The Online Photographer

By extension one could argue that the less someone 'looks like a cop' – wears faded rock-band shirts, drives a Porsche – the more effective they are. It's certainly an appealing premise.

Did Salvador Dali look like an artist?

Although there is something definitely to be said for this generalization, it is just that; and like all stereotypes, true only to an extent. By percentages alone, there are far more bad and mediocre photographers with no style sense whatsoever, than there are those with.

Avedon had a great, although understated sense of style, which served him well in his profession. Scavullo supposedly stopped a shoot cold until one of his assistants, who donned a similar neckerchief to his, removed it.

I can appreciate a good sense of personal style, it is indeed quite rare- as opposed to just being fashionable, or worse, a poseur. Many aspire to it, most fail spectacularly; photographers (of all people) should be able to, at the very least, recognize it. True, good fashion sense certainly doesn't mean someone is any deeper than anyone else, they're just more visually attuned to a certain aspect of how things look and work. Trivial, yes- but something any so called artist should be able to appreciate.

I look at that photo of Rene Burri, and I see a photographer, an artist comfortable in his own skin...

below can also apply to appearances or a "look".

a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds

Emerson

I think there is some validity in what John is saying, but I think it goes only so far as I can think of many exceptions. Some people are their art. Duchamp from the pictures I've seen of him preferred a suit, Dali well his appearance and his persona were all part of his art.

There are a lot of preconceptions as to what an artist should look like and I know people who tend to have an outfit for every occasions - travel photography the eponymous Domke vest and army surplus trousers. If they moved into the studio it would be designer black. Sure a little theatrical but I would never question their artistic credentials for what they looked like.

I think overall judging a man's photographic output based on his taste in shirts is a little shallow.

I hope JC has chosen a good cover for his book.

"you see a man who is deeply interested in the image he projects"

A somewhat ironic put-down for a photographer, don't you think? As a movie director, one could certainly say of Burri...

"you see a man who is deeply interested in the images he projects"

Everybody decides how they are going to present themselves, from Salvador Dali to the nerdy kid next door. To conclude that difference of appearance is inversely related to the size of artistic talent is just silly in my opinion. To base it on students who are just setting out and experimenting with life and self expression is even sillier. In this case one immediately wonders, when artistic judgment is so subjective, which came first, the disapproval of the art or the disapproval of the student's appearance.

One also wonders about the irony of someone who copyrights a comment and is concerned about the pretentiousness in art students.

TOP is not the place for this discussion, but it is the most intimate blog I know of that will at least skirt the discussion of artists and their mental illnesses.
John Camp -
When an artist "looks" like an artist, and has not been discovered, they probably end up in jail or are hidden/homeless their entire lives until they die. If you are lucky enough to encounter one of these people, give them $5 so that they can go to the liquor store and keep the voices down for another night.
Please do not lump all artists into one group. Sometimes artists only have control of their own appearances because of their psychosis; this is why they gauge their ears, wear funny (by general society standards) hats, refuse to shower, wear the same clothes for days on end, choose to wrap themselves in toilet paper or even duct tape themselves to hide their shame.
Most of the best artists I have ever known (but will never be discovered) talk to individuals that other people will never see, murder their closest friends and family, have legitimately attempted suicide multiple times or have just decided to never move or talk for the rest of their lives.
Psychosis is not a black and white issue. Levels exist, for sure. If a kiddo says that he wants to be an artist, dons a fedora and pierces his nipple and then takes two years to photograph absolute bullshit, who are we to judge his psychotic breakdown? He may dress the part, seem fake to every person who sees his portfolio; but in his mind, he is trying to show society what he sees through his brain.
I am not immune to the "holy shit- black turtleneck, ugly glasses, you arrived in a Tesla to an unknown photography exhibit" I hate you attitude. I understand your beef.
I just wish this attitude didn't exist amongst artists as much as it does amongst the white collar folk I talk to on a daily basis
I wish that most artists could look in the mirror and say, "but for the grace of a shifted DNA component amongst billions, I am able to think straight, make rent, and not have to talk to unseen folks while I paint/sculpt/draw/create/photograph for a living"
John Camp - I love your stuff. I wish you would know how lucky you are to be so creative, yet sane.

I dress like an idiot therefore I must be a great photographer. I've finally found the wellspring of my talent. Thanks. The perfect excuse to never set foot in a shopping mall again.