Advice from a Master Photographer

[@changez77654]

I cannot believe this man is 85 years old - such clarity of though and lucidity about the topic of photography

[@anthonymahieu8392]

I dream of taking part in such a workshop! 🤩

[@jrynedanielson]

This is the kind of content I've really missed on your channel! (I'd kill for more of The Artist Series, btw.) I'd love to take your workshop, because I've been thinking a lot lately about how to continue growing as a photographer, but unfortunately I can't afford it right now. I hope you'll offer something similar again.

[@simonbnyc]

Thank you for sharing this excellent interview. “Learn how your lens sees and your lens will subsequently learn how your eye sees” is such a perceptive and practical observation.

[@bruce-le-smith]

yeah I liked the way he talked about mechanical objects like co-workers, really thinking of them as having an independent input on the work. I think I could benefit from that idea. I tend to focus fully on the idea I have, without really accounting for what effect the camera and lens will impose on it

[@jmtphotographymedia]

Totally agree. Great advice and perspective

[@Anon54387]

@@bruce-le-smith That actually caused a bit of a short circuit for me. I'm sure he's an accomplished, talented photographer but saying learn how your lens sees and your lens will learn how you see is so much pseudo-intellectual hogwash along the lines of someone saying I looked into the abyss and the abyss looked into ME. Lenses are inanimate objects. They don't learn anything. I was reading a magazine on oil painting, and the artists in those all seem to think that it is a requirement to spout some pseudo-intellectual mumbo jumbo to sell paintings as if prospective clients will not buy unless they hear this. One of them said I paint people in liminal spaces and explore the interface and juxtaposition between the public and private, that was the gist but BOY did they go on about this stuff. Translation: I do paintings of people sitting on window sills. Maybe photographers and oil painters alike need to learn to let their paintings and photos speak for themselves. I was at a county fair a few years ago, and they had a photography exhibit and an oil painting exhibit. How nice it was just to see an image with the name of the creator and a title. The title was the only hint of what the artist had in mind, other than that it was just the reaction to the photo or painting by the viewer. Someone once said that a novel is as many stories as those who read it because we all perceive it a little bit differently based on our own experiences in life.

[@aeromodeller1]

Make pictures. Make more pictures. Learn to see the way the camera sees. Charis was driving along and Edward asked her to stop the car. He got out with his 8" x 10" view camera and exposed a sheet of film. She couldn't see anything interesting to photograph. Back home he developed the negative and made a print. It was one of his famous sand dune pictures. Charis decided that she would not be a photographer. The difference between them was that Edward knew how to see what the camera saw. He got that way by making lots and lots of photographs.

[@araudan]

This really puts a stake through the heart of the hardware upgrade cycle concept. It's really good to hear said aloud by someone so qualified.

[@forgottenamericana]

Epic video. I could listen to you guys all day. Thanks for posting this.

[@thatmancalledhobbs]

Wonderful video Ted, thanks for posting your conversation with Ralph Gibson.

[@miguelsuarez1511]

Best 20 minutes I've seen on KZbin at least in the past two or three years. What a treat. Thank you.

[@kristiebussler1320]

Alex Kilbee introduced me to you. You introduced me to Ralph Gibson. My life is richer thanks to you all. ❤

[@Nitidus]

There's a lot more to discover! Enjoy the ride!

[@sahithyanambiharathinam]

Wow.. Same story brother.

[@kdavis99]

Ted, it's a fantastic point that this photographer raises that photography is an abstract version of reality. This is really point #1 that needs to be given to new photographers -- their lens will interpret reality different, so the photographer needs to get used to how to "translate that syntax" into what they envision the photograph to represent. 6 minute mark

[@randywaldron2715]

As a sometimes painter, I can attest that painters tend to start each piece with an established set of self-imposed limitations. Freedom within limitations. Structure

[@hhsymons3866]

I've looked at his work, and he has incredible photographic reflexes. The guy sees everything around him. He is so efficient in what he chooses to photograph. If you go out with him you may get 3, but he'll get 30. He is amazing.

[@barryweiss4880]

Thanks Ted!! Fabulous conversation!

[@ARTIST-AT-LARGE]

Thanks for posting this! Gibson was a major influence in my work while I was in art school back in the 70s.

[@roygumpel8415]

what school did you attend? I was at sva in 75 or so.

[@ARTIST-AT-LARGE]

@@roygumpel8415 I was majoring in photography at an obscure little art school in Pittsburgh, PA from 75-77. I knew about the NYC schools but couldn’t afford to move that far away.

[@mike747436]

Thank you. An entertaining and informative discussion.

[@tonydesarzec907]

Just wonderful. Thank you!

[@thomasclark631]

All reality is subjective.

[@charliewaterman816]

Love this. I'll definitely be watching this again.

[@BilBrown]

Likely the only living photographer that understands the philosophy of the art of photography is just as important science and tech. Wonderful as always.

[@lightbox617]

Can anyone give me advice on what group, besides Amazon Kindle, will allow me to publish small paperback art/photo books?

[@imjavierpalma]

Brilliant photographer. So much wisdom and experience, which for me is the best education.

[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

See what the lens sees … I get it! Thanks. PS: That reminds me of something a hockey coach told me once … “see what the puck sees”! 📷😄

[@joshatyt]

Thank you for your insights and wisdom, much appreciated

[@65WZ]

An interesting workshop, but commuting would be difficult/expensive for me. Any chance of touring the workshop across the world? :)

[@roygumpel8415]

i pretty much idolized Ralph's work back in '74 or so. One of my strong inspirations.

[@enricomarconi8358]

finally someone who talks about photography! Thanks Ted only on your channel and few others there are interesting talks like this one! otherwise gear a go-go... sadly

[@Masato938]

Could someone please explain what aspects of his photography are good?

[@dandrehamilton6598]

I really appreciate this conversation!

[@romiemiller7876]

I hope you publish a video. No way can I afford going to NY.

[@thierrybigaignon3410]

Always nice seeing you both 😊

[@artstuff7227]

For me, mastering your tools: Art brush and medum such as watercolour, Acrylic, oil paint, etc., If you are a painter, visual artist or Illustrator. Your gear, e.g., 4 X 5, 6 X 7 manual, adjustable camera or Pentax, Mamiya, Nikon, Canon, Sony automatic, semi-automatic or digital camera, If you consider yourself a photographer; you should dictate what you think and visualize rather than your gear dictating you the result, then, only then, you can call yourself as an "Artist" or a "Photographer."

[@PierreBurnaugh]

Great conversation and I'm sure you guys will have a great workshop! I'll always consider the four day workshop I attended with Ralph at his Soho studio in 93' one of the highlights of my photographic experience. Looking for and appreciation of abstraction is one of the concepts that remain with me today.

[@MegaBriarpatch]

Amen! Prince wasn't just a musician. He was music. If you practice the passion, in some ways, you become it. Even at a minimum, it becomes a recognizable part of you. Thanks for sharing!

[@sonofoneintheuniverse]

Great channel and a very focused quest - just like his images. Love his kind of post modernistic surrealist photography.

[@diforbes]

Great to hear Ralph's thoughts. The Next Level course is appealing but, sadly, not at that price for just three days.

[@blazerbarrel2]

He IS a heavy weight photographic artist , Grown up internalizing his work and then showing his stuff to teach with ! So thank you Ralph ! For all my years seeing somewhat through your eyes !

[@ChiliMcFly1]

Excellent interview Ted, thanks what a wonderful creator Ralph Gibson

[@bruce-le-smith]

Great conversation, thank you for sharing. That workshop would be great!

[@grahambrown8239]

As a past advertising pro photographer of 35 years when Ralph mentioned peripheral vision that was the G spot for me . ....

[@CarlosBenjamin]

The comparison to spoken communication with a parallel to a photographic syntax was so good.

[@1145914]

Thank you so much! You inspire me to take my old leica and go walk to the streets.

[@MatthewSeratti]

A bit circuitous and nebulous at times but I think an interesting discussion nonetheless.

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Quite a learning :) I had a great time watching this Interview :)

[@martinkammerer9376]

Thank you for sharing this interview.

[@sutirthade]

Will you be having a workshop in July

[@iblackfeathers]

in the video thumbnail, that man's hand is gigantic.

[@tesshu2000]

we upload you to the cloud- just hilarious😄

[@dilipmahore1009]

Best 👍

[@bngr_bngr]

I rather hear from David Burnett.

[@kjamestaylor]

absolutely wonderful🎩🎩🎩

[@julesnoelsmith]

great discussion! thx ted!

[@scroy65]

Just love these interviews.

[@sergenicolas3571]

À 20 mn masterclas TY 👍👍👍

[@felm.974]

That was awesome.

[@romiemiller7876]

Great interview.

[@jeffhulton7704]

brilliant!

[@BrandonHinsley]

Wanted to let yall know that B&H has the absolutely beautiful Ralph Gibson signature Leica MP in stock in their used dept. Limited edition number 17/50 for not much more than a standard MP!

[@mrdavie99]

I have Gibson’s book of Israel which you recommended several years ago. Great! I take humbrage, however, to his comment, “…drifting around the street shooting from the gut.” It was a loaded statement implying thoughtless shooting while “drifting around the street.” Of course one can’t be thoughtless when they press the shutter; however, catching the “decisive moment” often requires a quick decision.

[@stevewest870]

I bought his book Refractions 2, but it has typos and makes the most basic mistake of crediting the first known photograph (view from a window at Le Gras) to 1927!! I emailed his publisher and his assistan about this most basic error, but they never had the decency to acknowledge the error - we all make mistakes, but this is really not very good for someone who pontificates on how to publish photo books!

[@almostgreen9498]

Mr Gibson can still climb 2 flights of stairs?!

[@donaldbrocksmith9508]

I'll never get that 20 minutes back. I'm clearly not an artist, I shoot photographs.