After chasing dogs around on the street, I was happy to head out to the beaches, an area along the lake where dogs can run unleashed. Larry had talked about including environmental images along with images of the subject matter so it was a good location to photograph. The first two images almost made the cut but in the end, they were left out. The third one became fondly known as “the skunk”. Larry appreciated the idea behind the image but for him, there needs to be order within the frame and this image was too messy. Along with his advice that we do not have to include everything in the frame, he talked about looking for things that are not so literal, things that suggest rather than photographing a cliché. Sometimes it is better to imagine than to see everything. These were things I tried to keep in mind as I looked for things to include in my final presentation.
Each morning review session was peppered with discussions with Larry about his approach to photography and his work in El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Middle East, and Afghanistan. We also had a chance to view his early work and to hear how he came to be a Magnum photographer. In 1984 he traveled to Nicaragua as part of a human rights delegation and in 1986 he went to El Salvador and returned again in 1988. He went to these countries to learn what was happening first hand rather than trust what governments and the media were telling him. After returning in 1988 Larry had a body of work from Central America which he sent to Magnum Photos. He didn’t know anything about the agency but had seen it credited on a few published images. It was quite warming to hear the story of how he didn’t even realize he was submitting his work to the most prestigious photo agency in the world. That year he was accepted into Magnum as an associate and a year later, he became a full member.
It was a privilege to spend this time with Larry and one that we all might have missed. Only two days before the workshop he had returned from Afghanistan and he didn’t want to do the workshop. Understandably he was tired and he probably missed his family and the quietness of his front porch. In the end, I think Larry was energized by our group and the progress that was made during the week. When all was said and done, Larry was really proud of his students and he wasn’t afraid to brag about us to his colleagues.
I’ll have more rejects tomorrow and hopefully Friday I will do a post on the final eight selects. Stay tuned!
This is so interesting, Sabrina! Thank you for giving us a little peek into what sounds to me like a very intense experience. I’m loving the variety of your images. Ray told me that some of the best images about people don’t have people in them, and clearly the same can be true of dogs.
Kudos to you for accepting such a challenging project. Can’t wait to see the final 8!
Sabrina, I am so looking forward to seeing the final 8 and then looking back and comparing them with the images you’re showing so far. I’m struggling myself right now to pull a final edit on an assignment as I keep having to pull myself up to making a more objective selection rather than one based on what I like or the effort that it took me to get the photograph. I love dogs too so liking your new personal project!
I have been thoroughly enjoying your series about the magnum workshops. I really like how you successfully blended the main elements of Larry’s teaching with your own photographic process and evolution throughout the workshop.
As I read your posts I’ve caught myself thinking “ha! never thought of it this way” or “now, that’s clever”…and random utterings of the sort.
Sabrina, I laughed out loud when I saw the dog on the sign.
Really enjoyed the story about Larry. Thanks for doing this, each day I find myself looking forward to the next installment.
I love how you talk about the idea of rather suggesting than depicting, rather imagine than see. That is something I will have to dive into deeper, and I’m absolutely sure that this, while easily “understandable” and imaginable, it’s difficult to put into work in your own photos. Abstraction in the very moment of producing an image certainly is one of the most demanding tasks in photography.
In regard to your photos I like the first and last one best, but I see why Larry thought it was too “messy”. While the dog in the foreground is obviously commanding attention my eyes are easily drawn away by the sitting shape (another dog?) in the background and the rather strong texture of the rocks next to it.
“The Skunk” makes me activate my brain so that is why it is the favourite of these for me!