You are most welcome! I have been lucky to get exposed to some great photographers and they have inspired me, and still do. It is a big subject. You cannot possibly know them all.... don't worry.
Another wonderful story about a photographer I was unaware of. Such an interesting essay and wonderful photographs. Thank you so much for sharing this, Søren.
I've become a fan of your photographer portraits, they are so easy to read and full of relevant (and fortunately a bit less relevant as well) information. I find them inspiring. I have seen some of Fontana's photos before, but your interview added perspective. And it is a good thing Mr. Fontana 'schooled' you on limiting yourself to black and white 😁 Thanks, Søren!
Thank you very much, Vincent! I do enjoy writing these short stories. I am quickly running out of great photographers that I have had the fortune to spend time with. I have a couple left and then I shall have to figure out what else to write about…. 😃
That's why I have only written about (relatively) unknown photographers; you can't run out of those to write about. But I'm sure you can think of lots of other stuff to write about.
Did you just choose to spend time with these photographers and ask them for an interview, or were the meetings brought on by some occasion, e.g. an exhibition?
I have gone to more exhibitions in my life than I can count and have been to Paris Photo for 20+ years running. When I see a body of work that I respect, I try to figure out more. Get books, look at which galleries represent their work and from time to time, if there is an occasion, I see if there is someone I know who can give me an introduction. With Berengo Gardin, it was a matter of attending his huge retrospective in Rome and finding out that he was actually still alive!! There was a particular image that I really loved and asked his dealer if he could introduce me. The rest, as they say, is history.
I am so pleased you got one!! I have been getting mine out several times since it arrived. There is some serious genius here…. Thank you for circling back!
I love how your essays have this personal connection to the artists you write about. That makes it very enjoyable to read. And I always learn something new too!
Another photographer whose work I was unaware of that you have introduced me to. I am in love with the Franco Fontana work you shared here. Many, many thanks for sharing not only his name and work but also your own personal story!
He has a glint in his eye….. Always curious, always looking for the next photograph! In gallery terms, he was missing for a long time. I have seen a couple of gallery shows of his recently, one in Paris and one in London. It is time.
.. have painted a few joints here n there.. & most clients (with varying degrees of colour blindness - among males especially !) ‘see things within a tiny ‘palette
One Designer preferred a certain Brand of Grey & Mid Grey Satin Finish walls & panels with Specified ‘full emulsion + 1/2 - 1/4 - 1/8th - 1/16th & 1/32nd Cans shipped from England to Canada eh !
The fun part was Documenting Ambient Light Fall-Off during the day & totally scrambling & befuddling his Misperceptions haha .. As a courtesy will explain Colour Temperature basics to such silly willy’s in regard to how paint from those EIGHT Cans might reflect Incandescent Light Sources in the Evening or even how they ‘behave’ in Daylight - ‘seasonally - winter spring summer fall due to foliage or reflected snow !
FYI - Am a huge fan of Archival Lamination & ideally Non Glossy Prints ! Sacrilege What ! ! No Metal Frame ? No Glass ? No Archival FireProof ‘Museum’ Backing ?
Will always Defer to The Artist of course - but ‘Presentation’ consumes me.. & the ‘viewing environment of course ! - Am a ‘colour saturation hedonist’ as well as an iconic ‘Grey Scale vagabond.. & anything ‘separating myself - reflections especially .. from devouring an image - in all its ‘glory & its ‘story .. ! .. better have a good excuse ! ! 🦎🏴☠️‼️
What a wonderful meeting. You’ve nudged me to take another look at the one Franco Fontana book I have. Published in 2010, the print quality is so-so which dilutes my enjoyment of his photos a little. As for Ghirri, he’s a photographer I’d like to explore more. Mack have published so many books I don’t know where to go next (the only book I have of his is The Map and the Territory). Kodachromes?
I think to understand Ghirri, you need to at least leaf through Kodachrome. To be honest, I am not sure I fully understand him, having read his writings, but he is essential in the colour canon. There are real crap Fontana books out there, from a printing point of view. I found a reprint of his first book that I am still waiting for. I will let you know when I get it. I like The Map and the Territory, it is good printing and some great images. Fontana is his own, by which I mean he doesn't really fit with anyone else. He did work that was copied by Gursky in his Rhine photograph that everyone thought was the bomb. Sugimoto's seascapes....? Fontana sees differently than most people. When you no longer see anything but colour planes and how they work together, then you are looking at everything differently. Glad you are circling back to Fontana. It is worth it.
Wow! is all i can think to say. I know that i have seen photographs of Fontana but he’s never registered in my brain as someone to pursue and study. Your article certainly has changed that for me and i shall look into locating some of his books at Alibris, the best used book site. Thank you Søren … you are a fountain of information.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words. Fontana is a hugely important part of the colour canon. All I can say is that he sees the world differently than other people, and that is worth exploring! Good luck on your book challenge!
Too kind!! ;0)
You are most welcome! I have been lucky to get exposed to some great photographers and they have inspired me, and still do. It is a big subject. You cannot possibly know them all.... don't worry.
This is great. Thank you for the introduction to Fontana's work and backstory.
Another wonderful story about a photographer I was unaware of. Such an interesting essay and wonderful photographs. Thank you so much for sharing this, Søren.
Wonderful story. Quite a remarkable day I guess. Thanks for sharing, Søren.
Very! It was a great day and understanding how he sees was very strange. I don’t see that way.
Totally engrossed in this awesome story. Thanks for sharing Søren!
Cheers!
Glad you like it. I really enjoyed my visit, and I hope that comes through in the story!
Your detailed perspective of the visit was only captured by someone who loved every minute of it.
I've become a fan of your photographer portraits, they are so easy to read and full of relevant (and fortunately a bit less relevant as well) information. I find them inspiring. I have seen some of Fontana's photos before, but your interview added perspective. And it is a good thing Mr. Fontana 'schooled' you on limiting yourself to black and white 😁 Thanks, Søren!
Thank you very much, Vincent! I do enjoy writing these short stories. I am quickly running out of great photographers that I have had the fortune to spend time with. I have a couple left and then I shall have to figure out what else to write about…. 😃
That's why I have only written about (relatively) unknown photographers; you can't run out of those to write about. But I'm sure you can think of lots of other stuff to write about.
Did you just choose to spend time with these photographers and ask them for an interview, or were the meetings brought on by some occasion, e.g. an exhibition?
I have gone to more exhibitions in my life than I can count and have been to Paris Photo for 20+ years running. When I see a body of work that I respect, I try to figure out more. Get books, look at which galleries represent their work and from time to time, if there is an occasion, I see if there is someone I know who can give me an introduction. With Berengo Gardin, it was a matter of attending his huge retrospective in Rome and finding out that he was actually still alive!! There was a particular image that I really loved and asked his dealer if he could introduce me. The rest, as they say, is history.
A wonderful report. Thank you very much for sharing!
I am just realizing: The Franco Fontana show in Rome runs until August 31st. That‘s great.
I went. It was fantastic. I actually was in Bologna and did a trip to Rome, just to see the show.
Not yet. But I will be in Italy in the second half of July. Hopefully the exhibition you have mentioned is still running.
Thank you, Klaus! Have you seen any of his work in person?
Excellent story Søren. A beautiful eye. Franco Fontana has been one of my favourite photographers since I was a teenager.
I now have a copy of Skyline, shipped promptly from Italy and enjoying the lesson in colour without digital post.
I am so pleased you got one!! I have been getting mine out several times since it arrived. There is some serious genius here…. Thank you for circling back!
Wow, I love these stories! Such amazing work and clearly, you have had some luck!
Well, he was definitely a master of color.
I love how your essays have this personal connection to the artists you write about. That makes it very enjoyable to read. And I always learn something new too!
Thank you very much!
Another photographer whose work I was unaware of that you have introduced me to. I am in love with the Franco Fontana work you shared here. Many, many thanks for sharing not only his name and work but also your own personal story!
He has a glint in his eye….. Always curious, always looking for the next photograph! In gallery terms, he was missing for a long time. I have seen a couple of gallery shows of his recently, one in Paris and one in London. It is time.
I actually went and purchased one of his books (online so I must wait to enjoy) after reading your post.
.. if any recognizable ‘credo comes to mind - for myself ‘it’s shoot to share ..
Colour & Black & White are irrelevant to ‘my simple reactions as a shooter.. really
‘the shot finds me.. or ‘presents - or ‘parades
What I’ve come to appreciate is ‘clean .. ‘a clean shot .. ‘speaks for itself ! Calls out haha !
Myriad other ‘stuff follows, pertains, illuminates or ‘suggests, inspires or thrills.. quenches ?
I love ‘Bold - Brash - Iconic - Blunt - Delicate - Sweeping - Outrageous - Sensitive - Moody
I loves your latest Photo Essay .. for Fontana’s Work & Life .. family & culture.. humour !
But I don’t believe he sees the world ‘differently per se - than you or I ?
Yet I truly believe he ‘perceives pasta & sauces differently than I !
I try to imagine some of those images ‘painted at wall size’ by a skilled housepainter
Now that would truly TRANSFORM a room .. his stuff is that Delicious to my Eyes !
🦎🏴☠️💋
It is truly delicious. Never thought about a whole wall, but it has potential!!
Ciao!
.. have painted a few joints here n there.. & most clients (with varying degrees of colour blindness - among males especially !) ‘see things within a tiny ‘palette
One Designer preferred a certain Brand of Grey & Mid Grey Satin Finish walls & panels with Specified ‘full emulsion + 1/2 - 1/4 - 1/8th - 1/16th & 1/32nd Cans shipped from England to Canada eh !
The fun part was Documenting Ambient Light Fall-Off during the day & totally scrambling & befuddling his Misperceptions haha .. As a courtesy will explain Colour Temperature basics to such silly willy’s in regard to how paint from those EIGHT Cans might reflect Incandescent Light Sources in the Evening or even how they ‘behave’ in Daylight - ‘seasonally - winter spring summer fall due to foliage or reflected snow !
FYI - Am a huge fan of Archival Lamination & ideally Non Glossy Prints ! Sacrilege What ! ! No Metal Frame ? No Glass ? No Archival FireProof ‘Museum’ Backing ?
Will always Defer to The Artist of course - but ‘Presentation’ consumes me.. & the ‘viewing environment of course ! - Am a ‘colour saturation hedonist’ as well as an iconic ‘Grey Scale vagabond.. & anything ‘separating myself - reflections especially .. from devouring an image - in all its ‘glory & its ‘story .. ! .. better have a good excuse ! ! 🦎🏴☠️‼️
What a wonderful meeting. You’ve nudged me to take another look at the one Franco Fontana book I have. Published in 2010, the print quality is so-so which dilutes my enjoyment of his photos a little. As for Ghirri, he’s a photographer I’d like to explore more. Mack have published so many books I don’t know where to go next (the only book I have of his is The Map and the Territory). Kodachromes?
I think to understand Ghirri, you need to at least leaf through Kodachrome. To be honest, I am not sure I fully understand him, having read his writings, but he is essential in the colour canon. There are real crap Fontana books out there, from a printing point of view. I found a reprint of his first book that I am still waiting for. I will let you know when I get it. I like The Map and the Territory, it is good printing and some great images. Fontana is his own, by which I mean he doesn't really fit with anyone else. He did work that was copied by Gursky in his Rhine photograph that everyone thought was the bomb. Sugimoto's seascapes....? Fontana sees differently than most people. When you no longer see anything but colour planes and how they work together, then you are looking at everything differently. Glad you are circling back to Fontana. It is worth it.
Wow! is all i can think to say. I know that i have seen photographs of Fontana but he’s never registered in my brain as someone to pursue and study. Your article certainly has changed that for me and i shall look into locating some of his books at Alibris, the best used book site. Thank you Søren … you are a fountain of information.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words. Fontana is a hugely important part of the colour canon. All I can say is that he sees the world differently than other people, and that is worth exploring! Good luck on your book challenge!