Thousand and One Words

As you all know over the past few months I've been zealously working through a personal rebirth, finding myself outside of my business identity. Yet it's photographs like this that send me staggering right back into that numb industrialized subsistence, and I spit on it.

The photo is cut off at the calf because these drones have no feet of their own to walk on. And just like their outfits, they can only see things in black and white. Their eyes are dead and cold, their hair is pulled back tighter than their stringent schedules, their granny stockings are as gruesome as their attitudes, and their ruffled shirts manage to ironically halt any hint of flirtatious femininity that we all hope to catch a glimmer of at the workplace. Sexiness and treasured individuality have been quelled to produce corporate clones. Usually I'm turned on by any situation involving two women, but this unsightly tragedy makes me want to lock myself up in my darkroom, alone and woebegone.

Here we see what seems to be a somewhat nice-looking girl, maybe a 7, rebelling against the standards put on women. By eating this greasy hotdog sandwich, she's feeding her insatiable hunger to rise up against male standards of beauty. She's willingly transforming from desirable to unattractive. It's ugly, yet compelling... It's tragic. It's beautiful (metaphorically).

I'm going to critique these two together, because of their similarities. I like these photos, but I don't love them. The transition component is a little obvious: from son to father, young to older. Good-looking people with their good-looking kids - I find these a little too precious and banal for my taste. I could easily see them on a Hallmark card... Maybe if the kids were black they would have more edge...

Everyone is so consumed with the Olympics, but this is athletics at its purest. Here we see a skier, caught at the apex of a jump, outlined by quiet nature. The photo suggests that this man is skiing for his own enjoyment, not for some cold corporate sponsored spectacle to boost consumerism. There are no credit card banners or soda billboards lining his slope. He is as good as he feels, not as good as the medal he's won. Why must we celebrate nationalism and commerce in pursuit of "the best"? Why can't networks have programs that feature images like this: a man just skiing to ski. I'd watch a show like that...if it didn't have commercials.

Thank you to everyone who submitted photographs. While I didn't get exactly what I was looking for, I was very pleased with some of what I viewed.

My office is in the middle of corporate transitional period. I've been transitioning myself, transforming from a wunderkind workaholic to a man who contemplates what "living" truly means. This personal renaissance has led me to reconsider my business identity at precisely the same time my company is recreating theirs. To honor those in the midst of transitions, please submit photographs of "Transformations" and I will happily critique them for you.

To submit, just use the form on the right hand side of the blog. You can even use Facebook Connect if you want.

I was humbled by this photograph. You've taken two images (the bulbous body of a shirtless man and the face of Hillary Clinton), individually each one antithetical to the general conception of "femininity," yet when combined, the sum of their parts is so much more: a strong, smart, woman, regardless of her age, is the very essence of "femininity." Bravo. As remarkable as this is, I think you'd have a masterpiece had you chosen to photograph a topless woman with the face of Bill Clinton.

Nothing suggests femininity like a gorgeous mother cradling her beautiful baby against her luscious breasts, but since this is a close up, we have no idea what her breast size is. It's both torturous and excruciating for the viewer and ultimately that's the point of the photograph! The only thing more feminine than being a mother is being a tease. That being said, if you were really serious about the theme, you should've captured the baby breast-feeding, as that is the more daring and intimate way to show a strong, powerful woman in her natural element, while simultaneously demonstrating the most ancient and intrinsic of all human connections.

It seems like anyone with an SLR camera seems to fancy themselves a "photographer," but there's a huge difference between "taking pictures" and "being an artistic chronicler." I could rant for hours about all the terrible photographs I've been subjected to--instead I'm going to do something about it. I plan to offer you unprecedented access to my brain, eyes, heart, and yes, even my soul. Every few weeks I'll pick a theme and you'll have the opportunity to submit your photos to my blog; a few lucky individuals will have theirs critiqued by me. The tips and insight I'm offering are sure to make anyone who pays careful attention to what I say (and what I don't say), fantastically better. And who knows, maybe you'll even teach me something in the process.

This week's theme is "Femininity." From my mother to that gorgeous senior who robbed me of my v-card to Marian Robinson, I've been fascinated by strong, smart, beautiful women. Here's your chance to honor the female form, to show that women have come far enough that they can be both powerful and sexy. Really explore what "femininity" means to you and don't be afraid to get provocative. True photographers take risks and bare everything, including the most intimate details of their essence.

To submit, just use the form on the right hand side of the blog. You can even use Facebook Connect if you want.

Non-existent smiles. Eyes begging for mercy. Confined to a cage. Prison bars cast a nasty shadow. Scars etched into their fur and souls. They suffer in silence. There's nothing cute about isolation. Depression. No hope, but the small solace of a forbidden love. Two male cats. Stigma. An indictment on our society.

Together, these two opposites, work side by side in peace. Shot from the side to emphasize their differences in stature (both physical and societal), we see that they are united by the tree, and, at the same time, separated by the tree. The tree is a metaphor for consumerism. The holiday allows them to escape their differences, but only for a short amount of time. Come December 26th, there will be no tree to bring them together, but the world will be there to pull them apart.

Comment on Abstraction

The fourth level is depicting the need for acceptance in all of us. The streams and strokes seem scattered and involuntary but when looked at more closely, we see that they are moving in a singular direction, stretching themselves and reaching for approval. The fifth level is the sexuality that is present in every aspect of life. the way the substance appears to be come from inside the picture and leaping out, reaching towards the viewer, says to the me "ravish me." and my answer Ryan, is yes. - Caroline

Yes, acceptance is a theme of this photo, as well as all my photos; even the photos I take that capture isolationism have a theme of acceptance, a lack of acceptance. It is the ultimate compliment that this photo not only captured my soul, but yours as well.
You seem to have an eye for photography that only a photographer could have. The best way to evaluate your work would be for you to send me a self-portrait, one that focuses on realism. - Ryan

I honestly don't remember taking this shot. I'm not even sure what this is: a puddle, sand, maybe an oil slick? It's possible my subconscious shot this or perhaps I accidentally took the picture without realizing it. Doesn't matter. In life, there are no accidents. This is proof. How could something "accidental" be so mysteriously striking. And layered. It's obviously working on at least three levels, but can you see the fourth and fifth? I dare you to try.

Comment on Sunrise? Sunset?

The sun is setting. Anyone with half a brain should be able to figure that out from the angle of the sun. Masterpiece.. I think not. Your photos suck Ryan! - Samael82

Samael82, my art is controversial by nature. The fact that you had such a strong response to it, that you think my "photos suck," and that you felt the need to comment on my blog, is a testament to just how powerful these photos really are. Love them or hate them, they're all about generating a strong response from viewers. Also, the sun is not setting. It's rising, like a phoenix from the ashes, majestic in its beauty, twirling, spinning, gyrating with the intensity and passion of a thousand Geisha girls, but since you couldn't see that obvious fact, perhaps you are the one with half a brain. Also, how many girls have cried this week because you didn't return their text? Thought so.

Shot from above, the angle produces a provocative look at Cat and Dog. Mortal enemies. And yet, these two co-exist peacefully. They even look like one another. Perhaps Indians and Pakistanis can learn a little something from this photograph. Great art is transcendent.

Is the sun rising or setting? Are the clouds advancing or receding? Black and white photographs aren't always so black and white. In this minor masterpiece (?) the viewer must internalize the image, process it, and create his or her own meaning. It's not enough to view this photograph...you have to experience it. Are you brave enough to gaze into the sun?

Comment on Where Do the Children Play?

I shudder@the silent screams in this stark img of helplessness/hopelessness. Wayworn shipping pallets, teetering, feeble efforts to resurrect themselves to be the beings they once had been--tall, glorious, arms branching to all corners of the heavens, providing winged wanderers a warm elbow to rest their nests, offering their very nuts to any squirrelly chipmunk with empty cheeks & extending a lofty limb to the playful child who's swiped a rope+tire from their neighbor. Weeping, willowed, wasted - samdtang

Comment on Upon Further Reflection

The key ingredient in every true artisan is, first & foremost: "art"...almost "artist"--but not quite. Using crude approximations to paint & pigment to lace his life's work with mock creativity, he resorts to B&W in a world of technicolor peacocks, abhorrent blur & glaring overexposure of both background & model to shock & confound. Unlike "Team," the selfish artist wannabe knows there is no "artisan" sans "I"--or "san" for that matter--a corporate bushman's void polaroid. - samdtang

Thank you, samdtang. Finally, someone who really gets my work.

Just like the shadows on the cave wall, we all create our reality with what we see. Here we see a reflection of trees in gentle waves of water. Searching through it, you notice it's distorted... or is it? Some may think this photo is out of focus... do you? If so why do you think the artisan would make this choice?

Comment on Where do the children play?

"You raise serious questions about the place of disposable wooden crates in our consumeristic society. The trees in the distance look on with anger and trepidation." - mantovah

Yes, Mantovah, but the trees do more. Perhaps they are a metaphor for the potential of society and the tipping wooden crates symbolize our current reality. - Ryan

Comment on Lost Innocence

"Your work moves me." - megscookie

Thank you megscookie. I enjoy the encouragement, but that's not why I do it.

Explicit? Indecent? Erotic? Or commentary about the way in which women are treated in the workplace? Here's a woman, hard at work, pulled herself up by the bootstraps despite her ethnic heritage, but all you see is that she's topless. It's sad, but the saddest part is that the woman was willing to pose for this photograph without a single question as to the artist's intent. What happened to integrity?

Sometimes the most interesting photographs don't answer a question--they pose one. And a truly great photo may raise several. This photograph uses converging vertical and horizontal lines and the power of the rule of thirds to force the viewer to engage in some serious self-reflection: "On which side of the bars do I stand?" "Am I the prisoner or the guard?" "Is there any way out?" "Is there any way in?"

It's not just about what you see in this photo. It's about what you don't see. Whose bike is that? Where did he go? What's he doing inside that building? Why would he be doing that at such a young age? By putting the fence in focus in the foreground and leaving the bike out of focus, the viewer can't help but feel the lost soul who owns this bike is abandoning his childhood in favor of an unseen illicit activity inside that dark door.

I intentionally over-exposed this photograph to create a sense of isolation. With the edges washed out, the pallets overwhelm your eyes. They invoke a feeling of claustrophobia. There's no place to go. And like the pallets, the viewer is at a literal tipping point. So what do they do? Stand by and allow themselves to be supported by the metaphorical barbed wire fence (aka: the industrial prison complex)? Or stand tall and try to right the ills of our "crooked" society. As much as anything, this photograph is a call to action.