Comments on: two-exclamation-point limit http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/ photographica, miscellanea, etcetera Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:40:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Jesse Mullan http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3477 Jesse Mullan Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:38:29 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3477 If you use more than one exclamation point, you are required to use exponentially more than you need. Examples: I'm excited! Get out of the building before it collapses!!! Mags and TV Call 949.481.3747 For Price !!!!!!11!!!!!!1!!!!!!!!!!!!11111eleven!!!111111 You see, suddenly, my excitement has translated into an uncontrollable palsy -- it has completely rid me of decorum to the point where even capitalization has gone haywire. I'm elevens about selling you photographs. If you use more than one exclamation point, you are required to use exponentially more than you need.

Examples:
I’m excited!

Get out of the building before it collapses!!!

Mags and TV Call 949.481.3747 For Price !!!!!!11!!!!!!1!!!!!!!!!!!!11111eleven!!!111111

You see, suddenly, my excitement has translated into an uncontrollable palsy — it has completely rid me of decorum to the point where even capitalization has gone haywire. I’m elevens about selling you photographs.

]]> By: Harlan Erskine http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3476 Harlan Erskine Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:57:58 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3476 I was thinking about this post last night and how I would react and I have no idea what is right or what I would have done. I mean on one hand I think of 9-11 in New York, my home town would I have run downtown to go shoot images? Would I have just stayed where I was and mourned? What if Joel Meyerowitz had stayed home that month and not documented the smoldering towers like he did? Wouldn’t that have been a loss for history? I think one of photography's great functions is to document these events and while I it is your right to avoid spot news like this event I wonder what perspective we would gain from having someone shooting who is as skilled as yourself pointing some big film and telling us to LOOK, no exclamation points necessary. btw, did you use that bridge much? I was thinking about this post last night and how I would react and I have no idea what is right or what I would have done. I mean on one hand I think of 9-11 in New York, my home town would I have run downtown to go shoot images? Would I have just stayed where I was and mourned? What if Joel Meyerowitz had stayed home that month and not documented the smoldering towers like he did? Wouldn’t that have been a loss for history? I think one of photography’s great functions is to document these events and while I it is your right to avoid spot news like this event I wonder what perspective we would gain from having someone shooting who is as skilled as yourself pointing some big film and telling us to LOOK, no exclamation points necessary.

btw, did you use that bridge much?

]]> By: Francois Gaboury http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3475 Francois Gaboury Sun, 05 Aug 2007 18:29:36 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3475 Not taking a picture is often as important as taking one. I read that you work in large format, since it takes time to set up and prepare the shot, how can one do it in front of a tragedy makes you wonder. Not taking a picture is often as important as taking one. I read that you work in large format, since it takes time to set up and prepare the shot, how can one do it in front of a tragedy makes you wonder.

]]> By: Lisa Hunter http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3474 Lisa Hunter Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:15:07 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3474 Great post. My mom used to be a TV reporter, but eventually she just couldn't stand asking people, "So, how did it feel when your entire family was gunned down befote your eyes?" She switched to covering sports. Great post. My mom used to be a TV reporter, but eventually she just couldn’t stand asking people, “So, how did it feel when your entire family was gunned down befote your eyes?” She switched to covering sports.

]]> By: matt http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3473 matt Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:42:29 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3473 Take photos...There's no need to publish or post them if you think you've crossed the line. Editing is when one's motives will become clear... Take photos…There’s no need to publish or post them if you think you’ve crossed the line. Editing is when one’s motives will become clear…

]]> By: Federico http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3472 Federico Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:10:36 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3472 'I am a very bad journalist, very, very bad. I'll give you an example. I was with Beriosova, taking photographs of her for <em>Queen</em>, and one evening someone said "Somebody just came out from Russia and we'll see he tonight." It was Nureyev and I spent the whole night with them and I never had the idea of taking a snapshot. It never came into my head. Sometimes it is more important to talk and listen, you see. Photography is not that important for me. It was the same for Capa and Chim.' Cartier Bresson, in "Magnum. Fifty Years at the Front Line of History" by Russell Miller ‘I am a very bad journalist, very, very bad. I’ll give you an example. I was with Beriosova, taking photographs of her for Queen, and one evening someone said “Somebody just came out from Russia and we’ll see he tonight.” It was Nureyev and I spent the whole night with them and I never had the idea of taking a snapshot. It never came into my head. Sometimes it is more important to talk and listen, you see. Photography is not that important for me. It was the same for Capa and Chim.’

Cartier Bresson, in “Magnum. Fifty Years at the Front Line of History” by Russell Miller

]]> By: jesus http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3471 jesus Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:47:50 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3471 i think you should take photos , Alec, you are a magnum photographer , we need serious photographers, not only news ,deadline photographers more worry about to sell their pictures quickly,all of then with the same wideangles lens, fill flash, etc. I remember the Larry Towell´s photos of 11/9 in New york , no people jumping from the windows, no blood, but very compasive photos . You know , is only an opinion , not a dogma , not the truth. i think you should take photos , Alec, you are a magnum photographer , we need serious photographers, not only news ,deadline photographers more worry about to sell their pictures quickly,all of then with the same wideangles lens, fill flash, etc. I remember the Larry Towell´s photos of 11/9 in New york , no people jumping from the windows, no blood, but very compasive photos . You know , is only an opinion , not a dogma , not the truth.

]]> By: Ben http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3470 Ben Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:37:19 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3470 ‘First thought: I could make myself look like a Serious Photographer. Second thought: I could make money for Magnum.’ Isn’t that just as crass as an over zealous use of exclamation marks? ‘First thought: I could make myself look like a Serious Photographer. Second thought: I could make money for Magnum.’ Isn’t that just as crass as an over zealous use of exclamation marks?

]]> By: mark page http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3469 mark page Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:05:32 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3469 Glad to hear you are OK Alec, and sad for the people who had loss. I think you did the right thing not to photograph the scene. what would be the point? as you said there were already hundreds doing that. Your work is on another level Alec, There is time in the weeks and months to come that your specfic, gentler skills as a photographer may be needed to enable people to reflect. My thoughts from the Uk go out. Glad to hear you are OK Alec, and sad for the people who had loss. I think you did the right thing not to photograph the scene. what would be the point? as you said there were already hundreds doing that. Your work is on another level Alec, There is time in the weeks and months to come that your specfic, gentler skills as a photographer may be needed to enable people to reflect. My thoughts from the Uk go out.

]]> By: Robert http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3468 Robert Fri, 03 Aug 2007 06:24:44 +0000 http://alecsoth.com/blog/2007/08/02/two-exclamation-point-limit/#comment-3468 "P.S. I’m already hearing about a benefit concert/event/gala…of course there will be a book to follow." Please, no. The compassion industry has no shame. “P.S. I’m already hearing about a benefit concert/event/gala…of course there will be a book to follow.”

Please, no. The compassion industry has no shame.

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