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jb7 wrote:
Definitely one of the better ones, If he didn’t have a beard I’d be more worried about the chin thing-
the beard kinda replaces the hand in this one, and I can’t think of a reason not to include it, apart from the technical inspection- maybe a little bit heavily worked around the eyes, his left eye in particular- good luck with the set, I’m sure they’re gonna look like an impressive bunch. Any more thoughts about a title?j
Thanks for the comments JB. From recollection, I didn’t do any additional processing on the eyes, but I’ll go back to the full res version and take a peek before I print it off. As for a title, I haven’t really decided on one yet, but will certainly be steering clear of the “oul wretch” theme as in retrospect, it wasn’t very tactful or respectful to the people that agreed to be photographed. I’m thinking along the lines of “Rare oul’ times” or something very Dublin like. Suggestions welcome by the way :)
David_S wrote:
ok i just want to put the cat amongst the pigeons here … and indeed i should probably have started a different thread as i do not want to hijack this one … but it is something i feel strongly about .. and didn’t know where to put it (so moderators feel free to move it)
Hijack away :) I love healthy debate.
David_S wrote:
while as i have said before their is much to admire from a technical standpoint .. i just don’t see anything here that pushes any new boundaries … nothing that has an individual ‘this is a ciaran’ feel about it …you know? .. and i think that is , for me, what i wish i could see in your work, as i have no doubt you are a gifted photographer, but i just don’t see the individual spark that makes a shot ‘yours’.
I have to be honest, I think you’re being overly deep and perhaps a tad bohemian :) I never claimed to have, or even thought that I had a style that made a shot my own, or immediately recognisable as “Ciarans”. Indeed I tend to shoot anything from old men in pub doors, to models, portraits, wildlife (not so well), landscape (badly)) etc. If I have a camera in my hand, which is a relatively frequent occurence, anything and everything is fair game. So I don’t really understand your point about the individual spark. I for one take photos because I enjoy the process and for what little there is in my shots, I enjoy the artistic side. I don’t claim or expect my photos to push boundaries. Who does? Do yours? How many shots do we see on a daily basis that push boundaries? In general I only post shots I personally am happy with and it’s an added bonus if other people like them – if they don’t, then c’est la vie. These are just photos, nothing more, nothing less. Hopefully they’re aesthetically pleasing for some people to look at, or even perhaps unappealing but interesting. Better still… hopefully they’ll win the competition.
Do they push boundaries?… Nope, probably not, but luckily I didn’t set that as a goal when I took them. I’m not 100% sure where you’re coming from on this David? What could you suggest to help me push boundaries and make shots “mine”? Am I missing out on a whole aspect of photography that’s yet to be discovered?
Answers on a postcard please :)
i am sorry if i have upset you ciaran – (just used to having my images ‘trashed’ every day when i was at art school :-D … did me good in the end .. lol)
if i am honest .. yes … i do believe you are missing an aspect of photography … and that is why i commented. (would have sent you the answer on a postcard but i don’t have your address ;-))
i freely admit i come to this from the perspective of having studied photography at art school, but i think you are someone who obviously loves photography – and on the evidence here wants their work to be seen, otherwise why bother posting them on the internet or going to camera clubs or producing self published books?
you ask who pushes boundaries in photography and do i? … well loads of people have pushed the boundaries in photography and as a result have become milestones in the history of photography .. as for me well i have tried (should we all not?) … i have used photographic materials in various mixes .. tried using metals to print on, etc … i may have failed miserably .. but i have tried to push things or at least express some form of individuality, which in the end did lead to publication.
we all surely must have some emotional attachment to our images .. they must mean something to us and as a result reflect us as individuals so surely they should be unique in some small way?
i remember my proudest moments as a photographer were when i had my first exhibition and when i got my first images published .. but my proudest moment when posting an image online was when people said ‘i knew it was one of yours from the thumbnail’ …. surely if we don’t strive to be original then what is the point?
i genuinely hope you take this in the spirit it is meant … and i apologise if it is not what you feel about photography or what you want to be hear .. but all i ever try and be is honest about my opinions.
best and stay creative
d
David_S wrote:
i am sorry if i have upset you ciaran – (just used to having my images ‘trashed’ every day when i was at art school :-D … did me good in the end .. lol)
There’s absolutely no need to apologise David, you didn’t upset me in the slightest (I tend to have a thick skin). So if I came across that way, it’s me that should apologise. My reaction was and still is one of bewilderment not upset… besides until now I didn’t know you were “trashing” the shots. But even still, I can take it on the chin :)
David_S wrote:
if i am honest .. yes … i do believe you are missing an aspect of photography … and that is why i commented. (would have sent you the answer on a postcard but i don’t have your address ;-))
i freely admit i come to this from the perspective of having studied photography at art school, but i think you are someone who obviously loves photography – and on the evidence here wants their work to be seen, otherwise why bother posting them on the internet or going to camera clubs or producing self published books?
You’re absolutely correct, I do love photography and I do love having people look at my work. Ideally I’d prefer them to like what they’re looking at but realise that photography is very subjective and it’s a rare event indeed if you can take a photo that appeals to everyone. But that said, I don’t see what the above has to do with your previous comments? Your issue was about my style, or lack there of and me not pushing boundaries. I can’t see how this links back to me posting one image for critique. If I am to try and make this connection, am I to conclude that that you won’t like any shot I produce until I eventually stumble upon a style or push boundaries somehow?
David_S wrote:
you ask who pushes boundaries in photography and do i? … well loads of people have pushed the boundaries in photography and as a result have become milestones in the history of photography .. as for me well i have tried (should we all not?) … i have used photographic materials in various mixes .. tried using metals to print on, etc … i may have failed miserably .. but i have tried to push things or at least express some form of individuality, which in the end did lead to publication.
Ok perhaps I slipped up there asking “do you?” :D Long before this thread, I truly applauded some of your work, which came across as very unique and individual (I had no idea how you produced it). Ok, not all of it appealed to me, but there was recognition by me that it was different. However, without saying it’s right just because no one else does it, how many other “average” photographers push boundaries? Whilst I realise you’re trying to be encouraging I also think you’re being harsh in your appraisal.
David_S wrote:
we all surely must have some emotional attachment to our images .. they must mean something to us and as a result reflect us as individuals so surely they should be unique in some small way?
Absolutely – and some images will have greater emotional attachments than others. But I’m not necessarily sure that all our images reflect us as individuals. A lot of my photography is still about learning and developing. I’ll try new things, shoot different subjects, like this series of shots, all in an attempt to improve AND produce pleasing images. I definitely wouldn’t subscribe to the theory that all our photos say something about us, I do think this is a bridge too far. But do some of them… yes, perhaps?
As for unique, I don’t understand how these aren’t any more or less unique than your work? Is it the fact that I don’t process them on different films? If you remove your processing, at the end of the day you shoot models, which is far from unique, especially these days. Shooting models has been done before! So is it the processing that makes your style stand out? Has the subject of old men been done before? Of course, but so has pretty much every subject :( I never claimed that these images were the first ones ever of their type, however I’d challenge you to find a series of images, taken on the streets of Dublin, containing images of real Dublin characters, standing in pub doorways, smoking a cigarette only too willing to tell their stories and have their photos taken by complete strangers.
David_S wrote:
i genuinely hope you take this in the spirit it is meant … and i apologise if it is not what you feel about photography or what you want to be hear .. but all i ever try and be is honest about my opinions.
best and stay creative
d
David, I think it’s a very interesting topic and one that has provided me with some food for thought. But likewise I hope my answers make you think too?
I think style is something that develops over time, sometimes slowly, or for some, perhaps immediately. Style isn’t something I think about
first up … i must point out that i put ‘trashed’ in inverted commas and with a smile , meaning i am used to people passing major critical interpretations on MY work .. i did not mean i was trashing your work merely i was trying to say something more than just ‘looks a bit soft’ , i would crop this’ , etc
to be honest the rest of your reply does strike me as someone who is upset, it appears very defensive.
nowhere in my post did i say i had all the answers, i offered a feeling i believe strongly in about striving to bring some form of individuality to one’s work and i still think that point is valid.i never said i was right, or a great photographer, was just my opinion.
but in the end you say it has made you think … and as far as i am concerned that was the purpose behind the comments i made!
best
d
Interesting discussion, just to continue it a bit.
David, I see you exploring polaroids and other media, to me this is not particularly “Explorative”; it’s all been done before however, doing the technical aspects well and then adding exciting composition builds the “Competence and choice” that the creative photographer has in his/her armoury. You get emotion and soul into your shots and then present them expertly, for me, this is the difference that makes the difference. I find your work, at times, inspirational, so push those boundaries some more.
Ciaran, you have the composition and technical bit sussed. If I were mentoring you, I’d suggest that you expand your “Creativity” by limiting the tools at your disposal. Neccesity is the mother of invention etc etc…. Fix a couple of aspects of the creative choices. Say, stick a 50mm lens on and set it at F4, or stick your camera on a pod ans set the shutter at a 15th. You’re not allowed to use any flash or light “assistance”. This will make you look at movement, energy, perspective, angles of light and shadow more, etc etc. Mayve take all your shots from ground level for a month, or shoot into the light for a month, you get the idea.
When I started playing golf, I had 4 clubs. I learnt to be a whiz out of bunkers with a 7 iron (grin). Being able to “bend” the normal use of a tool is, in my opinion, a step on the road to creativity.
I hope that this doesn;t come across as arrogant, I’m by no means a master at this craft, I do know what I like and what moves me.
All best
Si
Hey I am taking this back to the original topic to say I love it Ciaran, I think the whole range from your site is amazing. There are too many happy smiley model pictures out there so to see some real raw emotion and people out there is very refreshing. People need to remove the mask and bring it back to reality every now and then
Beth
P.S If Jack Ryan see’s this I love the mask piccie of me I mean in the real world!!! :P
David – what can I say that I didn’t say in the previous post? I’ll say it again, I’m not upset by your comments. Rather than drag that element out in the thread, I’ve replied via PM
Si – I’m after spending too much money on a brand new tool, so I may wait a little while before trying out your suggestions. I want to play with that first. But thanks for the tip ;)
Beth – Thanks for the kind words. Oh and welcome to the forum :)
David_S wrote:
……to be honest the rest of your reply does strike me as someone who is upset, it appears very defensive.
I don’t see Ciaran’s reply that way at all, but this is (yet) another example of how difficult it is to communicate by text rather than speech. Without tone, people read things differently.
si – i don’t see you as arrogant at all .. just much more eloquent than me :-)
brandyman – you are quite right in what you say, i often feel posting on a forum on more ‘esoteric’ issues .. lol :-) .. is not easy as they are really discussions you can only have face to face
d
David_S wrote:
ciaran – :-) .. lol .. i am not being disrespectful in not replying to your pm .. i just think it’s all been said .. we quite obviously share different opinions which is as it should be, but let me assure you i am neither upset or defensive .. life is way too short for that :-)
Let’s draw this thread to a close? I do want to say though that I think it’s pretty rude to decide not to reply to my PM in private yet respond publicly to a view I aired to you in private. Thanks for that!
wow!! . getting way out of hand!
i meant absolutely no disrespect
i will edit my post to remove my reply
d
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