Portrait of a Photographer

[Rob C]

This appears in the TV guide section of the Sunday Times, Augst 17th, 2008.

´Portrait of a photographer - David LaChapelle (Sky Arts, 7pm)

First shown on Five in 2002, this biography struggles to capture anything more than a fleeting glimpse of David LaChapelle, its gaze settling instead on the photographer´s gaudy portfolio. Following him as he flaps and shouts his way through photoshoots, it discovers a self-deprecating artist reliant on a squadron of harried lackeys.´

I thought this might be of interest within the context of this section, particularly as some soya milk might have been wasted in LaChapelleesque style nearby and some carts of bricks knocked over too...
 
Discuss?

Rob C

[jing q]

This appears in the TV guide section of the Sunday Times, Augst 17th, 2008.

´Portrait of a photographer - David LaChapelle (Sky Arts, 7pm)

First shown on Five in 2002, this biography struggles to capture anything more than a fleeting glimpse of David LaChapelle, its gaze settling instead on the photographer´s gaudy portfolio. Following him as he flaps and shouts his way through photoshoots, it discovers a self-deprecating artist reliant on a squadron of harried lackeys.´

I thought this might be of interest within the context of this section, particularly as some soya milk might have been wasted in LaChapelleesque style nearby and some carts of bricks knocked over too...
 
Discuss?

Rob C
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215814\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

never watched it, but just wanted to point out that everyone loves to diss lachapelle because he goes against the very essence of what good photography is supposed to be: serious, beautiful and..staid.

btw just to clarify I personally prefer Erwin Olaf to Lachapelle, but both are really amazing photographers to me.

p.s.I always found shouting and flapping around one of the best parts of photoshoots.

[Frank Doorhof]

I love Lachapelle.
I think I saw the documentary a few years ago on Dutch TV, still looking for a copy of it (if it's the same).

I think he has rewritten some parts of photography and I believe he is one of todays best.
Erwin Olaf is GREAT by the way (fellow dutch man), but Lachapelle.... well it's a league of his own

[Rob C]

he goes against the very essence of what good photography is supposed to be: serious, beautiful and..staid.

p.s.I always found shouting and flapping around one of the best parts of photoshoots.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215823\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

jing, I would question your analysis of good photography to include ´staid´ which is something I have never heard applied within its definition before. However, as with everything about the medium, it´s generally open and up for grabs.

Shouting and flapping about... forgive me if I take the liberty to imagine you to be joking here; I have never though shouting to contribute much to anything. It is sometimes a very British way of speaking foreign languages, though: one shouts loudly in English and the foreign person the subject of said shout is then assumed to have understood every word, every nuance. I have not seen this work, personally, even in the glorious EEC. Perhaps if it becomes the United States of Europe, we will all be able to shout together, move the tides and be understood by everyone. However, as one sometimes struggles to understand one´s own countrymen, I have a slight doubt about this happening any time soon.

Flapping about is another thing - it may serve to lift the level of the photography somewhat.

Rob C

[SeanBK]

Ovation TV had a special documentry where he shot with backdrop of highly contemporary Architecture with a blond floating in a pool on freshly painted silver float. Second clip was @ Elton John's shoot in front of Hotel Negresco in Nice, France. Elton John shoot lasted only under 4mins. It was to be 2-3 mins on the beach for Vanity Fair. He posed with metal detector looking for more coins.

[ivokwee]

Ovation TV had a special documentry where he shot with backdrop of highly contemporary Architecture with a blond floating in a pool on freshly painted silver float. Second clip was @ Elton John's shoot in front of Hotel Negresco in Nice, France. Elton John shoot lasted only under 4mins. It was to be 2-3 mins on the beach for Vanity Fair. He posed with metal detector looking for more coins.
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It's here at Google Video: [a href=\"http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2997807503876379069&ei=bM-pSLquCob22wLQ1sWoBg&q=david+lachapelle&vt=lf]Ovation TV | David LaChapelle: Portrait of a Photographer[/url]

[Rob C]

It's here at Google Video: Ovation TV | David LaChapelle: Portrait of a Photographer
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215843\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I hope he was just hamming it up for the camera; I saw him years ago on Fashion TV, the Toronto station´s show, and the early signs of things to come were already there. I won´t go into what sorts of things, but form your own conclusions.

Actually, there isn´t all that much new to his look: there was a German or Austrian guy got similar effects just using polarizers and flash to hype the colours. I wish I could remember his name, but if it helps, he used to feature a lot in French Photo magazine. Got it! Cheyco Leidmann. Plus ça change plus la même chose, or something close.

Rob C

[BFoto]

I hope some day you all get to debate about my work and vision like this. Then i'll know i've succeeded.

[terence_patrick]

I hope he was just hamming it up for the camera; I saw him years ago on Fashion TV, the Toronto station´s show, and the early signs of things to come were already there. I won´t go into what sorts of things, but form your own conclusions.

Actually, there isn´t all that much new to his look: there was a German or Austrian guy got similar effects just using polarizers and flash to hype the colours. I wish I could remember his name, but if it helps, he used to feature a lot in French Photo magazine. Got it! Cheyco Leidman. Plus ça change plus la même chose, or something close.

Rob C
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Are you jealous of him? Don't think he deserves the success he's had?

[Rob C]

Are you jealous of him? Don't think he deserves the success he's had?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215921\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Terence

Jealous of him? Perhaps you mean envious. No, not in the least. I have experience of that world - fashion - and that´s one of the reasons I got out of it in favour of designing, producing and shooting bespoke company calendars.

Or perhaps you refer to Cheyco, in which case, I would say that equally, there is no envy, but a certain amount of respect for the way in which he stuck to his guns and did it his way. Mostly by himself. That is one of the salient points about all of this: when does a photographer stop being a photographer and responsible for the end product, the print. I see little cause for personal satisfaction with one´s oeuvre when a huge part of it simply reflects the skills of other specialists.

But that´s a thing many will fail or choose not to consider, and in a commercial sense, as distinct to a personal sense of achievement, they are right.

Rob C

[Rob C]

I hope some day you all get to debate about my work and vision like this. Then i'll know i've succeeded.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215894\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

At being a celebrity or a great photographer?


Rob C

[Natasa Stojsic]

At being a celebrity or a great photographer?
Rob C
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215950\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Well, I assume in this case both

[jing q]

I see little cause for personal satisfaction with one´s oeuvre when a huge part of it simply reflects the skills of other specialists.

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215949\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

you mean like a film director?
there's a satisfaction in doing everything yourself but there's also satisfaction in realising your vision, relying on other people along the way.

[Graham Mitchell]

Don't think he deserves the success he's had?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215921\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Well I know you didn't pose the question to me but my answer is that I'm shocked at the level of hype surrounding this guy. I could name 10 or 20 photographers who are in my opinion much more talented and more or less unheard of. That's life. He probably goes to the right parties.

[bcooter]

Well I know you didn't pose the question to me but my answer is that I'm shocked at the level of hype surrounding this guy. I could name 10 or 20 photographers who are in my opinion much more talented and more or less unheard of. That's life. He probably goes to the right parties.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215967\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Mr. LaChapelle is in a very rare world where the air is thin.

you know his name he doesn't know yours.

you may not chose to have his life but millions of people would love to.

there is a big difference in the way you must work to reach and stay at that level compared to the average photographer.

he is not the average photogrpaher.

[Natasa Stojsic]

That's life. He probably goes to the right parties.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215967\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

In addition to talent and nerves for technical skills...

"Social skills" is imperative for success, not art though!!!  Perhaps, Vincent Van Gogh/Pablo Picaso as a reference...

So yes, I agree he goes to the right parties, Elton/Madona

[Rob C]

Mr. LaChapelle is in a very rare world where the air is thin.

you know his name he doesn't know yours.

you may not chose to have his life but millions of people would love to.

there is a big difference in the way you must work to reach and stay at that level compared to the average photographer.

he is not the average photogrpaher.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=215972\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yes, there are also millions of other people who would sell their sisters to be on Big Brother.

As to his being the average photographer, no, he certainly doesn´t rate that highly with me either.

Rob C

[jing q]

Luckily for him he ranks very well in the eyes of the public.
I tend to find that the layman vs photography professionals have very differing opinions on what is good photography and what is not.

I think we may differ on what photographers we enjoy but I'm hard-pressed to see how other photographers cannot acknowledge the level of skill involved in his work, his compositions, his colour-sense, etc etc.

[woof75]

I think it's hard to like and understand LaChapelle, you really need to understand art and photography on a level that most people never get to.

[Willow Photography]

Yes, there are also millions of other people who would sell their sisters to be on Big Brother.

As to his being the average photographer, no, he certainly doesn´t rate that highly with me either.

Rob C
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It says more about you than LaChapelle, when you ( seriously??? ) rate him
lower than average.
One thing is not to like his kind of pictures, another is to not see that he has
a great eye and execute his vision on a high level.

It is so easy too say, when looking at great photographers pictures, "I could have done that and
even better". The big difference is that they had the vision and skills to do it.

I sure like to see some pictures you have produced  Rob.