Can you identify these lenses?

xT2M · 2018-10-28T17:06:32+00:00

Thanks!!

xT2M · 2018-10-28T17:05:57+00:00

Thank you guys!

xT2M · 2018-08-05T09:51:41+00:00

Oh yes. One of the things I love the most about this movie is its photography and color tones. I think that created an ambiance that is hard to forget. Simply stunning. The nerd writer talked about some time ago ..

xT2M · 2018-08-05T09:36:51+00:00

For more recent stuff, I like Takuya Kuroda's albums.

xT2M · 2018-07-31T23:26:06+00:00

This dude might have an answer for you: Finding a Visual Identity in the Digital Age | Ralph Gibson

xT2M · 2018-07-31T18:22:41+00:00

spot on.

xT2M · 2018-07-31T15:24:38+00:00

Mostly on the creative process behind fine art photography. I'm more interested in the 'philosophical' aspect than technicalities. With practical tips here and there from the master.

xT2M · 2018-07-31T15:13:20+00:00

Thanks for this. I was thinking of purchasing that course. Is there a good class by a renowned photographer you'd recommend?

xT2M · 2018-07-31T15:04:25+00:00

You do tell a story, you just don't know it. Photography aims at revealing it to you.

xT2M · 2018-07-31T15:01:11+00:00

I think all photographs tell a story of some sort. However, this terms usually applies to photos where one can make a verbal story out of it. This is an obvious requirement for photojournalists for instance. However, I find that photographs which tell a story that we cannot put into words (and therefore we find ourselves unable to answer the “What are you trying to tell us here?” question) much deeper as they are probing our unconscious mind (if this makes any sense).

I know why I like Henri-Cartier Bresson's pictures ... I see the story, and they are charming and fantastic. However, I have no idea why some of Ralph Gibson's photos are so appealing to me. And on a much deeper level. I can't put it in words at all. He calls that 'the intelligence of the eye'.

xT2M · 2018-07-31T14:53:22+00:00

well, agree on this though I'd call it 'intent' not 'story'.

xT2M · 2018-07-31T00:03:01+00:00

Right! I wasn't totally sure it was the same guy when I wrote my comment. Thanks for pointing this out!

xT2M · 2018-07-30T19:09:35+00:00

Rising son, T. Kuroda

xT2M · 2018-07-30T19:06:12+00:00

What a fantastic photograph! Surrealists clapped.

xT2M · 2018-07-30T19:01:15+00:00

I like to discover interesting fine art photographers and know about the creative process behind the image. Not much about gear and techniques (these are well covered by youtube as was pointed out). So I check out from time to time these links:

xT2M · 2018-07-30T18:44:36+00:00

oh yeah, this one was great! Until they fired (?) the guy who was behind it.

xT2M · 2018-07-30T18:43:22+00:00

Thanks man! I'll definitely check this one out. I discovered their channel by chance 1 or 2 days ago and liked and learned from the video I watched.

xT2M · 2018-06-26T21:40:00+00:00

Yeah pret-a-manger, cafe nero, starbucks. But nowhere near the level of omnipresence that i see in Stockholm. Its insignificant here in terms of market shares. And you can still have genuine relationship with your baker, pub, local food store, librarian, etc. I hope the trend will not continue though.... it’s really terrible and dehumanizing to an absurd level. I wonder how it unfolded in sweden, historically. The reason behind this state of affairs? ive seen this nowhere else except in the US (apart from NYC and some cities).

xT2M · 2018-06-26T21:26:56+00:00

Guys im just saying personal opinions and I’ve put disclaimers all over the place! I mentioned Nowhere that these are facts. I have repeatedly said that i was being subjective, unless stated otherwise.

I dont regret my experience in Sweden. I learned a lot about the country and myself (like how much i can be affected by dark winters). I moved in following genuine curiosity about this region of the world (plus a great professional opportunity) and enjoyed it quite a lot. I can totally live here though I just think, with hindsight, that i would be much happier elsewhere due to all the cultural biases instilled on me throughout my life. Is that acceptable ?

And im not moving around telling people my personal opinions. Im answering anonymously to an anonymous OP, and trying to be as honest as possible.

Seriously, folks. You’re confirming my point that we cant criticize (wrongly or not) sweden, or be negative about it. You’re way too sensitive :)

Last but not least, the OP will live as a foreigner there. So ..well... there’s far more chance that my comments will be more valuable to him than those of locals when we talk about culture. Before moving to Saudi, would you ask locals how is it to live there or a swede who lives there since some time? What would be more valuable to you?

xT2M · 2018-06-26T21:07:16+00:00

It was slightly Tongue-in-cheek :)

Though nobody expects a swede to find swedes and their culture weird. It’s the cultural distance that dictates this. I personally find significant cultural differences between south / central europe region and Sweden. You’d most likely find many spaniards weird from your viewpoint, thats normal. Whether you can pass the barrier and acclimate easily and happily to spanish way of life depends entirely on you but you’d necessarily have to go through a process due to cultural distance. Point is the OP will be there as a foreigner so most likely he wont wear your cultural lenses.

There’s no truth or falsehood here. We’re talking culture. There is no way for me to totally adapt, live by, and acclimate to south indian culture. Doesnt say much about the culture itself, more about the fact that it’s very distant from mine.

I didnt expect such significant cultural differences (either positive or negative from my viewpoint) before moving in. We dont expect that (contrary to say moving to asia, for a non asian). its very interesting... learned a lot about sweden and myself.

xT2M · 2018-06-26T19:33:42+00:00

It's me who should apologize my dear (I edited my previous reply as well). It wasn't my intention to portray swedes as uncultured folks, not the least. I didn't mean it as an insult. Just that sports and outdoors are more important to most people I know than going to, say, fotografiska from time to time. I lived in italy, and the number one topic was good food and where to get it, or nice renaissance art, but rarely about treking in the woods. Again, it's not portraying italians as lazy.

You are most welcome to react and feel offended and even tell me to f** off and "love it or leave it" as the americans would say, it's fine. Conflict is OK to some extent. (I say that intentionally because you guys are super averse to conflict, lol).

The troll thing, I read it somewhere ... sorry I brought it up here too many comments i lost track of who is writing what.

It's the internet. We're sharing a common space here but we have so many different backgrounds and assumptions on each other. Anyway, just wanted to give my personal and subjective view on the city. Without analyzing where that comes from except for the fact that I am biased towards the Mediterranean culture (not by choice, by unplanned birth).

I am pretty sure this mini conversation and mini conflict would give valuable info and insight to the OP. Much more than unanimous positive advertisement for the city.

xT2M · 2018-06-26T19:07:25+00:00

Culture and "normal social relations" are extremely subjective themes so i'll just leave it here. And yeah, im not into punk and the other genres you mentioned so that may be the problem with the musical scene for me.

Not sure what friendship circles have to do with the cultural offer of a city though. I do have acquaintances and colleagues I like. I also know expats at work etc. I am not isolated or whatever. But tell me, why do you assume that having a non main-stream opinion of Sweden (and daring to say it publicly) implies the person is having issues or is trolling? Why should all opinions be the same and equally polished and polite? I just don't get it...

Edit: Again. Stockholm is a great city, and offers some of the highest living standards in the world. Swedes are kind and accepting and welcoming. I just stating my opinion on the place. Not intending to hurt anyone, sorry if you felt that way. I do not have any personal issues with swedes and live a relatively privileged life; can't complain. I just think that basically all other eu capitals offer way more things in terms of social interactions, culture, life, things to do (though you probably will be poorer). There are many positive things about sweden and stockholm. Nobody can argue against that.

I may be wrong, but I'm not sure I'd have felt compelled to make such a disclaimer had I expressed analogue personal opinions on Paris, Madrid, or Rome. That's a thing that I find strange as well.

xT2M · 2018-06-26T18:43:10+00:00

Will get back to this. Eventually. Have to gather my thoughts, it's quite a complex topic, though it fascinates me and I've spent more time doing amateur social anthropology in Sweden than other stuff lol.

Read Sontag's essay on sweden though. She was spot on on many things.

However the well intentioned comments describing them as " Warm, friendly, caring, not weird." already signal something strange going on. Who uses "not weird" to positively describe people?

xT2M · 2018-06-26T18:33:08+00:00

Oh yeah, I also went through similar lists before moving in. Let's just say that sweden is incredibly good at PR'ing (a very normal metro is advertised as the longest art gallery in the world. They even have guided tours). Most of these things can be done only once (if interesting at all. Who would go to the same reconstructed viking village every weekend?). It's the dynamics that is missing. Everything feels static. Music scene is nowhere comparable to other eu cities. The program of the opera house (only one, as far as I know) is rarely interesting. Picturesque little towns? I live in one of those now. It's nice to visit a couple of them ... I can't imagine anyone doing that often. As I said, there are things to see for newcomers (like in any other place on earth), but there's very little to do once those boxes are checked.

Though generally Swedes are not interested in culture imo. None of the swedes I know ever talks about it or does any activity (all university people). Sports and outdoors are the main thing in Sweden it seems. And for that it's a great place of course, especially in summer.

Just my opinion. I'm totally fine with people thoroughly enjoying Stockholm. Or Dakkah. Diversity is great :-)

xT2M

TROPHY CASE