John Szarkowski - Dominated photography for three decades

Graeme Williams - Photographic Conversations

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THIS VIDEO: John Szarkowski has been called the most influential figure within photography during the 20th century. Between 1962 and 1991, he was the primary decision maker about which photographs hung on the walls of the Museum of Modern Art. It’s rare for one person to dominate a medium so completely - but for three decades he did just that. The word 'Kingmaker' , in the thumbnail, is used in a non-gender manner.
1-on-1 MENTORING: graemewilliams...
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ABOUT ME: The conversations focus on topics related to different aspects of photography including: art, documentary and photojournalism. The discussions explore the personal experiences of photographers and artists and how their work reflects both their internal and external landscape. During the past 30 years I have photographed in over 50 countries for magazines including National Geographic, Time, New York Times and Newsweek. I have held solo exhibitions in New York, London and Paris and my work is showcased in private and institutional art collections around the world.
COPYRIGHT: The copyright for all images belongs to the photographer/s being discussed.
WEBSITE: www.graemewill...
FACEBOOK: / graemewilliamsphotogra...
INSTAGRAM: williamsgraeme
MUSIC: RU-vid audio Lazy Boy Blues by Unicorn Heads,
VIDEO CLIPS: John Szarkowski A life in photography. Vintage Old 1950's Kodak Film Camera Photography Commercial with cute dog and kittens 1956, New Documents Fifty Years Later MoMA LIVE

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7 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 44

@L.Spencer Месяц назад

"It's impossible now to trace a specific direction within photography. It's become so easy to create photographs. Photographers can now be manufactured and branded by galleries to fit a purpose. Instant curators are churned out by colleges and universities, and without any real understanding of the medium, they are provided with a stage to perform." wow

@michaelvr8973 Месяц назад

So True. So many artist come from art school too. The school is there to teach you what it is to be an artist... not a technic. What is the most important in the show is now the text, the precise words that are calibrated to fit in the art trend.

@L.Spencer Месяц назад

@@michaelvr8973 The comment is from this video, but I commented "wow", because I find it pretty dismissive of students who love photography. I will go back and edit it and put in quotations. I doubt anyone is an instant curator who is churned out by a college.

@michaelvr8973 Месяц назад

@@L.Spencer I tend to overreact... I am sure there is a lot to learn from art schools and curators can be competent without having practiced, of course. But in some case it makes a difference. Being an autodidact I have found the learning process very bumpy and my sense of beauty is not always one could expect. English is not my mother langage and "churned" is enigmatic to me. Thks for your reply anyway.

@DREES56_TRR-qw2vr Месяц назад

As always a thought provoking commentary by you Graeme, thank you. The insights into the great influence John Szarkowski had on the development of photography as a recognised art form, and the photographers he helped develop were very interesting. The advances in technology have (absolutely) democratised photography, whether it is the seemingly ever evolving technical capacities of the equipment we use, the software available, or the platforms for sharing images, more people now have access to develop a style and promote their view of the world and society..........is that a good or a bad thing? Only time will tell, I guess, but I have to believe / hope that true talent, people with a unique perspective, representing today, will separate themselves from the crowd and their work will find a way (or a champion) to rise above the dross we are constantly exposed to (if we choose to be). We owe a lot to John Szarkowski for championing unique voices when photography wasn't seen as art, today we need more like him, people who can find and help develop the next group of photographers with a vision, not necessarily a degree in programming.

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

I think that's true - it feels a bit like we are swimming in mediocrity and the art world is lacking adults.

@Doogle136 Месяц назад

A marvellous presentation! Thank you🙏

@sonofoneintheuniverse Месяц назад

Another wonderful journey into the photographic landscape... 😊

@StephenThomas-g2v Месяц назад

Thank you very much for putting this together,

@walkingmeditation61 Месяц назад

Excellent video, inspirational to continue reading and thinking about the larger picture. The end of this video reminds me of the importance of having a "Point of Departure" Ralph Gibson's first lesson from Dorthea Lange

@bobmay3936 Месяц назад

An excellent video and also great timing Graeme. My copy of Looking at Photographs was delivered today! I learned about JS and the book via Taschen's Photo Icons. Also, last month I went to the HC-B Fondation and saw an excellent exhibition of Stephen Shore's photographs.

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

Hi Bob I am a big SS fan.

@RickCarroll-Canada Месяц назад

Thank you from Canada. Great video.

@RogerMunoz-ci7it Месяц назад

John Szarkowski, as an amateur photographer I can fully appreciate both man and women who work behind the scenes to promote our visual efforts. This people often go un recognize for their hard work. Thank you Graeme Williams for such a methodical and well made presented video which gives this gentlemen the respect he very well deserves. God Bless you sir.

@michaelvr8973 Месяц назад

A book like "mirors and windows" opened my mind on the many aspects of photography. Without Szarkowski photography wouldn't have been the same here in France too; eventhough we published "the Americans" before he could ;-)

@RogerMunoz-ci7it Месяц назад

@@michaelvr8973 Sir, thank you very much. I wish I could meet more people like you.

@spiff73 Месяц назад

this is the one of the best episode of yours! thank you so much.

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

Many thanks

@tommartin9731 Месяц назад

There is not enough historical perspective on YT, so thank you. I am in the process of viewing all of your videos.

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

Hi Tom - keep going - there are quite a few now to get through.

@geoffmphotography9444 Месяц назад

Excellent presentation Graeme, thank you. Directionless photography is spot on. The more the technology advances, the worse the medium gets. Everyone is a creator and photography education has never been worse (from personal experience). Quality content.

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

Thanks Geoff

@nocommentnoname1111 Месяц назад

Very interesting and informative.

@NickBelt Месяц назад

Brilliant! Thank you.

@jimphilpott902 Месяц назад

Someone once said doing theology is like trying to paint a bird in flight. Perhaps photography is similar. It is difficult to define the essence of the thing. Thanks for continuing the effort to capture this winged journey.

@paullesliehutson5818 Месяц назад

A refreshing and thought provoking video on Szarkowski. Thank You Graeme.

@LloydSpencer Месяц назад

Amazing! Graeme. Splendidly judged and majestically put together. A real classic.

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

Thanks LLoyd

@frederick3467 Месяц назад

Mr. Bristols Barn looks a interesting book

@michaels7889 17 дней назад

Oh dear but hear hear.

@paolomasone3754 Месяц назад

Interesting. So what, specifically, were those values that Ansel Adams thought Gary Winograd was subverting? And what specifically, were those values that Szarkowski saw as important in Winograd's work? How, if at all, did Szarkowski's value map change? Thanks.

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

Hi Paolo Ansel Adams thought Eggleston's (not Winogrand) work was unstructured and basically lacked any merit. He was coming from a very traditional documentary place. Szarkowski recognised that Winogrand's work was/is extremely complex and that he was able to produce form and visual balance - even though he was shooting in a loose manner on busy streets.

@michaelvr8973 Месяц назад

Excellent choice of subject. Thank you so much. What a brillant presentation ! And thank you for presenting his photographs which I didn't know about. I understand better why he had such a deep insight on photography. So true too point out the risk of presenting Eggleston. I like particularly what he said about the importance of having something to say in photography. Finding a subject and learning to express some ideas is the most difficult in photography, as far as I am concerned. I am glad he minimizes the importance of photographic education; too many teachers or currators emphasize on this and its deprives many students of searching for their personal style. Many times you show a photograph and the comment is 'oh this reminds of this photographer'. Everyone follows its one road but they want you on tracks.

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

Thanks Michael.

@petercerda1078 Месяц назад

Did you ever meet Szarkowski?

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

No, I wish I did.

@aeromodeller1 Месяц назад

Art has become academicized to the point where your theory is more important than your work.

@dougiezen Месяц назад

Whatever

@blueboy4244 Месяц назад

thank you John Szarkowski for Winograd, Arbus, etc... but I, for one am glad there is no high priest of photography letting all the great unwashed know what is and isn't photography any more... he had a time and place... but it's time to revel in the chaos now

@iainmc9859 Месяц назад

I think Szarkowski is simply responsible for opening the door. What comes through it isn't really his responsibility, however he's always going to get tarred with that question ' ... but what does it mean ?' Personally I'm not sure it has to mean anything, narrative, mood, expression etc. We're back to sometimes seeing that face of Jesus in the slice of toast, humans need to find pattern and order, drawing ley lines on a map; although our rational mind is screaming at us its all just interpretation. The point about instant curators is extremely relevant at the moment ... if there's one word that just tells me someone is a BS artist its being a 'curator' with no qualification ... curator of fine cheeses, curator of exquisite home furnishings, finely curated collection of mobile phones, expertly curated assemblage of make up ... sales hype shite. Am I showing my anti-capitalist leaning again ?

@jennyhirschowitz1999 Месяц назад

Not at all…… your comment much appreciated.

@yeohi Месяц назад

We need a qualified curator of curators.

@iainmc9859 Месяц назад

@@yeohi It would have to be a spotty nineteen year old in a cheap suit or a yummy mummy (called Sophie) whose accountant husband (called Nigel) is going to pay the lease on the shop 😆

@PhotoConversations Месяц назад

Not, so much anti-capitalist...more anti BS.