Mules
“Your typical artist is a mule.”
That is what Garry Winogrand said about the work ethic of a successful artist.
This is the only Winogrand photograph that I can find that comes close to being a mule. It’s a horse at the rodeo, and mules are half horse and half donkey.
The most interesting work that I have ever seen in a critique was a byproduct of hard work more than a perfect idea. Usually, such photographs were interesting because the photographer was still discovering what they were looking at; there was something to discuss. There have been critiques where someone has a wonderful idea, and they squarely execute it, leaving little room to comment on anything more than the idea. The idea may sound good but the work was totally expected, and therefore not especially interesting. It is at this precise moment a great idea looses it’s sense of intrigue. I believe that a great idea becomes better when it leaves room for discovery and visual thought.
I enjoy Garry Winogrand for a few reasons. One main reason is that he simply went out and photographed everyday. I am sure there were plenty of days that Winogrand didn’t discover anything with his photographs, he didn’t even develop over 2,500 rolls. He did, however, work more than any photographer I can think of. He also made a great deal of interesting photographs in his life without planning any of them.
I am confident that everyone reading this blog can learn from Winogrand, even if it is just the value of hard work. I should probably be making photographs right now instead of blogging about making photographs.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Winogrand’s “1964″ book helped me through a tough spot. That needs to be reprinted because its not easy to find and more than I can afford used. Photographing everyday goes a long way, and sometimes I wonder when I’m walking around Manhattan if I’m in the same place that some of those incredibly beautiful and strange Winogrand moments were captured.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
amazing pictures
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Seeing an idea or visual accident of happenstance in the everyday requires a kind of vigilance, awareness and active passivity. Winnogrand was a master at this method. Placing himself where the light and action would open up a moment, he would work for a while to capture the unknowable. With out his image, we cannot study the world at that level of transience.
He was a patient hunter, with a humorist eye. Often I think his images are misunderstood. Perhaps by people looking for something they already know, or some judgement or definition. Life in Winnogrand’s frame is about chance, opportunity and, about awareness.