Monday, April 6, 2009

INSPIRED ON MONDAY: Robert Frank


While visiting Washington DC this spring we spent a majority of our Smithsonian time in the National Gallery of Art. Their main gallery was filled with the work of photographer Robert Frank. Every single image both inspired me and called for a reexamination of the techniques and composition I use as a both a photographer and a humanities student.

"Quality doesn't mean deep blacks and whatever tonal range. That's not quality, that's a kind of quality. The pictures of Robert Frank might strike someone as being sloppy - the tone range isn't right and things like that - but they're far superior to the pictures of Ansel Adams with regard to quality, because the quality of Ansel Adams, if I may say so, is essentially the quality of a postcard. But the quality of Robert Frank is a quality that has something to do with what he's doing, what his mind is. It's not balancing out the sky to the sand and so forth. It's got to do with intention." Elliot Erwitt

What photographers inspire you?

6 comments:

Ashley said...

That's funny, because Elliott Erwitt is far and away my favorite photographer. I love how his photographs tell a story, how it's about the moment, not about perfection [though his photos often are perfect--that's just a bonus]. I can't remember how I found his work, but I know he's been my favorite ever since.

Ashley said...

Oh, and p.s. you can sit in that chair, but I think I'd like to keep it!

Justin Hackworth said...

Amen to that.

Jenna Holm said...

I've always admired Dorothea Lange- without even knowing who she was. Her images are burned into my memory. This one tugs especially hard at my heartstrings. Great post. Warmly,

Jenna

http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/gedney/photographs/KY/KY04/KY0458-150dpi.jpeg

rabidrunner said...

Annie Leibovitz. I'd consider switching "teams" for her.

Kiera said...

Tec Petaja. He is my new favorite.