Random thoughts? 1/5 Gregory Crewdson
It's been five (5) years since I started writing down my thoughts about photography, work, personal projects etc.
Below is an unfinished post that I started writing coming up to the first year of the "blog" (never really liked the word "blog", sounds like a made up word for something no one knew how to describe . . . how about journal(?). I've split the post into 5 separate posts now so its a little easier to read.
March 6th 2012
Well, I'm coming up to a year writing this blog thing now; it was something I didn't want/think I could do for this long.
It's been good to do; vent a little now and then, give a little insight into my personal as well as work world. I've had some positive and negative comments from lots of people. It's not something I hold against anyone because I respect the fact that others have their own opinions and I also respect someone who can actually voice that opinion without trying to sugar coat it for the recipient.
I have never been a reader. I struggle to make it through a couple of paragraphs and the only time I ever find myself actually reading something in its entirety is when I'm flying somewhere and I pick up a Wired magazine or the likes at the airport. I wish I could sit and read like Olivia; to sit and read a book, a couple hundred pages in a sitting seems like a soothing thing to do. I get antsy after more than 20 minutes in one place unless someone has me genuinely interested in what they have to say.
I'm a visual and technical person as most of you can tell from my images and my ramblings about photographic mathematics and such. I admire other photographers who are keenly skilled in pulling off amazingly technical and visually compelling images, production value is everything. That said, I do like a few "street" photographers like Gary Winogrand and portrait photographers like Walker Evans who besides the fact that one shot on 35mm and the other on 8x10, both had a very candid atmospheres to their images.
I can go on and on about photographers I like; Jeanloup Sieff, Lartigue, Avedon, Penn etc but the ones that really inspire me are just a handful.
Gregory Crewdsonis one, for his amazing attention to details and just for sheer volume of production; his works are complete masterpieces that need to be viewed in person to really appreciate the scale of work that he puts into them. There are so many little things going on in his images; each one reading like a small novel, a story of the location and its inhabitants.
Update, GC has just finished his latest body of work called "Cathedral of the Pines". Its just finished its run at the Gagosian Gallery in New York.
http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/gregory-crewdson--january-28-2016
http://www.aperture.org/crewdson/
The Pickup Truck2014
[caption id="attachment_1786" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
© Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery
The Pickup Truck2014
Digital pigment print
Image size: 37 1/2 x 50 inches (95.3 x 127 cm)
Framed size: 45 1/16 x 57 9/16 inches (114.5 x 146.2 cm)
Edition of 3, plus 2 APs[/caption]
The repeating pattern of vertical trees, juxtaposed with the haphazardness of the broken branches on the ground.
The Haircut2014
[caption id="attachment_1785" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
© Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery
The Haircut2014
Digital pigment print
Image size: 37 1/2 x 50 inches (95.3 x 127 cm)
Framed size: 45 1/16 x 57 9/16 inches (114.5 x 146.2 cm)
Edition of 3, plus 2 APs[/caption]
The almost perfect use of the Fibonacci spiral, focusing you in on the two girls and the outhouse but then letting your eye wander back out and to the right side with the broken down shack and eerie white fog behind it.
Beneath the Bridge2014
[caption id="attachment_1784" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
© Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery
Beneath the Bridge2014
Digital pigment print
Image size: 37 1/2 x 50 inches (95.3 x 127 cm)
Framed size: 45 1/16 x 57 9/16 inches (114.5 x 146.2 cm)
Edition of 3, plus 2 APs[/caption]
The depth of the image and the use of curves and straight lights as design elements.
The Barn2013
[caption id="attachment_1783" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
© Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery
The Barn2013
Digital pigment print
Image size: 37 1/2 x 50 inches (95.3 x 127 cm)
Framed size: 45 1/16 x 57 9/16 inches (114.5 x 146.2 cm)
Edition of 3, plus 2 APs[/caption]
The subtle glow of the window light falling on the subject and the perfect balance of composition.
Untitled2007
[caption id="attachment_1782" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
© Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery
Untitled 2007[/caption]
The alternating light/dark of the subject matter and the use of long exposure to convey the passing of time
Untitled2006
[caption id="attachment_1781" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
© Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery
Untitled 2006[/caption]
The use of colour and leading lines to draw your eye into the centre of the frame and the car.
Untitled2006
[caption id="attachment_1780" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
© Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery
Untitled 2006[/caption]
The emphasis of vignetting, bring your attention to the centre of the frame and the subject.
Untitled 2006
[caption id="attachment_1779" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
© Gregory Crewdson. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery
Untitled 2006[/caption]
The beautiful use of lighting and snow to keep your eye wandering back between the moose and the man.
Gregory Crewdon's photography for me, epitomizes the real essence of contemporary fine art photography. Its not shy, its bold, amazingly art directed and thought out and with enough wit and curiosity to keep the viewer coming back for more. Overall his images are based on composition, subject matter and lighting; you don't find bold colours, excessive detail or texture, just whats there and what you need to see to be able to see the story within.
I have always taken influence from movies and cinematography; I love the idea of creating a story with moving image. This translates to Crewdson's work by doing the same in just one, single frame.
For more on him, there was a documentary made on him here.