Heads Up Street-photographers
Thanks to Brud over at Digital Labrador I was sent a link to a New York Times article that probably won't be available online for long. Nevertheless it stirred many thoughts and memories in me. The article addresses a legal case surrounding the "Heads" project by Philip-Lorca diCorcia. In that project he secretly photographed people on the streets of New York as they walked under a scaffolding.
I remember that project getting lots of press and gallery attention right around the time Stephan and I were busy trying to get attention for out New York portraits. I remember, and to be honest, am still frustrated by all the attention Lorca diCorcia made off his clandestine, and in my opinion, wimpy portraits. Sure I'll get some heat for saying that but after shooting 20,000 New Yorkers and actually speaking with them during the process (or at least acknowledging them if I didn't speak hindi), it's fascinating and maddening to see an afternoon's work get gallery shows and a book published. Jealous is just the beginning of what one feels. Seeing him sued for one of the shots was obviously bittersweet news.
I find the work invasive, stupid and ultimately unsatisfying yet I had and have a vested interest in seeing the case side in his favor because his work is undeniably artistic. (His earlier "Streetwork" project is much much cooler by the way). The points raised in the article are fantastic and the historical precedence is dead-on. I don't need to get into it here. So as the appeal makes its way through the courts we can all keep and eye out for it in the news. Or come back here and Brud will keep us all informed.
Take pictures, stay out of the courts.
I remember that project getting lots of press and gallery attention right around the time Stephan and I were busy trying to get attention for out New York portraits. I remember, and to be honest, am still frustrated by all the attention Lorca diCorcia made off his clandestine, and in my opinion, wimpy portraits. Sure I'll get some heat for saying that but after shooting 20,000 New Yorkers and actually speaking with them during the process (or at least acknowledging them if I didn't speak hindi), it's fascinating and maddening to see an afternoon's work get gallery shows and a book published. Jealous is just the beginning of what one feels. Seeing him sued for one of the shots was obviously bittersweet news.
I find the work invasive, stupid and ultimately unsatisfying yet I had and have a vested interest in seeing the case side in his favor because his work is undeniably artistic. (His earlier "Streetwork" project is much much cooler by the way). The points raised in the article are fantastic and the historical precedence is dead-on. I don't need to get into it here. So as the appeal makes its way through the courts we can all keep and eye out for it in the news. Or come back here and Brud will keep us all informed.
Take pictures, stay out of the courts.
2 comments:
The thing to realize with Philip-Lorca is he was pretty famous BEFORE the "Heads" thing, and as everyone knows–once a certain level of notoriety is achieved, an artist can simply churn out any bunch of Crap to much public acclaim...
P.S. That Piero Manzoni piece is ironically pretty clever
i agree that street photography has a long and storied history and i'd be loathe to see it trumped by this case. that said, there's a fine line between honest street photography and simple objectification for one's own agenda. i have my judgements about di lorca's work falling to the objectification side however, should the gentlemen's case win it would be a very, very sad day for all those extremely senstive and talented photographer's who've dedicated their craft to street photography.
clay, i find you're streetstudio portraits and your other portraiture exceptionally dynamic!
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