Richard Avedon - An Autobiography In Photographs

[@MikeTSager]

This has to be the best series on photographers on KZbin. Clear, respectful, insightful, informative. Thank yoy

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Michael - this was my very first video shot in November last year. Seems like an age ago now!

[@Bombatron]

In the 15 odd years of consuming KZbin, seldom do I recall watching a video with such rapt attention and interest . I truly enjoyed having you open the picture book and leaf through the pages and tell stories. Truly compelling stuff, and may I wholeheartedly encourage you to add to the series by reviewing the work of the great photographers of the world especially with their picture books, if the budget allows. Thank you and keep up the phenomenal work! Subscribed!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you! I've been testing various formats, and will be revisiting the approach in this video soon. Just have to decide which of my 130 odd mongraphs to feature :D

[@JiveTrkey]

That diptych of Avedon's father hits hard. A strong, confident man on the left. A frail, confused man on the right. A perfect illustration of how fleeting life is and how time will have it's way with us

[@colinbradbury2334]

Avedon is one of those strange photographers whose style is so simple, yet so distinctive. It’s also a style that I think has influenced so much contemporary photography without most people being aware of who Avedon was. I bought a copy of In the American West about 20 years ago (before it started selling for silly money) and it’s still absolutely compelling. Great video - thanks.

[@danieljonesfoto381]

Thank you for doing this. I have been frustrated with channels I used to respect moving from the history of photography to gear reviews. This is what I need.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure! I'm pleased you're here and enjoying the conent

[@amountainofsmoke]

Your presentation has become more relaxed and conversational, but this is still a phenomenal first video, Alex. I wouldn't have guessed it was the first one on the channel!

[@crissignori7482]

Very very very nicely done .... thank you, Alex .... I bought two of his books today Evidence and An Autobiography .... looking forward to learning lots

[@vladimirartemyuk3720]

Thank you. Watching albums is very different from picking up images on the Internet. The approach and impressions that we lost in the digital media era.

[@timclark9051]

Thank you for your videos. I am hopelessly uneducated in art and especially the history of photography. As an amateur wildlife and street photographer I know how important it is to know upon who’s shoulders I stand. These brief lessons help me to identify the work that inspired my love of the captured image. I will follow up as you suggest and really dig into the life works of these amazing artists.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure!

[@DPImageCapturing]

Hi Alex! I went to photo school in the late 80’s and it was good, albeit I did have a teacher that was ok, but I had some that were good. I have been shooting since I was a kid and I have never took it as I am a “great” photographer. I am always learning, taking advice & critique from others and it has helped me grow in this journey. I am not into it to impress, show-off, make money, etc., I am into it for my own pleasers to see what I can accomplish, CHEERS!

[@elisanishimura974]

I found your channel today when the Seth Goldin talk came in my feed, you are a delight to listen. Then I watched the ones about Gordon Parks, and Desiree Dolron. I love her work, have her book and it was great to meet another fan. Keep up with your great work.Thank you.

[@peterhuskinson4111]

I’m slowly working my way through all your you tube work, because they’re extremely informing and make up a great library to fall back on. Thank you.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wonderful! Thank you for watching

[@jasonwalz5118]

This channel has very rapidly become my favorite.

[@gcote100]

You are great ! I learn so much from you .... I love your sensitivity ... Your knowledge... please continue to éducateur us .... I will for one continue to follow you

[@ThePhotographicEye]

So nice of you

[@ivondavid]

Thank you Mr. Photographic Eye, for helping us understand more about photography. Bravo!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

And thank you Mr Ivon. It's great to have you here

[@JerrisEverydayPeople]

I’ve watched this video several times and it never fails to delight. Thanks for the content.

[@ianjohnstone2432]

Definitely agree with Michael, one of the very best photography channels, someone should offer you a network spot Alex

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Cheers Ian - if you know anyone at a network feel free to point them my way :D

[@jakedooom]

Thank you (for returning me here, to this older video)

[@CanoeToNewOrleans]

Great video. Avedon's America West series is both touching and humorous. Thank you for sharing his work.

[@chrisloomis1489]

Love the photograph book in the West as I was a Teen from a broken home going out and working in the Oil Field in Wyoming , and Colorado at the time. Traveled all over the area hauling goods to isolated rigs and mines. Into my 30's lived there and never forgot the better days... the days of growing and expanding, a good time. Now in my 60's fondly I remember that place , the West in the Roaring 80"s fondly. The West of my youth. Now exploring a new beginning, a new journey in photography. I hope to go to SE Asia , Vietnam again better equipped. This time with my LF gear.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Absolutely loving these episodes thanks so much for producing them. Photography has been and still is my life it's a rare day I don't make images, but to be embarrassingly honest I don't and never have studied the great photographers in much more than a passing glimpse. I know the names, I know some of the work, but not their history or wider bodies of work. I'm not lazy I'm actually pretty industrious in my work, shooting for newspapers in my day job, shooting everything from street, sports, landscapes, events, in my own time, creating contents for my wee channel, trying to balance family life etc etc etc, I just don't have a great mental capacity to hold so much information, there's just too much photographic history to absorb and I want to be out there shooting, so now thanks to predominantly this and other great channels I can shoot the day, and instead of watching the same old boring crap on telly I can watch these lessons on the remarkable legends of photography. Again really appreciate the work you put into these amazing tutorials. Kind regards Paul.

[@mikskinner6431]

I really like the way you flick through the books while you narrate. It makes it a much more personal story. Please do more like this.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you ever so much for watching. I'll try and do a few more for you

[@ivanosrin2126]

Terrific presentation and series - a good selection of work but also relevant insight into the subject with no unnecessary waffle. Very enjoyable Thanks

[@ThePhotographicEye]

"no unnecessary waffle." Haha, never heard anyone say that about me! I'm well known for talking nonstop outside of YT :D Thanks for the compliment.

[@LisaSaffell]

Hey Alex, just discovered your Channel and I love it. The story about the Bee's was fascinating! Former bee keeper here and I can attest to the fact that a bee sting will bring tears to your eyes.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Welcome aboard! I've only ever been stung once, and it was, umm, quite a surprise! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@asheeshkchopra]

It is a pleasure to watch this video. Thank you so much!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jdalc5024]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching the channel giving new photographers an insight on how deep photography is as an art form. Have to watch the rest of the videos. Well done sir 🎩

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Awesome, thank you!

[@otavioleitefotografia]

Your channel is like a fresh air which came in through an open window. Congrats!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you! Glad you're enjoying it

[@sridipnag1117]

Nice, heavy hitter from the get-go of this channel.

[@atticautos484]

Wonderful content. I could watch these videos all day. More, please.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Deal! I'll see what I can do for you :D

[@MTimWeaver]

Avedon's "NASTASSJA KINSKI AND THE SERPENT" was the image that got me into photography, all the way back in 1981. For years, it was the only image of his I knew about. It wasn't until the 2000s that I learned of "In the American West", which is a beautiful series.

[@TheresaShuman]

I recently discovered your channel, and I really enjoyed your videos, thank you for making them! You reminds me of what is the true values of being an artist, its our soul and not the tools that makes the difference!

[@markfitzell8894]

I’m absolutely loving these videos. I’ve been watching photography videos on KZbin for 10 years and these videos are up there with the best I’ve seen. They are very informative and look amazing on a big screen. Keep up the great work. I’ve watched all your video. Keep up the great work. I find them very inspiring

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you so much Mark, glad you're enjoying them. Even if the early attempts are a little bit sketchy!

[@Yesthankyou8]

Fantastic videos, I find them addictive, I want to watch more. I’m starting my photography book collection with some of the books I see in your videos. Thank you

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Watch out, once you start it becomes an obsession and before you know it, your Amazon wishlist is miles long!

[@phoozchic]

Excellent series. Thank you.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

You're very welcome!

[@markpimlott6056]

Really enjoying your shows and makes such a refreshing change to talk about the artist/photographer and their work with your insight. Please do more on the likes of Jason Langer, Saul Leiter, Don McCullin... Michael Kenna, Masai Yamamoto.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Mark. Will try and do so

[@rogerfay6627]

Don't change a thing! I enjoy the photographers you have chosen to showcase and I find your thoughtful commentary and observations very insightful. Thank you.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I appreciate that!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Roger!

[@guidetheride2103]

I think this series of videos that you have and are producing is wonderful; you combine your reflective thoughts from your own photography early years of learning with your current depth of knowledge and expertly manage to connect the two with your journey between them at the same time you bring us along on that journey as if we were there with you. Facinating, really enjoying your channel, thank you.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you! It's really gratifying to hear that and thanks ever so much for your comment.

[@JoelTretin]

Thank you. I’m loving your insights

[@ThePhotographicEye]

So glad!

[@rembeadgc]

The human predicament, as I glean it from Avedon's photographs, is the deeply glorious and the frighteningly absurd, at the same time. If I may...James Baldwin was much more than just an influential figure in the Civil Rights movement. IMO, he was one of the U.S. greatest intellectuals who had the ability to read the soul of the nation and diagnose it's most damning disease, which it still suffers from today, largely not heeding the warnings of Baldwin. But, I know this isn't about James Baldwin. Appreciate your series.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure. Not being from the US, my knowledge of the Civil Rights movement isn't the best. Thanks for your input.

[@robert_skonblad]

Fascinating, many thanks for this!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@carlitodcreative]

Love it...! More in-depth studies of photographers and their work!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks! Glad you love them. Got loads more planned.

[@photoiconsexplained]

Great video with so many interesting facts! I didn't know 'In the American West' was only ever exhibited once in its full scope! But it might have to do with the fact that the museum that holds the negatives was instructed by Avedon that they may never be printed from again! They are for research purposes only. The negatives of the portraits Avedon took that didn't make it into the exhibition were also destroyed!

[@craigvanstraaten8515]

This is a great series Alex, looking forward to more.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Craig. Glad you liked it :) Will feature some SA photographers at some point - possibly Obie :)

[@BruceWalkerPhotography]

This is fine work, Alex, and a great service to us all. Thank you! I'd love to hear your thoughts on Helmut Newton, if that's not too many fashion photographers. :-) I am a huge fan of the fashion photographers. I am presently obsessing on Vincent Peters but he's not yet a classic for your series.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That's a great suggestion Bruce, thanks for making it. I'll add it to the list. TBH I'm also a big Vincent Peters fan.

[@edthesecond]

Yes! "I am very attracted by bad taste-it is a lot more exciting than that supposed good taste which is nothing more than a standardized way of looking at things".

[@kalengankonge6763]

Wow! I am new to your channel and I am also new to photography. I think you videos are simply amazing. I watch a lot of photography videos and i must say yours truly stand out. I am learning SO SO much from them. Keep making them because they are honestly appreciated.

[@thefireguy8564]

Really enjoyed watching that really well put together and presented

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for watching

[@svensester6360]

Thanks for this great video, Alex! My brother had a print of Avedon's Beekeeper on his bedroom door when he was a teenager and now 25 years later he's a professional beekeeper himself :) Besides that I missed "Dovima With Elephants" from Avedon, I found that quite iconic.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

This was just images from 'Autobiography' which doesn't include Dovima (or any of his colour work either). Glad you liked it. Great story :D

[@svensester6360]

@@ThePhotographicEye I missed that part, you're so right, sorry!

[@derricksansome236]

What a great series, thank you so much for your time and effort in putting these videos together, your channel is a great discovery and rapidly becoming my favourite channel. Lovin it!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you very much! It's great to hear you're enjoying them so much.

[@Rangefindergeneral]

great stuff many thanks for doing this.

[@iaincphotography6051]

Superb Alex.

[@veggiefella]

I just found your channel, very informative and very well articulated... I am subscribed and look forward to learning more!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Awesome, thank you!

[@andrewcroft2570]

Great first video, Alex.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you liked it!

[@carl-magnushogerkorp498]

Thanks Alex for fantastic content, with very captivating reflections on photography. We have a number of influential Swedish photographers, such Lennart Nilsson, Christer Strömholm and Lars Tunbjörk that have received international acclaim. One photographer, not known widely outside Sweden is George Oddner, who mastered many areas of photography and had an exceptional photographic eye that deserves some more attention. Oddner was assistant to Avedon in 1950. /Carl

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for all those wonderful suggestions. I shall enjoy looking them up!

[@carl-magnushogerkorp498]

@@ThePhotographicEye, Nilsson and Strömholm received the Hasselblad prize, Tunbjörk and Oddner didn’t.

[@RR-bd4bm]

Thank you Alex, this was great.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure!

[@heinzhagenbucher4714]

I’ve seen the bee keeper before, but seeing now more through the photographers eye, makes it more interesting. By looking at his work, maybe it’s just because of being made in an earlier age (technically speaking), as well as being Black&White, they have so much more to say, compared to the ones today, which are not at all bad, but perhaps too perfect. Meaning the technical, and subject matter. I hope you understand what I try to say with my poor Englisch. Often I would like to take my old film cameras out, just to get that kind of look again, but it somehow doesn’t suit our age and time. What I like the most, is your words about the vacuum of the images seeing on the screen. And it’s so true. All but a few of my own images, are only seen on screen, they no masterpieces, and also not just snapshots (I hope ☺️), but they do have not what I call a soul. About 10 I’ve printed in 60x40cm on a special paper, and they are so different. Thank you again for presenting this great photographer, and his work, and let’s us be part of your thoughts on him.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Heinz. Yes, I agree about seeing images on screen is so different to them in a book or printed. Especially the way a lot of older photographs are cropped/given 'tweaks' etc that makes them look different to how they were intended to be displayed. Your English is better than my Romansch/German/French!

[@uponthewing1501]

Hi Alex... Just a quick message to say thank you for your wonderful presentations, hard work and a most inspirational channel. I’ve been binging on your videos and enjoying them all immensely. Subbed and awaiting more...!🙏🏻😉

[@liamcreavin2533]

I’m enjoying the series, I also think those two suggestions that you have made at the end, these would be extremely useful and anything along the lines of how photography broke away from the purely document/ factual role it had taken upon itself. A sense that photography aligned itself initially in parallel to the painters of the day with whom they were associating with, late 1800’s, Pictoralism, its practitioners, the various factions and schools of thought which saw photography as an art form. Anne Brigman , Peach Robinson, Colburn, Steichen, Linked Ring, Photo-Secession, Camera Work, Stieglitz, If you’re then looking for other suggestions might I suggest Alex Prager, Julie Blackmon, perhaps the Dussel Dorf school of photography and it’s alumni? Thanks

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi Liam. Thanks for commenting. Glad you enjoyed it. There is a video here on Steichen, the others are all great suggestions

[@williar1961]

This is the Best photography channel on you tube, pity ted lost his way👍

[@christophecinq-fraix9245]

Thank you very much

[@tonycampton4231]

People I feel seem to go stiff and put on a face when a camera is pointed at them (what would have been the look on the bee keeper with the pain and tears of the stings /) Sorry Just a thought that ran through my head. I started at the first post you made Richard was the second , but at this point in time my head wants to soak up a more general how to, though i know in time like all the art books in my own library, i will browse all the exposes of the other videos to see the booked results of some of many masters. Thanks again, from those puffed eyes I do get the clue of the tears of the pain even so your narrated history did help. Tony Australia

[@blue47er]

This is a lovely channel for togs. Intelligently presented and reasoned, and a particularly interesting look at some special photographic talents. I'm still catching up and enjoying myself. Thank you.

[@adrianlong6701]

I found the pictures of his father captivating. I thought about the changes that had occurred in this man

[@derblae52]

I am a fine artist with a amateur's appreciation for photography. I do use it as reference and inspiration. I appreciate the aesthetic focus of your videos. Just an FYI. At 4:21 you say " 1922 he started to freelance.... ". ?

[@jameslee2736]

Alex, any thoughts about profiling younger photographers working today? I'd be interested in who are your favorites who are producing right now.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi James. There are a few coming out of Eastern Europe I'm quite taken with. Maria Svarbova is one of them www.mariasvarbova.com/

[@stevenml5748]

Thank you.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

You’re welcome :)

[@mjl1958]

"This gentleman on the right" is Giacometti. 3:40

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for the comment - You've now inspired me to go and look up Giacometti :D

[@durango-CODEBUILDER]

@@ThePhotographicEye Theres a good movie about him called Final Portrait.

[@3ilder]

Great video, thank you! Would love a video on Inta Rukas work like ”People I know”, stay safe!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks Anders. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@palomarAI]

Awesome content!! How about an exploration of Peter Lik?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Will see what I can do

[@JasonRenoux]

Interesting view on this great master. I really appreciate your work and this format. It was missing on YT even if some have tried. You may be onto something. Best of luck. I am going through "What Becomes a Legend Most: Biography of Richard Avedon" it is a rich and fantastic insight into his life and detailed biography. Highly recommend.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you enjoyed it Jason. Can't believe this video is what kickstarted the channel just last November!

[@JasonRenoux]

@@ThePhotographicEye well done and very brave to start with Richard, it worked!

[@TimGreigPhotography]

Nice work. The bee shoot story just went from bad to worse 😊

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Haha, yes, I was aware of the using bee hormones, but not the fact Avedon cared rocks about someone getting stung repeatedly! Thanks for the comment.

[@anthonygarcia3157]

Thanks

[@MikeTSager]

Have you done anything on surrealists or surrealism? I would value your thoughts

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Not yet, for the moment I'm sticking with photographers I'm more familiar with. Though please do feel free to make suggestions as we're all here to learn about new photography, myself included.

[@vasilisdurden2622]

Great work! We need more channels like yours. What is the name of the piano piece in the end of your video?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi Vasilis, thanks for the comment! Really appreciate it. The piano is part of the YT library of sounds, will let you know the name when I'm back near my editing PC and can look it up

[@vasilisdurden2622]

@@ThePhotographicEye thank you for your response :)

[@Blestyr]

Hi! Loved this video on Avedon, but wanted to ask what's the name of the piano music at the conclusion?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for the comment - the track is Alone With My Thoughts by Esther Abrami. It's part of a library YT supplies creators for music.

[@stevew7779]

A request. Let your videos run a few more seconds after you finish speaking, to allow time for people to hit like. I get absorbed and then it suddenly ends and the next one starts, but YT doesn't like people hitting like too early. Hard then to get back to a video without losing track.

[@FelixMantilla]

That's the Chicago Seven.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That sounds familiar, can you elaborate?

[@shawnmemew4767]

When photographing people, how do I get them to not get 'camera face'. How do I get them to be what they are without me around?

[@ChrisW.Fuji_Canon]

great

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks!

[@fredhannum4015]

The two page series I recognize as the "Chicago Seven" political activists.

[@gregorylagrange]

I always viewed Avedon's appeal as instead of being a photographer known for taking pictures of regular people, he's a fashion photographer known for taking pictures of regular people. His portraits aren't unique in any areas except for photographing people against a plain white background. Whereas other photographers, such as Walker Evans or David Goldblatt among others, would take pictures of people with the environment visible. People advertise who they are. In their dress. In their body type. In their posture. You can judge books by their cover. And that's essentially what Avedon did. Take a photo of somebody, and you end up studying what clothes they wear. What their face looks like. What kind of life they might live. Andy Warhol's soup can painting isn't considered a great painting because of how it's painted or what is painted. It's considered a great painting because Andy Warhol is a part of the social circle in the art world and his social circle is designating that it's a great painting. He does have photos that I like in his fashion and portraits. He does use fashion and explores it to create good photographs. But his elevation to me came from the novelty that the art world got from dabbling with the commoners so to speak. And I say this knowing that when he first showed his West series that it wasn't well received at first.

[@c64club]

I haven't seen all of your videos. They mostly are more lectures in "small but big" photography school than just videos of someone talking.

[@arcanics1971]

13:35 Is that Brendan Behan?

[@arcanics1971]

Never mind, I found that it is. What a great set of images. Every one seemed to have something to it that set it above the average portrait. Wonderful stuff.

[@Pacolad]

Henrik Purienne

[@oneeyedphotographer]

Where are yur photographs?

[@Hawksnest1022]

No how is it????

[@ThePhotographicEye]

haha, this was my very first video! No howzit, howzit yet :D

[@Hawksnest1022]

@@ThePhotographicEye I was so confused! Love your content!!!

[@robinbhairam7508]

Aggggh! 20 second ad less than 5 min in …

[@honeysucklecat]

Portrait photos usually don’t interest me, but Avedon is one of the few who does. (Really sick of the commonality of Yet Another photo of a pretty young woman, as though that is art, but it’s just crap 99% of the time.)

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for you comment!

[@claudiozuniga913]

To much talk about the bees, we want see more pictures. The series is good but should recomended books is somebody want to start her or his own personal library. Thank. No gossip those unkown myth please.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for your insight Claudio. Not quite sure what you mean about gossip and myth.