Picture This - Channel 4
 

Stevie has just pointed this out to me that could be of interest to UK members.

Channel 4 on Sunday evenings starting tonight at 7:00pm. 1 of 3 hour long programs.

Six unknown photographers compete for a major publishing deal plus the opportunity to have their work exhibited in an internationally renowned gallery. Each week the photographers are set a series of challenging assignments starting with taking portraits of each other.

Don

Thanks for that Don, looks interesting.

Thanks Stevie and Don, I'll mark the Radio Times now.

Excellent programme, really enjoyed it. It has all the ingredients of X-factor and strictly come dancing but with a photography theme as some great images and ideas.

The guys who portrayed (if thats the word) the lady as a street cleaner was absolutely superb. The photographer looked around with no ideas then BANG he saw a street cleaner and set up the scene. Photo could have been better, I would have liked to have seen more jewelery on the lady to labour the point of 'lady muck' - still given the time as location I think he was BRILLIANT.

I agree, Great Program.
I would have liked to have seen more of their portfolio's, (the photo's the sent in to get them to the final)

missed the first one!
oh bu@@er :(




.....Ah!

repeated again on channel4, tuesday 5-6am....
so the recorder is now set
happy again :)

Stevie taped it but we have not had a chance to see it yet.

Don

Caroline picked up on the fact the portraits were supposed to reflect the subjects personality...

"so the guy taking the streetcleaning shot (lady scrubbing) thinks she is a scrubber then?"

I fell off my chair :)

I just watched a recording of the repeat show in the early hours of this morning.
Thoroughly entertaining...and lo and behold Martin Parr is there again!:)

If I had to be critical of the show, there's just one thing I found irritating...
I hate it when after each commercial break there's a 'recap' of where the show is up to....my memory isn't so bad I can't remember what was said and seen three minutes (or in my case watching a recording a few seconds) ago.:mad:

Otherwise, fantastic.

Question, I'm sure I've seen this format before...has there been a similar show on in the past where 6 potential press photographers were put through their paces? :confused:
no, I'm not thinking the celebrity one with Janet StreetPorter and that tw@t mr Paparazzi:rolleyes:

Now the series is over, what did we think of it?

Show 2 was a little flat in my opinion with no real great photos and no disagreement with the judges.

The final (last night) was superb with both finalists offering brilliant photos. I am surprised the former alcoholic won as I had doubts she could produce anything other than from her pain as a drinker. One of the judges even suggested this but she still won...low and behold she had the opportunity of another shoot, guess what the theme was - yep alcoholism!

Having said that she does produce great and original pics but I think she needs to change direction.

I agree Stephen - but I think Lucinda(?) had far greater potential - especially for one so young. She needs to loosen up a bit - technically flawless - perhaps her style will develop more with her scholarship in the States - I think I would have preferred that as the main prize - obviously one to watch for - Have you asked her to join WPF - that would surely help !!!

Yes! Lucinda (younger, First Class Honours Degree) in Photography produced some real interesting photos and they way they were constructed was an eye opener for me. She deserved to win but again had only one style.

Did you notice how 'art student' she appeared at the winners book launch?

My favourite shot of the series was 'straight members parking area' at the polo match in show 2. Although discounted by the photographer I think he made a statement about Polo (rightly or wrongly) exactly what he was assigned to do.

Yes, an excellent series. I thought that the right person won. All of the contestants seemed rather one dimensional, not just the finalists, but then I suppose that's a particular photographer's signature style. All of the six shortlisted had difficulties expanding their repertoire, but Lizz did seem to pick up more of what was expected and deliver the goods. Though I agree the personal project did revert to a theme she felt she could portray from the heart.

Lucinda's work was all very good. However, with a lighting set there are many thousands of photography students who could be tought to produce similar. It all lacked depth and substance to be a 'personal project'....Great commercial work tho, but to be brutally honest, they were pretty pictures and technically excellent...nothing different, and nothing more.
Which is why, as I understand it, the other finalist (Liz) Alcoholism project won through. Technically, some of the pictures are not that outstanding, but technique can be mastered, and those are easier to pick up than ideas and projects with depth. I'm sure she will come up with other ideas and projects, she generally had more to say and had more depth behind her eyes than the younger Lucinda.


However, am I being cynical when I see that the winner's style is much more like Martin Parr's reportage work..who also just happens to be one of the judges:rolleyes:

We watched this on tape last night and both of us voted for Lucinda while the judges were deciding. :rolleyes:

All round though an interesting series.

Don

Awww! I missed the final, I forgot it was on.