3rd place~Group f/64~Michael Puff by Canon DSLR Challenge

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08-APR-2007	Michael Puff

3rd place~Group f/64~Michael Puff

With due homage and respect to Lois Greenfield, the most amazing dance photographer I have ever encountered.

Most pertinent to this challenge, from the Group f/64 manifesto:

"The members of Group f/64 believe that photography, as an art form, must develop along lines defined by the actualities and limitations of the photographic medium, and must always remain independent of ideological conventions of art and aesthetics that are reminiscent of a period and culture antedating the growth of the medium itself."

More about Group f/64 at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_f/64

Even better, from the Met:

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/f64/hd_f64.htm

Traveller, I hope this fits within the topic as you envisioned it. If not, Pending is an honorable place (which you have pointed out in the past).

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Canon DSLR Challenge		20-Apr-2007 12:37
Yes, wonderful work indeed. Sorry, for commenting so late on this one! -Cat

Guest		19-Apr-2007 04:54
Thanks Sam, iso, Debbi. iso, delighted to have introduced you to Lois Greenfield. I now completely understand how you feel about dance and movement photography...I don't think I've ever enjoyed a shoot so much. Just watching a dancer walk across the room is different than anyone else walking across a room. I'm hooked and hope I can do more. Delighted that the image is speaking to folks since I'd really like to continue in this direction. -Michael

Guest		18-Apr-2007 22:57
As usual, an awsome image. I'm glad someone asked how the clothes were 'hung'. I thought for a tiny second they might be held by fishing line...but no, tossing in the air is more interesting and dynamic. Debbi

iso3200		18-Apr-2007 19:23
This is awesome. I now have some Lois Greenfield books on their way from Amazon :) so thanks for the ref. This catches the feel of the similar Lois shot perfectly. Group F64??? Even though you've explained your thinking, it still doesn't fit for me. But I really couldn't care. Its a fantastic fine art shot in its own right. You know I love dance and movement shots so I couldn't fail to be impressed. The timing, pose and fab mono conversion are all there. And of course, your now signature blue jeans in the mix. A wonderful puffograph if ever there was.

Canon DSLR Challenge		16-Apr-2007 12:14
Grand shot ideed Michael, congratulations. Your explanation is very insightful, thanks for taking the time. Sam Attal

Guest		16-Apr-2007 05:38
Thanks Sharon and Melanie. Melanie, the clothes were extremely low tech. There were three of us. Me, the dancer, and an adept assistant (Barry of "Group Radius 0.3", photographers make great photographer's assistants). The dancer gave us a countdown as he went into position, clothes were tossed into air, the shutter was sprung. Needless to say, it's all hit or miss, but by the end of this series we were fairly in tuned with each other and got some grand shots. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 03:37
Beautiful and fun! How do you get the clothes to do that? Do you drape them artfully over something and shoot them, hang them, what? How do you get such interesting configurations? --Melanie

elips		14-Apr-2007 22:02
Excellent, Michael! Beautifully done! ~Sharon

Canon DSLR Challenge		13-Apr-2007 20:00
Wonderful Essay, Thanks, Michael. Best Wishes, Traveller

Guest		12-Apr-2007 05:40
CJ, thanks for the thoughtful response and it's valued way above $.02. However, I'm going to both agree and disagree with you, LOL. I think the belief the group espoused and the equipment available in the early 1930's are two separate issues. This group is the genesis of fine art photography as we know it today, IMHO. Large format view cameras were the equipment of the day. While I agree with you that their goal was to be realistic in their work (not imitating painting, etching, or any other art form), they were far from objective in their visual imagry. I cannot produce the look and feel of a large format view camera with a DSLR, nor do I think I should even try, and this image fails to do so. What I tried to do here was be faithful to the group's philosophy and manifesto. The manifesto is amazingly brief but brilliant. It does not call for specific equipment to be used but rather simply states f/64 "signifies to a large extent the qualities of clearness and definition of the photographic image". The only other reference to equipment in the manifesto is "that photography, as an art form, must develop along lines defined by the actualities and limitations of the photographic medium". Those "actualities and limitations" of 1932 are very different than those of today. However, the "actualities and limitations" do exist today. Further, the manifesto does not mention any particular photographic genre. It's members created landscape, still-life, portrait, nudes, photojournalism, etc. They were literate across a wide variety of subjects. For me, the core of the manifesto is "Pure photography is defined as possessing no qualities of technique, composition or idea, derivative of any other art form. The production of the "Pictorialist," on the other hand, indicates a devotion to principles of art which are directly related to painting and the graphic arts." And, the photographic medium "must always remain independent of ideological conventions of art and aesthetics that are reminiscent of a period and culture antedating the growth of the medium itself". So, I'm trying to say that I was not attempting to create a large format B&W view camera image reminiscent of the 1930's. IMHO, that has little to do with the essential core of Group f/64. I am attempting to create a photographic image which exploits that which is inherently photograhic and does not attempt to recreate ideas which could be expressed as well or better in another medium. Had I titled this image "Degas", I think you could rightfully expect to see something very different than this image. If you've actually read this far, then thanks for doing so. I might add that while I occasionally enjoy this type of intellectual exercise, taking pitchas is more fun. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		12-Apr-2007 02:51
Michael, according to all that I've read and seen of the works of Group f/64, I believe the large format camera they used required a long exposure and a rather static, motionless or slow moving subjects such as landscapes, portraits, or still life scenes over action shots. They espoused a belief in "Straight Photography" which I think refers to photography that attempts to show a scene as realistically and objectively as permitted by their large format cameras. As much as I love your flying clothes and dancer image, it doesn't seem to represent the ideals of Group f/64. I certainly could be wrong, I'm no expert, I've been wrong before and will be again I'm sure - just my $.02 worth! ;-) CJ

Guest		12-Apr-2007 00:26
Thanks all for the additional comments. Kiki, I don't know if this image would be possible with a large format camera...but I'd be curious to hear if anyone knows. Still, the manifesto for Group f/64 is fairly straight forward and I'm thinking it can apply to a variety of equipment. Gerry, you may well have me stylistically pegged with "art for art's sake", LOL. I am curious why you think manipulation of the subject matter (presume you mean throwing clothes) is outside the tenet of the Group f/64 manifesto. Many of the members, including Adams, did studio and still-life work. Still-life seems to me to be the ultimate manipulation of the subject to obtain a desired result. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		11-Apr-2007 21:05
Gratious and wild, and a classy setting. Very nice work. I would imagine f/64 means you need a LOT of light.. this would probably be utterly impossible with a large format camera. Interesting links - I wasn't aware of neither the group nor Lois Greenfield. -kiki2

mcbit		11-Apr-2007 05:56
This although a wonderful photograph strikes me as being outside the ethos of Group f64 and more in the realm of of "art for arts sake"! Although sharp and obviously a photograph, there is manipulation of the subject matter in order to achieve the desired result.

Canon DSLR Challenge		11-Apr-2007 03:44
Fantastic Michael... I knew it would be yours but I preferred to bask in the glory of it being mistaken for possibly one of mine before admitting that ... 'unfortunately it was NOT mine'! ... Much too good for me! ( But thanks for the complement Julie.) Beautifully photographed and professionally composed. I also learned about f/64 so thanks for that prompt. It does puzzle me somewhat as to how often one could actually use f/64... obviously not with a Canon DSLR? Wonderful post ~ Regards Melbob

Canon DSLR Challenge		10-Apr-2007 23:40
I too like shadows because I feel they add drama to a photograph. Plus in this image I think they help to sell the reality. Without them it would seem fake, but with them I believe it. Jim H2

ctfchallenge		10-Apr-2007 23:30
Well done Michael. theFly

Guest		10-Apr-2007 19:08
Yes, Nico, 'tis me. I don't seem to be hiding well, LOL. A moving jeans addiction...hmmm...possible, just possible :-) Julie, thanks. Traveller, thanks also, and I'm glad this is within the bounds of your topic vision. It didn't occur to me to remove shadows since I'm rather fond of shadows. CJ, thank you too. I too pondered whether this image was Group f/64 appropriate. Certainly they were a diverse group of photographers, from Ansel Adams to Imogen Cunningham to Edward Weston, and diverse in their subject matter. Above, in the caption, I've added a new link from the Met...curious what you think if you have time to read it. Since I have no experience with large format cameras, I did some additional research. Interesting that in terms of DOF, f8 on a 35mm camera translates to f60 on an 8"X10" large format camera. I'm not sure what that means in practical terms. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		10-Apr-2007 14:38
What a terrific image, full of grace, movement and flying clothes! It's wonderful but Group f/64? I just saw an Ansel Adams exhibit last weekend and I'm not sure this would fit his idea of what Group f/64 was about. Love this wonderful image anyway but I wouldn't try f/64 on this dancer! :-) :-) CJ

Canon DSLR Challenge		10-Apr-2007 12:01
No, no, no....I specifically had the Group f/64 in mind and had the movement mentioned in my original essay...but it got cut in the editing process...the piece was too damned long...and still maybe is. Great vision and nice homage...curious, would you want to remove some of the shadows on the left side floor? Best Wishes, Traveller

jnconradie		10-Apr-2007 12:01
Mr Puff, I presume? It seems you are simply unable to leave clothes in peace and quiet in the wardrobe. :-) :-) Perhaps similar some people who have IKEA addictions and others (!) who have witch addictions, you have a "moving jeans" addiction? I followed the link and learned an lot of new stuff I never even knew existed. Thanks for sharing... and of course congratulations on another masterpiece in black and white. Regards jnconradie

Julie Bird		10-Apr-2007 09:48
Lovely composition. Melbob again? Great in monochrome.