Did image searches on Google just get better!?

I started writing this blog post about how poor the search images in Google was. In the past when I wanted to do some research on the style of a photographer I found the inability to remove duplicates, having to deal with mis-tagged images or not being able to see full size images was a frustrating experience. Even using a software like Cooliris did not not overcome the inherent weaknesses.
Today I went to get an image for this post and I checked two artists - and was surprised that I didn't get aggravated by seeing the same pictures over and over again.
I still believe it is important to review photos as the tactile medium that they were intended to be, and arranged in size and order that the artist intended but Google images now makes it much easier to identify those artists that I may wish to explore further in a book.


What does archival mean?

For the Montreal West Artist Showcase current exhibition, I had some very large collages printed (almost 24" by 72"). Now the question was how to hang them. I decided to put on foam core; but how to attach as I couldn't find any acid free glue on such short notice. I found some double sided tape and was happy until the next morning when they had all but detached themselves. At this point I used some strong glue, but just where I had a white border.
Is this concern for archival quality professional or narcissistic? and does anyone know what it means if the glue has acid - will it eat through in 100 years or two weeks?
Hard for me to imagine the bohemian artists of Paris in the 20's caring about any of this!

Edward Weston daybook entry re Pepper#30



"But the pepper is well worth all time, money, effort. If peppers would not wither I certainly would not have attempted this one when so preoccupied. I must get this one today: it is beginning to show the strain and tomorrow should grace a salad. It has been suggested that I am a cannibal to eat my models after a masterpiece. But I rather like the idea that they become part of me, enrich my blood as well as my vision."



I read this quote in his aperture monograph and liked - searching on the web, it is often cut up into parts (like the eventual demise of the pepper itself)
Back to my comments about podcasts tomorrow

Martin Bailey Photography (3.5***)

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Truly a remarkable podcast. His preparation and dependability for five years are unsurpassed. This show is the best example I have seen of the adage the best way to learn is to teach. His community is like-minded with an attention to detail and love of nature photography. It may be a little bit Canon-centric.

My only problem with the audio podcast is that the visuals that accompany the shows are often quite important, and that to look at the screen on an iPod is not satisfying or convenient. If I'm going to tie myself down to computer, I prefer to watch more software type teaching podcasts.

Probably perfect podcast if you're on an exercise machine in front of the screen.

http://www.martinbaileyphotography.com/

The Candid Frame 4.5****

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The web page states with a bit of“ chutzpah” that it is the world's best interview show about photographers and their photography. A number of podcasts now are resorting to interviews with photographers for content, but no-one does it anywhere near as well as Ibarionex Perello. I highly recommend going back through the archives of this podcast as well. Just think of me helping you achieve Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours rule. Subscribe on iTunes or

http://thecandidframe.blogspot.com/

Lenswork- photography and the creative process (5)*****

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After originally promising to not take much of your time, yesterday’s post asked you to commit thirty-five or so hours, and today’s is probably more. Brooks Jenson of Lenswork is on Podcast #669 and counting. I don’t know how he can remember all his past ideas, but he manages not to repeat himself. The podcasts are short , usually under 5 minutes - but you can be thinking about them for much longer. It positions photography squarely amongst the Arts, and explores the creative process within photography. Don’t go through them too quickly; savour them. You can get all of them in Zip files at http://www.lenswork.com/lensworkpodcast1-3.htm

Photohistory.jeffcurto.com (5) *****

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I believe that to become a better photographer it is important to know the history of the medium. One must examine the pictures of the great photographers and the various movements etc. But how should one begin. An excellent starting point is Jeff Curto’s podcast on the History of Photography which is his college course lecture’s sound combined with the slides he shows during the class. You can even just listen on your ipod and look at the slides later. I highly recommend it, and it is the one course in my life I repeated that I didn’t have to.


PS. You could also probably spend the rest of your life going to all the links he provides
PPS. The photo by Niepce on the right is attributed by some as the first photo

Podcast Cleanup

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to rationalize the podcasts I listen to. There seemed to be some that the amount of time I was investing in them was greater than the enjoyment and value I was receiving. It was time to cull them.
The life cycle of podcasts seems to be very similar to that of businesses. Both have very many that start with good ideas. Often if they do not catch on quickly, they are without sufficient resources (money/energy) and fall by the wayside. If successful, they often have to redirect their resources to capitalizing on their market. Once established, they resort to formulae and avoid risk. As with business if they do not re-invent themselves every few years, they will become stale and be usurped by competitors. In addition, customers also change and potentially outgrow their suppliers.
Since I have listened to a number of photo centric podcasts for a number of years, I will discuss and evaluate a number of them in the coming entries.

My motivation


I have heard that to have a successful blog it is necessary to “give” something to the reader, and eventually you will be able to profit on the reciprocation. I was brought up a bit selfish and devoid of marketing skills, so my primary motivation is for self improvement. In this way I don’t have worry about it being of use to anyone. I intend to journalize my photography related thoughts and hope at the end of the year to have a record of my year. A bit like “My Year in Status Updates” in Facebook.
You can see that I need a bit of work in communicating, based on the grand total of 2 updates that I made in the year.
My hope for the Blog is that they don’t take too long to make, take even less time to read, and that at the end of the minute, the reader didn’t feel that they had wasted their time.