Richard Misrach - Political and aesthetic choices

THIS VIDEO: The photographs of Richard Misrach. Simplistically, he’s a landscape photographer who is focussed on the environment - but there are layers of meaning within his work. Some of his projects explore the interface between the human presence and the environment… while others are homages to the beauty of nature. There’s a lot of interesting projects that I’d like to show you, so I’ll begin with his Desert work - it’s divided into 8 sections. For him, Joel Sternfeld’s 8x10 work was perfectly pitched There was irony and wit, but also beauty, attention to light…as well as social and cultural commentary. During an interview Misrach said that his career, in a way, had been about navigating two extremes - the political and the aesthetic. In terms of understanding his work - this statement is crucial and gives structure to his prolific output over the past 5 decades. His work holds the space between being aesthetically appealing and also communicating his concern for the society and the environment.
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ABOUT ME: The conversations focus on topics related to different aspects of photography including: art, documentary and photojournalism. The discussions explore the personal experiences of photographers and artists and how their work reflects both their internal and external landscape. During the past 30 years I have photographed in over 50 countries for magazines including National Geographic, Time, New York Times and Newsweek. I have held solo exhibitions in New York, London and Paris and my work is showcased in private and institutional art collections around the world.
COPYRIGHT: The copyright for all images belongs to the photographer/s being discussed.
WEBSITE: www.graemewill...
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INSTAGRAM: williamsgraeme
MUSIC: TH-cam audio. Soul Food - Chris Haugen
VIDEO CLIPS: Richard Misrach Never the Same Art21 Extended Play”, Richard Misrach's Photographic Still Point, Exploring Ansel Adams' legacy with Richard Misrach, Photographer Spotlight Richard Misrach

[@stansabev]

Thank you for introducing us to this artist and his work🙏🏻. The way his work progresses can be liberating for somebody who thinks I’m this or that as artist. The way he talks about his work is saying everything. True devote to photography.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Stan I hope that you are well.

[@AustenGoldsmithPhotography]

Thank you for sharing his work Greame .

[@rogerhyland8283]

Loved this video. I’ve never heard of this man so it was a revelation. Your videos are always inspiring.

[@rolf_siggaard]

Thanks so much for this and to the introduction to this photographer. Powerful storytelling and poetic approach to images. Well done.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Rolf

[@sonofoneintheuniverse]

Another wonderful presentation of a incredibly interesting photographer.
Those wonderful colors and the subtle tonal range - soothing and at the same time discomforting images.

[@PhotoConversations]

Exactly - 'soothing and discomforting'

[@digeratadesign]

THANK YOU. great to discover Richards work

[@laytonburton1961]

Graeme, this was a fascinating look at a truly thoughtful artist. I loved the whole idea of using art, beauty, and photography to build spaces for mental health. I am a co-creator of a mental health film and photography initiative in my part of the world- and I am now inspired to fill our spaces with our students work, our mentors work. Thank you!

[@PhotoConversations]

Brilliant, thanks

[@bowenisland100]

Enjoyed your essay....thank you!

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

Thanks again for introducing me to yet another photographer whose work I love. He brings to mind Burtynsky in his making us linger on difficult subjects through the application of sheer beauty. That is a controversial concept that might be fodder for a future video.

[@PhotoConversations]

Yes, I have no problems about using beauty as a tool.

[@TooLooseLeTrek]

Totally fascinating. I really enjoy your videos and this is one of my favorites.

[@LloydSpencer]

Beautifully clear presentation. This has been helped by Misrach’s own clarity about his work. I first came across his work through his inclusion in the Aperture ‘Workshop’ series. You might have given more information on the political side of his work: the fact that he sought out disused military test sites in the deserts that he ha grown to love, or his great photos of the infamous wall between the USA and Mexico.

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks LLoyd yes there was a lot more that could have been said.

[@donaldgibson1642]

Thank you ...

[@SlavaVeres]

❤ One of my favourite contemporaries!!! 👍 I was recently thinking of him as LA fires were raging in the States. I was wondering if he is going to photograph that as well because he has series on wild fires in California. And of course his Desert Cantos “sound” especially important now when the new MAGA administration is deporting thousands of immigrants. America is a sad and pathetic place at the moment 😢 Thanjs for the video, Graeme!

[@PhotoConversations]

Thanks Slava

[@diforbes]

Thanks for once again creating an interesting video. I see his work as a mixed bag. Many are quite powerful but some projects, such as those from the hotel balcony, don't do anything for me.

[@BrunoChalifour]

I always enjoy your videos and this one is definitely one of my favorite ones, if not my very favorite one. I have been following Misrach's work for the past 40 some years, especially since, by total chance, I came across a copy of "Desert Cantos" at Zwimmer (London) in 1987. First I had bought the book as a thank you to a fellow photographer and friend who had let me use his Cibachrome darkroom for a while. The minute the book left my hands I had to find another copy. Since then I have collected most of Misrach's books, seen several exhibitions of his work, listened to him and met him at an SPE (Society for Photographic Education) national conference and dedicated half of the concluding chapter of my dissertation (The Landscape of American Landscape Photography 1960-90) to his work. Your overview is just excellent, very informative and pedagogic and captures the gist of Misrach's life-long work. Thank you very much for a reference I can give to my friends and students. Excellent!

[@PhotoConversations]

That is very kind Bruno. Much appreciated.

[@iainmc9859]

Do I like his work - Yes
Do I think it has intrinsic meaning in isolation ( without commentary) probably not ... too conceptual, even if it is figurative, for me.

[@BrunoChalifour]

That is a personal view that can be applied to some of Misrach's more conceptual if not purely esthetic works ("The Sky Book" (probably influenced by Meyerowitz's "Bay/Sky") and "Pictures of Paintings" and some more recent work maybe (the color negative images)), the rest starting with "Desert Cantos" and "Bravo 20" (I am not mentioning "Telegraph 4 a.m.' as the was typically documentary and in BW) is pretty self-explanatory. Just dig a little for these treasures.

[@iainmc9859]

@BrunoChalifour Thanks for the advice Will do. 👍

[@ElcabrondelBronx]

Fantastic channel. I am glad I found it. Thank you for your work.

[@PhotoConversations]

Hi welcome!