Szymon Brodziak

[Shadowman]

I was looking for a photography website which presented fashion photography ala Helmut Newton, mainly black and white, and came across this photography based out of Vancouver.

http://www.paranoias.org/2013/11/szy...k-photography/

http://szymonphotography.com/

[Colin Southern]

Meh. It strikes me as trying too hard to break the rules to be different and "arty-farty", but doesn't succeed. To me it was inconsistent and exploitative.

3 out of 10 from this grumpy old b^stard!

[Shadowman]

Meh. It strikes me as trying too hard to break the rules to be different and "arty-farty", but doesn't succeed. To me it was inconsistent and exploitative.

3 out of 10 from this grumpy old b^stard!

Colin,

Not directly comparing the two photographers but how do you feel about Helmut Newton's work?

[chauncey]

Although I've never attempted it, I'm a fan of the "film noire" look, "DOA" comes to mind.
Your examples are a little over the top in their chosen subject matter, IMHO.

[Shadowman]

Although I've never attempted it, I'm a fan of the "film noire" look, "DOA" comes to mind.
Your examples are a little over the top in their chosen subject matter, IMHO.

Don't you find most fashion photography to be over the top?

[chauncey]

Don't you find most fashion photography to be over the top?

Not if they avoid the erotic look.

[Colin Southern]

Not if they avoid the erotic look.

Taking sex / erotica out of fashion photography ...

... won't ever happen.

I've concluded that the fashion industry is for some other planet.

[Bobobird]

First link - I agree with Colin. Trying too hard.

2nd link - too contrived. I feel no warmth as one should from wedding photographs.

Mind you, I can't do either or even tried. Just saying what my eyes are telling my brain.

[lukaswerth]

Thanks for sharing the website. Two points:
1) the photographer seems very much to try to create a conventional silver bromide look, that is, at least on my screen here, contrast on the hard side, sometimes black shadows, highlights just that little bit blown. Technically well done, but the artistic point eludes me.
2) This is a personal statement: Even though it is generally regarded as a high-esteemed and influential field of image making, I couldn't be less interested in fashion/glamor photography. Seems generally empty to me, trying effect for effect's sake, and every human looks like a display dummy or like a consumer item. This is how Newton's photography looked to me. For me, there is, I admit freely, an aspect of Weltanschauung involved: I always regret how important in photographic practice is the celebration of the market, and the images on the website are like piano exercises for this.

Lukas

[Shadowman]

Thanks for sharing the website. Two points:
1) the photographer seems very much to try to create a conventional silver bromide look, that is, at least on my screen here, contrast on the hard side, sometimes black shadows, highlights just that little bit blown. Technically well done, but the artistic point eludes me.
2) This is a personal statement: Even though it is generally regarded as a high-esteemed and influential field of image making, I couldn't be less interested in fashion/glamor photography. Seems generally empty to me, trying effect for effect's sake, and every human looks like a display dummy or like a consumer item. This is how Newton's photography looked to me. For me, there is, I admit freely, an aspect of Weltanschauung involved: I always regret how important in photographic practice is the celebration of the market, and the images on the website are like piano exercises for this.

Lukas

Lukas,

Nicely written critique. I'm not so interested in the fashion aspect of Newton's work, more in the photographic style, and the commentary, humor and sadness. Sexualized fashion photography can be humorous or sad, depending on how deeply you involve yourself with the project; I can understand a viewer not wanting to sacrifice time in doing so.

[chauncey]

Nicely written critique

Gotta agree John. This phrase caught my attention...

are like piano exercises for this

Although I disagree, I read quite a bit that says that an artist should develop their own style, one that is recognizable. How does the term "piano exercises" differ from "style"?

[Shadowman]

Gotta agree John. This phrase caught my attention...

Although I disagree, I read quite a bit that says that an artist should develop their own style, one that is recognizable. How does the term "piano exercises" differ from "style"?

I suppose it's still possible to develop your own style within the fashion industry. In the case of fashion photographers with styles similar to Helmut Newton, having your own style requires lots of imagination. When I came upon the Brodziak website, I simply put in the search term "black and white fashion photography". I switched to "Images" and one of Brodziak's photographs caught my eye.

[lukaswerth]

Lukas,

Nicely written critique. I'm not so interested in the fashion aspect of Newton's work, more in the photographic style, and the commentary, humor and sadness. Sexualized fashion photography can be humorous or sad, depending on how deeply you involve yourself with the project; I can understand a viewer not wanting to sacrifice time in doing so.

Sorry that I answer somewhat late to this; having been preoccupied offline, I didn't check earlier.
I appreciate your point very much, and I think when I wrote "I couldn't be less interested..." I actually used a wrong or misleading phrase. The truth is: I am interested in this sort of photography like one is interested in the actions of one's enemy or political adversary. But be that as it may, I understand that such photography may have a poetic quality.
With regard to piano exercises and style: what I had in mind was that people exercise on the piano in order to perfect their technique, but such exercises are usually thought tedious and not really meant for an audience. I would say that style may be a result of exercises.

Lukas

[Shadowman]

Sorry that I answer somewhat late to this; having been preoccupied offline, I didn't check earlier.
I appreciate your point very much, and I think when I wrote "I couldn't be less interested..." I actually used a wrong or misleading phrase. The truth is: I am interested in this sort of photography like one is interested in the actions of one's enemy or political adversary. But be that as it may, I understand that such photography may have a poetic quality.
With regard to piano exercises and style: what I had in mind was that people exercise on the piano in order to perfect their technique, but such exercises are usually thought tedious and not really meant for an audience. I would say that style may be a result of exercises.

Lukas

Lukas,

A late response is better than no response at all. I wouldn't expect everyone to be interested in every genre, post was meant to solicit ideas and responses.