[Guest]

I thought it'd be nice to start a series of threads dedicated to our favourite photographers - just about the images and aesthetics.



The first on my list would an American called Ray K Metzker (born 1931). There's comparatively little info on this photographer, but you can find a lot of images if you use google images and search his name. I first discovered his work in a book belonging to a friend, but most of his publications are now incredibly expensive to buy.



Metzker shoots black and white film, and most of his early work was urban photography featuring workers, passers-by and of course city architecture (usually as a backdrop).

He makes incredible use of available light, very often reducing shadow areas to huge blocks of deep black, and creating forms simply through the interplay of light and shadow.

What I personally admire about Metzker's street photography is his ability to take a seemingly banal or uneventful scene, and turn it into something that is purely aesthetic/artistic on one level just by waiting for the right light. Some of his images do indeed tell a story, but many of them are just inviting the viewer to imagine his own narrative to the scene - though Metzker manages this without resorting so any staging or effects (except, arguably, his darkroom technique).



It took me many years to realize how many hours and how much practice is required to produce images like Metzker's, and for this reason I'd have to say he's one of my favourite street photographers.



Please add some of your own faves/role models. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Brightcolours]

Images (linked) to illustrate Pinhole's post (I think that without images it has not all that much use, and linking to images on internet is fine)....

So... examples of work from Ray K. Metzker:











http://www.mocp.org/collections/permanent/metzker_ray_k.php













http://www.laurencemillergallery.com/artist_metzker.htm

[PuxaVida]

These shots are literally B&W (not grayscale) <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.... Very contrasty and powerful.



Speaking of B&W; Ansel Adams and his Zone concept in B&W produces very stunning images with remarkable dynamic range.



Just type "ansel adams yosemite" in Google image search and take a peek...



Worth to see, like [url="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPvIS9rRSL8dYMRTKmrr0ztxX3txEn6yXTX5TWjD61d-3jZAY&t=1&usg=__pegJZMSfYQIiyZT1fiOtlcepbG0="]this one[/url]...



Serkan

[Guest]

[quote name='PuxaVida' timestamp='1288599166' post='3860']

These shots are literally B&W (not grayscale) <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' />.... Very contrasty and powerful.



Speaking of B&W; Ansel Adams and his Zone concept in B&W produces very stunning images with remarkable dynamic range.



Just type "ansel adams yosemite" in Google image search and take a peek...



Worth to see, like [url="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPvIS9rRSL8dYMRTKmrr0ztxX3txEn6yXTX5TWjD61d-3jZAY&t=1&usg=__pegJZMSfYQIiyZT1fiOtlcepbG0="]this one[/url]...



Serkan

[/quote]



Hi Serkan, yes Metzker's photos are very contrasty. Unfortunately most of the scans on the internet don't reflect the quailty of a good book of prints, but that's the case with a great many masterpieces.



I love the work of Ansel Adams too, he was a true pioneer in landscape photography as well as being a technical genius. There's one particular photo called "The Tetons and the Snake River" which is absolutely stunning, especially considering that it's now 70 years old. He was another photographer who had incredible patience to wait for exactly the light conditions he wanted for a shot.



BC: With respect, I didn't want to just post a load of photos - I think most people know how to use Google. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I was more interested in exchanging ideas and inspirations or discussing great photographers.

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='Pinhole' timestamp='1288654208' post='3899']

BC: With respect, I didn't want to just post a load of photos - I think most people know how to use Google. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' /> I was more interested in exchanging ideas and inspirations or discussing great photographers.

[/quote]

I am sure people can look up images for whatever, in encyclopedia, in the library, on internet. But can you imagine any photography article in any publication about any photographer without any examples of his/her work?



The samples are needed to illustrate, explain, make curious and inspire. And then the reader may get interested to learn more about the photographer.



Same goes for architects, car designers, painters, sculptors, couturiers, graphic designers and so on.



That is why I found it worthwhile to add some sample images.

[Guest]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1288707497' post='3919']

I am sure people can look up images for whatever, in encyclopedia, in the library, on internet. But can you imagine any photography article in any publication about any photographer without any examples of his/her work?



The samples are needed to illustrate, explain, make curious and inspire. And then the reader may get interested to learn more about the photographer.



Same goes for architects, car designers, painters, sculptors, couturiers, graphic designers and so on.



That is why I found it worthwhile to add some sample images.

[/quote]



Okay, but instead of explaining to me why you are right, how about you tell us about a photographer you like. That's what the thread is for - so come on, I don't want to spend 5 posts arguing with someone. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' />



So, to continue, I'd also have to add a Danish guy called Jacob Holt - he travelled the US in the 1970s and took literally thousands of pictures using a cheap Canon Dial camera. He managed to capture the intimate lives of poor people there, mostly African Americans, and eventually put together a book that caused a sensation for showing a side of America that was largely hidden in the mainstream media.



It's astonishing how this young man gained access to people's homes and family lives and produced photos that are extremely moving and yet respectful. Several galleries of his images are available here, along with the story of his travels:



http://www.american-pictures.com/gallery/index.html

[couplos]

http://neilvn.com/



WHY ?

he's trying to explain, almost against his purposal,

that photography is first about art,

and only thereafter about thechnique,

even if almost all off his articles are about thechnique,



for being a pro-photographer,

he has much merrits IMHO,

he responds almost always when you struggle with a situation,

and takes the time to give you a personal responce !



one may not like every picture he takes,

but he often makes "technically-missed photo's" into "THE ONES"

just injoy,



kr,

couplos

[Guest]

[quote name='couplos' timestamp='1288796618' post='3942']

http://neilvn.com/



WHY ?

he's trying to explain, almost against his purposal,

that photography is first about art,

and only thereafter about thechnique,

even if almost all off his articles are about thechnique,



for being a pro-photographer,

he has much merrits IMHO,

he responds almost always when you struggle with a situation,

and takes the time to give you a personal responce !



one may not like every picture he takes,

but he often makes "technically-missed photo's" into "THE ONES"

just injoy,



kr,

couplos

[/quote]



Hi Couplos,

Can you explain what makes this photographer exceptional on an aesthetic level? What is especially original about his work that makes him stand out from other photographers?



In what way do you differentiate a 'missed' staged photo from one which is not missed - in view of the lighting and other parameters being the same? One would expect a photographer to instinctively be looking for 'missed' opportunities so to speak, even when engaged for a bog standard wedding shoot.