Amazing Lessons In The Photos Of Robert Mapplethorpe

[@terrygoyan]

One thing that stands out to me is how soft the lighting is in most of his photos. Somehow he was able to isolate just the areas that he wanted exposed and didn't get any hard shadowing in the background or even light spilling over to the subjects clothing. Amazing photos.

[@parcm]

He deliberately used the square format of his Hasselblad as a style element. He always composed his images within the confines of this frame without cropping them afterwards. So the square became a framework for structure, geometry and symmetry.

[@JCcollazos1]

The best aspect of your videos is that you explain some of the technical elements like lighting. This is great info. It's obvious that you have knowledge. I worked with several of the greats. Wayne Maser was obsessed with recreating Mapplethorpe. He even dated a well known model, that Robert photographed. She would direct our lighting for campaigns.

[@manilamartin1001]

Thanks for separating the art from his controversial behavior. I love so many great artists like Mapplethorpe who inspired me as a young photographer back in the day.

[@travelrecordmusic8265]

So glad to see Mapplethorpe getting featured here! Very interesting and insightful…

[@davidwilliams1060]

I was familiar with his work and lifestyle but I appreciate your filtering to allow focus on the skill and beauty more than the more controversial aspects.

[@juliasumerling5229]

I have been a Mapplethorpe fan, since the early 90’s when there was an exhibition in Melbourne. Coming from a commercial photography school where we had The Zone System beaten into us (it was an intense course), here at last was a photographer who took all of that understanding and applied it into beautiful portraits and stunning art. For me it was a revelation discovering his work. Seeing the original prints (which would have been done by the also amazing photographer Tom Baril), on the gallery wall up close just blew my socks off! The detail and the dynamic range was unbelievable. I saw the original print of the Andy Warhol image you show in this video. It’s not a big image, probably life size. It was such a fine detailed image, when I stood in front of it, it felt like AW was alive, just holding his breath. The aliveness of the image brought a tear to my eye. I have never seen such perfection in a photographic image before. I was moved by a subject matter that I never felt much empathy for. Mapplethorpe is a true master of light, that is rarely replicated with such fine technique. And no book or computer screen can show his work as well as seeing the original prints in a gallery. If you ever get the chance to see originals in a gallery, do it. Great video as always. Thanks Jules

[@rdandelionart]

What a pleasure to read! I had the pleasure of seeing his works a few years ago in Sydney when they had the most recent retrospective/exhibition and it was GORGEOUS! What beautiful vision he had, and what a beautiful man he was.

[@juliasumerling5229]

@@rdandelionart yes, I went to that one also. It was so good to see his work again after so many years. The flower images were beautifully displayed and so haunting. A great exhibition, that reminded me that his work is up there with the greatest.

[@filmic1]

I have his"Flowers" monograph... just amazing.

[@erichstocker8358]

Thanks for showing the flower ones. I never even knew that he did these. Always thought of him as a people photographer. In spite of being as old as the hills, you taught me something new and revealing. I'll have to track down those flower ones.

[@brineb58]

His still lifes were awesome!!! He composed amazingly and loved light!!!

[@shaun53355]

So love your channel. I’ve come across Mapplethorpe before , but after watching this. Wow.

[@paulmstuart]

Amazing work by this photographer. Thank you for putting together this presentation.

[@oncleschultz]

Always sensible and sensitive points🎯...

[@mathstar4176]

His awareness of space being as important as the image

[@JaredTremper]

I wasn’t familiar with him, but I appreciated your introduction to his work. Quite interesting!

[@jaytomioka3137]

I think that Maplethorpe was so strong w/ shape and form due to his experience as a sculptor. It vastly informed his photography.

[@davidsparks6146]

Mapplethorpe was NOT a sculptor...

[@charliejg]

Have to take some time to view more of his work. I remember hear of him back in the 70s/80s, but wasn't really interested in photography then. I love the use of light and shadow in many of the images you displayed. They had distinct light and dark areas, yet were soft rather than harshly contrasty if that makes sense. Cool video! Have a great day.....

[@halcpt]

Thank you -- this was a delightful video. I have always really loved that 70s-80s NYC scene and often wish I had been there at the time instead of growing up in suburban Durban. Probably would have paid the price of dying young like so many of that scene though. I was interested in your comment about the portrait of Debbie Harry and the contrast of her pale face and blonde hair with the dark background, which led me to think about the possibilities of very high-key portraits that reveal different things through having subjects almost but not quite disappear into the background. Then of course that picture of Patti Smith (and thanks for the reminder of how badly I still want to read "Just Kids") of course used the framing of her dark hair rather than intrinsic contrast to create that background separation. So much to think about. Even those light grey tones seem so precisely controlled to reveal what they do. Thanks again!

[@Alsatiagent-zu1rx]

Btw: Patti Smith's first album was Horses (the name is plural). It is a remarkable piece of work.

[@arcanics1971]

His Patty Smith portraits are among my favourite portraits ever. Just so arresting.

[@Jackbrsp]

Everytime I come here, you fill me with the urge to photograph everything. Thanks, Alex. I freaking love your work, please keep going! Love from Brazil ❤️

[@prashannadahal1624]

Wow! Definitely going to check him out. Thanks,

[@heinzhagenbucher4714]

Very interesting, and so many fresh ideas. Looking forward to my next human photography. But will stay miles behind, and still enjoying it. Thank you Alex

[@garyweeks555]

A great addition to your channel. I love the way you've broke his images down and discussed the art style. Keep these coming!

[@jeffbaine4094]

I have always loved Mapplethorpes work. I have wondered if the white models used white makeup to look so alabaster. BTW the movie staring Matt Smith is wonderful.

[@thethirdman225]

If you’re interested in ‘the landscape of the body’, have a look at the work of Max Dupain. Bill Brandt did it too.

[@giordanobruno7943]

You keep delivering mate 👏 top stuff as always

[@ibp2007]

Wow, thank you so much. Enjoyed and inspired.

[@IdrisFashan]

We’ll that’s embarrassing. Lover of New York culture/subculture and I only ever knew of RM’s shock stuff and superstar portraiture. I had no idea about his other work! A whole new world opened up… THANK YOU! Your channel is an absolute gift to us all. 🤘🏾🧔🏾🤘🏾

[@richardsimms251]

Excellent presentation. I have his books. Thank you. RS

[@snowfiresunwind]

Some fantastic photography and a great, well put together video..

[@williamconfer9802]

Very interesting video.. Robert Mapplethorpe's photos seem to have a lot of thought process, I was curious, about the amount of time he would spend setting up his photos. Most of my work is Instant.. Street photography is what I l love..capturing people unaware of my presence. Asking permission to photograph them, I have done, but I aways feel a since of imposing when taking their pictures. Maybe because I'm conscious of other people's feelings. After taking my photos, I'm always critical of my work, by thinking, why didn't I take a few seconds more, and have my subjects change their hands or turn their heads slightly. I have to dispose this sense of "imposing on people" when granted permission. I love taking photos, that show passion or emotion. Very few of my photos would I grade them at "10," 10 being the best..I keep striving for the "Perfect Picture!" I guess I have to learn, a few more seconds in preparation could reap in "Benefits of Perfection!"

[@Rob.1340]

Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@jackwalls7170]

Funny, I was there at the studio with Robert when he photographed Debbie Harry...Debbie style her own hair. Glad to hear you speak highly of his work, he was my partner of many years.

[@fabioutrilla7109]

What was he like directing the shoot?

[@thethirdman225]

I know you didn’t want to talk about his more risqué work but I don’t think it can ever be far away in a discussion about him. It’s almost impossible to separate Mapplethorpe from his shock photos. There was obviously a reason why he took them and they point into the deep seated fear and insecurities of a lot of people. I tried to start a discussion about him, mainly about the technical value of his work, on a well known *cough photography website and I was greeted with a torrent of abuse. I had said nothing about that series. I wanted to talk about his portraits and his flowers. I wanted to talk about the technical wizardry in Mapplethorpe’s work. So maybe I goofed. The people on that site, who sometimes seem to descend into taking photographs of their Leicas to show how good their Summilux lens is, probably weren’t ready for it. But it seems to me that anyone who can provoke that level of response with that level of technical prowess must have been pretty serious about his work.

[@erichstocker8358]

Being in my mid to late 30s in the 1980s, Mapplethorpe's controversial photos turned me off completely. However, his eye for composition in portraits and B&W is something truly interesting and appealing. Some of his human abstracts remind me a bit of Weston's peppers. Almost interesting to study this great photographers.

[@anton0000001]

Thank you Alex 🙏

[@deegeeofpenryn]

Great examples of lighting and composition Alex but in the UK it really is “Trousers” not “Pants” please 😉

[@petesuchon7340]

Great video, thank you.

[@alstuart8801]

another great video. Thank you.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@gregstevenson7401]

Honestly, I struggle to appreciate Mapplethorpe in the same way that I pretty much despise Warhol. That portrait of Debbie Harry though. Wow. Recalibration needed.

[@rayanmattar8821]

Thank you ❤️

[@igaluitchannel6644]

However, I've heard it said of Mapplethorpe that he emphasized mid-tones over others.

[@Rob2000]

Funny how you missed the horse on the horses album....... I think that was a stroke of genius.

[@vangoghandloveyourself]

That was great! Thank you

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you :D

[@ibp2007]

Waiting eagerly from a hot Normandie.

[@ricardoleon2608]

Thanks

[@davidsparks6146]

Hey Jay Tomioka,... Mapplethorpe was NOT a sculptor... I studied his work back when I attended CalArts. What really set him apart was his courage to create images that provoked feelings. The emotional aspect of his subjects was secondary to the stark reality of how he portrayed them. Much like Annie Leibovitz for Rolling Stone... to catch an unguarded moment. Robert was the opposite... he created the moments.

[@manilamartin1001]

Yes. Well said. I'm 56 and remember him mostly that way as well. I studied at UCSD back in the 80s. And was a working photographer at the Getty. Man that was a long time ago.

[@RS-Amsterdam]

Do you have the film, if not I can try to find it and send it to you by mail.

[@TonyEbikemeJr]

Oh my. That Debbie Harry photo. Looked so like the Queen's head on the stamps.

[@klartext2225]

Great, thanks! But... shouldn't it be M-Apple-thorpe instead of your Maple-thorpe? Two Ps... someone please help me here, asking from Munich, Germany. :-)

[@andreaxyz3959]

There is no dada in his pix, sorry. The sculptural embedded in his work derives from what Clarke called human ideal, however not the ideal human.

[@kibbsnowden6893]

It does not hurt your photography to have to have celebrities photo taken by you !!!

[@walterbulyga2588]

To be honest - 90% of the value is that they are shots of very famous people. An identical shot of an unknown person will usually fade into obscurity. His printers did a fantastic job and he was an early exponent of TMax films. I have seen an exhibition of his and the prints are magnificent.

[@ticticboom1]

Why won't this play?

[@simonpayne7994]

Uncanny how this guy manages to turn body parts into a sculpture. One ingredient seems to be avoiding showing any texture. This, of course, has to do with his lighting.

[@Hofsaedter]

Those classics get boring by time because the are shown always instead showing living artists.

[@opolotpenekas4058]

I have a lion in me which I had not discovered but I see it getting groomed by your teaching

[@michaelmcclure9350]

Sophomoric critique

[@EduardodeRegules]

Sorry, I don't see the greatness in these photos. Simple lightiing, simple concept, they are, OK. Artist can produce mediocre photos and still be great artist because or their soul and work, maybe that's the case of Mapplethorpe.

[@kavorka8855]

I paid 1000s of euros for a good camera with expensive lenses, guess what, I hate the photos I take with them. One cannot learn art, it's an inborn. Full stop!

[@jaytomioka3137]

Of course you can learn art! The principles of Design: Shape, Form, Line, Color, Textures, etc. are the fundamentals of 2D composition. Just like with writing an essay or poetry, photography, drawing and graphic design are more than their technical parts. They are language. One cannot expect to be good all at once. I encourage you and everyone to practice and learn. Failure is often the best teacher. Talent is often mistaken for something inborn. It is not, but the result of years of invisible perseverance that resulted in skill. You can do it. Everyone can, but only a few will. This is true for Any Art from the visual to dance to video games or Yoga.

[@kavorka8855]

@@jaytomioka3137 thanks! I'll take your advice! :D

[@hrorm]

Its really awesome photographs but not very helpful video.

[@VeronicaBetty]

I really like what you have to say, but your hand movements so close to the camera are off-putting. It feels like you are gesticulating right in my face and it is stressful and subconsciously it feels threatening, aggressive, and frankly annoying. Like your flicking my face. It makes me stop watching. If you think about it compositionally, your hands are in the foreground causing chaos, literally batting your viewers away. While you face/voice recedes behind this constant static - getting lost. It also detracts from your professionalism and authority. Speak with calm poise, without hands in your viewers’ faces out of respect for us and your own expertise. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. This tweak would be much appreciated.

[@TheInformalstyle]

I enjoyed the video but those photos look a bit crap tbh. He has no grasp of composition and there's no context. I think people looking for inspiration in exemplary work in portraiture should look instead towards the work of Tony and Chelsea Northrup, who have set the modern standard with their portrait work and have a channel right here on KZbin.