We’re going to spend 2012 focusing on ideas learned from big names in our photographic history and world. The big concepts that have helped shape the field as we now know it, you know? And, to get us started, we want to open with a thought from renowned American portraitist Richard Avedon:
My photographs don’t go below the surface. They don’t go below anything. They’re readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A good one is full of clues. But whenever I become absorbed in the beauty of a face, in the excellence of a single feature, I feel I’ve lost what’s really there…been seduced by someone else’s standard of beauty or by the sitter’s own idea of the best in him. That’s not usually the best. So each sitting becomes a contest.
-Richard Avedon
If you’re not familiar with Mr. Avedon, you might start this month by looking him up. Read some about what he was doing, and look at the works he did. Then, come back to that thought there about the surface, and turn it towards your own work. You can enter up to two pieces (and further entries will be removed, sorry) for consideration, so long as you feel they somehow represent an exploration of that quote.
What we do not want are photos that are stolen or imitated directly from Richard Avedon. Such works would be a violation of his estate’s rights and we will reject any photo outright if we feel you’re merely attempting to copy the artist (as will be the case for every artist we mention this year). We’ve already seen Avedon’s brilliant works. Now it’s time to show us yours.
by Tifney Fields
by Joe Kemper
by Joe Kemper
by Bryan Cahen
by Patti Moore
by randy Roberts
by Randy Roberts
by Jeanna Small
by Jeanna Small
by Lori Hamblin
by Jeff Bradley
by nate fields
by nate fields
by Michelle Fox
by Rhonda Schwartz
Roberts makes the following assurances and conditions for all photos shared with us by third parties
- All submissions are considered intellectual property of their respective submitters, including all rights to usage and display.
- A submission can be altered or removed at any time by the original submitter at their request
- All submissions are intended for public viewing, demonstration, and illustrative purposes only.
- No submission will be used by Roberts Distributors for any commercial end (including but not limited to advertisements, promotions, and fliers) without first obtaining written permission from the submitter.
- All submissions will be properly accredited to the submitter, and will state their copyright upon request.
- In order to win submitters must provide their home address, or else be able to make alternate arrangements to pick up their prize at one of our Indianapolis stores.
- Each month’s winner will be awarded with a print of their image (16″ x 20″ if possible from the image, if not we will print it at the largest possible size, up to a $39.97 value).
- Each month’s winning submission will be posted on this page along with it’s EXIF information for the duration of the next contest.
- Roberts reserves the right to remember winning images and to keep them in consideration for future prizes, but will not repost them outside of already stated uses without first obtaining permission from the submitter.
- Regarding post-processing and image manipulation: Roberts will accept any shot prepared in any style the photographer sees fit, so long as they provide a blurb about the process used or the rationality behind using it. We feel there are many valid styles of photography and wish to encourage a variety.
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