Magnum Photos website vs Steve Huff blog

[fstops]

If you visit magnum photos website (www.magnumphotos.com) there is not a single response to any of the pictures or stories posted. If you visit Steve Huff blog (www.stevehuffphoto.com), which I'm using as an example, every post has more than fifty responses to it on an average.

To me this pretty much sums up today's photography, the photography gear itself is photography, photography as an art or medium of self-expression is pretty much dead.

[marcoinhawaii]

there are lots of photos of cats on this site. that sums up the real usage of people and their rangefinders.

[jippiejee]

Having a conversation on Steve's site is like chatting with someone over a beer and snacks, commenting on Magnum is like sitting at the president's table for lunch and trying hard not to sound dumb.

[River Dog]

Apples and oranges, but I empathise. I propose that it is because we are mainly consumers and think we can buy anything.

I was up until 3:00am the other day with a semi-pro photographer friend, flicking through random online galleries, 'reading' the photos. Not once did we ask what lens? What camera? Digital or film?

It was great fun and I learnt a lot about how he thinks. The best images led our eye, found some balance (or intentional discord) and provided geometric layers of interest.

[JayM]

Is being a camera nerd really that new of a thing? I can't help but think it's been around almost as long as photography itself. We just have the internet now so people sitting bored at work can pine away behind their desk instead of doing it at the camera shop itself.

Is this wrong?

Yeah, I'd be kind of scared of commenting on Magnum Photos too...

[tom.w.bn]

There are comments on the magnum website but you won't find responses of the photographers so people give up commenting. Magnum does not sell photos to the people commenting, so why should they encourage more people leaving comments?

I'm pretty sure that the other site mentioned is financed by ads. So as a site owner you are dependent on lots of people coming back to your site. So a bit of interaction is needed here.

[igi]

I think the comments section are relatively new in the Magnum website. Didn't even see it until you pointed it out.

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by PKR

Most of the communication with Magnum members and the public takes place on the photographer's Twitter and Facebook pages. Magnum also will periodically hold live Q&A sessions with members. These are generally announced on the web page.

Also, the new web page (just a month or two old) is not easily update-able by office staff yet. likely a learning curve + I see features added almost daily by the contractor, ie. the build is incomplete.

Magnum and their WEB page wasn't set up to be an interactive support vehicle for hobby photographers. The page is an info & marketing tool for the members. I haven't seen any kind of advertising on the Magnum page, save the constant "Leica Partner" crap.

http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_3

http://www.facebook.com/burnmagazine

https://twitter.com/MagnumPhotos

http://www.facebook.com/MagnumPhotos

if interested search the web for member's pages..

Thank you for reminding my favorite sites that I ignored to visit since two weeks .. they are my refreshment sources. And Steve McCurry's blog with "food" pictures was simply stunning.

http://stevemccurry.wordpress.com/20...d-for-thought/

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by fstops

....................... To me this pretty much sums up today's photography, the photography gear itself is photography, photography as an art or medium of self-expression is pretty much dead.

Only if your evaluation of photography is based on the number of internet postings by amateurs. I think most of the Magnum people's evaluation is based on the quality of the photos.

One of the most significant photographers working today does not use the internet or e-mail.

[fireblade]

Originally Posted by fstops

If you visit magnum photos website (www.magnumphotos.com) there is not a single response to any of the pictures or stories posted. If you visit Steve Huff blog (www.stevehuffphoto.com), which I'm using as an example, every post has more than fifty responses to it on an average.

To me this pretty much sums up today's photography, the photography gear itself is photography, photography as an art or medium of self-expression is pretty much dead.

gearheads rule the internet.

[fstops]

Maybe not the end of photography, but its damn depressing.

[kshapero]

Originally Posted by JayM

Is being a camera nerd really that new of a thing? I can't help but think it's been around almost as long as photography itself. We just have the internet now so people sitting bored at work can pine away behind their desk instead of doing it at the camera shop itself.

Is this wrong?

Yeah, I'd be kind of scared of commenting on Magnum Photos too...

I lived in New England in the late 70's. A monthly pilgrimage to 47th St Photo was required in those days. Gearheads forever!

[emraphoto]

Originally Posted by fstops

If you visit magnum photos website (www.magnumphotos.com) there is not a single response to any of the pictures or stories posted. If you visit Steve Huff blog (www.stevehuffphoto.com), which I'm using as an example, every post has more than fifty responses to it on an average.

To me this pretty much sums up today's photography, the photography gear itself is photography, photography as an art or medium of self-expression is pretty much dead.

again, i am going to have to call bollocks. there are plenty of folks producing brilliant photography right now. mind blowing work, some of it.

from the 'de-realism' of Peress to the complex yet intimate work of folks like Stephanie Sinclair, photography as a medium is healthy and continues to develop.

i suppose it depends on where you spend your time looking.

[emraphoto]

loose lips sink ships i like to say.

[fstops]

Originally Posted by emraphoto

again, i am going to have to call bollocks. there are plenty of folks producing brilliant photography right now. mind blowing work, some of it.

Maybe you like using the word bollocks or something but please dude, don't try to be some internet tough guy when your photos are more inductive of a softy type... and cut down on the hipstamic look, its too ubiquitous right now.

Anyway, there are good photographers, yes, but the problem is no one gives a damn about them, and everyone is busy sucking up to Steve or Ken or Kai or some other hack gear reviewer.

[Chuck Albertson]

Originally Posted by PKR

Most of the communication with Magnum members and the public takes place on the photographer's Twitter and Facebook pages. Magnum also will periodically hold live Q&A sessions with members. These are generally announced on the web page.

As one of the 800-odd people on the planet who are not on Facebook or Twitter, I feel massively disenfranchised.

[Thardy]

Originally Posted by jippiejee

Having a conversation on Steve's site is like chatting with someone over a beer and snacks, commenting on Magnum is like sitting at the president's table for lunch and trying hard not to sound dumb.

You know, Obama drinks his share of brew. I heard he makes it in a back room.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1827583.html

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by fstops

....................... don't try to be some internet tough guy when your photos are more inductive of a softy type... and cut down on the hipstamic look, its too ubiquitous right now. .................

fstops: it is the equivalent of a cold day in hell when I jump in to comment about one members critique of someone's photo work. But regarding John's (emraphoto) work, you are clueless. Read a bit of the international press war coverage in the mid east, see his work there. I hate to say it but you are showing your *ss.

[leicashot]

I am not defending either one, but at the end of the day this generation want face behind the words and pictures to interact with, and this is why Steve does well. The average person (not Leica people) can relate to Steve and the pictures he takes. Put simply, Magnum needs to do more social networking and give people access to communicate with their photographers more....but then again, maybe they only care about the photography

[emraphoto]

Originally Posted by fstops

Maybe you like using the word bollocks or something but please dude, don't try to be some internet tough guy when your photos are more inductive of a softy type... and cut down on the hipstamic look, its too ubiquitous right now.

Anyway, there are good photographers, yes, but the problem is no one gives a damn about them, and everyone is busy sucking up to Steve or Ken or Kai or some other hack gear reviewer.

i am not sure where, in the history of all my internet posting, you would get the impression that i am trying to be an 'internet tough guy'. that sort of thing holds zero water with me.

i also assure you, i have never shot a hipstamatic anything in my entire life.

now back to what you originally stated, i call bollocks.

[Thardy]

I took a look at the Magnum site via the link. My take is that it's serious work by serious photographers.

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by leicashot

......................... Magnum needs to do more social networking and give people access to communicate with their photographers more....but then again, maybe they only care about the photography

BINGO! Those Magnum guys only care about photography.

The ones I have met are pleasant but I would have to say their motivation is 100% photography and 0% social networking / access. They only want to take great photos and not be our internet buddies.

remember the story about Robert Johnson meeting the devil down at the Crossroads and selling his soul for his musical ability? Well, I willing to trade a bunch of internet buddies for more photo talent.

[leicashot]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

BINGO! Those Magnum guys only care about photography.

The ones I have met are pleasant but I would have to say their motivation is 100% photography and 0% social networking / access. They only want to take great photos and not be our internet buddies.

remember the story about Robert Johnson meeting the devil down at the Crossroads and selling his soul for his musical ability? Well, I willing to trade a bunch of internet buddies for more photo talent.

The only problem is that the new generation of photographers look to social network as the bible for information and inspiration, as dull as it may seem.

Whether they like it or not, social networking is quickly becoming THE tool required by photographers if they want to stay relevant with the new generation and beyond.

Think if it this way, many of you before joining these forums had probably never heard of Magnum, let alone a majority of their photographers....well social networking is the next generation of forums.

[fstops]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

fstops: it is the equivalent of a cold day in hell when I jump in to comment about one members critique of someone's photo work. But regarding John's (emraphoto) work, you are clueless. Read a bit of the international press war coverage in the mid east, see his work there. I hate to say it but you are showing your *ss.

Look here, his photos might impress you but not me; however, I'm not going to say more because I don't care. If I want to see whats happening in mid east, I check BBC and the usual sources, not some gimmicky out-dated PJ photos of the usual gimmicky PJ stuff.

And his a big boy and he can deal with this, no need to play internet buddies.

[fstops]

Originally Posted by emraphoto

i am not sure where, in the history of all my internet posting, you would get the impression that i am trying to be an 'internet tough guy'. that sort of thing holds zero water with me.

i also assure you, i have never shot a hipstamatic anything in my entire life.

now back to what you originally stated, i call bollocks.

I was talking about the post-processing, but anyway, it all means bollocks to me!