ever look back on on bodies of work from todays photographers with the same reverance?

Agree, or am I talking tosh?

ejtumman (e2 Member)

7

10 Sep 2005 - 10:58 AM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

How about this for a potential "Old Master"....

ParkeHarrison

Very different and, I personally think, very good. In fact, so good, I've bought the book!!!

Emma ;o)

keithh

8

10 Sep 2005 - 11:36 AM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

I love the ParkHarrison stuff ever since Emma pointed out to me......not to be judged as photography though...well not all of it.

and in 100 years time people will be running around with their cameras of whatever format wishing those quaint cars of the 20thC were around as the new stuff spoils the scenery.

strawman

8

10 Sep 2005 - 1:42 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

I saw some work by Tom Stoddart that made me stop and take a long look. His photo of an old man dieing while a young woman gives birth in Ajiep haunts, while who cannot shed a tear on looking at his photo of a Mother passing a child onto an evacuation bus in Sarajevo (she is to stay behind).

Mark Seliger has portraits that vary from the bland to briliant IMHO.

Matt Stuart produces documentary photographs that captures so much from every day life, a different version of Cartier-Bresson's style.

In one magazine I have seen evidence that there are still many greats out there.

Or is it that I am just looking for it?

cf73

7

10 Sep 2005 - 2:38 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

I agree on the comments re Tom Stoddart. I read that interview in PMand it really made me have a think. I even sent him an email praising that piece of work and got a reply the next day..
May be in this era the greats may be the photo journalists as they are making us all more aware of world events. Back in the 50's and 60's it wasn't always feasable to travel around the world.

SuziBlue

9

11 Sep 2005 - 5:16 AM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

That for me is what makes the difference - telling stories. You can have a million record shots but having an image powerful enough to elicit an emotional response from someone is what it's about for me. Although, that brings up the whole argument about subjectivity of course, but if an image can make people stop, and look, and look, and have it haunting them for days and months and years ... You don't necessarily have to be a Great to have that effect with a photo, but if a photo has that general effect, it must be something.

randomrubble

7

11 Sep 2005 - 3:30 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

On the subject of the relationship with old masters this month's OP has an interesting review of McCurry's latest book which draws paralells with his use of colour and earlier generation's use of tone which I think is valid. There is a generation of fine art an journalistic photographers whose use of colour will be seen to be seminal, in art photography terms, in 20 years time including McCurry, Joel Sternfeld, Martin Parr, Andreas Gursky etc. Not forgetting the over rated Gregory Crewdson...

Quite who the Man Ray's or Cartier-Bresson's are has yet to be decided by the people who matter, the curators at of America's major galleries...