How Thandie got her wedding photographer. (1)

Thandie 2009. Copyright Knut Skjærven.

It was The Day of Obama. October 2, 2009. Copenhagen, Denmark.

I did not get closer than his big black beasty car, but that is ok since I got a good shoot of both Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, the Danish Queen and the Prince Consort Henry, the day before. I was on the way back to my car parked not far from the main entrance of Hotel D’Angleterre in the midst of Copenhagen, when this young voice spoke to me from quite close. I had not seen her before she spoke:

Are you a professional photographer? You look like a professional photographer with that camera. Have you anything that you need to do tomorrow?

I looked at her: I could say “yes” and I could say ”no” since I am not a professional photographer all of the time. Only when I get paid for it. So I went for the middle. Well, not exactly, but I can shoot some pretty good pictures from time to time. Why?

I am getting married tomorrow and I need a wedding photographer. Could that be you? I simply have forgotten all about having a photographer. I’ve been so busy. Then I saw you. If you don’t come we will have no photographer for our wedding.

The voice belonged to a beautiful black woman. Mid twenties, dark skin, black hair and a smile that did not seem to want to leave her face.

I looked at her. A bit puzzled. In Denmark it is not that common that strangers approach each other on the street, so how can I be sure that you aren’t just pulling my leg. Besides, I don’t shoot weddings. I never have, so I am afraid that you have to find another photographer.

But you are a professional. You look very professional to me. If you don’t come to my wedding we will have no photographer. She kept insisting. Have you anything else to do tomorrow that could prevent you from shooting my wedding?

I said that I didn’t. Because I didn’t.

It is at Gentofte Rådhus at 10.00 tomorrow morning and there will be a reception at Lighthouse Hotel (name changed) at 12.30. Have you got time to go there as well after the wedding ceremony? Maybe you could stay with us for a couple of hours. Please come and shoot my wedding. It is too late now to get another photographer. So you need to come. Can you promise that you will come?

I’ll think about it. I’ll give you a call.

Can I ask you what you charge?

Well, what I charge? I gave her a price by the hour.

You can call my husband if you don’t believe me. His name is Henrik.

Is he Danish then? Are you marrying a Dane?

Yes, he is. You can have his number and call him now.

No need for that.

I could give you an advance to make sure that you come tomorrow. Can I be sure that you will be there?

No, you can’t. Most likely I will not be there.

What could I say: What is your name then, and I need your phone number as well. I need to do some checking before I will say yes to this. Could you write if down for me? Have  you got a piece of paper?

On a piece of paper she wrote Thandie, her last name and her phone number. And when the wedding was and where is was.

And what is your name? she asked. And do you have a phone number as well? Oh no, I thought. Let me check your story first, and I will call you. You don’t get my number. I will call you.

She went off in a taxi shortly after. I got a chance to look at her from I distance. She was a good looking girl and she wore good cloths and light blue rubber boots. I could see that.

And I was turning into a wedding pro. Maybe.

Later that night I told the story to Kirsten. She was greatly amused and she said of course I must go. It is very exciting to meet someone this way she said, but I insisted that I would not go. Of course she is not only pulling your leg. Why would she?

I am not a wedding photographer. I don’t want to have this responsibility, and I will not go. Have you any idea how difficult this is?

Of course I will not go even if Gentofte Rådhus is just up the street, and I know Lighthouse Hotel pretty well. However, can’t be that bad, can it? The places are certainly right. But I won’t go. These things just don’t happen. Not this way. And I will make a mess of everything. You need trained people to shoot weddings. Lamps, tripod  and all.

Shit.

I picked up the phone late that night. Hi Thandie it’s your photographer. I have decided to come to your wedding tomorrow, but you have to call me back and confirm that there is a wedding. I need you to call me tonight so I can prepare this a bit. I expect you to call me if you want me to come. Thanks.

Thandie did not return my call that evening. That was late The Day of Obama. October 2, this year. And besides I don’t do weddings.

(To be continued).

Prelude: How Thandie got her wedding photographer!

The Bride. Copyright 2009: Knut Skjærven.

The story is great and coming here soon.

Well, why not?

Oprah Winfrey. Copyright 2009: Knut Skjærven.

Well, why not?

You probably didn’t think I had a picture of Oprah Winfrey. True, this morning I didn’t, but now I do. Just to remind you that absence can be turned into precence if you work on it. Please read this post and stay alert for more .

As I told you, Oprah Winfrey is in Copenhagen for the last push for the 2016 Olympics to be held in Chicago. Here leaving the lunch at the Royal Palace Amalienborg in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Yes, the Danish Queen was there too. In pink.

Go here for more images moving into precence .

Phenomenology: The Larger Picture.

Presence and Absence. Copyright 2009: Knut Skjærven

Following this blog you will agree with me that it stills needs a more practical approach to phenomenology. We need some tools that can be applied when doing, understanding and analyzing pieces of communication. Being it text or pictures or other.

Aspects of gestalt psychology have been pretty well covered in a number of posts. So have certain practical aspects of semiology. And there are plenty of useful information on both advertising efficiency and human behaviour, for readers that seek that kind information. (To be linked later).

The next series of posts will deal with a more practical approach to phenomenology. This is important since we have stated several times, already, that phenomenology takes up a special position within the barebones universe being both the basic of reflection as well as a particular area of investigation. Normally you refer to phenomenology as the method of phenomenology. The phenomenological method has been randomly covered by a series of posts taking it offset in the big book on phenomenology by late philosopher Herbert Spiegelberg. The big book being his The Phenomenological Movement. This however is by far not enough. Spiegelberg’s steps of phenomenology may be good, but not very practical.

Making the whole area more practical shall be very interesting since a similar effort had never been done before. Correct me if I am wrong here, but in my humble opinion this is the case. I am pretty sure that this effort have never been tried in anything that resembles a communication theory. So, it will be interesting to see what develops in the course of the future posts on barebones.

It is all in the photograph above. I call it Presence and Absence. There may be some presence, but there are certainly more absence. Let’s see, then,  if we can get more absence present.

Please take a note that this post is written the day before President Obama arrives for the IOC conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Michelle Obama arrived early yesterday and so did the Spanish King, The Brazilian President, and Oprah Winfrey. And many more celebrities doing a warm up of for the 2016 Olympics. Chicago Tribune calls it The Big Push. Friday all will be settled since the voter’s votes will have been cast. And all the presidents will leave.

What this last information has to do will phenomenology? Well, the facts are certainly there, aren’t they? And the celebrity information around IOC’s meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, is likewise missing from the picture above, right? That is precisely why this information belong to the photograph.

Confused? Just wait till you read the next post on phenomenology. That post will deal with presence and absence and everything will become clear to you .

Have a good morning.

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More posts in this section.

Library Thing.

Down by Burden

Down by Burden. Copyright 2009: Knut Skjærven.

Ever felt that you had too much to do? Not being able to raise you head for a breath of fresh air? Or tend to your favourite blog as often as you would like to?

Well, in the meantime you need to look for additional connotations in this photograph. Is that ok with you? For the moment?

Stay tuned. Plenty of more posts to come And photographs.

Susan Boyle: I am 47, and that’s just one side of me.

I have never heard of Susan Boyle. Have you? She is a contester in Britain’s Got Talent. A friend sent me a link yesterday, and I am speechless.

I can’t embed the video from YouTube so you have to activate the link below.

She is 47, and that is just one side of her. See the other side.

Why do I post this link here? Well, hermeneutics is all  about accepting pre-conceptions, pre-judgement as an element of understanding. Let Susan Boyle sing for you, and you will know what I mean. Look at, and listen to the judges in particular. Then the audience. Someone certainly got their pre-conception modified here. And so did I. This is the hermeneutic circle on parade.

There is a little side effect here as well. Look at the video a couple of times, and please notice that the looks of Susan Boyle gets a little better after each view. Connotations on the moved.  Barebones calls this phenomenon the Susan Boyle Syndrome. From now on.

The Susan Boyle Syndrome goes like this: The more you get to enjoy a thing, the more positive connotations will be. Connotations change. This sounds very simple, and rather obvious in this case. My point is simply this; when you work with communication (on every level and within every area), it is a good idea to take;  a) a closer look on what is going on, b) extract and refine basics principles and c) put these principles to use in future communication.

As a digression, I should point out that the ability to learn from everyday experience like The Susan Boyle event, is of paramount importance when working with, and within, creativity models. It is simply, stated once again, a tactic for new combinations of elements. In other words Creatics.

Regarding Susan Boyle, my guess is that we have only seen the beginning yet. And barebones will stay tuned.

And what a great sentence that is: I am 47, and that’s just one side of me. Lots of new combinations there. Love it.

Just Married

Just Married. Copyright 2009: Knut Skjærven.

A picture tells a thousand words.

I haven’t got time for that many words right now, so you need to go for it, and I’ll be with you shortly. Try deconstructing this image. Go for the connotations in it, then add gestalt factors to your analysis and maybe the CET-test for looking at impact.

I am sure that you will find this photograph interesting, and a suitable case for analytic treatment. Good luck.

What Barthes Never Knew About Carl Zeiss

 

A Portrait, Copenhagen 2009 (c)

This portrait was never intended for this site, but I’ll bring it anyway.

Remember Roland Barthes and his connotation procedures in photopraphy? One of his procedures is trick effects, and that procedure is probably that which comes closest to my point here. The mere quality of the equipment is yet another parameter for handling connotations.

This shot has been made with a Carl Zeiss lens (Zeiss Planar 1,4/85 mm ZE), and, in my opinion, is has connotation qualities that goes far beyond what I have seen with other lenses. What these lenses are famous for, are the ability to render 3D like effects. I am amazed, particularly since this is the first portrait, ever, I have shot with this lens. This person comes to life way beyond my expectations. Because of the Zeiss glass in the lens.

What has this to do with connotations? Well, this equipment based qualities certainly contain connotations. Thinks like “strong personality”, “stern”, “in control of things”, “highly skilled”, “professional”, et cetera. You can add to the list yourself.

Barthes himself was not a photographer. He did not think he had the talent for it. He had to contribute to the art of photography by writing about it. That is probably why he never knew about Carl Zeiss and his glass.

And talking about quality: this picture is best viewed on a Mac. The bigger the better. And I am not joking.

And no, this is not a picture of Carl Zeiss.  Have a good day .

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If you want to read more barebones’ posts related to Roland Barthes, you should hit “Roland Barthes” in the tag cloud.

Brief Tribute To A Red Car

 

Brief Tribute To A Red Car. Copyright 2008: Knut Skjærven.

 

Brief tribute to a red car.

Just  to remind you of  Roland Barthes’ connotation procedures.   His article from 1961 The Photographic Message tells the story. All but one, of his 6 procedures, have so far been treated on barebones. It you want to read the posts, you can start right at this page. Just follow the links.

1. Trick effects 

2. Pose 

3. Objects 

4. Photogenia 

5. Aestheticism 

6. Syntax 

Which reminds me that I have to write a post on his  ”syntax”, as well. Not forgotten. 

And while you are here: Don’t forget to listen to U2’s No Line On The Horizon. The reviews haven’t been all that good, but listen to it a couple of times and I am sure you’ll get over it. Let you cruise over the horizon, indeed. In a red car. In a masterpiece.

Best cruiser from the album is Moment of Surrender.

Good luck with it. 

Library Thing. (Roland Barthes: Image, Music, Text, pages 15-31, Fontana Press 1977, UK. Essays selected and translated by Stephen Heath)

Waiting Time

Here is another notebook brief for you. Comes in handy when I don’t have ready time to do more lengthy posts. 

Do you find that this photograph carries a strong and simple message? I do, but you don’t have to agree, of course. But if you do, what then are the semiological or other barebones tools, that carries this message thought? How do you explain the impact in terms of these tools?

Shot at Pierre Lachaise, Paris, France, some years ago. 

Stay alive. Good luck with it.

Waiting Time at Pierre Lachaise, Paris, France. All rights reserved.