Today was the Martin Parr talk and it really was an eye opener.
I'm not sure that it will have been quite what people hoped for, i myself anticipated a talk based much more on his own work, however what was said was far more helpful than any viewing of a back catalogue of photography.
There really was a wonderful 'no shit' attitude from him, and he clearly recognised a sense of apathy in the room. He's obviously no idiot, and why would he be, he's incredibly successful and has been doing what he does, very well, for over 30 years. I therefore respected his views, his knowledge much more than i would many, as he clearly understood the frame of mind many students are in at this stage of art college. You either want it, or you don't. If you want it you need to pull your finger out, otherwise this is a waste of time and money being here. Right now i feel as though i have wasted around £10,000, not working as hard as i could have done, not taking advantage of what i could have done.
There really was a wonderful 'no shit' attitude from him, and he clearly recognised a sense of apathy in the room. He's obviously no idiot, and why would he be, he's incredibly successful and has been doing what he does, very well, for over 30 years. I therefore respected his views, his knowledge much more than i would many, as he clearly understood the frame of mind many students are in at this stage of art college. You either want it, or you don't. If you want it you need to pull your finger out, otherwise this is a waste of time and money being here. Right now i feel as though i have wasted around £10,000, not working as hard as i could have done, not taking advantage of what i could have done.
For some this is just a stepping stone Parr recognised as once being a tutor himself that only the most dedicated students get far.
Fuck being the loser who gets nowhere, and fuck standing by and watching while people no better than i am get what they want because i was too lazy to try. I am quite frankly sick of my attitude towards art and it's about time i pulled my finger out of my arse and did what i came to do.
Thank you Martin Parr for making me realise i am a shit artist. At least someone did a good job.
[This makes me want to marry Martin Parr, yes yes, the specs are the sex]
Oh and on a less agressive note here is some lovely work by my elective tutor Peter Mitchell. I remember last year he was talking about porn and then being ever so slightly sexist so personally think he is quite possibley nuts, but that can only be a good thing. If you get on with him well then you're sorted and i felt we did. He's been working hard at it for a good 45 years [i reckon he's about 65, god forbid if i added a decade] and his knowledge of the lens shows. His projects in the 1970's in which is worked alongside black and white photography of Eric Jaquir, stirred up a lot of controversy for what was at this time a very modern approach with the use of colour film.
He like Parr is passionate and obsessive about what he does. His subject matter homes in on life in the North and he also has a bizarre obsession with ghost trains. I love the use of colour film. I'm not sure when this changed as i only used to have an interest in black and white, but really so many images can look better black and white, it's hard to make something look incredible in colour, you have to know what you are doing with the camera. And non of this digital malarkey, all analog. yes please oh yes. Brilliant. I can't wait to start my photography elective.
>>>>
Small funfair in Roundhay Park, Leeds, 1982 / Home of the Underhill Brothers, Starbeck Lane, Stoke on Trent, 1982
Oh and on a less agressive note here is some lovely work by my elective tutor Peter Mitchell. I remember last year he was talking about porn and then being ever so slightly sexist so personally think he is quite possibley nuts, but that can only be a good thing. If you get on with him well then you're sorted and i felt we did. He's been working hard at it for a good 45 years [i reckon he's about 65, god forbid if i added a decade] and his knowledge of the lens shows. His projects in the 1970's in which is worked alongside black and white photography of Eric Jaquir, stirred up a lot of controversy for what was at this time a very modern approach with the use of colour film.
He like Parr is passionate and obsessive about what he does. His subject matter homes in on life in the North and he also has a bizarre obsession with ghost trains. I love the use of colour film. I'm not sure when this changed as i only used to have an interest in black and white, but really so many images can look better black and white, it's hard to make something look incredible in colour, you have to know what you are doing with the camera. And non of this digital malarkey, all analog. yes please oh yes. Brilliant. I can't wait to start my photography elective.
>>>>
Small funfair in Roundhay Park, Leeds, 1982 / Home of the Underhill Brothers, Starbeck Lane, Stoke on Trent, 1982
A New Refutation of the Viking IV Lander
Kingston Racing Motors, Leeds, 1974 / Hudsons Newsagents, Seacroft Green, Leeds, 1978
All Images © Peter Mitchell
I can't seem to find a website nor can i imagine he likes technology much however when elective starts i may re-edit this with a link to his website if i find that he has one.
You wont find Peter on a website. He still uses photographic 35mm film and enjoys the control a manual camera gives. The college is lucky to have him teaching but he doesn't take prisoners either. So if you are getting Peter for your elective make sure you get things right as darkroom skills are vital to him and he wont accept anything less than the best. That said, isn't that what we all should expect?
ReplyDelete