What Anton Corbijn Taught Me About My Photography

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Once again KZbin have demonetized this video. No reason why, and there is nothing I can see that would even remotely suggest it's not suitable.

[@wbluthier]

maybe it´s because you are relevant and meaningfull. Thank´s anyway and good roads for you.

[@paulineengelberts7276]

So sorry, I don't understand why but could they be against the Bowie image? Clutching at straws here

[@flightographist]

Well, upon close inspection and serene contemplation of your body of work here , I surmise it is because you and what you do here are "all that and a bag of chips". Art is what you create here, I'm not sure you truly realize that. Sorry for the trope but- although it may be a brave new world, the curators are still in control.

[@rogerhyland8283]

Thanks for your commitment.

[@gab99]

Maybe showing too many images from a book leading to some kind of copyright infringement?

[@chrisperceval193]

As briefly mentioned, a big part of Corbijn's B&W work is lith printed. Credit should go to Mike Spry of Downtown Darkroom (used to be upstairs from where Silverprint was near Waterloo for those of us who remember that far back!). Mike printed Anton's stuff for decades. He used Oriental Seagull grade 4 paper - the old Oriental Seagull. I know because I asked him. Mike was one of those who pioneered lith printing back in the 70s. Love that lith look and the grain it brings. Such a variety of looks you can get from it. Hard to replicate.

[@klartext2225]

Thanks very much for this comment! Yes, lith printing is kind of Anton's trick and surely his trademark. Gives his picture this edgy, hard and a little dirty look. But he also knows how to use props! Met him three times in Munich, very nice and polite guy. And quite a good film director with 4 feature films now.

[@arndtbc]

The right guy at the right place at the right time. His work is magic.

[@brutebrother]

Another great book is the 1-2-3-4 if you want to have a great overview of Corbijn.

[@myoung48281]

Some of us appreciate this lovely film look. The technology has rendered it as undesirable for most people that prefer the digital look.

[@KevinRusso]

I just went back to working with film and wet plate. It's been a real joy, I've come full circle.

[@justcallmesando]

I have an habit. Whenever I am tired of the music I am listening to I go to Anton Corbijn´s work and look at the bands and musicians he has photographed and they NEVER disapoint. The guy has not only the eye but the ears. You've got some damn good images of your own there Alex. Love them.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@RobertAlamo]

I do the same by watching Depeche Mode Useless directed by AC.

[@nodrog777]

The influence of printing style on the perception of Corbijn's work cannot be overstated. Initially, he experimented with lith printing, a technique he mastered independently before entrusting the process to professional printer Mike Spry at Downtown Darkroom. This approach was pivotal in crafting his signature, heavily-contrasted imagery. Lith printing, by its very nature, yields a dramatic and 'noir-ish' effect, characterized by its pronounced graininess. This distinctive quality rendered the use of very high ISO films almost redundant, as any regular mono film appeared as the fastest and grainiest imaginable after the lith process. The choice of Oriental paper for his prints was key to the process, producing results that were uniquely dramatic, and, crucially, looked great on the printed pages of the rock press. One aspect of Corbijn's photography not mentioned is his stature, standing at an imposing 6'5" tall. To capture his best portraits, he often turned to the Hasselblad camera. Its unique waist-level finder allowed him to maintain a comfortable, non-intimidating stance while framing his shots. In this way, he could avoid eye contact, and appear less threatening to his subjects. This subtle technique contributed to the intimacy and authenticity of his iconic portraits.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

For some reason, I don't see the video you are pointing to at the end.

[@JiveTrkey]

Corbijn is the reason I pursued photography as my career. Absolute legend

[@edwardduarte7393]

Depeche Mode before they went on stage at Dodger Stadium. Lights went out. Boom! Anton images come down 40 ft tall.

[@ronin5th]

Thanks. A new journey every time

[@ladymary22]

I like that. It is a journey

[@rogerhyland8283]

I’m always envious of people who followed an instinct and made a career out of it. I felt the same way when i discovered Salgado, thanks to the Wim Wenders DVD, Salt of the Earth. How lucky we are to live in a time when information is so readily available and what a pity that the truth is still so easily ignored or rejected.

[@patrick_h_lauke]

loved his work since his early U2 stuff ... my teenage (taste) formative years... great stuff

[@block242]

When music and photography collide

[@juliasumerling5229]

I too have the book “Famous” and it was monumental in my photographic development when I was studying. It’s a stunning book and full of iconic images. If you can get your hands a copy, it’ll be worth every cent.

[@seaeagles6025]

Hi Alex, i thoroughly enjoyed this video and the work of Anton Corbjin, great photos. I liked the photos of Bono, David Bowie and young Elvis Costello. I like there music and i still here there songs on the radio today. I will take the time to go through the photographers who's work i enjoy, that is my homework. Another great video, thank you. 😃

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@inikphoto]

Anton is an incredible photographer and director. He inspired me to become a photographer. I’ve been a DM fan since early 80’s and when Anton joined the band as their photographer and shot all their imagery for the ‘Music For The Masses’ album I instantly fell in love with his work. I have every book he ever released, Amazing!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That’s awesome

[@alexskoblov]

Thank you for such a channel. Very interesting and inspiring!

[@geoffmphotography9444]

Excellent review of a great photographer and a reminder of different times. Ilford's Delta 3200 was a favourite of mine for winter and I see it is still available! (once again starts searching ads for a 35mm film camera).

[@RobertAlamo]

Thank you again for an awesome video. I've discovered Anton being a fan of Depeche Mode. I also was influenced by his photography and film directing. He release a photobook of his photos of Depeche Mode. Check out Depeche Mode's Useless where Anton did he applied the differential focus where David Gahan was out of focus.

[@jd8012]

Hey Alex, as always, love the video. One small nitpick though, "Bijn" can approximately be pronounced as "Bine", like you would pronounce "wine", So us Dutchies pronounce his last name more like "Corbine".

[@andrewcroft2570]

Another fantastic insight into a remarkable photographer.

[@PUNKROCKGREENY]

Enjoyed this episode. Similarly Anton Corbin's photography I influenced my own. But was pleased you mentioned Robert Mapplerhorpe too. I only discovered his work via reading Patti Smith's books Just Kids and MTrain, where coincidentally her own photography features. Also resonates heavily and compliments the afore mentioned artists.

[@reefk8876]

Phenomenal work. Love heart shaped box video. Still grainy

[@J.AshleyNixon]

Thanks for making this feature, Alex. I loved Corbijn’s work as I went page by page through NMR and Sounds each week in my youth. You make some good points about how to put the influence from others into your work since “everything is a remix” For me, it was how he captured a mood, emotions, even played out some music through his images that has stayed with me as I continue to photograph musicians and performance. Stand out images for me in your walk through are Becker & Fagan, and Nick Cave. Photographic octaves!

[@d.williams2568]

Great of you to name drop the music magazines/newspapers of "NME" and " Sounds"!!!... very important and influential to the music as much as the photos they printed (and BECAUSE they printed them...) were at the same time!!!.... Anton was to the "alternative music" genre and promoting it as equal as was Ross Halfin and Mark Weiss were to hard rock/metal/Hollywood/glam in the pages of "`Kerrang" and "RIP"...(there were a LOT more photographers of rock/RAWK/metal so it kind of got watered down after while, but Anton was almost singular in his music style...just saying...) These second wave of music/artists photographers came along after Mick Rock and Lebowitz were to "Rolling Stone" of capturing, defining, promoting the music and the artists because that was what we HAD back in those days!!! (cough,cough,wheeze...) It was ALL we had, but what makes these photos great to us (even now...) is that we could HEAR the music IN these photos!!!... Look at the photos, hear their music/your favorite song by them; Listen to music, see these images in your mind...that's the way it worked!!!...

[@J.AshleyNixon]

@@d.williams2568 good points. We could imagine being at gigs, or get a feel for the back-life stories, from those photos in the music papers. And, you didn’t get them from anywhere else.

[@aubreyheyy]

Thank you so much for your channel. Makes me fall in love with photography all over again.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Happy to hear that!

[@edc5338]

He directed The American and A Most Wanted Man. Great films with a nice pace and atmosphere to them.

[@Rob.1340]

Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks, you too!

[@xtra9996]

Those photos are magic.

[@bdcooper5855]

I NEEDED this soooo much this morning. Thank you for your insights.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

You are so welcome

[@bdcooper5855]

@@ThePhotographicEye This is maybe the third time that I've bumped into one of your great (GREAT!) photographic videos that just happened to speak directly to a creative impasse that I had been facing and all at the very moment I needed it. It all seems almost cosmic. I super appreciate your insights and personal, heart-felt way of speaking about photography as a whole. You do a very good job and again a BIG THANK YOU! I will join when I have more money, I promise.

[@julianperkins81]

Superb exposition!

[@TheAlanPee]

Oh I do love Corjin's work reminds me of Donald McCulum (different subject matter), but nevertheless similar approach. Never mind the fact that images aren't "sharp" what about the composure and the emotion - again great episode Alex!

[@klartext2225]

Wow. First Alex' wrong spelling of ANTON COBIJN, now you with CORIJN. It's CORBIJN. Reminds you of... DON MC CULLIN (his real name, not your pathetic Donald McCulum) Try to write some sharp names, will you?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for watching

[@Daniel_Zalman]

Ah, the one of Allen Ginsberg...the strong contrast, the shadows, and choice a profile shot, make it look like a sculpture.

[@13opacus]

Isn’t it funny how great photos can so often be, technically, completely the the opposite of what is considered a good photo!

[@edwardduarte7393]

Anton is so cool. See he rents a panoramic camera to shoot the Joshua tree cover and does not realize there is infinite setting. So he shoots and realizes the band a tiny bit out of focus cause they were too close. Students NEED to hear these stories.

[@johnclay7644]

Informative video.

[@AK-hk2pd]

Great journey

[@AbieWriter]

Thanks. Enjoyed this.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Our pleasure!

[@eduardogalvantorres1030]

Great video thanks!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you liked it!

[@AdventureDriver]

I've been lugging around a framed photo poster of Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) for 30+ years across many houses and continents, which is signed by KOOOS, and that is a pseudonym of Maarten Corbijn, younger brother of Anton. An epic photo. And it is irrelevant who's depicted.

[@TheNitebinder]

Anton Corbijn photography is in keeping with the grim and gritty look, from the 1980's and 1990's. It has the German surrealistic appearance of 1920's horror films 'Nosferatu' and 'Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'. Some photographs are nightmarish.

[@donaldgibson1642]

Thank you ...

[@kevinvierwind]

It's Corbijn not Cobjin - I think Alex made a typo in the watermark near the images

[@keithreynolds6359]

And keeps pronouncing his name wrong.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

@keithreynolds6359 feel free to make your own video Keith

[@DennisFreeland]

I was looking through the images and at about 3:30 mins in there was a small group of images I actually liked. When I looked more closely the images were yours. But perhaps no surprise to me as when punk came in I tuned out. All a bit dark and grim for my tastes at the time and apparently still is :)

[@Owenwithee]

Which photo book is the best overview of Corbijn's work?

[@Daniel_Zalman]

Alex, if I wanted to experiment going a little wider than my comfort zone...50mm and 85mm...what would you suggest? A 28mm? 35mm? Tamron makes a 20-40 f/2.8 for the Sony E mount, which is what I use (Sony a7iii).

[@windynotes]

Am curious are there any photographer from Asia that had inspired you like the others you mentioned?

[@jpdj2715]

Great video, as always, Alex (Note: it's Corbijn, not Corbjin - the Dutch pronunciation of the Dutch "ij" today is like the "ei" in Italian)

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for that!

[@southendsites]

Did Anton Corbijn do live music photography? Curious You have only shown staged shots... His work has style but is it any more than celebrity fashion meets art.

[@kodithebear]

The dodging and burning game is strong in this one 😅

[@ladymary22]

IDK does anyone really find their way? I come here to find many ways

[@acemanNL]

Anton Johannes Gerrit Corbijn van Willenswaard

[@innercynic2784]

Ole "Blue eyes"?

[@jamesoliver6625]

Have to disagree Alex. I find these images entirely pretentious, even posed. Much in the same way I was totally disabused when i found out the reality of Dorothea Lange's work rather than the false circumstances she herself promoted as the backstory. The image at 5:20. Is that a "studio" shot in the dressing room of a smelly dive of a joint, or a Cartier-Bresson encounter in the hallway right after a hour long set. It's a question of authenticity and 100% why I'm in aw of Vivian Meir. As for Maplethorpe. Shock value only has value if it's culturally uniformly accepted that those offended by the shock, should not be, by rightness, be offended. If the shock is even tacitly approved, especially if the approval is in some some sort of self serving mea culpa, then it's not shock but pandering in the worst, almost commercial, way.

[@dirkpehrke9909]

I kind of lost respect for him when he portrayed mediocre artists, I can’t stand by the life of me😂, like Bono and many others and artificially gave them a significance and deepness they don’t have. I - if I had his abilities- would have taken the money, too, but it gave his style something that cries cliché. Still like his early work, his style and Joy Division were a perfect match. But a lot of his later work looks cheesy.

[@00sinders]

He perhaps likes what U2 do a lot (well he obviously does!) and sees something in them you, and I, don't. Nevertheless U2 weren't afraid of tackling heavy subjects both in their music and otherwise, which I do think fits Corbijn's style. Unfortunately he later went on to photograph Jon Bon Jovi, and the less said about that the better..:) He's a working photographer, not an artist per se, and sometimes it's just for the $..