What ever happened to classic portraiture?

[Murph]

WEDDING // CATHERINE + RONNY - FM Forums

Don't know if this is the place for this, but I think I started a firestorm over there (I post as Grognard) but this guy's work is really, really bad. My wife told me that she would ask for her money back if she got things like this. Maybe I just don't understand the market, brides, etc. Since I don't shoot weddings, perhaps some of the fine folks here can enlighten me on what constitutes good quality work these days?

[zebulus]

I disagree, i think its actually very very good.

[gmarblestone]

Yeah, I like it too. Thats the great thing about art. You may not like what you see but others might. Keeping an open mind is a great thing.

G

[Brains]

Agree with ya Zeb, they're outstanding.
Sorry Murph, I can't agree with anything you said in that thread.

[JohnT]

I think it comes down to what one considers to be "bad" photography and "good" photography. Personally, I like more traditional, classic, fine imagery than edgy, trendy, etc. Not that I think edgy or trendy is bad; I just prefer the former. Since photography is an art medium, there seems to be no objective standard by which to judge "good" vs. "bad."

[bryanlindsey]

I'm with the OP, that style is not my cuppa tea. But I respect the right of others to have different styles and opinions. And even if we don't like it, maybe there are elements of it that we can learn from.

[Tom]

I'm with the OP. I think he uses trendy post processing to cover really mediocre shooting.

[Brains]

I'm curious, what would you say about my work?
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...baby-girl.html

I think the worst aspect was your attitude towards his work. Just because you don't agree with how he executed each shot, doesn't mean you show your backside. Could his work be better? That's relative, or maybe boilerplate "every photo can be better." He put thought into the work, the processing, etc. so I definitely can't agree with calling him a P&S photographer. Should he be selling himself as a pro wedding photographer? Who can say, I guess that would be up to whoever would want to hire someone who presents that style. The market will decide if he's a "pro" or not. What defines a pro anyway?

When it comes to any form of art, it is all about perceptions and opinions. There's a painting hung in a gallery somewhere, which is nothing but a dot on a white canvas. Some wouldn't even consider that art - add me to the list, I tend to believe it was an exercise in human response - but nevertheless, it made it on the wall.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

I really like that style.

Wil

[Tom]

Oh, and that thread is a good example of why I stopped looking at FM a long, long time ago.

[photojournalist]

I would have to disagree as well. I think his work is pretty good. It doesn't matter if you're shooting pee wee football, a wedding, or the war in Iraq, a good photographer is going to produce good work.

[Murph]

Excellent, classic work, good use of lighting, no overused flare, no cliched use of selective color, no trendy/edgy/hip processing. A photo to be proud of, and to cherish.

Originally Posted by Brains

I'm curious, what would you say about my work?
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...baby-girl.html

I think the worst aspect was your attitude towards his work. Just because you don't agree with how he executed each shot, doesn't mean you show your backside. Could his work be better? That's relative, or maybe boilerplate "every photo can be better." He put thought into the work, the processing, etc. so I definitely can't agree with calling him a P&S photographer. Should he be selling himself as a pro wedding photographer? Who can say, I guess that would be up to whoever would want to hire someone who presents that style. The market will decide if he's a "pro" or not. What defines a pro anyway?

When it comes to any form of art, it is all about perceptions and opinions. There's a painting hung in a gallery somewhere, which is nothing but a dot on a white canvas. Some wouldn't even consider that art - add me to the list, I tend to believe it was an exercise in human response - but nevertheless, it made it on the wall.

[thebeginning]

Originally Posted by Brains

I think the worst aspect was your attitude towards his work. Just because you don't agree with how he executed each shot, doesn't mean you show your backside. Could his work be better? That's relative, or maybe boilerplate "every photo can be better." He put thought into the work, the processing, etc. so I definitely can't agree with calling him a P&S photographer. Should he be selling himself as a pro wedding photographer? Who can say, I guess that would be up to whoever would want to hire someone who presents that style. The market will decide if he's a "pro" or not. What defines a pro anyway?

When it comes to any form of art, it is all about perceptions and opinions. There's a painting hung in a gallery somewhere, which is nothing but a dot on a white canvas. Some wouldn't even consider that art - add me to the list, I tend to believe it was an exercise in human response - but nevertheless, it made it on the wall.

I agree with much of what has been said above, especially the last part by brains.

That natural, POV style of shooting is pretty popular these days with certain brides. And 'classic portraiture' doesn't really apply to alot of wedding photography simply because it can't be done in the time frames provided. Or it's freaking boring.

I will agree that Serg is overpraised on the FM forums (I'm there as well). I've seen much more frustrating work though in the senior portrait department (talk about lazy shooting).

Example (just to stir the pot) :D

SENIOR // MAKENZIE - FM Forums

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Brains

I'm curious, what would you say about my work?
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...baby-girl.html

I know you weren't addressing me, but I really like those. They have the appearance of being done in a professional studio, and they aren't what I consider edgy, trendy, etc.

[Stricks]

I gotta say I'm all about the photos on the FM thread...I like classic stuff too, but the current trendy stuff is definitely my favorite flavor....at least right now. ;)