William Eggleston - A quiet revolutionary

THIS VIDEO: Provides an overview of photographer, William Eggleston and his work. His photographs of the everyday are both familiar and oddly unreal. It was (and is) tough to understand his work, particularly because many of his images seem to show nothing of substantial importance in them. He leaves it up to us to do the work to figure out these mysterious moments and places. He calls this ‘photographing democratically’ - meaning that every element of his pictures carries equal importance.
ABOUT ME: The conversations focus on topics related to different aspects of photography including: art, documentary and photojournalism. The discussions explore the personal experiences of photographers and artists and how their work reflects both their internal and external landscape. During the past 30 years I have photographed in over 50 countries for magazines including National Geographic, Time, New York Times and Newsweek. I have held solo exhibitions in New York, London and Paris and my work is showcased in private and institutional art collections around the world.
WEBSITE: www.graemewilliams.co.za
FACEBOOK: / graemewilliamsphotogra...
INSTAGRAM: williamsgraeme
1 on 1 MENTORING: graemewilliams.co.za/mentor-p...

[@gc2161]

His photos are amazing.

[@Bredbeddle]

His work has grown on me substantially. The democracy of his images provide an innocence to the viewer, which is quite powerful. It's like looking at the world as a kid again, and that idea alone is very beautiful.

[@PhotoConversations]

That's a very real description of how one can connect with his work.

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

Saw a small exhibit of his early black and white work in Nashville. You are correct in saying that the color is what makes it work. No one would be interested in the black and white if he had not gone on to do exquisite work in color. And yes, everyone needs an editor.

[@nocommentnoname1111]

A really unique photographer.

[@sandiegobailey]

One of my favorites of all time. And I’m a Bernie liberal. I have quite often tried to emulate his way of seeing in mine own photographic exploration.

[@PhotoConversations]

I'm with you on that - he is a real original.

[@bowenisland100]

I dig his photos, and you picked many of my favourites! Really enjoyed you discussion of his work.

[@matthewiles4789]

Very enjoyable. While I like Saul Leiter's photography better, Eggleston's certainly has its place. It more challenging than Leiter's I think. You are right to say he needs a strict editor. Again, thank you for putting this and other reviews together.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Matthew

[@lensman5762]

I have never had any time for Eggleston, but Surprisingly I have e joyed looking at his photography recently. I think it would be great mistake to try and read too much inoto his photographs. I started enjoying them once I stopped looking for the unseen, or the subject behind the subject. As Rumi wrote nealy 800 years ago, there are as many paths to God as there are souls on Earth.

[@PhotoConversations]

A nice approach...Rumi knew a thing or two

[@iainmacdonald7034]

Excellent, succinct, and enjoyable summary of the man and his work. Thank you.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Iain

[@neill6189]

Really enjoyed this, thanks very much for putting it together. 👌

[@ranradd]

Thanks for this. Eggleston is a master, no doubt. I have his book on my livingroom table and have seen his images at the MOMA in San Francisco. One of my favorite photographers. Interesting that A. Adams wasn't impressed with his work.

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi I would have loved to see his original prints- maybe some time.

[@cameraman655]

I am not, Adams was arrogant and elitist as they come.

[@Dan-jg7zl]

Adams was an arrogant dick.

[@geoffmphotography9444]

Very interesting. I have had Eggleston's Guide for years and I often refer to it. It is a struggle to get to grips with his work and your helpful explanation is useful. Thanks.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Geoff. Glad that you found it helpful.

[@gurugamer8632]

What’s the guide book called ?

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Guru That is the name of the publication. It has tricycle image on the cover.

[@colinmclellan77]

Succinct and with photos I haven't seen before. The tension and clean cuts reminiscent of Degas bring the subject forward. Thank you for sharing.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Colin

[@jaceyang]

Thank you for putting together your contents. It’s very inspirational and educational as well. I also find your voice and narrations very soothing!

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks so much!

[@thomaseriksson6256]

Thank you again for the lecture

[@nightfiredance23]

Like every form of art it could talk to you or not! Looking at what he seen during his trips and the way he photographed it is very interesting to me.

[@PhotoConversations]

Yes, it is more of a stream of consciousness experience.

[@dlyon9673]

Thank you for this very interesting video. I'm especially happy to have learned the term "vernacular photography"! I like Eggleston's work a lot, and believe he really cracked open a way of finding beauty in what otherwise might seem meaningless and oppressive surroundings.

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi D I also carried around that term for along time before I understood what it meant.

[@CasualPrince]

Thank you for this video.

[@stephenroberts7828]

Gr8 vid thnk you

[@marklevine1100]

I think a lot of his work is really interesting and beautiful, but is somewhat diluted by subpar images. If his body of work was more tightly edited, he would still have an incredible amount of extraordinary images.

[@PhotoConversations]

Yes, I think his editing process needs some serious tightening. As soon as one gets too famous the people around you start to say everything that you do is great.

[@royhobbs785]

Today with smartphones pictures are ordinary and cheap and rarely printed. Eggleston used a small camera (Leica) and had many of them. His ability to use the dye transfer printing process because of his wealth was his claim to fame. When enlarged in a gallery it's well apparent that he knew what he was doing.

[@nickfanzo]

He shoots medium format too.

[@VideoBikerDude]

Great coverage of Eggleston and his work

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks VB Dude

[@susyelio]

Henri Cartier Bresson, the god of photography, saying “color is bullshit”. Eggleston:

[@gc2161]

One of Bresson's favourite photographers was also Erst Haas

[@straydog6166]

I think the pregnant woman in green is his wife Graeme, but I may be wrong.

[@genernator]

Grandmas Instamatic pictures from the 50's and 60's! How...uhh...delightful. Bless his heart.

[@PhotoConversations]

Ha-Ha - Yes, like grandma's, but better!!

[@genernator]

@@PhotoConversations He is embarrassing. One ASSUMES that his work is deeper than it seems but it is not. It is visual gibberish. Mindless babbling of a photographic incompetent that leaves it up to the viewer to make some sense of it. The emperors new clothes. He’s naked, everybody!!!

[@tomdivasion7724]

@@genernator It's ok not to understand it.

[@genernator]

@@tomdivasion7724 Have you contemplated your navel lately?

[@jeffreyolson2139]

​@@genernatorso sorry your comments have no likes. Good that you have an opinion though, it definitely separates you from a single cell organism. Congratulations!

[@uniktbrukernavn]

Interesting that Bresson and Adams didn't like his photographs, perhaps due to Eggleston's loose style, very little regard to precision when composing and framing his photographs; bits of buildings cut off ever so slightly, same with shadows, hands, feet etc. Although Bresson was arguable even worse, often not even managing to focus the lens. But he was french so one must expect to be spat on, such is the french tradition, even in retreat. I think Eggleston has become popular due to time, patina, melancholy, charm, and old cars, old everything. This gives his random photos something special. We can never go back so all we got is photographs from the old masters. It sounds like I dislike Eggleston but I don't. I find him inspiring because he shows us that you can find something to photograph everywhere, you just have to see it. It's not as easy as it sounds. I guess as an artist you need a certain arrogance and self-belief otherwise the world will cut you down. That goes for Bresson and Eggleston.

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi Yes I agree that there is a big nostalgia factor involved with Eggleston's popularity. It's also not only did he see and photograph the ordinary, but he had the chutzpah to believe that he was producing art....the French in retreat...why die when you can have another glass of wine.

[@Hirsutechin]

The price placed on the tricycle photograph doesn't improve its appeal or interest one whit: a fool and his money are soon parted. When looking at Eggleston's photos I feel the cigarette smoke catching the back of my throat, smell the spilt bourbon and hear the rattle of Quaaludes in a tub: some would call that nostalgia, but I don't value any of these things, nor the photos. Phooey to democratic photography.

[@PhotoConversations]

Not a fan then?? What's wrong with bourbon?? Cheers

[@Hirsutechin]

@@PhotoConversations you drink yours off the carpet, do you? Ewww… 🤣

[@PhotoConversations]

If I have to!

[@jimherr152]

Eggleston is a hack. Come on guys, no one sees his ridiculously ordinary composition and silly, banal color technique? His skill was charisma, over confidence, timing and art community connections. Nothing else. The arrogant critic tends to intellectualize things they don’t understand and rationalize, justify and uber-explain why “the rest of us” don’t get it. Absurdity on a Shakespearean level.

[@PhotoConversations]

Hey Jim No problem.

[@tomdivasion7724]

Must be odd to interpret art in such a black and white way Jim.

[@jimherr152]

@@tomdivasion7724 if art is boundaryless , is it really art? If everything is art, then nothing’s art.

[@911TruthFighter]

In its own way this video sums up one of the major problems with photography.