A 366-Day Photo Project: Day 341 – Copycat: A Collaboration between Richards Guest and Cooper-Knight
The first collaboration of 2013!
Richard Guest – Self-Portrait, 2013
For the first collaboration of 2013 I wanted to do something a little different, so I suggested that Richard and I take shots in the style of photographers we admire. I decided on Cindy Sherman, because she makes work about as far from my usual style as I could get. Ordinarily, a street shot takes me a matter of seconds and a minute or two in processing. For this, I took 49 shots over 1.5 hours plus 30 minutes in processing (it was taken using my new tripod and the camera’s self-timer, and involved me focusing on the door because the camera refused to focus on my absence, setting the self-timer, panning back to the camera’s original position, then leaping over a bed to get myself in position before the self-timer went off). Initially I tried to recreate Cindy’s Untitled No. 122 (http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/11769-cindy-sherman?tab=ARTWORKS). All these attempts were failures, as I knew they would be – I think it’s probably impossible to convincingly co-opt someone else’s style. So I gave up on the copycatism and started playing with the composition. The shot began to take shape. It took about 40 shots to get it “right”, and more processing than I’ve ever done to get the colour, contrast and sharpness the way I wanted them. Ta da! Nothing like Cindy Sherman!
Richard Cooper-Knight – Still Life, 2013
When Richard G set the theme, I was stumped from the off… I like a lot of photographers, or at least a lot of styles of photography, but – like artwork – I know what I like when I see it, but couldn’t always tell you who it was by! There are a couple of photographers I love from the off, but then trying to get friends to pose for shots a la Ryan McGinley, Wolfgang Tillmans or Bruce Weber is a bit of a big ask, especially over the festive season! So, I took a step back – metaphorically and chronologically – and headed for the grand master Henri Cartier-Bresson. I like old photographs, their haziness, their sepia tones, and wanted to create an image to reflect that time, while still firmly fixed in the 21st Century. A handful of attempts and shots later, and here you have it, slippers and all!
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I love your shot, Richard! Love the combination of presence and absence. And we’ve done it again
– they go together really well, despite coming from completely different historical angles.
Thanks, Richard. Yours is a pretty cool image, and I’d have nowhere enough patience to give it a go!
Wow! I love both of these shots. Richard Guest: the time you put in completely paid off. The perspective, shadows, tension, posture, and colors of the photograph make for an absolutely fascinating image! Richard Cooper-Knight: the composition of your image is very captivating, as are the wonderful lines and tones. Outstanding work, both of you!
Many thanks – unnervingly, they work well as a pair, but I’m glad you like them!
Thanks so much, Melanie! Yes, it sort of revealed itself in layers – like learning on the spot – first the position/ camera angle, then the pose, lighting, shadow and finally the shaking of the head.
great stuff as usual! i really had to laugh out loud reading your remarks about getting your friends to pose over the festive season
Haha! Thanks!
Thank you!
Love these collaborations. RG: your selfie reminds me of the guards at buckingham palace in its resoluteness and the ghost of Andy Warhol in its very present absence, if that makes any sense… Would love to see the papers written if it were a “symbolism” photo topic for art school students… Well worth the time invested!
CK: magazine-worthy with every last detail perfectly in place, down to the nod to the past with the graphic on the pillow… Mission accomplished!
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the photos!
Thanks so much! Yes, I’d love to hear some interpretations of the self-portrait. I have my own ideas…!
Fodder for another project!
Wow, these are really cool shots! Fascinating interpretations and details. A great idea for a collaboration.
Thanks very much, Karen! The beast is most definitely in the detail…
Thanks, Karen. I admit Richard tested me a little on this one, but I think it worked out well.
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Great job, guys! This was fun. At least for me. Interesting to see how you worked with and around another photographer’s style. Love it.
Thanks. It was certainly an interesting challenge!
Thanks, Jennifer! It was serious fun.
Both great shots and interesting to read about the thought process and workflow. And I like that both your ideas evolved through trial and error. I did a self portrait recently for a passport photograph and it is a right pain in the bum setting it up correctly, so I can sympathise with RG.
Haha. Glad you like the shots, Stevie!
Ha, ha, thanks! I love sympathy.
WOW Oh Oh now I have to follow you guys. Great fun – your collaboration and beautifully done. Nicw idea today. Thank you
Carla
Haha… Thanks, Carla!
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