Lee Friedlander, a 20th-century snapper more celebrated for his political connections in the photography world than his actual talent, is given the full-blown treatment and falls flat.

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Charlie Finch in artnet

is this true

― anthony, Sunday, 10 July 2005 00:33 (twenty years ago)

Ouch. I disagree.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 10 July 2005 01:04 (twenty years ago)

no,not true at all.i adore friedlander's photography.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, 10 July 2005 02:24 (twenty years ago)

http://www.desordre.net/photographie/photographes/lee_friedlander/friedlander_autoportrait.jpg

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, 10 July 2005 02:25 (twenty years ago)

i love his work deeply, i just wondered if finch had a point, if this was common knowledge, if anyone knew about his politics

― anthony, Sunday, 10 July 2005 02:48 (twenty years ago)

It's his art-world politics that are the point, no? I'm sure he knows how to work his connections, as anyone would who's reached his position.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 10 July 2005 02:49 (twenty years ago)

He's okay, but the treatment at MOMA hardened my conviction that he's just okay.

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Sunday, 10 July 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

(This may be all wrong, though; a big show of Sander I once saw made me tire of him quickly on examination and then, walking back through the gallery on the way out, made me stop and realize that he's really first-rate. Though I guess that's the nature of his project.)

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Sunday, 10 July 2005 02:55 (twenty years ago)

yeah---im just wondering how he is different.

― anthony, Sunday, 10 July 2005 03:25 (twenty years ago)

im not sure im feeling this sentiment, especially because friedlander is an influence upon my work. i mean, finch seems to be saying everyone else got to their standing in photography on talent alone, which is most likely NOT true. networking and politics is how anyone gets ahead in any business.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Sunday, 10 July 2005 05:28 (twenty years ago)

http://www.thebscorner.com/archives/andy-rooney.jpg

Let me know when he actually makes some art. Photography is rather mundane and talentless these days. You can stick a camera in a cell phone and anyone can take great pictures, but you can't stick a chisel or a paintbrush in one and expect anyone to make a great sculpture or painting. What's more, photographers tend to depend on the talent of others moreso than any other respected art, such as models, make-up artists, costume designers, lighting artists, scultpors, gardeners, city planners, etc. John Waters revealed to the world that any Pecker can snap a moment in time artfully with a camera. And he should know.

― Andy Rooney ;-), Sunday, 10 July 2005 05:55 (twenty years ago)

His photography ain't that good. I thought that driver had a big fat cigar in his mouth until I accidentally moved closer to the screen and saw that the "cigar" was actually just his index finger on the steering wheel. Might as well be a telephone pole coming out of his head.

― Art Official, Sunday, 10 July 2005 06:16 (twenty years ago)

this doesn't completely convince, but it comes pretty close

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 10 July 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

With Winogrand's appetite and aplomb but with fewer neuroses than either Winogrand or Arbus; without Mr. Frank's anger or Evans's caustic wit -- just by being rather cool and nonchalant, he has, over the years, refined a mischievous but fundamentally rigorous and unforgiving style.

This really needs more defense. He's buried next to any of those photographers, and I don't even think much of Arbus.

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Sunday, 10 July 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

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