thinking about arts and crafts

Decoration is a craft. Art is an anti-science. The pinnacle height of achievement in a craft is the perfect modification of a material into a vision. The pinnacle height of achievement in an art is the perfect modification of a vision into a metaphor. Some things can be both. Art cannot exist without craft. Craft cannot exist without art. Yet there is a vast difference from the goals of artists and craftspeople. Craft has a finite goal, the production of something tangible. Art has an infinite goal, the induction of something intangible. Craft relaxes. Art excites.

Ched's First Photo Book - $60

I have been working as a fashion photographer for several years, and I have amassed a small but vital collection of images. I would like to make a book displaying a selection of these images. Each contribution of $60 toward this effort will entitle the contributor to receive one signed copy of the finished book.

- Ched

contribute here: fundable.com

radio show going forward

I haven't wanted to post much about the new radio show I'm producing, but I wanted to give an update of some sort here. I can't say where the show will be aired yet, or who the first few guests will be, because we're still working out syndication and some other things, but hopefully I can post that information soon. I'm almost afraid to jinx it, things seem to be going so well on this project. Cross your fingers!

The show is going to be called Light and Gravity. It is about photography and cinematography, but more generally about images and applied creativity. The "light" part of the title is pretty obviously relevant for photo and cinema, light is how you record images. The word "gravity" refers not to the Newtonian force, but to the importance of images as communication. We will be talking a lot about artist intent, editorial images, and viewer perception. In other words, it will be some pretty deep stuff.

Sandy Ramirez is going to co-host with me, and has been a big help in working to line up master photographers to interview. Currently looking for a cinematographer to join the on-air team.

The first few episodes should be done and ready for air in late February.

For each weekly one hour show we will have a main guest to interview live on the air, along with discussion of news from the photography, film, and creative arts worlds, and usually a pre-recorded feature or two. I'm up in the air about doing call-ins. We may take questions live from the forum on modelmayhem.com.

Ohrinthel is a fashion Yoda

edit: videos removed at source, broken links deleted from this post

Karl Lagerfeld Profile

ARTICLE

This article on Karl Lagerfeld was in the March 19Th issue of The New Yorker, and though it is quite long I really enjoyed the reading. It's good to know that the people at the top of the fashion food chain are crazy-seeming artists just like me. I especially liked the part describing the work environment in his home and the descriptions of his diversity of interests.

"High Fashion Photography" ???

This question was posted to an online forum:

"What makes High fashion photography?"

My Answer:

The difference I think you're reaching for is catalog vs. editorial style. In catalog photography you shoot the entire collection. In an editorial style you try to sum up the entire collection in a short series of images.

In real editorial fashion photography, at a purist level, you look at what is now and what is past and you create a very selective visual essay. It doesn't always work that way. Most magazines want their advertisers' products represented in the editorials, so what you see in Vogue etc. is not normally true editorials because the editors are influenced by a need to keep their employers happy.

"High fashion" is a bad translation of the French "Haute Couture," which is a very specific kind of clothing, and actually translates to "high sewing." Haute Couture is the very highest level of fashion in terms of craft and quality workmanship. They don't sell it at Macy's. They barely sell it at Bergdorf Goodman. It's one of a kind pieces, usually made for a specific person. It is actually a legal distinction and only a small group of fashion design companies are allowed to call their work "Haute Couture."

slide show: The Decline of Fashion Photography

This is a fantastic little slide show (with commentary) over on Slate.com.

The Decline of Fashion Photography
An argument in pictures.
By Karen Lehrman

I don't know that what is shown is a "decline" so much as a simple progression. Fashion was never about the clothes. Stories are certainly still being told through the images. I do like the idea of going back to not allowing gratuitous text to be plastered all over the negative space in images printed in magazines. It's usually a blank area for a reason.

Trying to break into fashion photography is like trying to break into rock and roll...

If you think about it, becoming successful in fashion is a lot like becoming a rock star.

• It all comes down to having a great band behind you. You truly cannot do it alone.
• If you don't have talent, the best guitar in the universe isn't going to help you.
• It's more about the vibe than precision, but you have to have the command of precision to create the vibe.
• You just have to keep playing and be out where people can see your work, and that's how you become popular. You cannot both be genuine (and therefore have staying power) and start out playing in stadiums, just as a photographer shouldn't start out in major international publications (I'm slowly starting to realize).
• You must get out there and network.
  

Andre Austin's Seminar - Notes

Today I went to a seminar about fashion styling, held by celebrity stylist Andre Austin.

He was very knowledgeable and candid.

A couple of notes on things that caught my ear as a photographer:

He said that commercial styling is like wardrobe styling for a movie, as you are creating a person from clothing, which I found interesting.

He also talked about acknowledging the financial investment required of a stylist for testing. For a small shoot, even if all the clothes are free, the stylist could easily spend $100 on cabs picking up and returning outfits.

Apparently, "metalics are in right now," which I had sort of noticed but was trying not to because I'm not crazy about people wearing metal, it just seems unnatural. I wonder if there is a psychological link between the metal sheen clothing and a need for armor in the post 9/11 environment. Sort of like SUV's. They aren't really tanks but they make people feel better.

He spoke briefly about the insecurity level of celebrities, especially artists, and their real need for attention and support on a set. I think probably every artist on a set needs attention and support, but he's right in that when celebrities don't get it they can cause trouble that will disrupt the shoot. So be nice and let them work at their own pace as much as possible, I suppose.

I'm feeling less guilty about mixing Canal Street discount clothing with the high end stuff, and I intend to go check out Target and H&M for some test shoot stock items.

What is an editorial?

This was my response to a photography forum post asking "what is an editorial?"

An editorial tells a story, argues a point, focuses on an issue. Like a written editorial, a photographic editorial expresses a position on an idea. It is an editorial comment, a note from the artist or editor or publisher. Someone is communicating an idea through the images.