clyde butcher - website visit

[doughowk]

He has used both Tri-x & Delta 100 with the former not enlarging as well as the latter. He uses camera to capture his vision but doesn't compose that vision on ground glass, ie crops. It works for smaller prints but the loss of information thru cropping does impact his larger prints. Does use a wide angle to get better dof. In sum, he has great vision but camera/darkroom techniques probably adversely impacts the final print ( see Masters thread for long discussion of this issue).

[John McCallum]

shouldn't that suugestion come with a warning ?

[TPPhotog]

shouldn't that suugestion come with a warning ?

Good point, body armour, tin hat and armed escort obligatory when entering the "Masters thread" ..... a baby rattle and teddy bear to throw at the wall also recommended

I'm not going to get into what is/isn't art as it's been done to death, but maybe we worry too much about technical excellence when the general public and most probably the buyer isn't looking at that perspective. If he captures his vision then just maybe that's enough.

[Dave Parker]

I find this an interesting thread, Clyde has actually been one of the most viewed photographers of the 20th century, at least here in the States, his work has contributed to the saviour of the Everglades in Florida, there are very few of us in the states that have not viewed at least a small part of his work, as his was one of the most successful companies back in the 70's and 80's, 90% of America had a picture of his hanging on the wall, even if they did not know it. I have had occasion to talk with Clyde at great length and the knowledge he has in Large Format is pretty impressive and I am happy that I was able to learn from one of the Masters

He is good, if not great and will be remembered....

Remember economics and vision may not be one in the same.

Dave Parker
Ground Glass Specialties
Satin Snow(TM) Ground Glass

[Terry Hayden]

Another $.02 -

Yes his vision appears to be solid.

However, as was said earlier, his craftmanship is marginal.

How much of that is the effect of financial concerns ( if bigger sells better, lets make it a lot bigger), and how much of that is a part of his intent in his artistic approach is something only he can answer.

To say that you need to expect defects to be obvious in any size exhibition print is to negate the talent and skill of those that wouldn't dream of letting those things out for display.

The vision thing is extremely important, but the full follow through from previsualization to presentation is the real deal.

Just another opintion...

Later,
Terry

[Dave Parker]

I tend to disagree,

If you have the opportunity to really look at some of Clyde's work, you will find his craftmanship to be quite good, looking at his commercial products as opposed to his artisitic products, is quite a different experiance..

I fully understand making a living and being an artist, making a living means you eat, being an aritist means someone else eats.

Just my .02

Dave Parker
Ground Glass Specialties.

[Terry Hayden]

Actually, I'm not familiar with his commercial work.

My only experience with his work was visiting his gallery in the everglades last year. The sizes and compositions were impressive, the craftmanship not.

Butt Hay - opinions are like ( fill in the blank ) - everyones got one.

I stand by my view, you by yours, between us we've accounted for a total value of $.04.

B.T.W. - what he has indeed done to help preserve the Everglades is
absolutely worthy of praise.

Later,
Terry

[fparnold]

I would also praise Clyde for photographing under conditions that many of us would take a pass on; in salt water on the edge of a Florida thunderstorm, and up to his chest in Swamp with things better not thought about brushing his ankles.

I will admit to having only seen small reproductions, but they are beautiful pictures of an underappreciated subject. As an aside, the Western photographers brought us the deserts and high Rockies, Eliot Porter the forests of the northeast, and Clyde the swamps. Does anyone have a favorite who speaks for the Plains of the Midwest?

[Bill Mitchell]

Clyde's digitals are much better than his silver prints, and I just MAY be able to afford one this year. As to the Midwest, I think David Plowden is great.

[doughowk]

Since his largest digital prints are much smaller that his largest traditional prints, its comparing apples & oranges. I attended a workshop where he domonstrated his digital manipulation techniques and it made even me cringe - rather loose use of the Photoshop tools.
As far as size of his traditional prints, he describes it as giving the viewer a sense of entering into the scene in order to increase the viewers appreciation of the environment. In person, they are very effective at giving you that sense of being there (without having to wade thru the muck).