His comments on getting older and having the fears, challenges and of working are especially insightful. I identify with it also as I am coming up on my 50th, and I still find that I am fearful and exhilarated when I go shooting in the street or in the studio. I think that the thrill is what makes the work worth it, and that makes you want to do it. I think what's important is that you have a body of work that you can honestly look at and be satisfied that you put your best effort into it.
Avedon shows some creativity but is certainly no great genius photographer and fashion photography, although demanding, is basically fluff and not the end all to expressing oneself. In order to honestly express yourself you must strip away the facade of commercialism and be honest with yourself and truly express what is in your heart. But the restrictions of commercialism rarely allow an artist to do this and this is part of what causes such angst in many artists. Avedon certainly doesn't appear to be senile in the slightest but does seem frustrated as an artist and perhaps he regrets many decisions he made or that were made for him for he seems to care more about expressing himself now than he did before. David Bailey likewise. Technique and money alone do not fulfill the soul of any artist, and as Jesus so aptly put it, 'man does not live by bread alone'.
Perhaps look into more of his work. Look at 'In the American West' and read what he says about it. 2 decades before this interview he found what he connected to more than anything he'd done before. And it's as far from 'the restrictions of commercialism' as you can get.
His comments on getting older and having the fears, challenges and of working are especially insightful. I identify with it also as I am coming up on my 50th, and I still find that I am fearful and exhilarated when I go shooting in the street or in the studio. I think that the thrill is what makes the work worth it, and that makes you want to do it. I think what's important is that you have a body of work that you can honestly look at and be satisfied that you put your best effort into it.
A master indeed. Wish there were more like him still around....
Fantastic photographer! And I love listening to his voice, too!
How is this not full of comments about that incredible diarrhea story at the end.
love his work
one of the greatest
A great man.
Great hair
Richard Avedon and Herbert von Karajan were towering figures with a thick crop of hair right to the end of their lives. Both died at 81.
Avedon shows some creativity but is certainly no great genius photographer and fashion photography, although demanding, is basically fluff and not the end all to expressing oneself. In order to honestly express yourself you must strip away the facade of commercialism and be honest with yourself and truly express what is in your heart. But the restrictions of commercialism rarely allow an artist to do this and this is part of what causes such angst in many artists. Avedon certainly doesn't appear to be senile in the slightest but does seem frustrated as an artist and perhaps he regrets many decisions he made or that were made for him for he seems to care more about expressing himself now than he did before. David Bailey likewise. Technique and money alone do not fulfill the soul of any artist, and as Jesus so aptly put it, 'man does not live by bread alone'.
well that's just like...your opinion man, which is at best all "fluff"
Perhaps look into more of his work. Look at 'In the American West' and read what he says about it. 2 decades before this interview he found what he connected to more than anything he'd done before. And it's as far from 'the restrictions of commercialism' as you can get.
David Bailey body of work is far superior. Suspect Bailey would wipe the floor with Avedon.
strange comment
Sad, he's visibly slightly senile.
I'm not seeing it.
not at all