Yep, my guess was right! After a bit of research work using Google, I found this information: "Born in Prague, then Czechoslovakia. Left for the US in 1969. Served in the USAF and became photographer after seeing my first 4×5 neg come up in the developer, under a green safelite: military boot stepping on a flower. Corny, I know, but hey, I was instantly in love, forever. Ran my own custom b&w lab in Minneapolis for two decades, taught fine b&w printing, was the first and then exclusive US importer of FOMA film and paper products from the Czech Republic. Always made street photos for myself, now make live entertainment images for a living."
100 persons will deliver 100 opinions, only in church there will be only one. After reading Mr 3:17 AM's comment I had a closer look at the images, and I must say they strike more than the usual visual nerves in my eyes, I find them appealing. Could it be the colours and contrast of picture 1, or the white halo above the house in image 2, or the swiftness of picture 3? Picture 4 could make it to the National Gallery. The branches of the trees form a perfect frame for the church.
This is opinion # 101.
Sure Mr 3:17 AM is right to some degree. The artists he's talking about won't be able to make ends meet with their products.
"Opinion 101: how to think before you speak." Thank you for your attention, class, see you after the holidays. :-)
"It is interesting how the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Russia produces so many good photographers. I wonder why."
Probably for the same reason they produced so many fine writers and musicians. And let's not forget Tetris, a PC game so addictive it was once believed to have been designed by the USSR solely for causing a drop in the capitalistic Western businesses. Which it did, but its creator, mathematician Alexei Pajitnov, never expected it!!! Oh, yeah, and so many genius mathematicians, physicians, cineasts, etc.
And my grandmother, which explains a bit about my many talents. And about my great modesty, da! ;-) Khatim adin Paskalov, tovaritch? Spassiba, spassiba. Ya tibia youblou, un-hunh.
Because there's so many of them, basically. You can see this with China now, too. The best pianists and violinists nowadays come from China.
The other reason is that Russia (and its auspices) has a great history on culture and art. Which explains a bit about my many talents, too, for this country was an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire from 1809-1917. And what did you say about the modesty, Pascal? Oh, let's not go there.
None of you guys have any discernible talents! Ha ha ha Just kidding. As for China producing the best pianists and violinists, I'm not sure they have produced any to rival those the West have produced. Technical playing is one thing, where are the composers to rival Bach? Where are the pianists to rival the technical playing ability of Glenn Gould?
Where these people came from has very little to do with what they did anyway - every country has produced great thinkers, scientists, and artists, etc. Germany, Scotland, Italy... Every country. The number of people doesn't appear to have much to do with it. China is not going to eventually win every single Olympic medal by virtue of population alone.
"Pascal claims he is the most modest man in the world."
No claim, old chap. Just a fact.
And, of course, I wouldn't be the mostest modestest man in the world if I didn't let somebody surpass me in modesty! Shows you just HOW modest I am. :-) Quod erat demonstrandum.
"China is not going to eventually win every single Olympic medal by virtue of population alone."
Hmm... If they enter the olympic modesty competition, I may have an honorable problem on my humble hands.
I looked on this dude's website, and the photos posted here are not, in my ever-so-humble opinion, M.D.'s best. I can appreciate the art even though I couldn't do it myself, and in truth have no interest in attempting to do it myself - I am content to take the ordinary, run-of-the-mill snapshots everyone takes. Even if they are a waste of time. A friend of mine's mother works in a nursing home, and apparently when people die all the photos that old people have accumulated end up getting shredded. Even if they have families, usually the families don't want them. Only if you're famous do your family photos get preserved.
Michal is overly impressed with himself. Typical of someone rejected by his father, he has spent his life observing others more talented and then creating gossip about them. Just read any discussion in which he participates. He loses his arguments, realizes how foolish they are, gets frustrated and then calls the argument victor childish names.
Anonymous, just because you are no longer my Facebook friend does not give you the right to go around anonymously besmirching me. You know that, otherwise you'd sign with your name, which I know perfectly well. I can tell your writing from a mile away, TD! Anyway, I'll save everyone all that googling...
A ton of discussion about my work at BURN: http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/05/michal-daniel-in-your-face/
Some here at NPR: http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2009/07/in_your_face_big_pix_from_a_ti.html
Here is about me and it at PDN: http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/content_display/features/e3i5bc95dcbd33158677d6644801b7f0da6
Here is about my professional theatre work as well as my relationship with my dad: http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/onstage/33604614.html
And here is a slideshow with a Q&A: http://www.startribune.com/slideshows/31191279.html
Thanks Eolake! I was not planning on coming back here to open the conversation again. However, because yours is a very popular blog, and because when one googles my name this blog post comes up on page two of the search results, a person who dislikes me chose it as a place to anonymously slander away. So I figured I'd set the record straight and leave it at that. Best to you in this now decade!
Yeah, I am not sure how my blog often places so high, I don't think I have more than a couple hundred real readers. But if it helps, it's now down to seventh or so on your name. :-)
Do you use any other cameras for street work? I like the Panasonic M4/3 cameras and lenses.
But, about a month ago I got an ARAX 60 kit: http://araxfoto.com/cameras/arax-60mlu/
With the 45: http://araxfoto.com/lenses/mir-26/
Took it on a trip to Key West, mailed the exposed Fomapan 400 to myself before returning, day before yesterday. Can't WAIT to process that film,a when it arrives!
Yes, X-ray. Also, I was unwilling to risk someone opening each roll, out of ignorance, during the checked baggage screening, given last week's incident. Carry-on is not an option, for the same reason. I only carry-on unexposed film.
I like the look, feel and heft of it, and people I photograph with respond very positively to it. Somehow, it is not threatening, which kinda surprised me. I expected its size to scare people off. Quite the opposite is what's happening, though. Fun tool!
I felt stale. For almost a decade I've worked with the Euemodule2 for personal stuff, and top of the line DSLRs for my professional work. Somehow, it all got very old, last year, soul wise. Then I read a post by Michael Johnston about how the factory where ARAX was being made and refurbished was out of business. I'd never heard of the ARAX. I took one look at it and suddenly I had to have it. A HUGE 35mm looking, 6x6 cm square picture producing camera? What a challenge! I'd had the urge to go back to my roots, but more. Just picking up the Leica M6 again didn't satisfy my need for bare basics. The ARAX does! Everything is manual, everything takes time, and every frame counts - only 12 of them per roll. I feel like a kid all over again! :-)
Developing your own b&w is a breeze! I've never had anyone else develop my film, and done it a gazillion times for others, when I ran a custom b&w lab. Here are the basics, lots of fun: http://chromogenic.net/develop
And $200 buys a decent medium format capable scanner these days:
Can he? Tell me, what's supposed to be special about these?
ReplyDeleteIf you can't see it, I doubt I can explain it.
ReplyDeleteThe tones, the colors, the lines, the tension in the picture plane...
Michal seems to be either Czech or Slovak person... (guessing from his name) :)
ReplyDeleteI think he is American.
ReplyDeletePhantastic photographs.
ReplyDeleteBest art is rude.
4:27 PM
Yep, my guess was right! After a bit of research work using Google, I found this information:
ReplyDelete"Born in Prague, then Czechoslovakia. Left for the US in 1969. Served in the USAF and became photographer after seeing my first 4×5 neg come up in the developer, under a green safelite: military boot stepping on a flower. Corny, I know, but hey, I was instantly in love, forever. Ran my own custom b&w lab in Minneapolis for two decades, taught fine b&w printing, was the first and then exclusive US importer of FOMA film and paper products from the Czech Republic. Always made street photos for myself, now make live entertainment images for a living."
Source: http://www.blurb.com/user/Michal
:))
Kool, well done.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Russia produces so many good photographers. I wonder why.
These are no better than the snapshots everyone takes. They are perfect examples of why the lazy and talentless go in for photography.
ReplyDelete100 persons will deliver 100 opinions, only in church there will be only one.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Mr 3:17 AM's comment I had a closer look at the images, and I must say they strike more than the usual visual nerves in my eyes, I find them appealing. Could it be the colours and contrast of picture 1, or the white halo above the house in image 2, or the swiftness of picture 3?
Picture 4 could make it to the National Gallery. The branches of the trees form a perfect frame for the church.
This is opinion # 101.
Sure Mr 3:17 AM is right to some degree. The artists he's talking about won't be able to make ends meet with their products.
"Opinion 101: how to think before you speak."
ReplyDeleteThank you for your attention, class, see you after the holidays.
:-)
"It is interesting how the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Russia produces so many good photographers. I wonder why."
Probably for the same reason they produced so many fine writers and musicians.
And let's not forget Tetris, a PC game so addictive it was once believed to have been designed by the USSR solely for causing a drop in the capitalistic Western businesses. Which it did, but its creator, mathematician Alexei Pajitnov, never expected it!!!
Oh, yeah, and so many genius mathematicians, physicians, cineasts, etc.
And my grandmother, which explains a bit about my many talents.
And about my great modesty, da! ;-)
Khatim adin Paskalov, tovaritch? Spassiba, spassiba. Ya tibia youblou, un-hunh.
So what's that reason?
ReplyDeleteBecause there's so many of them, basically. You can see this with China now, too. The best pianists and violinists nowadays come from China.
ReplyDeleteThe other reason is that Russia (and its auspices) has a great history on culture and art. Which explains a bit about my many talents, too, for this country was an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire from 1809-1917. And what did you say about the modesty, Pascal? Oh, let's not go there.
Pascal claims he is the most modest man in the world. But I've got him beat by several lengths.
ReplyDeleteNone of you guys have any discernible talents! Ha ha ha Just kidding. As for China producing the best pianists and violinists, I'm not sure they have produced any to rival those the West have produced. Technical playing is one thing, where are the composers to rival Bach? Where are the pianists to rival the technical playing ability of Glenn Gould?
ReplyDeleteWhere these people came from has very little to do with what they did anyway - every country has produced great thinkers, scientists, and artists, etc. Germany, Scotland, Italy... Every country. The number of people doesn't appear to have much to do with it. China is not going to eventually win every single Olympic medal by virtue of population alone.
"Pascal claims he is the most modest man in the world."
ReplyDeleteNo claim, old chap. Just a fact.
And, of course, I wouldn't be the mostest modestest man in the world if I didn't let somebody surpass me in modesty!
Shows you just HOW modest I am. :-)
Quod erat demonstrandum.
"China is not going to eventually win every single Olympic medal by virtue of population alone."
Hmm... If they enter the olympic modesty competition, I may have an honorable problem on my humble hands.
The tones, the colors, the lines, the tension in the picture plane...
ReplyDeleteI can see you don't know either. Not a surprise.
I looked on this dude's website, and the photos posted here are not, in my ever-so-humble opinion, M.D.'s best. I can appreciate the art even though I couldn't do it myself, and in truth have no interest in attempting to do it myself - I am content to take the ordinary, run-of-the-mill snapshots everyone takes. Even if they are a waste of time. A friend of mine's mother works in a nursing home, and apparently when people die all the photos that old people have accumulated end up getting shredded. Even if they have families, usually the families don't want them. Only if you're famous do your family photos get preserved.
ReplyDelete"the photos posted here are not, in my ever-so-humble opinion, M.D.'s best."
ReplyDeleteI admit they are not highly representational, at least. Others may like his many faces better, for example.
"Others may like his many faces better"
ReplyDelete"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" -- Abraham Lincoln
Screw that, I'm not all that rude, just can't stand bullshit, that's all, you know that. But glad you like my snaps. Truly honored. Best! Michal
ReplyDelete"just can't stand bullshit, that's all"
ReplyDeleteFair enough.
In my judgement, though, you have a highly sensitive BS meter, and a very direct way of responding. :)
Fair enough.
ReplyDeleteMichal is overly impressed with himself. Typical of someone rejected by his father, he has spent his life observing others more talented and then creating gossip about them. Just read any discussion in which he participates. He loses his arguments, realizes how foolish they are, gets frustrated and then calls the argument victor childish names.
ReplyDeleteJust google Michal Daniel. You'll see.
Anonymous, just because you are no longer my Facebook friend does not give you the right to go around anonymously besmirching me. You know that, otherwise you'd sign with your name, which I know perfectly well. I can tell your writing from a mile away, TD! Anyway, I'll save everyone all that googling...
ReplyDeleteA ton of discussion about my work at BURN: http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/05/michal-daniel-in-your-face/
Some here at NPR: http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2009/07/in_your_face_big_pix_from_a_ti.html
Here is about me and it at PDN: http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/content_display/features/e3i5bc95dcbd33158677d6644801b7f0da6
Here is about my professional theatre work as well as my relationship with my dad:
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/onstage/33604614.html
And here is a slideshow with a Q&A:
http://www.startribune.com/slideshows/31191279.html
Wow, you went back to an old post here, Michal!
ReplyDeleteI took a look and I removed the note in the post about you being rude, sorry about that.
Thanks Eolake! I was not planning on coming back here to open the conversation again. However, because yours is a very popular blog, and because when one googles my name this blog post comes up on page two of the search results, a person who dislikes me chose it as a place to anonymously slander away. So I figured I'd set the record straight and leave it at that. Best to you in this now decade!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I am not sure how my blog often places so high, I don't think I have more than a couple hundred real readers.
ReplyDeleteBut if it helps, it's now down to seventh or so on your name. :-)
Do you use any other cameras for street work? I like the Panasonic M4/3 cameras and lenses.
I've always been a 35mm photographer, so since the time digital came in, when not using the Eyemodule2, I use Canon DSLR.
ReplyDeleteNYC: http://www.proofsheet.com/nyc
Vacation: http://www.proofsheet.com/vacation
Marseilles: http://www.proofsheet.com/marseille
More: http://www.proofsheet.com/personal
But, about a month ago I got an ARAX 60 kit:
http://araxfoto.com/cameras/arax-60mlu/
With the 45: http://araxfoto.com/lenses/mir-26/
Took it on a trip to Key West, mailed the exposed Fomapan 400 to myself before returning, day before yesterday. Can't WAIT to process that film,a when it arrives!
Why'd you mail it? Xray machines?
ReplyDeleteMan, that Arax is a chunk! What's it weigh with that wideangle lens? Two kilos?
ReplyDeleteYes, X-ray. Also, I was unwilling to risk someone opening each roll, out of ignorance, during the checked baggage screening, given last week's incident. Carry-on is not an option, for the same reason. I only carry-on unexposed film.
ReplyDeleteLOL! It is VERY big and VERY heavy!
ReplyDeleteI like the look, feel and heft of it, and people I photograph with respond very positively to it. Somehow, it is not threatening, which kinda surprised me. I expected its size to scare people off. Quite the opposite is what's happening, though. Fun tool!
Hmmm, that's very interesting indeed.
ReplyDeleteIf that was unforeseen, then what was the attraction of the camera? (Forgive my ignorance, I'm an electronics-junkie.)
I felt stale. For almost a decade I've worked with the Euemodule2 for personal stuff, and top of the line DSLRs for my professional work. Somehow, it all got very old, last year, soul wise. Then I read a post by Michael Johnston about how the factory where ARAX was being made and refurbished was out of business. I'd never heard of the ARAX. I took one look at it and suddenly I had to have it. A HUGE 35mm looking, 6x6 cm square picture producing camera? What a challenge! I'd had the urge to go back to my roots, but more. Just picking up the Leica M6 again didn't satisfy my need for bare basics. The ARAX does! Everything is manual, everything takes time, and every frame counts - only 12 of them per roll. I feel like a kid all over again! :-)
ReplyDeleteVerra cool.
ReplyDeleteI'd hate to have to get film developed and scanned again, but it's tempting.
Developing your own b&w is a breeze! I've never had anyone else develop my film, and done it a gazillion times for others, when I ran a custom b&w lab. Here are the basics, lots of fun:
ReplyDeletehttp://chromogenic.net/develop
And $200 buys a decent medium format capable scanner these days:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/189011-Epson-Perfection-V500-Photo-Flatbed-Scanner-with-35mm-and-Medium?sc=24100
Yeah, I had a darkroom back the seventies and used one in the nineties, but I have to admit I soooo lazy these days.
ReplyDeleteI'll consider it.