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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Visual Art One Of Those Photographs That Would Be An Utter Failure If It Were A Painting

Posted by Jen Graves on Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 12:56 PM

Photograph by Johannes Bojesen

This striking image from the Week 11 Gallery of National Geographic's 2012 Photo Contest depicts a drowned sheep most of the way submerged in a frozen swamp—but what's not submerged has been eaten away by birds, exposing a skeleton still encased in the otherwise untouched body of a sheep.

John Berger pointed out that what makes photography so strange and unforeseeable in its potential consequences is that its primary raw materials are really light and time.

"Photographs bear witness to a human choice being exercised in a given situation," Berger wrote. "A photograph is a result of the photographer's decision that it is worth recording that this particular event or this particular object has been seen. If everything that existed were continually being photographed, every photograph would become meaningless."

But in this case, the twist is that there seems to be very little decision-making of any kind going on—how could a human not take this picture? Nature in the form of the hungry bird mouth and the hungry human eye have ganged up on the sheep. They are in cahoots. The sheep is just stuck there, a spectacle waiting for a photograph.

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I know a good way this would make a painting. :X

Posted by Paxlotl on December 2, 2012 at 1:39 AM

:PX - my painting of this photo ;)

Posted by Paxlotl on December 2, 2012 at 1:32 AM

A successful painting or photograph must take perspective into consideration. This is an interesting subject with shitty perspective.

Posted by merc on November 30, 2012 at 1:23 PM

I completely agree with the headline. No matter how beautifully or powerfully rendered the painting would not have the same fascinating effect.

It was nice to see that headline so bluntly thrown out there because it's something I think about a lot. When you are out in the world, constantly sizing up compositions, there are a lot of interesting things that would not work as a painting, and many others that won't make a good photo.

Posted by Marph on November 30, 2012 at 12:23 PM

I really like this photo.

Posted by venomlash on November 30, 2012 at 12:09 AM

@12 That too. It would make a dramatic and scary painting that could be even more interesting than a photo.

Posted by Sandiai on November 29, 2012 at 10:42 PM

No doubt. Photography IS art.

Posted by Sandiai on November 29, 2012 at 10:38 PM

Its ridiculous to think no one could successfully paint this. Obviously this statement is the failure.

Posted by Sat@narchist on November 29, 2012 at 10:34 PM

I disagree with the arguement referenced by Chris B @1. One of my favorite things to do with my daughters is to give each of them a camera--sometimes film, sometimes digital-- when we are out and about in the world. The girls are spaced over a 10 year span in age, so their perspectives are different not just in terms of height of vantage point but in terms of personal valuation of what makes a good shot.

Posted by catballou on November 29, 2012 at 7:24 PM

@9, I agree.

Posted by Simone on November 29, 2012 at 5:08 PM

I agree that this is a great photograph, but strongly object to the assertion that there weren't any decisions involved in making it.

Posted by Josh Bis

on November 29, 2012 at 4:52 PM

That photograph fucks up my day every time I scroll through it.

Posted by Bauhaus I on November 29, 2012 at 4:52 PM

I thought it was a hippo somehow.

Posted by Sandiai on November 29, 2012 at 4:44 PM

haha, Bean. I was just about to comment that Graves seems to be morphing into Mudede.

Posted by sassafras on November 29, 2012 at 2:52 PM

That is a really good photograph.

Good one, Bean!

Posted by floater on November 29, 2012 at 2:25 PM

"If everything that existed were continually being photographed, every photograph would become meaningless." - The wicked creators of Instagram.

Posted by Tovirus on November 29, 2012 at 1:57 PM

Mudede... please get away from Jen.

Posted by Bean on November 29, 2012 at 1:19 PM

http://g3.std3.ru/G/1/F9/93/35139-8019ab… Heres a bigger version.

Posted by Gage on November 29, 2012 at 1:16 PM

I was reading a book on modern art last week that included an argument that "If you gave ten people ten cameras and had them take pictures of the same landscape..." which would lead to the same pictures, unlike giving ten people paints or charcoals, which would allow for the personal touch in a way a camera couldn't.

I've been grasping after this sentiment but failed in finding just the right words. Thanks, Jen. I'm going to remember this quote.

Posted by Chris B