The Online Photographer

When I wrote the comment that started this discussion, I wrote it as an ex-newspaper columnist; that is, you don't want too many qualifications, because it kills the thought. But here are a few qualifications:

1. I think virtually everybody wears uniforms. They do this to signal their interests and their statuses. You look at Ctein, and you suspect he's not a Republican, that he doesn't work in a job that requires a suit and tie, and so on. You look at Avedon, and you suspect that he might work in an artistic endeavor. But uniforms are different than "artist-y" dress. Avedon found a style that worked for him, and made it into a uniform, so he didn't have to think about it. The people I was talking about are those people who play close attention to style and changes in style, and are always out front with the latest variety of "how an artist looks." (Rule of thumb: always suspect people with dramatic hats.)

2. You can be fooled. I wear a suit probably five times a year, for a few hours each time. The rest of the time, I wear jeans, knit shirts, cowboys boots or Nikes, and jean jackets, so the shot of me with Ctein is not representative of much of anything. It's quite possible that Burri, in Mike's photo, was *dressed* for that shot, by a publicity photographer who wanted to send the "artist" message. My comment was not aimed so much at Burri, and the idea of "dressing like an artist." But it's also possible that Burri dressed himself, because good photographers often have exceptional eyes for fashion, and for "looks." But do people who do that also carry with them the fatal flaw? I mean, look at the photo of Imogen Cunningham or Lee Friedlander, both of whom (IMHO) were "better" (for some value of "better') than Burri. Do they look like people who have spent hours primping?

(The photo of Alfred Steiglitz is also instructive. He is wearing the uniform of a 1930s European Intellectual -- gives off the same vibe as Albert Einstein. Because, uh, that's what they were.)

So, I suspect that there's something in the concept that "arty" dress says something about your status as a producing artist. I'm not sure of that, though. And it's not a law, or anything, it's more a comment on a possible statistical correlation.

Mike
There are two great pictures of Stieglitz wearing his cape on page 127 of "Ansel Adams An Autobiography".

They look like a trio of right dodgy customers. However, if I met them in the local's bar of a posh country pub, it would be a very interesting night.

What wonderful pictures! Thanks.

I visited the Leica San Francisco store today to view Peter Turnley's photos that were on display there, and to check out the book, "French Kiss". I did not meet Mr. Turnley as he was out on a Master Class. The photos on display were wonderful in all respects: subject matter, composition, lighting and printing. The book is of a technically high production quality, and the photos therein contained more of the same wonderfulness that characterized the photos that were on display. Henri Cartier-Bresson has nothing on Peter Turnley, my friends. I ended up ordering two of the "French Kiss" books; one for myself, and one to be used as a gift for my beloved aunt, who is herself a fine photographer and a Leica enthusiast.

"I remember hearing when Walker Evans was at Yale that the "uniform" for the serious acolyte was faded jeans, an army surplus jacket, and a worn used Leica." - WelI, I guess I'll have to settle for 'two out of three ain't bad...'

The Imogen photo was during a Yosemite workshop with 100 people:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imogen_and_Twinka_at_Yosemite

What about the opposite look: an ordinary person with a camera? That's often the goal of a street photographer to blend in.

For example, does Garry Winograd look like "A Photographer" or just another person on the street with a camera?

Winogrand on Hollywood Blvd near Las Palmas, photo by David Fahey. c. 1982

Winogrand by Papageorge (when making one of his most well known images)

Two for one: Winogrand and Arbus by Papageorge in 1967. Could you tell if they're photographers or not?

John Camp said: The photo of Alfred Steiglitz is also instructive. He is wearing the uniform of a 1930s European Intellectual -- gives off the same vibe as Albert Einstein. Because, uh, that's what they were

Alfred Stieglitz might have been affecting the European look but he was an American from Hoboken, New Jersey. Can you be a European intellectual without actually being European?

Why is Gimli son of Gloin wearing spectacles ?
And which rogue geneticist managed to blend the DNA of Chevy Chase and Kirk Tuck ?

(Apologies to Ctein and John.)

FYI - Twinka Thiebaud is the daughter of the famous painter Wayne Thiebaud.
And I had the chance to hear Wayne Thiebaud speak back in 1994 or 1995. A fantastic speaker as well as painter. "Well, in color, basically all you have to work with is a bucket of coals and a bucket of ice..." [and therefore you have to make choices about how to use them]. He then proceeded to illustrate those words with slide after slide.

I'll always remember that talk. I learned so much, and found words for things I already knew, but didn't have a way to talk about.